The Coolidge examiner. [volume] (Coolidge, Ariz.) 1930-current, 1938-04-07
Mistress of Monterey
hrnBmA


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 a 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 Cod"
Nearer and nearer the tempting
goods circled the natives. One
youth, with a wild whoop, snatched
at a 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 a curt phrase in Indian dia-
lect, and the Indians fed with their
plumber. The last one to fade out
of sight, with derisive grimaee, 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 dourished her
booty, one string of beads.
Don Pedro dismounted and assist
ed his wife to her saddle with great
gentleness. Her face was stony.
"Eulaha," said he in a low voice.
"Eulalia, my dear" But the lady
rode on in a significant silence.
A resolution was forming in her
mind. Once at Monterey she would
escape. When the supply ship
reached the port she would go
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 al
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. Ii not
well, she would go anyway.
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 haud, kissed
it. Then he looked up at her.
Sonora la Gobernadora!" he sa-
luted her. Welcome Q 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,
humbly waiting for you to command
u.s."
Eulalia bowed deeply to him. and
dante kissed that. do you desire
dainties for your table?" He con-
tinued, I'VE 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
pelts for your house or yourself?
We will slay the finest fur-bearing
animals for you. The finest horses
are yours to ride, the most docile
Indians are your serfs, and we SOL
diers, all loyal body-guard!"
Eulalia beamed. ''Ah, Lieutenant
Ortega, you fatter mel"
mo! A thousand times, no! / tell
you, Sonora la Gobernadora, am
as happy as king here. but find
it in my heart to envy one man.
And that man is Pedro FACES. Not
because he Is the Governor of the
CALIFORNIA;, but because he is the
husband of your Excellency."
ITO BE CONTINUED