Show E dof Mistress of Monterey D Virginia Stivers Bartlett VIRGINIA STIVERS BARTLETT Service SYNOPSIS In Spanish Spanish governed California of 1783 a conflict between Church and State Is 15 represented by two friendly enemies frail old Fray Serra Franciscan missionary mission mission- ary and Don Pedro Fages civil governor After telling Serra he Is sending to Mexico for his wife and son whom he has not seen for lor eight years he refuses his aid toward founding the Santa Barbara Mission Dona Eulalia Eulalla agrees to go to California accompanied accorn- accorn by her duenna Angustias Don Pedro Pedro Pedro Pe Pe- Pe- Pe dro sends for Serra telling him that two priests are arc on their way from Mexico with Eulalla Eulalia and young Pedro and that he Is leaving to meet them Fages engages a ayoung ayoung young oung Indian girl as ns maid for Eulalia Eulalla Eulalia Eulalla sails from San Bias Blas It Is Ls Isa isa a desolate trip From the port of Loreto a large cavalcade loaded with Eulalia's party parly starts out for the long overland trip Eulalia Eulalia Eula Eula- lia accustomed to luxury and comfort bitterly bitterly bit bit- terly regrets having been persuaded to come The two priests Fray Mariano and Fray Bartolomeo call on her and arouse tier her suspicions as to their genuineness As the cavalcade stops slops at various missions Eulalia Eulalla hears rumors rumo's of the approach of her ber husband While Don Pedro plans a great fiesta to welcome his wife Eulalia Eulalla plans her costume Don Pedro welcomes his beautiful wife and young son Eulalia Eulalla Is toasted as the Queen of the On the long Journey to Monterey the reunited reunited ed couple are royally royall entertained at the Presidio at San Diego Eulalia Eulalla disapproves of Cf the democratic relations of Don Pedro and his people Pleading weariness in the midst of the feast she goes to bed where Angustias tells her she knows Eulalla Eulalia Is again to become a mother Don Pedro is disturbed by the developments in the character character char char- acter Deter of the priests and dreads Serras Serra's disappointment disappointment dis dis- appointment In them Limping from rom mission mis- mis elon sion to mission Father Serra has a vision of St. St Francis and tells his saintly master that he be will be ready to Join him when Santa Barbara Mission Is founded Meanwhile l Eulalia Eulalla finds there is a conflict between Serra and Don Pedro and plans to use the priest as an In ally I CHAPTER XI Continued XI-Continued Continued 9 9 ee Ah Ah La Gobernadora said the priest Your prayers are answered too Don Pedro His words to her were simple a welcome a blessing Then she was on her mount again Dimly she heard Pedrito presented to the padre and others talking But she was silent as though under undera a spell Good Father the Governor was saying you must mount my horse and we will all ride into Monterey to together ether Come ome up with ith you Fray drew back ee Ah Ah my son you know I never ride I still have the legs God gave me though one of them is not very good The Governor threw his reins toa to toa toa a body Then uThen with your permission Padre Pad Pad- re I will walk with you Yes yes And my two Brothers- Brothers in-God in Where are you my Brothers Brothers Broth Broth- ers He looked around him The two friars who were muttering to each other joined him with sanctimonious sanctimonious sanctimonious sancti sancti- smiles Again Serra put his arms about them We uWe will walk together this way Brothers I the older in the center with two strong good young trees like yourselves to toJean tolean tolean lean Jean against eh he asked delight delight- edly The others acquiesced in em em- Young Pedro slipped his hand into his fathers father's and walked beside him The Governor looked at his lady so still and white on her white ho horse e. e My dear he began She smiled at him but addressed the priest I UI too would walk with your Reverence Reverence Reverence Rev Rev- but laying a hand on her heart with a dignified significant gesture you see how it is with me The priest returned her smile and raised a hand to herBut herBut her But I will follow slowly behind you if I may CHAPTER XII The Governors Governor's lady sat in a great made hand-made chair of native sycamore sycamore sycamore more wood on the portal of her new home basking in the warm sun sun- shine Her feet rested on Escabel- Escabel lito who lay eying Chichi tethered to one of the upright logs that supported supported supported sup sup- ported the thatched roof of the por por- tal From within the house came sounds of bustle and fuss and Angustias' Angustias Angustias' Angustias Angustias An- An exasperated voice as she and the maids with the help of a couple of Indian girls strove to dispose dispose dispose dis dis- dis- dis pose of the contents of Eulalia's trunks and chests which crowded the small house The arrival had been exciting For some time tune before they Padre Serra Serra Serra Ser Ser- ra the Governor young Pedro and herself had reached the presidio they could hear bells ringing volleys volleys volleys vol vol- leys of shots singing As they drew nearer they could see moving figures figures figures fig fig- ures black in the glow from great bonfires built in the center and four corners of the walled waned presidio It was all too confusing for her to get any definite impressions of the place or of the people that crowded about her Only two personalities remained remained remained re re- re- re with her One was a round dark officious little man presented by her husband as Capitan Nicolas Soler The other was an Indian girl about fifteen who was awaiting awaiting await await- awaiting ing them in hi the house The girl had glanced casually at La Gobernadora Gobernadora Gobernadora Gober Gober- then kept her eyes on the Governor He had patted her head and called her Eulalia frowned and kicked Es- Es slightly as he slapped Chichi Chichi Chi Chi- Chichi chi who was reaching tentative exploratory exploratory exploratory ex ex- ex- ex fingers toward the small Indians Indian's thatch of long hair Um-m. Um Rather pretty Some Spanish blood in in her background background background back back- ground undoubtedly She would have to inquire very carefully about In In- At least she was adequately adequate adequate- ly clothed La Gobernadora sighed and stared out at the presidio basking basking basking bask bask- ing in the spring sun So USo this is the place she reflect reelect ed This is the Royal Presidio ofSan of ofSan ofSan San Carlos de dc Monterey That butin hut but hutin hutin in the center of the enclosure is no doubt the royal chapel I can hardly believe there were manifestations manifestations manifestations of joy and thanksgiving when this place was founded or that bells rang masses were celebrated and congratulations published all over Spain and Mexico As Eulalia gazed broodingly across the bay she knew suddenly sudden sudden- ly that this was the first of many hours she would pass so Hours when she would strain her eyes futilely futilely futilely fu- fu wa watching the bay of Mon Monterey Monterey Monte Monte- terey te- te rey hoping for a ship to arrive with news from the world and fresh faces longing for a break in the deadly monotony of life in the Royal Presidio of Monterey No Nol she exclaimed so suddenly that jumped She pushed him aside with her foot and stood hands clenched at her sides Nol No NolI I will not live the rest of my life like a captive in chains or a wild bird caged I I will escape She went into the house After the blaze of sun shining on the sandy parade ground before her house and on the gleaming whitewash whitewash whitewash white white- wash of the walls and houses she was blinded for a moment When vision returned she paced slowly through the six rooms of the Governors Governor's Governors Governor's Gov Gov- Governors Governor's palace She passed down the hall and looked into the room dining-room long low and narrow with a made hand-made rt w t L O. O f j ri f r f 1 t I Ij J J 1 I I J.- J. s i M eti 1 L Lr r r n a 3 tt r 1 L' L i f tip Fray Drew Back sideboard table benches and one window looking out into the kitchen garden Next the room dining-room a bedroom Angustias' Angustias across the hall halla a chamber for young Pedro and another for the Governor and his lady She went into her bedchamber and found Angustias her maids and the Indian girls in a state of con con- fusion Ah my lady exclaimed the Buena duena duena du- du ena if you could only give me some word of advice Where shall I put this stuff There isn't room inthe inthe in inthe the house for it all Angustias said Eulalia her voice trembling I cant can't tell you what to do It seems to me we shall have to live here like a soldiers soldier's fam fam- ily Do our cooking in the middle of the floor eat with our hands and throw scraps to the dogs The Governors Governor's Governors Governor's Governors Governor's Gov Gov- palace indeed I It is only fit for a soldiers soldier's woman and her brood of dirty brats Angustias saw the need for firm action I admit it isn't much of a place she said beginning to stir about briskly But we will do the best we can Your clothes of course can remain in the chests and they can be pushed back against the walls walls' She began pulling things about And these can go in the sala and these in the room dining-room and and and- andAi Ai ai Angustias Stop it Listen Unpack only the clothes that I need for the present As for the other things leave them alone What is the use of unpacking them I will not be here long Angustias stopped What do you mean nina Not be here long She stepped over and looked anxiously anxiously anxiously into her mistress' mistress face Do uDo you feel ill Do you feel that you are going to to-to to to die When your time comes Eulalia laughed nervously No no Forget what I said I Iam Iam Iam am not afraid I am going to die Make things as comfortable as youcan you youcan youcan can my good Angustias for th the e present She patted the anxious woman on the shoulder and walked out into the sunshine again agnin She became aware of a little flurry flurry flurry flur flur- ry among the soldiers rs at the gate A man was riding into the enclosure ure his clothes and horse a bright spot of moving color Across the parade-ground parade he moved toward the palacio his mount curveting and caracoling spiritedly He pulled up before the lady in the big chair and swinging off his hat bowed low much to her surprise Then she recognized recognized recognized rec rec- him It was Capitan Nicolas Soler whose face she remembered from the evening before beCore He was all smiles and bows and made not an anI I unhandsome figure in his gay I clothes raiment which looked rather rath rath- er strange to Eulalia as she had not been in California long enough to become acquainted with the singular lar and characteristic style the Californian Californian Californian Cal- Cal gentlemen had adopted Greetings to you Senora la Gobernadora Gobernadora Gob Gob- l I he cried I III know your Excellency is not receiving visitors as yet but I have made so bold asto as asto asto to come and call nevertheless You will not be so unkind as to send me away Eulalia smiled If it is the custom of ladies in California to receive early visits from gentlemen while their husbands husbands husbands hus hus- bands arc are busy I suppose you may Capitan Soler He dismounted and walked toward her He was short and broad for his height and Eulalia had a rapid impression that he looked like a fighting rooster with enormous silver silver silver sil sil- ver spurs springing from his heels like a game cocks Again he bowed ceremoniously and kissed her hand Then when the lady gave him permission he sat near her feet and leaned against a post I do not know what the customs of the ladies are in California he said chattily Anything that you may do any precedent you may establish es- es establish establish es es- will be followed by all the women in the province For you are the First Lady and the officers' officers wives will follow you Oh of course they are ladies too Little ladies ladics You are a grand lady And now California society will be changed And if I have helped you make it asocial a asocial asocial social rule that poor bachelor officers officers officers cers may call on the ladies while their husbands are away I think that is very nice Eulalia was pleased I think you put a 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 girls and and some soldiers' soldiers women Ah Senora la Gobernadora but you will be surprised at the social life that goes on here herel Eulalia raised her brows I will indeed Is it possible What is there to do Well we have picnics and barbecues barbecues barbecues bar bar- in the woods around us here or on the beach close by is a place where there are mussels and clams 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 houses dancing dancing music Or we visit visit visit vis vis- it the Presidio of Santa Barbara or of San Francisco and have fiestas Ah indeed he concluded with a shade of sarcasm we are quite gay gay Eulalia l looked e at at him im in surprise was It u inai ne was actually pleased with such bucolic pleas pleasures ures But no receptions no theaters no opera opera opera-no no music she asked Certainly not Senora la Gobernadora Gobernadora Gober Gober- Why Senora I do not believe believe believe be be- lieve you realize that thi thic this and and and he waved his hand about the presidio is II is is all there is to the capital of California I dont don't believe I do Capitan Soler No Im I'm very sure I do not I am still expecting to see something something something some some- thing that looks like a capital city Soler leaned closer to her and lowered his voice You do not like California Eulalia started but he went on rapidly No you do not like California I Ican Ican I Ican can see that And I do not blame you It is no place for a lady of your culture or your beauty one I used to the life you have had It is cruel for the King Ring to insist that the Governor should be a family man and bring his wife to this country A trumpet called across the pre pre- sidio The great grent gates swung open and the Governor of the 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 Vell said Don Pedro calling calling calling call ing on La Gobernadora early I see Soler oler cast a quick glance at the lady Indy Yes he replied shortly I leI saw her Excellency sitting alone here and came to pay my respects I must be going now I trust I have not bored her Not at all alII chimed Eulalia I have enjoyed your conversation You must call again The Capitan bowed again and swung on to his horse Don Pedro called in at the door When she answered he spoke in the Indian dialect and they laughed She brought him a 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 Capitan Soler I uI do not like him Why I uI never neve dislike anyone without reason He is an officious meddling meddling meddling med med- ambitious upstart Is that all Mr Nn n tl f 4 t T oJ u 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 Carlos Carlos Car Car- los Where is she Oh she has come and gone again back to Mexico Ah she Ah she has Eulalia sighed She has gone Yes but there are plenty of documents documents documents doc doc- for me to look to now He opened a rattling paper and read it while |