The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-02-24

81 do not know what the customs
of the ladies are in California" he
said chattily. Anything that you
may do, any precedent you may es-
tablish, will be followed by all the
women in the province. For you
are the First Lady, and the officers
wives will follow you. Oh, of course,
they are ladies, too. Little ladies.
You are a grand lady. And now
California society will be changed.
And if I have helped you make it a
social rule that poor bachelor Off
GERS may call on the ladies while
their husbands are away, think
that is very nice"
Eulalia was pleased. 81 think you
put great responsibility upon me"
she said charmingly. "But I must
admit I have no social aspirations
toward California. It would be an
empty honor to be social leader
over some Indian girls-and some
soldiers women"
"Ah, Sonora la Gobernadora, but
you will be surprised at the social
life that goes on here!"
Eulalia raised her brows.
81 will indeed. Is it possible?
What is there to do?"
"Wen, we have picnics and bar
becues in the woods around us here;
or on the beach, close by, is a
place where there are mussels and
CLAIMS to be gathered. We go there,
the Indians gather the shellfish, and
we cook and eat them. Then we
have parties in the different little
houses-dancing, music. Or we Wis
it the Preside of Santa Barbara or
of San Francisco, and have fiestas.
All, indeed" he concluded with a
shade of sarcasm, 1--WE are quite
gay"
Eulalia looked at him in surprise.
Was it possible that he was actually
pleased with such bucolic pleas
| ureS?
"But no receptions, no theaters,
no opera-no music?" she asked.
Certainly not, Sonora la Gober-
MADEIRA! Why, Sonora, I do not be-
ieve you realize that this"-and he
waved his hand about the preside
lis all there is to the capital Of
California"
81 don't believe I do, Captain
Soler. No, I'm very sure I do not.
I am still expecting to see some
thing that looks like capital city"
Soler leaned closer to her and
lowered his voice.
"You do not like California"
Eulalia started, but he went on
rapidly.
mo, you do not like California,
can see that. And I do not blame
you. It is no place for a lady of
your culture or your beauty, one
used to the life you have had. 1t is
cruel for the King to insist that the
Governor should be a family man,
and bring his wife to this country"
A trumpet called across the pre-
sidio. The great gates swung open
and the Governor of the CALIFORNIA;
rode in with a party of horsemen.
He dismissed them and cantered
across to the palacio. Soler rose to
his feet and saluted his Excellency.
WELL" said Don Pedro, "call-
ing on La Gobernadora early, I
See."
Soler cast a quick glance at the
lady.
"Yes," he replied shortly, 81 saw
her Excellency sitting alone here
and came to pay my respects. I
must be going now. I trust I have
not bored her."
mot at ALL" chimed Eulalia. 81
have enjoyed your conversation.
You must call again."
The Captain bowed again, and
swung on to his horse.
Don Pedro called in at the door,
'Indizuela!" When she answered he
spoke in the Indian dialect, and
they laughed. She brought him
chair, and wine in a cup. He threw
himself into the chair, stretching
out his legs with a sigh, and drank
his wine in thirsty gulps. Eulalia
fidgeted.
"Why were you so rude to Captain
Soler?"
81 do not like him"
"Why?"
81 never dislike anyone without
reason. He is an officious, med
ding, ambitious upstart."
"Is that all?"
"No. But why talk about him? I
am at home now, would rather talk
with my beautiful wife. Look here"
He pulled a sheaf of papers from
his wallet. 'These papers arrived
for me on the San Carlos"
Eulalia started. "The San Car
los! Where is she?"
ooh, she has come and gone
again, back to Mexico"
"Ah-she has," Eulalia sighed.
"She has gone"
eyes, but there are plenty of doc
uments for me to look to now" He
opened a rafting paper and read it
while Eulalia stared across the lone
ly bay.
A soldier, riding up to the pala-
| clio, looked at the Governor in
amazement, and saluted.
"Your Excellency, here are the
letters that you left behind you in
your Office"
"What are they?" demanded Eu-
lalia as soon as the soldier was out
of sight.
Letters from home, for you,"
answered FACES, putting them in
her lap. "The San Carlos left Them"
"And you had them in your Office
wherever that is-all this time
and forgot to bring them to me?
How could you? How could you
when you know how hungry / am
for news from home, and how long