University of Santa Clara - Redwood Yearbook (Santa Clara, CA)

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THE REDWOOD But, padre, what else might it have been? Senor Castello cast a fatherly, re- proving glance at his disconcerted daughter. Come, come, Maria! Tell me, at whom did you wave the altar linen of Padre Dominic just before you entered the ' casa ' ? Ah, padre, I was merely drying the altar linen in the breeze, not waving it ! And she was gone from the ve- randa as suddenly as she had disap- peared from the vision of the gallant eaballero that very hour. But as she rounded the passage, wdiere it turned from the inner garden, to the sala de recibo , she was start- led by a whispered Maria in her ear, and turning nervously about, she beheld her congenial madre beside her. Oh ! it is you, mi querido madre, ' ' she cried. How are you feeling? I hope you have not been working too steadily. ' ' The Senora placed her arms caress- ingly about the dainty waist, and peered searchingly into Maria ' s flash- ing eyes. She was stately, tall, and slightly stern. A spotless , almost youthful, countenance spoke of former energetic beauty, while sympathetic, brownish eyes, and visible lines about the mouth and forehead betokened blooming youth cut short by trials and cares. Maria, dear, (Senora Castello ' s eyes rested affectionately upon her rad- iant daughter), I am well, but I am afraid your father is making you ill. Is it not so? Maria made no answer. Oh, Maria, I can see he is. But daughter, never forget, (Senora Cas- tello spoke in subdued, yet audible tones), I am always your friend! And with this comforting consolation and assurance, she hurried away to the back of the casa , where Margarita, the clumsy, little Mexican girl from the Mission, was listlessly sweeping. But, though the gentle Mistress of Rancho Agradable had solaced her lovely daughter in such a low and whis- pered voice, the tender words had reached Don Juan, reposing on his couch in the shaded patio , and had provoked a lengthy tirade from this ar- rogant tyrant. Senor Castello, to begin with, was one of the exclusive nobility of the coast, who, having fought for the illus- trious Portola, in his far-famed con- quest of California, and having re- ceived this enormous tract of pasture land among the hills in payment for his distinguished services in the conquest, had settled down with his family in the secluded spot, and established the hacienda . In those bygone days, he had been a lenient, compliant sort of a master, and an indulgent father, with his seven stalwart sons to manage the Rancho and its lands, and three won- derful daughters to minister unto him in his idle maturity. I suppose he thought it quite enough to have become

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THE REDWOOD in a reproving plea for silence. He, nevertheless, with that impetuous, tur- bulent nature of a Spaniard, seemed about to advance into the grounds of the hacienda , but the maiden, dis- cerning his intentions, coyly fluttered just the lacy end of an altar linen at the fiery lover, and whilst he stood astounded at the unthinkable sacrilege, whisked into the nearest casa . After the bewildered young suitor had at last gotten over his astonish- ment, he gazed long and lingeringly upon the spot in w ' hich the fair Seno- rita had stood. The gaudy sombrero swung from his half-raised hand. His silk-black hair slightly rustled in a gust of wind. With his manly, handsome features, and tall, slight, muscular body poised as if for a portrait upon his glossy steed, he made a handsome pic- ture. A frown of restless petulance darkened his broad, smooth brow, but somehow a lurking smile of exultation seemed to flit about the corners of his delicate, thin-lipped mouth, until his entire countenance lighted up. Siid- denly a crimson rose-bud nodding at a tiny window of the central casa ar- rested his attention. Perceiving that it was the Senorita of the Rancho, who signalled to him, he waved his great sombrero toward the casement, and sprang from the plated saddle of his horse. But even as he started for the casa , the nodding, little rose-bud disappeared. Realizing, then, that to wait about the hacienda for the re- appearance of the Dona would be hope- less, he mounted his horse and reluct- antly began the ascent of the mountain trail. ' ' Maria ! The gruff Don Juan, that far renowned tyrant of Rancho Agrad- able summoned his gentle daughter to the patio , where he reposed upon an ancient lounge, of one of those intri- cately woven designs so common in older Spanish furnishitngs. Maria, all a-flutter, advanced to him and kissed him upon the forehead. What is it, padre? She lowered her pretty head, and dared not lift her eye- lids, lest she should reveal the modest blush of confusion and embarrassment, which crept over her at this moment. Are the linens and the laces for the Mission done at last, daughter? Senor Castello queried. I heard you but a moment ago enter the ' casa ' . No, padre, there are a few more yet to be dried. I came in to speak to Margarita about the evening meal. Have you taken your siesta? Yes, Maria, I have rested well. It is very thoughtful of you to ask. But what caused you to come with such haste into the front room. Surely the evening meal was not as urgent as that. Were you frightened? No, padre, I was not frightened. Maria was becomiing more and more confused as the questioning progressed. ' ' Maria, is it true that you came with such haste into the ' casa ' merely to in- struct Margarita in regard to supper? It is preposterous ! ' '

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THE REDWOOD the owner of the extensive quinta , Avithout having afterwards to bother about its everlasting cares ; and at that time, it is certain, he hardly gave thought or heed to anything outside his immediate sphere and household. It is doubtful whether, even during the bounteous harvest season of the haci- enda , he did more than indolently sit beneath some shading oak tree, and watch the fertile meadows yielding up their sumptuous, mellow bounty, all under the capable direction of his many sons. But his dashing young progenies soon tired of the drudgery of the ha- cienda , and really caring not the end of a fig for Don Juan or his pleasant dreams, left him to manage the Rancho as best he was able, and departed for the great, wide world. Likewise had his daughters gone off with their re- spective husbands, and now the unfor- tunate old soldado was left entirely alone upon his sunny hacienda in the hills, except for his wife, and that solitary, blooming Eose o ' the Rancho, Dona Maria, his daughter. It may have been from the experi- ence he had with his other two daugh- ters, that he was loath to trust to the fickleness of the human race, in regard to his remaining offspring, and know- ing only too well the lure and attrac- tion that was held by Dona Maria for the stronger sex, he jealously guarded against ambitious young lovers and suitors for her hand, determining to have at least one daughter to brighten his ripe, old age. And thus it was, that though every caballero or young senor in the valley had at one time or other made her the goal of his affectionate designs, not one of them had had the courage to face the old soldado . And so it happened that at the pre- cise moment when a certain lieutenant of the army of the King at Monterey was honorably discharged from his Ma- jesty ' s service and had come to live in the fertile Valley of Santa Clara, the path toward the affections of the blushing Rose o ' the Rancho was clear of all rivals. This young lieutenant was descended from one of those proud old families, famous in certain parts of Granada and Castile for their early conquests and daring exploits, with seemingly all the names and titles, if not all the vir- tues of the better of his ancestors in- serted between Gaspar and his musical cognomen, Espinosa. And so it was, too, that old Don Juan, who really supp osed that he had at last exterminated all the army of suitors, which had at first besieged his stronghold, became aware of a new and determined competitor for the hand and heart of his daughter. Realizing that the handsome features and manly ways of young Espinosa would shortly captivate the foolish creature, he swore great oaths, and invoked every demo- nio and diablo in Hades to bring down curses upon the head of the rash young man who should presume to tri-