The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-03-31
Mistress Of Monterev

Two years and a month later two
ships sailed grandly into the Bay OF
Monterey, as whales frisked and
blew around them. France was won
dering about America thought
full about what country lay west OF
that nation visited by the Marquis
de La Fayette. Dreaming, perhaps,
that another empire might lie be-
yond the mountains and inland seas,
the deserts and plains, west Of the
mighty Father of Waters.
So His Most Christian Majesty
Louis XVI of France sent two ships
around the world, to visit Califor-
MIA. under the leadership of an &C
complished scientist and gallant
gentleman, the Comte Jean Fran
co.'s Galaup de La Perouse.
1t happened one gray morning in
September that Don Esteban Marti-
nez, commanding two Spanish frig-
ateS, the old San Carlos and the
Princesa, that lay in the Bay Of
Monterey, saw two lofty ships loom
out of the fog for a moment, be-
fore disappearing. Then they were
reported by a lookout on shore, and
all day watchers saw them glide
like phantom ships out of the mists.
At night they disappeared entirely.
Morning brought sunshine, and a
closer view of the ships. Don Pedro
ordered Don Esteban to send out
two pilots, and watched the little
pilot boat put out toward the drift
ing strangers. Through his glasses
he strove to make out the flags they
flew.
"What are they? Who are they?"
breathed Eulalia eagerly, her chin
on his shoulder.
He propped the glasses before her
eyes, holding her in his arm.
Look and see, perhaps you can
tell better than l."
81 see! .. +. Oh! A f1eur de lis! :. :.
"Frenchmen! Yes, you are right!
That will be the expedition of whom
I have been advised by the Viceroy.
La La La Perouse Z.
the Condo de La Perouse."
ga count" shrilled Eulalia. She
snatched the glasses from him and
pointed them as though she expected
to see the French gentleman smile
at her.
"Ah!" she said after a long Nn-
satisfying look. eve must prepare
to entertain them I suppose" She
said it very calmly, but her heart
was afiutter. Two shiploads of
French gentlemen, and a count; to
her that meant news of the world
for which she longed, news of la
belle France, of Spain, of opera,
books, theater, coiffures, modes :. +. :.
AS she rode back to the preside
to prepare for the entertainment of
the distinguished visitors her
mind ran over the articles of her
own wardrobe, jewels and cosmet-
les.
''Now," she sang, ''praise God,
something will happen!"
It was late afternoon before the
frigates, the Astrolabe and the
Boussole were safely at anchor, and
the Governor, who had not left off
watching, saw two long-boats put
out for shore, seeming to thread
their way among the whales diving
and spouting about them.
AS the boats landed, strong bare
legged Indians assisting the sailors
who leaped into the water, Pedro
Faye stepped forward to greet a
pleasant round-faced officer, in i'm
maculate epauletted uniform and
white curled peruke, and accom-
panied by several other gentlemen.
For an instant, even while he had
his hand stretched in welcome, he
had moments panic. These were
Frenchmen, and he spoke no
French, that is no decent French.
But the Comte de La Perouse was
already greeting him in broken
friendly Spanish, and the Governor
seized the Counts hand gratefully.
When Don Pedro invited La Pc
rouse and his aide, LIE Pante Dage-
let, a young man who spoke no
Spanish at all, to dine with him,
saying that his wife expected them,
the stranger raised his eyebrows,
and accepted.
'His wife!" he said in French
aside to his aide. "Surely there are
no ladies here in this God-forsaken
spot!"
AS they entered the adobe palacio
they saw La Gobernadora framed in
candlelight.
La Perouse snatched his three
cornered gold-laced hat from his
faultless peruke. So did LIE Pante
Dagelet. Both gentlemen bowed
from the hips, deeply, amazedly.
The lady greeted them in French,
with slight hesitation and a tiny
accent of Castilian that the gentle
men found delightful.
All through the dinner, which,
though strange to their palates, they
relished, they watched La Goberna.
dora in surprise. The Difference,
their obvious curiosity told the lady
OF their admiration with every look
and gesture. So, though she was
bursting with things to say-things
which must be said-she played
the part of the Lady Governor with
dignity and chaste smiles, keeping
wifely silence while her lord and
master made speech with his
guests.
But when the Governor and his
guests pulled their chairs around
the open fire, La Perouse began
speaking.
"We have been here in your Cali
fornia but a few hours, Monsieur lie
Gouverneur," he said, land have al
ready met many surprises. First, il
20 G.,l