The Coolidge examiner., 1938-07-21

hVe-oakS, SycamoreS, water alders.
willows and all manner of trees and
shrubs. as he shifted the wild roses
and drank from the clear springs;
as he gazed at the mighty mountains
or at the rolling restless surf of the
Pacific he laughed.
My life for California;" he said
by God, she is worth it, the jade!"
Each morning that found them on
the road he carefully stamped out
the remains Of the campfire, often
on spot where he had built fires
many times before. And as he did
this he wondered. Out of these
ashes, on one of these little mounds,
would city rise some day? He
sighed at the thought, but INDUCED
in prophetic retrospection.
And al the missions he visited long
with the padres; ate their good food.
drank their good wine; admired
their fat herds and sleek horses.
Then passed on to the next mission.
Passed through much rich country,
or wild land alive with herds Of
antelope and elk, bear and noun
tain lions. He killed the giant bear
he had promised himself, and car
ried most of it to the Mission San
Gabriel Arcangel There he rested
for many days in the shade of the
carefully tended trees, with the mu-
sic of a little stream in his ears.
And there he visited with some old,
old friends who had travelled with
him on the first expedition.
Il am retiring" said one old COM
padre, Don Epifanio Sanchez, long
sergeant of the guard at the Mis-
sion San Gabriel. II am retiring"
he repeated as Don Pedro slipped
absently at his wine.
From what ?" questioned
the Governor.
From the Kings Army. The
King has granted me many varas Of
land. And l am choosing it well.
There are springs on it, and meadow
land for grazing. and land to raise
corn and grapes And l have al
ready chosen the knoll on which /
will build my house" He stretched
his legs luxuriously before him and
sighed with pleasurable anticipa-
tion. "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 l could
not leave here You understand?
Life was lonely for her. l 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
tunate!"
Yes" muttered FACES. And
what will you do with this great
rancho and house you are going to
build? VIII you live alone? What
will you do without wife or chill
dren?"
Don Epifanio stirred uneasily.
"Pues. compadre, you know how
it is. l 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. FIT
teen. But look you. am barely
fifty! So l will have many years
ahead of me, and God willing, many
children" He laughed. who knows
but we will start a new race in this
new land?"
Don Pedro was very quiet as the
other dreamed of his future happi-
ness over his wine-glasS.
Yes" unused the Governor to
himself. "You will have a happy
life. An ideal life. An, yes . :"
The other broke into his musings.