The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-04-07
Mistress of Monterey

cately, but the lady's deepened col.
or and attentive eyes gave him per.
mission to speak farther, g. !.
queen of a court of love and beau
ty."
Eulalia only sighed, and stared
out at the turquoise waters of the
cove. Dagelet drew nearer and took
her hand gently. He stripped the
embroidered gauntlet from the re-
Taxed fingers. Leaning over sud-
denly, he kissed her, palm.
She did not start, but withdrew
her hand, still staring across the
waters. Dagelet was modify silent
for few moments before he spoke.
eyes, there it lies, the ocean"
he said at last following her gaze.
"And in two days there shall be I,
upon those heaving waters waited
hither and thither by all the winds
of heaven, drifting to strange isles
and distant lands"
"But you will be on your way
home . to your Paris with
its life and color and music. Where
the lights twinkle at night on the
boulevards. And where there is
gaiety. All, Dios de mi alma!" she
sighed, speaking in Spanish, II
would ! were going tool"
The young Frenchman was star
ing strangely into the distance.
Perhaps I shall see Paris again,
perhaps not who can say? 1t
is half around the world or more
from here, and many things can
happen. But wish you were" He
stopped suddenly. Pardon me-" he
mumbled, 81 forget myself"
"No," said Eulalia excitedly,
"say what you were going to say.
Did you not understand what said
in Spanish just now? said would
were going with you! There {.
have said it."
"Come!"
Before there was time for further
speech the Governor, La Perouse
and his French gentlemen on their
horses, Fray Fermin Lasuen and
some priests from San Carlos at
Carmel on their mules came upon
them.
"Ah, here is our hostess, La
Refine herself!" exclaimed La Pc
rouse.
The Governor looked quickly from
his wife to young Dagelet, and
crowded his horse beside his wife's.
"Why are you not seeing that
everything is ready for our guests?"
he asked shortly. "Why are
you /. ~ .........
But Eulalia, after a moments si-
lence in which she summoned fly
ing senses and thoughts back to
her, threw back her head with a
ringing laugh.
Come, my merry gentlemen!"
she cried gaily. "Come, the fiesta
awaits your pleasure! Follow me,
Senores!"
Her horse slid on its launches
straight down the bank in a cloud of
flying sand and dust. Soldiers, sci
entists and priests followed her wav-
ing hand, infected by her gaiety.
From the lady's mood the meri-
enda took its tone. Music was wild
and abandoned, jests in Spanish and
French were banded about with
great good humor, whether any un-
derstood them or not. Don Pedro
had sent hasty messages to San
Francisco and to the Preside at
Santa Barbara inviting the officers
of the two garrisons to the celebra-
ton, and they had arrived with their
| wives and children. There were the
officers of the Preside of Monterey
and their families.
And there were the wife and chill
dren of the Governor. He looked
around for them. The children were
playing wildly with other children,
and La Gobernadora was talking
and laughing vivaciously. He
frowned. There was something al.
most hysterical about her manner.
All, he had enjoyed the visit with
the Frenchmen but was privately
thankful they would soon be gone.
While the party was progressing
noisily Eulalia retreated into her
own thoughts. What had she said
to Dagelet? And what had he said
| to her?
"Come!" Could she? Was it pos.
sible? Her breath came more quick
ly at the thought. Her mind painted
picture for her, moving rapidly
into nebulous future; she saw her.
self wrapped in a mantle .
slipping across the sand lifted
into a boat. She could even hear
the sound of muffled oars. Then she
was on ship. But here the vision
broke. She would be seasick!
But she braced herself. Seasick o,
no seasick, she would go. Must 60!
California would be left behind, and
the world would be before her! 81
must" she whispered to herself. 81
! shallI"
Engrossed in her dream, uncon
scious that the picnic party was
moving away, she found herself with
her husband, the priest Lasuen, ano
La Perouse. The Governor silent
ly lifted his lady to her saddle, anc
the four rode to the top of the cliff
When they reached there, the Gov
ernor turned his horse toward the
ocean where the sinking sun was
suspended between two banks o.
clouds like a glowing Chinese Ian
tern.
81 almost wish were sailing away
into that sunset with you, Senior e
Conde," he said wistfully. 81 wish
! were"
"Ah, the sunset makes me sad
homesick!" sighed Eulalia.
| "That iS natural - said tho nriec.