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arge hall in the bar… racks； where balls usually were held； should be locked and the key given up to no one but himself。 He returned in the afternoon to find that Concha had outwitted him。 The sala of the Commandante's house was very large。 The furniture had been re… moved and the walls hung with flags； those of Spain on three sides； the Russian； borrowed by San… tiago from the ship； at the head of the room。 Con… cha laughed gaily as Luis stormed about the sala rasping his spurs on the bare floor。
〃Whitewashed walls for guests from St。 Peters… burg！〃 she jeered； as Luis menaced the flags。 〃We have little enough to offer。 Besideswhat more wise than to flaunt our flag in the face of the Rus… sian bear？ Their flag； of course； is a mere idle compliment。 Let me tell you two things； Luis mio： this morning I invited the Russians to dance to… night； and told Padre Abella to ask all our neigh… bors of the Mission besides； and Rafaella Sal helped me to drape every one of those flags。 When I told her you might tear them down； she vowed that if you did she would dance all night with the Bostonian。〃
Luis lifted his shoulders and mustache to express an attitude of contemptuous resignation； but his face darkened； and a moment later he left the room and strolled up the square to the grating of Rafaella Sal。
Concha well knew that the frank gray eyes of the Bostonianall citizens of the United States were Bostonians in that part of the world； for only Bos… ton skippers had the enterprise to venture so far were for no one but herself。 But his face was bony and freckled； and his figure less in height and vigor than her own。 He was rich and well…born； but shy and very modest。 Concha Arguello； La Favorita of California； was for some such dashing caballero as Don Antonio Castro of Monterey； or Ignacio Sal； the most adventurous rider of the north。 Meanwhile he could look at her and adore her in secret； and Dona Rafaella Sal was very kind and danced as well as himself。 He never dreamed that he was being used as a stalking horse to keep alive in the best match in the Californias the jealous desire for exclusive possession that had animated him in 1800 when he had applied through the Vice… roy of Mexico for royal consent to his marriage with the Favorita of her year。 That was six years ago and never a word had come from Madrid。 Luis was faithful； but men were men； and girls grew older every day。 So the wise Rafaella was alter… nately indifferent and alluring； the object of more admiration than a maid could always repel； yet with wells of sentiment that only one man could dis… cover。 And the American was patient； and even had he known； would not in the least have minded the use she made of him。 He still could look at Concha Arguello。
William Sturgis had sailed in one of his father's ships； now six years ago； from Boston in search of health。 The ship in a dense fog had gone on the rocks in the straits between the Farallones and the Bay of San Francisco。 He alone； and after long hours of struggle with the wicked currents； not even knowing in what direction land might be； was flung； senseless； on the shore below the Fort。 For the next month he was an invalid in the house of the Commandante。 Fortunately； his papers and money were sewn in an oilskin belt and his father's name was well known in California。 Moreover； there never was a more likable youth。 His illness interested all the matrons and maids of the Presidio in his fate； when he recovered； his good dancing and unselfishness gave him a permanent place in the regard of the women； while his entire absence of beauty； and his ability to hold his own in the mess room； established his position with the men。
In due course word of his plight reached Boston； and a ship was immediately despatched； not only to bring the castaway home； but with the fine ward… robe necessary to a young gentleman of his station。 But the same ship brought word of his father's deathhis mother had gone long sinceand as there were brothers enamored of the business he hated； he decided to remain in the country that had won his heart and given him health。 For some time there was demur on the part of the authorities； Spain welcomed no foreigners in her colonies。 But Sturgis swore a mighty oath that he would never despatch a letter uninspected by the Com… mandante； that he would make no excursions into the heart of the country； that he would neither en… gage in traffic nor interfere in politics。 Then hav… ing already won the affections of the Governor； he was permitted to remain； even to rent an acre of land from the Church in the sheltered Mission val… ley； and build himself a house。 Here he raised fruit and vegetables for his own hospitable table； chickens and game cocks。 Books and other lux… uries came by every ship from Boston； until for a long interval ships came no more。 One of these days； when the power of the priests had abated； and the jealousy which would keep all Californians land… less but themselves was counterbalanced by a great increase in population； he meant to have a ranch down in the south where the sun shone all the year round and he could ride half the day with his vaqueros after the finest cattle in the country。 He should never marry because he could not marry Concha Arguello； but he could think of her； see her sometimes； and in a land where a man was neither frozen in winter nor grilled in summer； where life could be led in the open； and the tendency was to idle and dream； domestic happiness called on a feebler note than in less equable climes。 In his heart he was desperately jealous of Concha's fav… ored cavaliers； but it was a jealousy without hatred； and his kind； earnest； often humorous eyes； were always assuring his lady of an imperishable desire to serve her without reward。 Of course Concha treated him with as little consideration as so humble a swain deserved； but in her heart she liked him bet… ter than either Castro or Sal； for he talked to her of something besides rodeos and balls； racing and cock…fights； he had taught her English and lent her many books。 Moreover； he neither sighed nor lan… guished； nor ever had sung at her grating。 But she regarded him merely as an intelligence； a well of refreshment in her stagnant life； never as a man。
〃Rose；〃 she said； as she caught her hair into a high golden comb that had been worn in Spain by many a beauty of the house of Moraga； and spiked the knot with two long pins globed at the end with gold； while the maid fastened her slippers and smoothed the pink silk stockings over the thin in… step above； 〃what is a lover like？ Is it like meet… ing one of the saints of heaven？〃
〃No； senorita。〃
〃Like what； then？〃
〃Likelike nothing but himself； senorita。 You would not have him otherwise。〃
〃Oh； stupid one！ Hast thou no imagination？ Fancy any man being well enough as he is！ For instance； there is Don Antonio； who is so hand… some and fiery； and Don Ignacio； who can sing and dance and ride as no one else in all the Californias； and Don Weeliam Sturgis； who is very clever and true。 If I could roll them into onea tamale of corn and chicken and peppersthere would be a man almost to my liking。 But even thennot quite。 An