Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-03-24
Mistress Of Monterey
VIRGINIA STIVERS BARTLETT '""~ ~%%~s

The rest of the cavalcade ap-
preached and La Gobernadora drew
to her husbands side.
"What is it?" she asked, then
catching sight of the girl, gasped.
"Ah!" she breathed. "Ah! A-ah!"
She glanced swiftly at her husband.
He was looking at the girl, smiling
absently.
"She is Naked" said Eulalia,
"quite naked!"
Exactly. Nearly as bare as my
hand, as far as can see. Pretty
little savage, isn't she?"
"She-" Eulalia broke out violent
ly. Then she changed her course
of action.
"Poor little thing" she muir
INJURED. Don Pedro turned to her in
amazement. "Poor little thing" the
lady repeated, 81 must give her
something to wear. Pedro, I must
have some of my trunks. Have
them brought here to me, please. I
must clothe this poor wild child. My
duty to your people begins right
here and now"
"But, my dear!" expostulated the
| Governor. "You can not do this
foolish thing! She does not need to
be clothed. Her-her-well, her
nakedness is covered. She is all
right as she is"
'No, she is not. She must be
clothed. My chests"
"Eulalia, if she needs clothes"
eff she needs clothes! Look at
her."
81 am looking at her. If she
wants clothes she can go to the mis-
sion, become a Christian, and have
raiment given her. That is what
the missions are for"
Eulalia smiled sweetly.
"Perhaps. But I can not resist
the temptation to grasp this oppor-
tunity to do an act of charity. Will
You please have them bring up my
chests, or will I have to have An
gustias do it?"
every well, ] WILL" replied Don
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 a 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
speeches.. No shops? No silks nor
satins? No shops?
II 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 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 I 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.