The Splendid Idle Forties: Stories of Old California

Once more Aunt Anastacia rolled her large figure through Eulogia’s doorway and handed her a letter.

“From Don Pablo Ignestria, my baby,” she said.  “Oh, what a man! what a caballero!  And so smart.  He waited an hour by the creek in the mission gardens until he saw thy mother go out, and then he brought the note to me.  He begged to see thee, but I dared not grant that, niñita, for thy mother will be back in ten minutes.”

“Go downstairs and keep my mother there,” commanded Eulogia, and Aunt Anastacia rolled off, whilst her niece with unwonted nervousness opened the letter.

“Sweet of my soul!  Day-star of my life!  I dare not speak to thee of love because, strong man as I am, still am I a coward before those mocking eyes.  Therefore if thou laugh the first time thou readest that I love thee, I shall not see it, and the second time thou mayest be more kind.  Beautiful and idolized Eulogia, men have loved thee, but never will be cast at thy little feet a heart stronger or truer than mine.  Ay, dueño adorada, I love thee!  Without hope?  No!  I believe that thou lovest me, thou cold little one, although thou dost not like to think that the heart thou hast sealed can open to let love in.  But, Eulogia!  Star of my eyes!  I love thee so I will break that heart in pieces, and give thee another so soft and warm that it will beat all through the old house to which I will take thee.  For thou wilt come to me, thou little coquette?  Thou wilt write to me to come back and stand with thee in the mission while the good padre asks the saints to bless us?  Eulogia, thou hast sworn thou wilt write to no man, but thou wilt write to me, my little one.  Thou wilt not break the heart that lives in thine.

“I kiss thy little feet.  I kiss thy tiny hands.  I kiss—­ay, Eulogia!  Adios!  Adios!

“PABLO.”

Eulogia could not resist that letter.  Her scruples vanished, and, after an entire day of agonized composition, she sent these lines:—­

“You can come back to San Luis Obispo.

“EULOGIA AMATA FRANCISCA GUADALUPE CARILLO.”