The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-05-26
Mistress Of Monterev

he repeated as Don Pedro slipped
absently at his wine.
From what 2" questioned
the Governor.
From the Kings Army. The
King has granted me many varas OF
land. And I am choosing 1t well.
There are springs on it, and meadow
land for grazing, and land to raise
corn and grapes. And I have al
ready chosen the knoll on which !
will build my house," He stretched
his legs luxuriously before him and
sighed with pleasurable anticipa-
ton. "Ah, and what life that will
bel"
'But your wife?" asked Don Pc
dro. "Will she consent to come
here and live with your"
"Had you not heard? My poor
wife, God rest her soul, died last
year in Mexico City. She would
never join me here. And I could
not leave here. You understand?
Life was lonely for her, I suppose.
We had no children and so
:" He shrugged his shoulders.
"God took her home. You are most
fortunate, Don Pedro, in having
Dona Eulalia with you. Most for
tunatel"
"Yes," muttered FACES. "And
what will you do with this great
rancho and house you are going to
build? Will you live alone? What
will you do without wife or chill
dren?"
Don Epifanio stirred uneasily.
"Pues, compadre, you know how
1t IS. / have already chosen me a
wife. Just an Indian girl. That is,
part Indian. Her father was Span
ish soldier, though God only knows
who he was. But she is beautiful
and very young, and has been well
educated here at Mission San Gabri-
Ell. She can cook, and sew. She
can even play the guitar! And she
Is young. Oh, yes, very young. Fiji
teen. But look you, I am barely
fiftyI So I will have many years
ahead of me, and God willing, many
children" He laughed. "Who knows
but we will start new race in this
new land?"
Don Pedro was very quiet as the
other dreamed of his future happi-
ness over his wine-glass.
eyes," unused the Governor to
himself. "You will have happy
life. An ideal life. All, yes ;"
The other broke into his musings.
"Why do you not retire, Don Pc
dro? You have given the best years
of your life to your King and this
country. The King would be more
than willing to award you great
slice of this land that you have gov
erned so long. Why not do it? Let
someone else be governor, and have
all the worries and anxieties, while
you retire and establish a grand
hacienda, enjoy your wife and chill
dren, and let the Indians do the
work."
Don Pedro was quiet long time,
idly twirling his beaker, and watch
ing the ruddy juice washing in little
waves against the glass. ALI I'M
consciously his old friend, in relat-
ing his own hopes, had laid bare
the deepest desires of the Cover
nor'S heart.
A great estate of his own! He
could see himself riding over the
land; could see the sleek herds, the
spirited horses he would raise; could
see the fields of corn and grain,
squashes, beans and chiles; he wan
dered through his own orchards and
vineyards. All, Dios, that was what
he wanted! A great house where he
could entertain a hundred guests,
and where hundred servants would
do his bidding; where there would
be music and flowers and hospitality
and at the end host of strong
sons to speed his departure into
that dark uncertain land But
the vision did not hold Eulalia.
With bitter laugh he gulped his
wine.
Before God, Don Epifanio, you
are sent by Satan to tempt me!
That may be your life, but it can
never be mine"
ST am sorry, my friend. For there
are many of us who campaigned
with you who are going to do this
very thing of which have spoken.
In fact, many have sent for their
wives and families to come from
Mexico, and, as I said before, those
of us who have not wives will find
them here. Yes, we will found a
new civilization, think, in this
strange new land, and you should
be one of the founders"
The Governor left San Gabriel,
visited the troublous little village of
Los Angeles, and left there shaking
his head over the laziness and inn
morality of its inhabitants. South,
then, to the Mission San Juan Ca
pristrano, and at last to the Pre-
sidio and Mission of San Diego, the
cradle of California. Then he turned
north again, to return to Monterey,
more restless, more unhappy, more
disturbed in mind than when he had
started on his journey. He had not
left his anxieties behind. They
had travelled with him. And to them
was added the nagging certainty
that he was at crisis in his life.
He could not continue living as he
had been. He and Eulalia were
killing each other.
He must resign as governor of
the CALIFORNIA;.
And after that, what?
One of two things. Remain in the
province as an hacendado, and full
fill his dearest dreams, regardless
of Eulalia. Or return to Mexico,
perhaps to Spain.
He groaned in spirit, and worried
his grizzled beard as he considered