Year: 1873

/ come more rec0nciIed to their will


In the interval thus granted the time
for the return of Carlos would expire,
and Marcillina prayed daily for the ar
rival of her betrothed, with the fortune
that was to find him favor in the eyes
of her parents. The two years were
rapidly drawing to a close, and yet no
sign or token had come, save what she
found in the vigorous growth of her
cherished vine At length her parents
pressed with poverty, and weary of the
prolonged indulgence to what they con
sidered an idle fancy, fixed the day for
the wedding, with the suitor of their
| choice, whose only recommendation was
his wealth


! The eve Of Marcellina's wedding day
was the second anniversary of the part
ing in the oIive-grove, when Carlos told
her that if he did not return or send her
word within two years she might know
he was dead. She had crept away from
the scene of busy preparation within
her home, and, hiding herself beneath
! the shadow of her beloved vine, which
was now large enough to shelter her
from casual observation in the uucer-
tain cleaning, she sobbed and wept
calling upon the Virgin, in hopeless an
guish, to take her away to the spirit
world, where she believed Carlos to be.


Approaching footsteps arrested her at
tention. She started guiltily and at
tempted to hide her tears, for she dared
not let her parents know she still
mourned her absent lover.


sc Lina-Linar' greeted her ears in a
familiar voice, and stayed her fight
Tremblingly she awaited the near ap-
proach of the intruder, when, with one
wild, joyous cry of &c Carlosr' she drop
ped into his arms, her beautiful head
pressed close to his throbbing heart.


It was indeed, Carlos, returned at
last, faithful to his promise, bringing
a fortune at least equal to that of her
aged and detested suitor.


Carlos, with faith in his love and
confidence in his ultimate success, fol-
lowed the Indian across the Coast Range
into the heart of the Sierras, where he
proved the honesty of his guide and the
truth of his promises by the marvellous
deposits of gold to which he hadled them.
Two years suficed so gain the fortune
for which they so earnestly sought and
strove.


And other things being equal, the
Don and Dona consented that their
daughter should choose between the
suitors, and the next day, instead of be-
ing led to the altar a wretched sacrifice
to their ambition and avarice, she went
as the willing and happy bride of her
adoring Carlos.


Years passed away; Don and Dona
Feliz died, and reverses deprived Carlos
of his wealth. But, strange to say, the
faithful vine, once a token of fidelity
| between the lovers, now became their
means of support; for so prolific had it
| become, and so little did the indolent
| Spanish about them turn their attention
to the culture of the grape, that its
fruit brought them an income sufficient
for their maintenance.


About twelve years ago a second vine
sprang up near the original one and
grew rapidly, until now it nearly equals
it in size. A large dancing floor was
erected beneath the shadow of the vine.
and here the Spanish youths and mai
dens united in the merry dance on
Sabbath evenings, according to their
national custom.


Carlos and Narcellina died at a good
old age, leaving behind them three hun
dred lineal descendants, and the big
grapevine, which will keep green their
memory and the story of their love and
faithfulness long after children and
grandchildren cease to tell the story.


Hundreds of tourists annually visit
the place, and wonder while they gaze
upon its vast proportions, and listen to
the accounts of marvellous productive
ness.


Yet, to me, the heart history of
which it is a living momento is its
greatest charm; and I love to dream,
while standing beneath its spreading
branches, and gazing far out upon the
broad, blue Pacific, whose waters spar
kle in the distance, of the true-hearted
Spanish maiden who planted it in the
faith which springs from an immortal
love, and who watered it with her tears.