The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-01-27

into the ocean tapping hungrily be-
low.
What a woman! And after that
scene of last night.
But the lady's head was full of
other things: the green velvet habit,
the jewels that lay dark in the little
case strapped to her jennet, only
waiting a gleam of light to make
them leap and glow like green
flames against her white skin.
Tonight she would see her husband
again.
Would he be the same? Would he
look the same? She could picture
him in armor and plumed helmet
like the great conquistador, Cortez;
or in rich velvets like the gentlemen
of the viceregal court, or as the
Governor of the CALIFORNIA;, sur
rounded by bowling attendants.
But no extension of her magma
ton could show Pedro FACES as he
actually was, a bluff soldado de
Guerra. Early in the California cam
paigns he and his tough little COM
pany of Catalonian volunteers had
adopted cuirasses of hide, and had
immediately been dubbed, ''the
leather jackets '-soldados de Guerra.
And Don Pedro, though he had risen
from humble lieutenant of the Cat
alonian volunteers to the governor
ship of the CALIFORNIA;, was still only
soldado de Guerra and wore his
cuirass on all expeditions. His skin
was tanned to the color of his jack
ct, his beard grizzled, his face lined.
Poor lady! How could her imagi-
nation stretch to such imaging!
AS evening approached the trail
twisted between two great arms Of
the mountain that opened to the
Vermillion sea, and led gradually
into an arroyo.
After a consultation with the In
dian guides, Captain Canete turned
to the lady.
''It is only several hours from
here to the camp of his Excellency,
and if you wish to stop and refresh
yourself before going farther will
withdraw and send the bearers
ahead"
81 will gladly avail myself Of the
opportunity. You are very kind"
said Eulalia with a smile that wiped
out all the calumnies of the night
before. $50 kind that I will ask
you to get me one chest from my
belongings a large iron-studded
chest-marked with a green cross
in circle"
Canete looked at the chests and
boxes strapped on the weary bur-
ros and opened his mouth. But Eu-
lalia smiled again.
The captain approached the ami
mails, searched carefully, then
called an Indian who carried the
trunk to the lady. Then the train
moved on out of sight down the can
yon.
Eulalia and Angustias unfastened
the great lock with little laughing
cries of anticipation. Slowly Angus
tias lifted out garment, and shook
it. 1t was not velvet, and it was
not green. Eulalia gasped.
Grimly the duena began throwing
things out of the chest on to the
ground until it was strewn with gar
ments. But the riding habit was not
among them. And the pack-ani-
mails were out of sight and sound.
Angustias looked fearfully at her
mistress whose lip trembled.
"What shall I do? Oh, Angustias,
what shall I do? I had set my
heart on that green velvet!"
Angustias braced herself. She
could cope with the situation when
her lady wept. 1t was only the cold
fearless storms that baff1ed her. She
turned to the scattered garments.
"Ai, God be praised! Nina, looIss
This is perfect, here is the little
Maja costume. The sweetest, pref
test, most becoming thing you ever
had! I haven't laid eyes on it sincn
I left Spain-God bless the place."
Let me see that dress, Angus
tias." The woman held it up.
eyes, it is charming. suppose
there is nothing else to do. Bat
how you could make such mistake
in the chests, Angustias, I don't
know. And / had set my heart on
the"
"Ah, this is better. Much better.
The green would not be so becom-
ing to you now since you have grown
so tanned-so bonny and brown!"
she amended hastily as she heard a
snort from the lady.
eyes, yes, it is all here, even the
little buckled shoes and the rede-
ella. Come, nina, let us get this on
you before it grows too dark to
see what we are doing"
Eulalia permitted herself to be
dressed, at first submitting in sullzy
silence, then growing interested and
at last enthusiastic as the charm
ing little Maja costume was fitted
to her. AS she fused, Angustias
talked volubly.
Eulalia spoke briskly.
"Come now, woman, how do I
look?" She pulled her little jacket
over her bosom and turned slowly
around.
The tiny fitted jacket was of red
with little white lace collar, and
puffs of golden-colored embroidery
over the shoulders like epaulettes;
the long close-fitting sleeves broke
at the wrists with another putting
of satin, then tapered over her
hands. A row of jeweled buttons
followed the curves of her breast.
The gay garment terminated in a
short waistline with charming little
tabs, the one directly in back stick
ing jauntily out like brakes tail.