The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-05-12


troness of artillerymen.
Several days before Don Pedro
planned to leave for the south for
the dedication of the Mission Santa
Barbara, he was riding the high
lands back of Monterey and ponder
ing how best to. approach La Cob
ernadora on the matter of accom-
panying him. AS he drove toward
the presidio, the clouds lifted for a
moment from the sea, and, it being
sunset time, rich glow spread over
the gray ocean, turning it for few
minutes into molten gold and rosy
silver. The Governor paused and
admired the scene for a moment.
"a good omen!" he said with a
deep breath. "All will turn out well,
God willing!" AS he cantered into
the preside grounds the guards at
the gate smiled at him respectfully,
noting the cheerful expression on
his face that had for so long been
unnaturally gloomy. And as he ap-
preached the palacio his heart light
ed again as he made out CLEANS Of
fire. and candle light stealing
through the chinks of the closed
shutters.
"Hola!" he cried heartily as he
stamped into the sala. "And how
are all in my household this eve
ming? Did you notice the little bit Of
sunshine at sunset timer"
A gloomy silence met him. Hud-
died near the fire sat Eulalia, with
the baby girl on her lap. And lean
ing over the fire, looking like an old
witch or Indian sorceress, Angustias
stewed some evil-smelling mixture
in pannikin. At Eulalia's feet the
Indian nurse crouched and looked
fearfully at her charge.
what is the matter?" asked the
Governor, all his cheeriness fading
in the gloomy atmosphere.
"She is sick - the baby" muir
INJURED Eulalia.
"Ah!" Don Pedro retired anxious
ly to a corner and watched help
lessly while the women doctored the
tiny girl, rubbing her little chest
with unguents, dosing her with the
evil-smelling mixture that Anguish
as had brewed. The child fretted
and cried, but at last became quiet.
Her nurse carried her from the
room, and Angustias followed.
Don Pedro strobe toward Eulalia,
and picked her up in his arms, cud-
died her on his knee as though she
were child. She did not respond,
did not struggle against him. But
she was slack in his embrace, inert,
unresponsive.
SIS the my little flower very
il?" he asked.
"She has a bad cold. This damp
house :" She looked about her.
ooh, a little cold she has
had them before. Let us not worry
about her. Let us be happy, Eu-
lalia! Let us be happy again!"
He turned her face toward him,
and lifted her chin on his finger.
There was not single answering
CLEAN in the black eyes. But he
persisted.
"Pack your travelling cantina with
jewels, pack a chest with your fin
est clothes, and let US go south, to
the Preside of Santa Barbara for
the founding of the mission. It will
be a great affair! There will be
feasting at the preside, a bale, and
the Queen of California should be
there. And what is more, we will
find summer there, Fray Fermin
writes me, for the sun shines on the
southland and it is already spring!
Come with me, Eulalia!"
With scarcely any change in her
expression the lady shook her head.
"Ah, come, querida!" He held her
closely, and whispered, "Let us
make a little moon of honey of the
expedition a luna de mlel!
Yesl"
Eulalia pulled away from him,
her face settling in stern lines.
"You should not ask me to 60
away from my sick child. And ]
do not think that you should go and
leave her either"
Don Pedro loosened his arms.
"That is nonsense, of course. She
is not that i'll, and besides she is in
very good hands with Angustias.
Nevertheless, shall have to go any.
way, for without me the founding OF
the mission is not legal" He stood,
and she slipped off from his lap on
to the floor gazing into the fire.
The Governor began pacing the
length of the sala.
eyes, I should go no matter
whether it were necessary or not.
The Mission Santa Barbara! At last,
oh, at long last! 1t will be happy
day for me, and happy and signifi-
cant day for California when that
mission is founded. When I think OF
all the talks and quarrels / had with
my poor Padre Junipero about it, ]
am overjoyed to think that finally
the mission is to be founded. Yes.
I shall be there"
Eulalia glanced obliquely at him
from where she sat. He was tug
ging his beard and did not see her.
"Junipero Serial" she thought
bitterly. "Can he never be entire
ly at rest? Is his spirit to follow me
always; haunt and punish me?" She
shivered.
Pedro FACES delayed preparing
for his trip until the last possible
day, and with a deep disappoint-
ment in his heart, resolved to say
nothing more to Eulalia. But he
was frightened about her, as she
sat hour after hour, saying nothing,
doing nothing, but watching the fire
and listening to the rain that dashed
the little house numerically. The
baby was no better but certainly no