The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-02-10

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Pedro grimly. "But remember this.
In Monterey there are no shops,
no mantua-makers. No places to
buy clothes, or materials, no one
to make them. The supply ship
comes twice year with goods for
the preside store, stuff for the sol
diers' women. Cotton goods, I don't
know what you call them, but I
know you never wear them. And
there is no telling when, if ever, you
will get any new clothes when these
are gone. Do you understand"
La Gobernadora stared at him
speechless. No shops? No silks nor
satins? No shops?
81 do not believe you! You never
told me this before. You mean to
say that in the capital of all the
CALIFORNIA; there is nothing to buy,
and nowhere to buy it? In the cap
ital?" Her voice was rising danger
ously, and those about her moved
away, pretending deliberately not to
hear. When the Governor spoke it
was in low but telling tone.
The Indian girl still stood uncon-
cernedly in the center of the group,
one hand on a tawny hip, the bas-
ket still balanced on her head, and
eyed the white man on the horse.
The two frailes leered at her avidly
and whispered.
THAT is just what / do mean.
I should think you would know that
without my telling you. If you
still persist in giving away your
raiment, however, you may. But
you will see that Monterey isis
Monterey"
Eulalia was thoroughly alarmed,
apprehensive, but stubborn. Don
Pedro gave some brief orders. Soon
the boxes were unloaded from the
pack-burros who rolled and snorted
in the grasses and wild-fowers when
their burdens were removed.
The lady and Angustias dismount-
ed and began opening the boxes. An
gustias' face bristled with an ex-
preston of disgust, but she forbore
to make any remarks. Carefully she
looked over the clothing, handsome
things of costly stuffs and rich col
ors. But Eulalia piled them on the
ground impatiently.
Silently, from among the bushes
and trees, other Indians made their
stealthy appearances, and when Eu-
lalia glanced up, she saw she was
surrounded by ring of girls and
men in breech-clouts.
"Ugh!" she exclaimed, "Angus-
tias, look at them! Give them some
thing, quickly, for the love of God!"
Nearer and nearer the tempting
goods circled the natives. One
youth, with a wild whoop, snatched
at red velvet skirt, and dis
appeared. The others followed his
example, and all was confusion.
Pedro, stop them! They will take
anything" cried the lady.
But the Governor sat his horse,
laughing.
Angustias was struggling with the
screaming giggling girls when the
Governor cracked his riding whip
with curt phrase in Indian dia-
lect, and the Indians fled with their
plumber. The last one to fade out
of sight, with a derisive grimace, and
an Indian phrase that made the Gov
ernor chuckle, was the little original
sin, the Indian maid who had caused
the ado. Proudly she fiourished her
CT 0f
Don Pedro dismounted and assist
ed his wife to her saddle with great
gentleness. Her face was stony.
'tEulalia," said he in a low voice,
"Eulalia, my dear" But the lady
rode on in significant silence.
A resolution was forming in her
mind. Once at Monterey she would
escape. When the supply ship
reached the port she would 60
aboard, and return to Mexico. She
might have to wait, this child might
arrive before the ship. But if not,
better to have the child born at
sea, than in this barbarous country.
Better death from drowning, or
the pangs of seasickness, than stay
ing here. If her husband would
come with her, well enough. If not
well, she would 60 anyway. He
could not stop her. Such a land!
Naked Indians-adobe hovels-and
no shops.
Making up her mind to this
course, she felt better, stronger, and
was busy devising ways and means
when the Commandante of Preside
of Santa Barbara, Lieutenant Orte-
ga, came laundering toward them
with party of soldiery.
The Governor and Don Jose Fran
cisco Ortega greeted each other
with punctilio, and the lady was
presented. To her delight, the sol
der stopped to her stirrup, and TAX
ing her dusty foot in his hand, kissed
it. Then he looked up at her.
"Senora la Gobernadora!" he sa-
luted her. Welcome a thousand
times to California, and the Preside
of Santa Barbara! You are as well
come as the spring, that travels with
you. Since it was known you were
coming, everything has changed.
You are needed, Lady, in California.
We have been a land of men long
enough. We are all your servants,
hunbly waiting for you to command
U.s."
Eulalia bowed deeply to him, and
offered her hand. The Comman-
dante kissed that. 'Do you desire
dainties for your tablet" He con-
tinued, ''We will scour the noun
tains for the rarest game, plumb the
ocean for the finest fishes. Do you
wish wild fruits or berries? We will
find them. Do you wish skins and
naltS for WOLFF house or vnIlrSelf2