The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-02-03
Mistress Of Monterey

| nag or SPAN. 10 the east great
mountains, the Cuyamacas and Pal
omar, lifted profound white brows
into the sunset sky-remote, i'm
| passable.
Prison walls-shuddered the lady.
To the west the South Sea spread
like a carpet of red gold clear to
the setting sun. Into it old Point
Iona plowed like the Prov of a
ship.
So this was California Alta-and
here was she, at last.
Fray Mariana and Fray Bartolo-
me were being led away, after a
joyful greeting from Padre Lasuen,
to their quarters. They too looked
about them doubtfully.
$50 this is California Alta!" whis-
pered Fray Mariana. "What next?"
"Sh-h!" warned his brother as
Padre Lasuen overlook them. They
walked beside him, hands clasped
piously over their stomachs, their
eyes cast downward.
After thanksgiving service in
the chapel, there was a merry feast
in the quarters of the Lieutenant
Zuniga that night. The food was
good, wine flowed and the Indians
from the Mission San Diego de Al
Gala made amazing music.
Eulalia was dazed, tired, a little
i'll. But the Governor was in fine
fettle. Over and over he told of
the long journey north, relating
news of this one and of that, prais-
ing La Gobernadora's courage and
fortltude. Every one hung on his
words, laughed at his sallies, en-
couraged him to talk; occasionally
they would address her CALAMITY,
but she was unresponsive.
She wanted to retire. Angustias,
where was she? Talking amiably in
corner with the fat wife of the SER
geant. They were chatting conf
dentially, laughing, whispering with
arched eyebrows. Even Pedro the
Younger, and the little Indian Es-
| cabellito, were busy friend-making
Eulalia could hear their voices out
of-doors, screaming and laughing at
some game.
Every one was gay but she. She
couldn't bear it.
"Your Excellency!" she called
peremptorily to her husband.
He came to her.
'Well, my dear, he said jovially,
"isn't this fine! All, the kind friendly
hearts of my people-my friends!
Don't they warm your hearth" He
was flushed with wine.
"Pedro," Eulalia said warningly,
"be careful. You are so full of
wine you need no more warming.
But am not warm. I am cold, and
tired, and oh, how I want to go to
bed. Please, Pedro, may I be ex-
cused? Will the gentlemen pardon
me?"
"But-but," sputtered the Cover
nor, "all the ladies have been wait
ing to talk with you"
'But Pm so weary, Pedro"
"You mustn't disappoint them.
Just a few moments, my dear, visit
with the ladies'"
"Ladies!" La Gobernadora f1ared
at him. Ladies! Soldiers. wom-
en-" .a. tr T
"Eulalia!"
Camp followers!"
"Eulalia, hush! Stop this at once"
His mouth frightened. 81 will not
permit you to speak this way" he
went on in a low tone. "You are
tired, I know. Perhaps you had
better retire now. But tomorrow
you must see them. You will make
them some little gifts, you must be
kind, cordial to them"
81 must?" She was trembling.
"You must. Those are my or
ders. The orders of the Governor
of the CALIFORNIA;, eh, my little Cob
ernadora? Run along to bed" He
beckoned to Angustias who left her
gossip reluctantly.
Eulalia bit her lips to control their
trembling and strained her eyes to
keep back rush of tears.
ooh, oh! How could he how
dare he Dios milo :" A
nausea gripped her. The low-ceiled
room, close with smoke and tobacco
and fumes of wine, swan before
her. Her limbs quaked, and her
hands were clammy, but she rose
grandly from her chair. The COM
pany sprang to their feet.
"Viva la Gobernadora!" toasted
the men.
She managed graceful bow, and
left the room, Angustias in her
wake, eying her anxiously.
The women gathered in corners
and whispered, then slipped away,
leaving the men to their talk.
Don Pedro watched his wife de-
part, with slight frown, and a
doubtful unhappy feeling in his
and poured himself another cup of
wine.
"By heaven!" he roared, ''you
San Diegans make the best wine ]
ever drank! Look at it, clear, spar
king, ruby-red! And how it warns
a mans heart after a long weari-
some journey. I tell you, my friends,
there is no vintage to match it in
Italy, or Mexico, or Mother Spain
herself!" He raised his glass. ''To
the wine of California! And to Cali
fornia herself!"
"Viva! Viva! Viva!"
"a moment, my brothers, before
we proceed :" All turned toward
the speaker. 1t was the newly ar.
rived Franciscan, Fray Mariana Ru-
hi. g. am a newcomer here
that is to say, I have been
sent here f. among you, as /.
am want to propose toast,