Show L E IL A I 1 wo 0 1 r asem sp of mont erlay 0 virginia silvers guv bartlett virginia ViE inia stivers bavers aft a basc bartlett service SYNOPSIS in spanish governed california ot of 1783 a conflict between between church and state is depre tented by two friendly enemies trail frail old fray Juni gunipero pero serra franciscan miss mission on ary and don pedro fages civil governor alter after telling serra he Is sending to mexico tor for his wife and son on whom he has not teen seen tor for eight years don pedro refuses his aid toward the founding of the santa barbara mission serras cherished dream and the two part in bitterness CHAPTER I 1 continued 2 heretical words how dare you speak so Is it not to th the glory of god that these pagans beave have been taught decency cleanliness that they have been taught the word ot of god and that they have learned it is the lot of man to labor and toil honestly to produce a living from the soil in the sweat of their brows can you refute that pages fages managed a twisted smile consider the lilies of the field he quoted 4 they toil not can you refute that 1 I shall not try to you but mock such inspired words no you will not try to because you know you can not you know that before these poor savages came into the church they were at least healthy look at them bowl now diseased and who is responsible for that can you tell me yes but you will no not it is the soldiers your soldiers lie s the kin kings Is soldiers soldier sl they have seduced the poor indian women and given them the loathsome diseases of the europeans they are dying of it like flies no that is what you have brou brought alit therril them pages fages reio rejoined ined serra stagg staggered erca before god explain explain those words what I 1 have brought yes you you and your missionaries sion aries with your gaped to save souls for the further glory and power of an already too powerful church serra was struggling 2 for control and when he spoke his voice was thick and trembling rash man godless man I 1 wonder heaven does not open and the fires of holy wrath descend and destroy you ile he raised his hands with spread fingers and advanced toward the governor on your head be the blame we men of god ask no escort of soldiery it is forced upon us by the rapacious state eager for dominion swollen with the spoils of stolen empires leave us alone you men of war the cross must go alone clutching the crucifix of his rosary he held it before him alone the cross will con conquer I 1 ask for no soldiers I 1 ask for priests pedro pages fages men of god I 1 strong in the strength of righteousness not armed with steel men bearing t the e word of god with divine love i in their hearts not the fires of lust that burn and mill kill ile he sank to his knees blessed mother of god holy ghost divine holy master jesus here on my knees before you I 1 the least of thy servants gunipero Juni pero serra do do make a vow send me two strong brethren and with their help alone will I 1 raise to thee a temple the mission santa barbaral barbara then will I 1 willingly give up my soul and without one regret tread the dark valley of the shadow of death the boy plo pio slipped fearfully into the room padre mio he whispered awesomely it is the hour for vespers shall 1 I ring the bell the father raised his face stained with tears drawn with agony he nodded and the boy departed silently for a few moments the two men regarded each other then the governor gathered up hat and riding whip that lay on the table good night he said abruptly may your prayers be answered the other looked at hn him imploringly god soften your heart said he As pedro pages fages and his servant rode away toward the presidio of Mori terey they heard the plaintive notes of the vesper bells through the carmel valley CHAPTER II 11 A thousand cries rose from the street below and filtered through the open velvet hung windows of a room in the upper floor of the palace of the viceroy of mexico one mayorga venders benders were hawking their wares foodstuffs parrots baskets pottery burros and young pigs the viceroy for the fiftieth time that bright morning pulled aside one of the velvet curtains and looked down into the street his nose twitching with agitation as he did so you are nervous my friend chuckled a soldierly looking man who stood beneath a great map of california stretched across the wall A third man took a long cigar from between his bearded lips to answer him you felipe de neve are a soldier a fighter and should be afraid of nothing while our friend here mayorga is if he will pardon me only cicero viceroy y of mexico he should should be allowed a lew few qualms mayorga walked from the window and joined de neve beneath the map 1 si you are a soldier felipe one of the conquistadores of this heathen land here on the wall that is causing me so much trouble A heathen land indeed answered de neve and troublesome indeed there is only one person who can help you A woman ayes yes a woman and that is why I 1 tremble the third man romeu joined them and looked up at the map there is one person who will keep don pedro happy and cont contented eritz in california the viceroy continued that is his wife the beaute ous dona eulalia celis acclis de pages fages he preened himself and smoothed the creamy lace ruffles at his wrist 1 I for one do not blame him for that she would keep any man happy anywhere he walked again to the window and peered out into the street romeu and de neve exchanged glances you are right your excellency agreed romeu 1 I well remember the day the couriers met us down in that desert of the colorado with dispatches that don pedro was to be governor he did not give thanks that he would not have to chase indies all over new spain he did dd I 1 10 0 4 I 1 ab W i A yes exclaimed the two at once not think of his rise of position from a humble catalan soldado de cuero to governorship he did not think of the glory of spain or the church oh no he knelt in the sand and said now I 1 can have my eulalia with me and he made me promise I 1 would persuade her to join him and here I 1 am yes and you must persuade herl her exclaimed mayorga earnestly pages fages is the only man for california and I 1 fear if his wife does not join him he will not stay I 1 fear snorted de neve 1 I know it As for persuading her you are to open the subject and we will amen your suggestions how can 11 II how can any man persuade a woman against her wilif will look at the desolate stretch of country the Cali fornias upper and lower erl I 1 regard the distance from this the capital of mexico to that little little spot which is monterey the capital of the Californi Cali fornias the leagues of sea and desert that separate them the sand the cacci the savages 2 romeu looked reflectively at the land he pointed out how will she reach there by ship he asked she will have to walk said de neve ne calmly walk ejaculated the others just then there was a clamor in the street below they went to the window and saw a carriage arriving r up the filthy muddy street the three men saw the footmen leap to their feet open the carriage door and bow low A woman dismounted tall and bony looking in spite of her en swathing clothing then another figure appeared draped in gauzy black a coquettish figure they could see for all the sw of black lace that concealed her face hands and all against the suns rays the two hurried across the pave and disappeared in the palace the three men sighed it is she said romeu the beauty of barcelona said the viceroy the fiery catalan said de neve in a moment a lackey announced noun ced la senora dona eulalia celis de pages fages and the dona angustias moreno 1 I am most happy to see your excellency looking so well after the ball last night said the lady with a twinkle in her black eyes and to see you capitan romeu and you general de neve by this time she was seated in a high backed chair upholstered in crimson leather and was swinging a small satin shod foot and silken ankle nervously back and forth 1 I have had a mysterious letter from don pedro and he told me don felipe that you would have news for me then when his excellency invites me here this morning I 1 am more mystified you are looking wonderfully well don felipe for one who has spent such a long time in that terrible country that california romeu looked whimsically at the viceroy who was twitching at his lace ruffles thank you dona eulalia it is a miracle that I 1 look well for you are right it is a terrible country sighing lugubriously he looked at the fid fidgeting 1 mayorga As for the mysterious news his excellency will tell you of it er er not at all general that is your privilege as don pedros old and valued friend I 1 will give you that privilege he began to pace rapidly back and forth looking furtively from the map of california to dona eulaliah Eul alias cream white face shadowed in its b lack black lace de neve rose your excellency I 1 defer to your higher position yours is the honor the privilege mayorga ran a finger around his tight collar and grew a little red above its gilt and purple 1 I er no capitan romeu gave a dry chuckle dona eulalia the honor which has befallen don pedro is so great ard and will so affect your future that I 1 think I 1 will ask permission of the general and his excellency to break it to you myself besl exclaimed the two at once very well come dona and give me your hand in bewilderment she entrusted her fingers to the gentle urging of the capitan who drew her over to the map this he said is a map of california of both Cali fornias baja and alta here in baja california we see little loreto the jesuit missionaries founded this but your ears and throat tell me you know also it produces the finest pearls in the world verdad verdade Ver dad she smiled this was language she understood very well we will leave baja california and go on to alta california just a jump thus and we find the mission san diego de A alcala the first to be built in alta california already the soil has been blessed with a martyrs blood then we find san juan capistrano in a beautiful beautiful spot and so on up we find san gabriel arcangel ah that is the busy place everyone going into or out of california stops there it is quite a little metropolis dona eulalia was becoming interested te in spite of herself your finger passed over something here she exclaimed near san gabriel what is that romeu peered closely that oh that is just one of the two pueblos de neves pets that is the pueblo de nuestra senora la a reina de los angeles de los angeles they call it A filthy tiny place scarcely noticed beside the mission settlement of san gabriel de neve interrupted romeu you falsify that place will be some day the greatest de neve do you wish to complete the ladys geography lesson de neve subsided come come capitan exclaimed dona eulalia what is the meaning of all this I 1 tremble with anticipation or apprehension ali ah yes pardon my digressions but here is san buenaventura on the blue pacific san luis obispo san antonio de padua san carlos borromeo santa clara and san francisco de asis asia and here Is another pueblo san jose all these lovely places and loveliest of all the capital of california the presidio of monterey it is not a terrible country dona it is a lovely country one of the loveliest of the world where living may be a joy a pleasure such as could never be known in the background de neve snorted the viceroy came up and stood beside the two gazing at the map and over all that country one man has been chosen as governor one man out of all who have served there one man whom an all the indi ind os frailes brailes and soldiers will honor and the wife of that man win will be received like a little queen of the land will be a queen in her own right all the missions and pueblos and presidios dios icis will do her hem age it will be her the large gloomy room was very still except for the heavy breathing of the viceroy and the street noises that filtered in through the windows eulalia put her hand on her breast you mean that pedro that I 1 that we romeu nodded eulalia screamed angustias rushed to her side 1 I wont I 1 never will go therel there T that hat barbarous place no this mexico city is bad enough after barcelona but california monterey no angustias take me homel home I 1 dont believe pedro is governor you are lying to me deceiving me you old oid old fools fool sill senora you do not realize what you are doing interjected de neve 1 I assure you california is a marvelous land a land that in time will be looked upon with envy by all the nations of earth and which will attract millions from all over the world a land of commerce and accomplishment it is your fate your destiny to go there ai what do I 1 care for its commerce its accomplishment romeu spoke thoughtfully certainly but it would be nice in future days to know that generations yet unborn will say when they con the history of that country you so despised lovely dona eulalia de pages fages the first first lady of all the Californi for you will be you know no other lady of quality has set foot in the land wives of petty officers soldiers women yes but n none ne like yourself he concluded a sweeping bow now that is more interesting capitan romeu the first first lady that would be very amusing I 1 am sorry I 1 can not do it that is just what wha you will be senora As for don pedro what his life will be who can say of course he is a devoted husband a man of honor but who can say where his loneliness will lead him during those years apart from your fascinating self at this eulalia rose definitely to her feet you are tricking mel me you have just told me there were no women in california 1 I did not say that senora I 1 said there were no ladies women ah yes young indian girls quite attractive and er quite careless as to clothing and in who whom m alas the holy fathers have not as yet been able to plant the seeds of decency how dare you general de nevel neve you pedros old friend to s speak peak of him this way slandering him pardon senora I 1 do no such thing I 1 was simply pointing out the characteristics of the present population of california eulaliah Eul alias heart pounded and she laid her hand on her bosom turning away from the window she leaned back a black butterfly against the red velvet hanging TO BE CONTINUED |