The Coolidge examiner., 1938-07-28
CHAPTER XXVu-Continued

were shocked and Mortified when La
Gobernadora was delivered to them,
no longer Historically screaming
as when she left the presidio, but
cold and icy. sitting regally before
the bewildered soldier on his horse.
IL she had been as the Governor
had last seen her. good Fray Fer
min would have feared her less, and
thrown her to the tender mercies OF
the matron Of the monjera for disci-
pline.
But this cold naughty queen, who
held her head so high and comport-
ed herself like prisoner Of state
was someone to be feared
So they put her quietly into the
monjera. which Junipero Sierra had
long ago called a dove-cOte
and there. through the long spring
days. she lived with the Indian girls,
under the chaperonage of the an
cient Dona Maria. Dona Maria took
q certain grim pleasure in watching
over the proud Gobernadora. and
though she did not exceed her du-
ties in regard to her. she did not
neglect any discipline which she
considered necessary. Eulalia wove
and Sewed, sang psalms and prayed.
outwardly as quiet as the stupidest
Indian girl.
But when she lay at night on the
pallet they had made for her on
the floor. with a barred window high
above her head. she would cram the
coarse sheet into her mouth to keep
from screaming She boiled and
seethed with rage. despair, outrage.
Sometimes it was directed against
the Governor, then it turned most
bitterly against herself.
Fool! FooI!" she muttered TO
herself. SILLY fool. to allow this to
happen to me! All. Dios! Madre de
DioS!"
There was one rule she refused
to obey. And that was to attend
the masses at the church. When
this duty was urged upon her. she
was silent. but drew her brows to-
gether dangerously. Then the
priests and the matron were glad
to leave her alone.
One day the Fray Presidente
called for her, and Dona Maria es-
corted her to his quarters. She
stood uncompromisingl stiff before
him, but he motioned her to chair.
''Be seated, Sonora la Goberna-
dora" he murmured.
Eulalia smiled at the title. In the
monjera she had been simply Dona
Eulalia
The father leaned back and looked
at her curiously.
81 have been studying you since
you have been here, my daughter.
he said, land l must say that
have found your conduct most ex-
emplary."
Eulaiia inclined her head.
He continued You have been
docile, obedient. silent amid disci-
pine that must have been a severe
punishment to you. And l should
say that you have been very brave.
Now | do not know what the pri-
Vate difficulties are between you
and his ExceIlency. l have heard,
of course, of the events that led to
your being brought here. Not Off
cially. for his Excellency did not
communicate them to me. But
can not help feeling that there is
some grave misunderstanding be-
tween you that caused you to
to do as you did"
Eulalia leaned toward him. her
hands gripping the arms of the
chair
"Ai, Padre mio." she breathed.
''if you only knew :"
But the priest silenced her.
Il was going to say that | am
sure the fault does not lie with you.
whatever it is. For you have be-
haved under this punishment only
as one who suffers unjustly. and is
innocent of wrongdoing.
Eulalia leaned back and stared
at him breathlessly.
AS your spiritual father. l tell
you this. And as the spiritual ia
ther of his Excellency, Don Pedro,
must speak to him as | have
spoken to you
All, mol" she cried suddenly.
Then at the surprised expression on
the priests face, she controlled her
self hastily.
'You think, then she said halt
ingly. that perhaps Don Pedro's
conduct is :"
Extraordinary, to say the least"
Eulalia smiled secret smile of
triumph.
She rose.
''Ts that all, Father?" she asked !
meekly.
THAT is all. for the present. But
| am going to ask you one thing. |
Come to the early mass Sunday"
''Very we'll"
When. on the next Sunday, she
entered the church with the Indian
women she was trembling nervous
ly. No comfortable chair was placed |
for her. as when she had been there |
before, and she needs must stand on
the cold dirt floor, and kneel upon
1t, without any cushion. With her
head wrapped in a coarse black re-