Show y P Mistress o op og Of Men terre U p g r 51 Stivers Yf er Ls VJ a pL L p 11 e l L r 0 Virginia Stivers Service Bartlett I v SYNOPSIS In Spanish governed California of 1783 a 3 conflict between Church and State Is represented by two friendly enemies frail rail old Fray ro Serra Fr Franciscan Francis Francis- mels can missionary and Don Pedro Fages Faces civil governor After telling Serra he Is sending to Mexico for or his wife and son whom he has bas not seen for or eight eh years Don Pedro refuses his aid toward the founding o of the Santa Barbara mission Serras Serra's cherished dream and the two part In bitterness In Mexico City Dona Eulalia Eulalla accompanied by her duenna Angustias arrives nt at the embassy In response response re re- re to a letter from her husband md Don r P Pedro Shown a map of California by bythe bythe rf the viceroy she Is told that there she would be a n queen In her own right CHAPTER n Continued n-Continued 3 3 I suppose she panted then took tooka a deep breath and spoke defiantly coldly I suppose I ma may take my coach to Monterey As she left the the room the three men looked at one ne another Why did you tell her she might take her coach expostulated General General Gen Gen- eral de Neve to Romeu Urn Urn m she m m she m-she she might he answered answered answered an an- slowly The Viceroy was looking at the map I have heard he said tracing a trail with his finger that there are places on the ro road d where scarcely scarcely scarcely scarce scarce- ly a burro can pick its way Right agreed de Neve There are places where she will have to togo togo go on foot to CHAPTER m ID Father Serra paced quietly quietly quietly qui qui- etly along the dusty road little more than a path that led from the humble hum hum- 4 ble adobe church of San Carlos Borromeo Borromeo Bor- Bor 1 romeo to a hut but where an Indian lay dying Only an Indian but Padre Serra wore vestments suitable to the occasion and bore in his hands the sacred oil Some time later the Indians Indian's soul having been commended to Heaven Father Serra started back to the mission Horses' Horses hoofs suddenly shook the ground Two horsemen rode beside beside beside be be- side him as he limped steadily on murmuring a psalm They dismounted dismounted dismounted dis dis- dis- dis mounted near him One as he dropped on his knees crossed himself himself him him- self sell and threw his reins to the other with the same gesture Padre Serra did not glance a at t them as they knelt I beside the path But he knew well who they were ere Don Pedro Fages Gobernador General of ot the Califor- Califor nias and his servant were on their knees at the passing of ot the sacra sacra- ment When he had returned sacrament and to the church and divested himself Pio pio told him that the Gobernador Gobernador Gobernador Gob Gob- was waiting to see him He sighed deeply He had seen the Gobernador many times since they had parted so bitterly bitterly bitterly bit bit- terly that autumn evening But only only on on- ly at mass They h had ld never exchanged exchanged ex ex- changed a word since then As he tied the heavy cord about his robe his fingers trembled He prepared himself for tor the interview with a brief briet fervent prayer and went to meet Don Pedro There was a slight embarrassed silence then the Governor moved impulsively forward and knelt at atthe atthe atthe the priests priest's feet Your blessing Father he be begged With all Ill my heart answered the Franciscan Ii lifting tIng his hands over the broad shoulders of the kneeling man Then Fages rose with a deep breath and a smile Well he said Well Ah Padre mio I have news for you youl Great news good news Your prayers have been answered and so have mine minel You mean mean- mean Yes I Your two men of ot God are arriving and we shall consider the Mission Santa Barbara These priests are coming in the train that brings my wife and son to me and andI I am amBut amBut am- am But the priest heard only the first words and was stumbling toward a n chair to support his trembling frame murmuring Ave Maria Purisima Pu Pu- risima Ave Maria Marial For a moment moment mo mo- ment went his head rolled against the back of the thc chair and h his s eyes eyes' closed Fages knelt by him and looked anxiously into his face Father Father what is it he asked as he chafed the worn trembling trem trend bling bUng hands It is more than I can bear Pardon Pardon Par Par- don my weakness your Excellency but I have spent so many hours in prayer and I have hoped and feared so about this matter I 1 should have had greater faith Ah praise God Fages poured wine from a jug on the table and carried it to Serra They drank and smiled over the the cup cups Yes they arc are coming They are even now on their way Everything Everything Every Every- thing comes to pass in good time Father It rt is strange you should have to tell me that my son I will have haveA A 44 to do many penances for tor my lack of ot faith I am afraid Ah no You are arc a saint But Butz z L L think Even now the cavalcade is ison ison ison I on its way with my Dona Eulalia and Pedro the Younger as he is called for me Serra rose from his chair and limped to the Governor Ah forgive forgive forgive for for- give me I have not congratulated you OU on your happiness How joyful joy ful you must be What a happiness to have your family with you And when will this cavalcade be arriving ing Fages frowned The time will go so slowly I hardly dare compute it It will be months of course nearly a year car But because it is spring now they will be in Monterey Monterey Monterey Monte Monte- rey before the old year passes I Iam Iam Iam am going to meet them he said excitedly pacing back and forth Yes I am going to meet them and escort them here in safety I Iam Iam Iam am going at once Father for they have b by this time departed from rom Loreto The priest smiled at his Impetuous ous speech Im sure you should go You would be too impatient to sit here x VV V- V V r S i 3 g y I Ji VT V Trw Tf T fe F rr Z ti r Bola oJa Called Caned Serra and wait as I must do But I shall be here to greet you all when you return Ah yes es there was something I wanted to ask I must have my house in order and I want to have havethe havethe havethe the little Indian maid in inthe inthe the house for my wife's servant Will you see to that Serras Serra's face fell What is the matter Does she not do well wel Very well indeed She h has s been taught to sew spin cook and willbe will willbe willbe be a good wife for a good soldier But need I remind you OU that the Indian Indian Indian In In- dian neophytes are wards of ot the Church and we are responsible for their welfare We have not deemed it well for the Indian maids to associate associate as as- with the with the with the the the- With the soldiery I suppose Well good Father do not be afraid She will associate with my wife and andI I assure you she is not a soldier soldier- like person at all and will not corrupt corrupt corrupt cor cor- rupt the little ones one's morals The father protested I do not mean that And there will rill be another woman woman wom worn an too There is the Dona Angustias Angus- Angus Ha Hal She will make that Indian Indian In In- dian maid adhere to the straight and narrow path She is my wife's wite's duena a very thin female with mustachios mustachios mustachios mus- mus like a grenadier a pious churchwoman and a militant vir vir- gin Serra smiled Ah my son your humor is dear to me You are arc responsible responsible re re- for many a smile that would not otherwise have lightened my face just lust as you are responsible for many a heartache heartache but but none of ot that Come with lith me Don Pedro and you shall see They paced slowly together and stopped before an unpretentious structure built as all the other mission mission mission mis mis- sion buildings were built long and low with a thatched roof Hola called Serra The chattering chattering chattering chat chat- and laughter that rollicked through the high barred window apertures apertures apertures ap ap- ap- ap stopped A song ceased suddenly suddenly sud sud- denly in a singers singer's throat It was the quarters of ot the young Indian women half halt facetiously called the the the nunnery The sun shone on the warm red of tiled floors and vividly emphasized bright colors on blankets and cloth which some of ot the girls were ing It shone on sleek blue black heads raised for a moment from fine needlework and seemed to point out to Fages' Fages eyes a young girl whose opened half mouth had still a fragment of song Bong lingering on the lips called a womans woman's voice excitedly Girls Do you not see It is El EI Gobernador himself And Fray Rise all of ot you There was a great fluttering as the Spanish matron and her flock of dark doves made their When they were seated it j j. j r again and pretending to work Fray walked to and took look her ber by the hand saying Your benefactor El Gobernador wishes to speak to you OU child The singing girl walked toward the Governor with grace and ond poise Somehow lighter somehow taller somehow formed fairer than other Indians he thought as she came the long length of the room She waited for him to speak first but he only twisted his beard soshe soshe so soshe she spoke in careful Spanish I 1 hope you are well Senor el I Gobernador I pray God for tor your I good health and deliverance from rom romall all infirmities I thank God daily for your kindness in saving me from irom death and horror Fages started at her words Someone has taught you to say that You have learned it word by word Haven't you Si Senor el Gobernador Padre and Dona Maria have taught me Fages laughed twinkling his eyes and opening his mouth widely Theother Theother The Theother other girls and the matron looked at one another Serra looked at the floor Have you ou then so little gratitude gratitude gratl tude that you must have words put into your mouth to thank me for bringing you here from the desert of the Colorado where I found you deserted and starving What say you The girl looked at the matron matron- then proceeded along her own lines They would not let me say the things I think myself Senor For I have said you are arc the most wonderful wonder wonder- ful man in the world I think you arc are a god surely and that that that- Ai Al ai al The matron hurried forward and Father Serra lifted a restraining hand But Fages only roared louder You are right Dona Maria and Fray Dont Don't let her talk about me A god god god-a a hero Ai Al ai ai ail Ho ho ho- ho hoHe He stopped breath breath- lessly The girls giggled and ond Indi Indi- zuela sat indifferently down to her weaving At last Fages got his breath After all Padre he said she is just a child My son answered the friar I Iam 1 am pleased at It your Come with me and see this dove dove- cote He led the Governor through the long dormitory where he could see little straw pallets beneath barred windows Nests where they sleep at It night safe from harm explained the priest They went into the kitchen where great bowls of mush boiled and bubbled and curious girls watched the process that the they might learn it Then they passed into the garden Now Pedro Fages said Serra gravely think well on what you have seen Remember this dovecote dovecote dovecote dove dove- cote where ignorant Indian girls are made into useful pious women where they are kept safe from the evils of ot the world Most of the girls you have seen so busily engaged engaged en en- would have been depraved animals had it not been for the teaching we bring them I know replied the Governor thoughtfully Do you not think they are Ire better of off as they arc are inquired Serra a anxiously n. Do you not think they arc are r really ally happier happl r Think of their lives as savages You know aswell aswell as aswell well as I the frightful filthy customs customs customs cus cus- toms that attend the Indian women at their child bearing Ugh indeed I do Padre He put his hand on the others other's shoulder der You are a wonder worker he said respectfully Thank you Oh I have prayed my son that the blessed Santa Maria Maria Ma Ma- ria would soften your Heart eart toward her poor savage children If It that had happened it if th that t could happen hap hap- pen the pen the way of Serra would havo have been much easier in inthis inthis inthis this land Fages looked thoughtful You are right But Our Lady does not seem to think her servant worthy of bein being filled with the milk of ot human kindness I am sorry You have deserved better Serra raised a hand In protest I have received what I have de de- de- de served It is my destiny to irrigate this vice covered field with my blood Fages fingered his beard Um m. I should call that destiny a 0 doom To mingle ones one's blood with the soil of California I There could be more dreadful dooms Well spoke Serra with heartiness heartiness heartiness ness we will not consider that now I could sing for joy at the news you have bro brought me mel My hearts heart's wish my Mission Santa Barbara Barbara Barbaral Bar Bar- bara baral At last at last Yes and my Eulalia and my young Pedro at last Now I must go I am departing early carlyon on the morrow and will ill not see you again until I lead that train from faraway faraway faraway far far- away Mexico with your two good goodmen goodmen goodmen men of God into the Royal Presidio of Monterey And then what plans we shall make for the Mission of ot Santa Barbara CHAPTER IV The Lady Eulalia huddled herself hersel into as os small a bundle as she could on the doubtful seat scat of ot the lancha which was pulling rapidly away from rom the unfriendly harbor of San Bias As the standing oarsmen bent to their long sweeps she could glimpse between them the low warehouses warehouses ware ware- houses on the shore and the bare ribs of a sh ship p under construction Inthe in inthe inthe the shipyard But her tear-filled tear eyes watched until it was no larger than a watermelon seed her comfortable com com- comfortable coach sitting on the shore Resolutely she looked about her herin herin herin in the craft There sat Angustias with her pet Capuchin monkey In her arms cuddling the shivering little beast to her gaunt breast her eyes as dismal as the monkeys monkey's Pedro the Younger sat beside her Soon a huge shadow loomed over them They looked up There with screaming gulls wheeling wheeling wheeling wheel wheel- ing and whirling about her rose the steep sides and high ungainly ungainly poop poop of at the San Carlos sometimes sometimes sometimes some some- times called the Golden Fleece For a few terrifying moments Eulalia Eulalia Eulalia Eu Eu- lalia hung between heaving sea and uncertain sky clambering up the bulging unfriendly sides of the San Carlos to the deck Immediately in her stuffy cabin began a suspension of time and faculties faculties faculties fac fac- broken only once as she roused herself herselt to ask sk a question atthe of at the drear Angustias wan with worry over her seasick monkey My chests they are safe safe safe- aboard Being reassured that the 50 chests of raiment jewels linens and silks were safely stowed she relapsed again into her coma of ento seasickness and emerged not until she was safely on the shores of Baja California California Anxiously she regarded regard regard- ed the ancient mission settlement of ot Loreto the first outpost of that mysterious land to which she was summoned Here was the sordidness sordidness sordidness sordid- sordid ness for which she had been prepared prepared prepared pre pre- pared but where were the glories that had been mentioned Beautiful l California s 's she h he e sneered Lovely California My home Ha Then she smiled graciously graciously gra gra- at the young officer come to escort her to quarters in the quad quad- rangle Once within its bare white whitewalls whitewalls whitewalls walls she felt she could abandon herself herselt to all her |