Show Mistress s ress of Monterey VIRGINIA STIVE STIVERS RS BARTLETT BARTLETTO O C Virginia Stiver Bartlett Barnett Bente CHAPTER Continued U 14 14 When next Pedro Fages heard of Serra he was already bur bur- fed The days that had elapsed from the hour that he had said an embittered farewell to Francisco Palou riding through the rain to the side of his dying brother the Governor Governor Governor Gov Gov- had spent In a silence so great that no one had dared disturb it No ne knew how far or where he traveled with only his horse as companion But he was seen a lonely figure tragic aloof along the bleak crags sometimes walkIng walk walk- Ing one hand tugging his beard theother the theother theother other clenched behind him the faithful horse following with bent neck cropping at the scant grasses or riding furiously with wilh th the wind On the night of the christening La Gobernadora took her to her bed and did not rise from it for days defending herself from the Governors Governor's black mood and despair with a fever that burned her hollow hollow- eyed eed The people of the Presidio of ofSan ofSan ofSan San trod softly during the crises of their Governor and his bis lady The women whispered as as- askance askance kance kanee in corners and took the part of La Gobernadora in hen hel attitude toward her husband But the men remained silent or cursed softly when the ladys lady's name was men men- As though to mock Don Pedro when the news of the Padre Presidente's Pres I- I dentes dente's death arrived the day was clear sparkling as sometimes the days are in the San Francisco country coun country try in late August and early Sep Sep- When he received the message Don Pedro went straight to La Gobernadora's Gobernadora's Gobernadora's Gob- Gob room for the first time in days and stood before her for mally He is dead he said curtly Eulalla Eulalia closed her eyes Still the Governor stood silently awaiting some word from his wife After a awhile awhile awhile while she opened her eyes I am sorry she said softly It must be a relief to you to know that it is over She tried to sit up up- right Will you help me she asked I think I should like to get getup getup getup up today It is the first time I have seen the sun for such a long time I will call Angustias No please You can wrap me in ina a cover and carry me outside if you will He bundled her into a quilt and took her in his arms without without with with- out altering his expression Light as a child she was as he carried her outdoors and into the golden sunlight Servants hurried with chairs Angustias followed with the baby Then the people of the presidio were amazed to see the Governor his youngest youngest born born in his arms sitting sitting sitting sit sit- ting quietly beside his lady taking the thea air i She has won him over our beautiful beautiful beau beau- I Gobernadora I whispered the women happily Gracias a aDios Dies But the men glowered at the domestic do do- scene and muttered She has won the zorral Then all aU uncovered and knelt hastIly hastily hastily hast hast- ily as the bells began tolling for forthe forthe forthe the passing of Serra Both men and women were wrong A few days later a small package and a letter were brought to the Governor It was the last letter Serra had written to be opened after his death And the package Pedro Fages opened it before he opened the letter He found a small square of grayish grayish- brown cloth coarse and worn thin made into a scapular He did not need Francisco Palou's accompanying accompany accompany- ing ng note to tell him what it was but held it in his hands a moment then opening the throat of his leather jerkin slipped the scapular around his bis neck by its cord until the blessed scrap of Serras Serra's robe rested rested rest rest- ed on the strong arch of his breast Then he picked up the letter and read the opening words word My beloved beloved beloved be be- loved son It was obviously the letter of a avery avery avery very sick man one at the point of death The thought rambled the and down down- downhill sentences staggered up up- hill He spoke of hours they had spent together r on th the march of the hundred little black heaps scattered scattered scattered scat scat- the length of California which had been camp campfires fires they bad had shared If I had been a soldier or you fOU a priest he had written at one point I could have understood you better better bet bet- ter Pedro my son but I could not have loved love you more During all the perusal the Governors Governor's Governors Governor's Governors Governor's Gov Gov- eyes had been filled with tears so that he had many times to dry them But at the last para para- paragraph graph a nash flash of rage dried the tears When all else had fallen away from me said the faint lines Unes I had bad hoped that your faithful wife could accomplish that which was impossible In our talks together she had promised that she would intercede with you for our friendship friendship friend friend- ship and for the founding of the Mission of Santa Barbara Darbara But that has failed for you have made no sign And that Is 11 not Dona Eulalas Eulala's Eulalia's Eulalia's Eula Eula- lias lia's fault for she has tried I had hoped you would listen to her when h n she told you the messages message I have sent of my trust and confidence in you yau you The Governor read no further but crumpling the letter in his hand went to seek his wife lie He found her leaning over the crude cradle filled inconsistently with laces and pillows where lay his little daughter Roughly he pulled Eulalla Eulalia away from the infant and stood before the cradle You have no right to touch that child he said his face working with rage You a deceitful lying woman lower than the low Eulalia Eulalla put both hands hand to her face as she staggered back What do you mean What Is s it What has happened Pedro Pedr Fages stretched the letter toward her Read It read every word She read rapidly until she reached the words that had sent the Gover Cover Governor nor raging to her She let the letter slip to the floor as 81 she stood with trembling lips her hands pressed over her heart staring at her hus bus band You made promises to him n to help him when he was desperate I You kept me from him when he was sick dying I You kept me from him when he was laid in the grave You drove him to that grave with your false friendship and your empty promises God knows what your plots and schemes were but they al alt r t q t vw si t 2 The Governor Seized the Counts Count's Hand lland Gratefully will never succeed for you are a murderess I He lie stopped as though the word choked him then putting his hll hand to his throat flung the accusation accusation accusation ac ac- at her again alain Murderess I Eulalia took a wavering step toward toward to to- ward him her hands outstretched as though to ward oft off bludgeons then sank at his feet CHAPTER The Lady Governor La Gobernadora Gober Gober- Gobernadora returned to Monterey with her husband in a pleased unusual and utterly unaccountable state of ol complete subjugation Unaccountable at least to his Excellency If It Dona Eulalia Eulalla had a confidante and having one one confided in her much might have been learned But the Governor went his way with a little sense of guilt after his outburst In San Francisco and enjoyed the favors of his docile wife greatly He III enjoyed watching her nurse curse the child who flourished like a wild wild-fi he enjoyed seeing her beauty re blossom re-blossom and watched the airs of the Monterey peninsula give his ladys lady's cheeks a clarity and glow that had never graced them before The lady herself drifted for two whole years in this state of docility She even grew to enjoy the simple social pleasures of the presidio the clam bakes and the dances the gossip gossip gossip gos gos- sip with other women of the colony Sometimes in the midst of some simple gaiety she would pause anc ancher and her mind would grope as though to remember something Then she he would recall her grievance anc and withdraw into herself California I Here lIere she was after two years And she had vowed she would be In Mexico City before that thaU She would wring her hands helplessly There was nothing to do des Nowhere to turn Serra she shuddered He III was in his grave And Nicolas Soler with his wild dreams dreamt of the governorship had slowly but surely gone blind and returned to Mexico Surely all al who had crossed Serra suf ered And often she looked at the girl lissome brown mysterious who served her master the Governor like a dog and won won- dere dered L Something might be done doneth there here th r But Dut days months years slipped by and end nothing happened Nothing happened to Eulalia Eulalla She sat in la front of her mirror and scanned her black tresses for silver sUver threads frowning with a sick fear at her heart But events marched nevertheless around the lady And though she was unaware of them their Influence influence influence ence reached her penetrated her defenses Eulalia Cells de Fages found the white hair she had feared finding set her teeth pulled it then wept on her husbands husband's breast in the gubernatorial gubernatorial gubernatorial gub gub- bed And the Governor smiled and liked It Pedro Fages went about long delayed delayed de- de ayed and heart breaking plans for forthe forthe the he mission to Santa Barbara and still another Mission La Purisima lie He wrote scathing diatribes on the laziness bestiality gambling profligacy prof and immorality of a little pueblo pueblo El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora de la Reina Relna de Los Angeles Angeles An An- geles which the natives called Los Angeles The diatribes did no good On a bright sunny day in August 1784 about the time that Eulalia gave lave birth to her California flower there was a great hubbub in to the harbor of New York city All AU the notables of the new nation were at atland I hand land to greet a distinguished visitor tor who with a love for the young country county in his young heart had traveled across the ocean to pay a visit of congratulation There were public receptions congressional honors George Washington extended extend extend- ed Id th the hospitality of Mount Vernon to the guest From France came Marie Jean JeanPaul JeanPaul JeanPaul Paul Roch Yves Guilbert Motier Marquis de La Fayette general and statesman Two years and a month later two ships sailed grandly into the Bay Day of Monterey as whales frisked and blew around them France was wondering wondering won won- dering about America America thoughtful thought thought- ful about what country lay west of that nation visited by the Marquis de dc La Fayette Dreaming perhaps that another empire might lie beyond beyond beyond be be- yond the mountains and Inland seas the deserts and plains west of the mighty Father of Waters So His Most Christian Majesty Louis XVI of France sent two ships around the world to visit California Califor Califor- California nia under the leadership of an accomplished ac scientist and gallant gentleman the Comte Jean Francola Fran Fran- cols cola de La Perouse it It happened one gray morning in September that Don Esteban Martinez Marti Marti- Martinez nez commanding two Spanish frigates frigates frig frig- ates the old San Carlos and the Princesa Princes a that lay in the nay flay of Monterey saw two lofty ships loom out of the fog for a moment before be fore disappearing Then they were reported by a lookout on on shore and andall andall andall all day watchers saw them glide like phantom ships out of the mists At night they disappeared entirely Morning brought sunshine and a closer view of the ships Don Pedro ordered Don Esteban to send out two pilots and watched the little pilot boat put out toward the drifting drifting drift drift- ing strangers Through his glasses he strove to make out the flags they flew What are they Who are they breathed Eulalia Eulalla eagerly her chin chinon on his shoulder He propped the glasses before her eyes holding her in his arm Look and see perhaps you cantell can cante cantell te tell 11 better than I. I I. I I see ice sell Oh Ohl A fleur de list Frenchmen I Yes you are right That will be the expedition of whom I 1 have been advised by the Viceroy La La La Perouse the Conde de La Perouse A count shrilled Eulalla Eulalia She snatched the glasses from him and pointed them as though she expected to see the French gentleman smile at her Ah Au Ahl she said after a long un un- I satisfying look We must prepare to entertain them I suppose She said it very calmly but her heart was wu aflutter Two shiploads of French gentlemen and end a count to her that meant news of the world for or which she longed news of labelle la belle France of Spain of opera books theater coiffures modes As she rode back loathe presidio to prepare for the entertainment of mind ran over the articles of her own wardrobe jewels and ics Now she sang praise God something will happen It was late afternoon before the frigates the Astrolabe and the were safely at anchor and the Governor who had not left oil oft watching saw two long boats put putout putout putout out for shore hore seeming to thread their way among the whales diving and spouting about them As A. the boats landed strong barelegged bare bare- legged Indians assisting the sailors who leaped into the water Pedro Fage stepped forward to greet a pleasant round faced officer in Immaculate Immaculate immaculate Im Im- maculate uniform and white curled and accompanied accompanied accompanied by several other gentlemen For an Instant even while he had his hand stretched In welcome he had a moments moment's panic These were Frenchmen and he spoke poke no French that Is no decent French But Dut the Comte de La Perouse was already greeting him in broken friendly Spanish and the Governor seized the Counts Count's hand gratefully When Don Pedro invited Ja La Perouse Perouse Pe Pe- rouse and his hit aide Le Pante Dage Dage- let let a young man who spoke no Spanish at all to dine din with him saying that his wife expected then ther- them the stranger raised his eyebrows and accepted Ills His wife he said in French aside to his aide Surely there areno are areno areno no ladies ladie here in this God Godforsaken God forsaken spot As they entered the adobe palacio they saw La Gobernadora framed in candlelight La Perouse snatched his three three- cornered gold laced gold laced hat from his faultless So did Le Pante Both Doth gentlemen bowed from the hips deeply amazedly The lady greeted them In French with a slight b hesitation and a tiny accent of Castilian that the gentle genUe- gentlemen men found delightful All An through the dinner which though strange to their palates they relished they watched La Gobernadora Gobernadora Goberna Goberna- dora dory in surprise The deference their obvious curiosity told the lady of their admiration with every took rook and gesture So though she was bursting with things to say things say things which must be said she said she played the part of the Lady Governor with dignity and chaste smiles smites keeping a wifely silence while white her lord and master made speech with his guests But Dut when the Governor and his guests pulled their chairs around the open fire La Perouse began speaking We have been here in your California California Cali Cali- fornia but a few hours Monsieur le Ie Gouverneur he said and have already al- al already already al al- ready met many surprises First It was a surprise to find the place What fogs Is the weather this way all the time And then the whales I I 1 did not know they smelled smelted so badly when they blow that beautiful beautiful beautiful beau beau- geyser It Is a very bad perfume per per- fume Pedro Fages laughed defensively We do not smell smelt that ashore here La Gobernadora smiled Very often octen she murmured softly soft ly In French The Governor looked at her sharply sharp sharp- |