The Coolidge examiner., 1938-06-30

light. blinking as ne faced the sun.
"Ah-h-hl" he breathed How
good is this sun. and warm air!
am happy. your Excellency. Very
happy. I shall go now in a few days
to Santa Barbara to begin prepara.
tions for founding the Mission Santa
Barbara"
Yes, Father. l am happy also
about that. as you can well under.
stand. If only Fray Junipero were
here to be with US"
''Ah. well. l doubt not he knows
well what is going forward. II
seems most fitting to be beginning
these preparations during the sea
son Of the vintage. For l am plan,
ming to plant for my beloved. my
Master. another vineyard. and
pray the hill will be very fruitful, as
yours is" He smiled. and FACES
watched him walk away, his old face
lit with exalted smiles.
Then he turned and watched Indi
zuela sauntering toward him, heI
basket empty Her hands were pur
ple-stained, and her lips. for she
had filched the most luscious grapes
here and there as she picked. Her
eyes are black. black as a starry
night" thought FACES. AS she came
toward him, she smiled suddenly
and the fash of white teeth in hel
dark face was startling.
She was dark. dark as the earth
and from her rose an aura of fruit
fulness. of ancient earth-mysteries
hidden, savage, impenetrable.
Pedro FACES blood pounded. His
throat felt choked A temple vein
rose and pulsed suddenly. Hi:
eyes swan, and his knees felt weak
"Indizuela!" he called. but nj:
voice broke suddenly. He cleared
his throat as the girl looked at him
still smiling with a subtle under
standing look in her eyes.
Il want to . . speak with
you Sit down"
She sank on to the earth, and with
a little gesture seemed to become
part of it, From swimming eyes
she looked up at him.
Isl, Senor?" she asked softly.
FACES clenched his hands. Fray
Fermin has said" he blurted hasti
ly, that he wishes to arrange q
marriage for you with Pho. What dc
you say?"
She looked at him mockingIy
gravely.
That old man should think oi
other things than marriages. Il i;
not decent for his thoughts to dwell
on such things. SO 1 have beer
taught"
DO you want to marry Pio2" the
Governor asked hurriedly. DO you
love him?"
Il have also been taught to tel
the truth" She bent over and pat
ted a handful OF earth into little
pile, and smoothed it as she spoke
II do not love Pho. l do not love
any of the Indian boys. nor any o.
the soldiers" She looked at the Gov
ernor. with head suddenly thrown
back.
She laughed. You know. YoI
have always known, as I have. thai
I am for you. No one shall have
me but my lord, my beloved master
l am his, to gather as he does the
grapes from his vineyard. and tC
crush, as he crushes them.
FACES listened to the low voice
that seemed to blend with the buzz
ing of the bees. What she saio
seemed natural. as though some
where, some time, he had heard il
before. AS though in a spell be
spoke.
Yes" he said. in a voice not hi.
own.
The girl took a deep breath.
''When?" she asked simply
Nov? This is the vendimia"
The man trembled. He was un
der a spell. He must break il
quickly He looked about him il
panic. The gatherers had fin
ished their tasks, and now were
clustered around the barbecue
Their voices seemed to come from
great distance. There was no one