The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-01-06


every well. Come, Dona, and
give me your hand" In bewilder-
ment she entrusted her fingers to
the gentle urging of the Captain,
who drew her over to the map.
"This," he said, lis a map of
California of both CALIFORNIA;,
Baja and Alta. Here, in Baja Cali
fornia we see little Loreto-the Jes-
nit missionaries founded this-but
your ears and throat tell me you
know also it produces the finest
pearls in the world. Verdad?"
She smiled. This was language
she understood.
Every well. We will leave Baja
California and go on to Alta Cali
fornia-just jump-thus-and we
find the Mission San Diego de AL
cala-the first to be built in Alta
California - already the soil has
been blessed with a martyrs blood
then we find San Juan Capistrano,
in a beautiful, beautiful spot-and
so on up we find San Gabriel Arc
angel. All, that is the busy place
everyone going into or out of Cali
fornia stops there-it is quite lit
tie metropolis
Dona Eulalia was becoming in
terested in spite of herself. "Your
finger passed over something here, F"
she exclaimed, NEAR San Gabriel
what is that?"
Romeu peered closely. "That?
Oh, that is just one of the two pueb-
los-de Neve's pets. That is the
Pueblo de Nuestra Sonora la Reina
de Los Angeles de Porciuncula. Los
Angeles, they call it. A filthy, tiny
place-scarcely noticed beside the
mission settlement of San Gabriel. "
De Neve interrupted.
''Romeu, you falsify. That place
will be, some day, the greatest"
'De Neve, do you wish to COM
plete the lady's geography lesson?"
De Neve subsidized.
Come, come, Captain" ex-
claimed Dona Eulalia. "What is the
meaning of all this? I tremble with
anticipation-or apprehension"
"Ah, yes. Pardon my digressions.
But here is San Buenaventura, on
the blue Pacific, San Luis Obispo,
San Antonio de Padua, San Carlos
Borromeo, Santa Clara and San
Francisco de Asis. And here is
another pueblo, San Jose. All these
lovely places-and loveliest of all,
the Capital of California, the Pre-
sidio of Monterey. 1t is not a ter
rible country, Dona, it is a lovely
country-one of the loveliest of the
world, where living may be joy,
pleasure, such as could never
be known otherwhere.
In the background de Neve snort
ed. The Viceroy came up and stood
beside the two gazing at the map.
''And over all that country, one
man has been chosen as governor
one man out of all who have served
there-one man, whom all the Indi-
os, frailes and soldiers will honor.
And the wife of that man will be
received like little queen of the
land-will be queen, in her own
right. All the missions and pueb-
los and presidios will do her hcm-
age-it will be her queendom."
The large gloomy room was very
still, except for the heavy breath
ing of the Viceroy, and the street
noises that filtered in through the
windows.
Eulalia put her hand on her
breast. "You mean that Pedro
that THAT We"
Romeu nodded.
Eulala screamed. Angustias
rushed to her side.
81 won't! I never will 60 there!
That barbarous placed MOI This
Mexico City is bad enough after
Barcelona-but observation-disclosures
rey! No! Angustias, take me home!
/ don't believe Pedro is governor
you are lying to me-deceiving me
you old-old-fools!"
"Senora, you do not realize what
you are doing" interjected de Neve
81 assure you California is a mar
velous land-a land that in time will
be looked upon with envy by all the
nations of earth-and which will at
tract millions from all over the
world-a land of commerce and &C
complishment. 1t is your fate, your
destiny to go there
"Ai, what do I care for its com.
merce-its accomplishment"
Romeu spoke thoughtfully.
"Certainly-but it would be nice
in future days to know that genera
tons yet unborn will say when they
con the history of that country you
so despised, Lovely bona Eulalia de
FACES, The first First Lady of all
the Californias!' For you will be,
you know. No other lady of quality
has set foot in the land. Wives of
petty officers, soldiers women, yes
but none like yourself" He con-
cluded with a sweeping bow.
Nov that is more interesting,
Captain Romeu. The first First La
dy. That would be very amusing.
I am sorry can not do it."
''That is just what you will be,
Sonora. AS for Don Pedro-what
his life will be, who can say? Of
course he is devoted husband-a
man of honor-but who can say
where his loneliness will lead him
during those years apart from your
fascinating self"
At this Eulalia rose definitely to
her feet. "You are trucking me!
You have just told me there were
no women in California"
81 Gid not say that, Senora-I
said there were no ladies'. Women,
ah, yes-young Indian girls-quite
attractive, and er-quite careless as
Il l. 1