Chapter I: Front Matter

[Frontispiece: BUILDING FROM WHICH STANISLAUS AND HIS FOLLOWERS STOLE TWO HUNDRED INDIAN MAIDENS

"When Padre Osuna trails us he can perform a hundred double weddings at once"]

The Bride of Mission
San José

A Tale of Early California

By
JOHN AUGUSTINE CULL

THE ABINGDON PRESS
NEW YORK CINCINNATI

Copyright, 1920, by
JOHN AUGUSTINE CULL

CHARACTERS PROMINENT IN THE STORY

SEÑOR MENDOZA, former Colonel in Napoleonic wars; subsequently, Administrator of Mission San José de Guadalupe, Santa Clara Valley, California; later Governor of the province.

CARMELITA MENDOZA, daughter of Señor Mendoza.

PADRE LUSCIANO OSUNA, Spiritual Head of Mission San José de Guadalupe.

CAPTAIN MORANDO, Comandante of the Pueblo of San José; afterward General of all the land forces of the department of California.

COLONEL BARCELO, Comandante of the Presidio of Monterey, and acting Governor of California.

CHARLES O'DONNELL, in the secret service of the United States.

SEÑORA VALENTINO, in the secret service of England.

CAPTAIN FARQUHARSON, English representative extraordinary in the province.

COMMODORE BILLINGS, Commanding the American fleet in the Pacific.

ADMIRAL FAIRBANKS, Commanding the British fleet in the Pacific.

YOSCOLO, Famous Indian chief.

STANISLAUS, Lieutenant of Yoscolo.

BROWN, Factotum of Captain Farquharson; later, in the employ of Señor Mendoza.

Time: 1842 to 1846.

Contents

Chapter

I. A Serenade in the Moonlight
II. The Lion and the Lamb Lie Down Together
III. A Dip into the Past
IV. A Stranger Visits Señor Mendoza
V. Another Stranger Makes a Visit
VI. The Merienda
VII. A Night Spent in a Cave
VIII. The Political Pot Simmers
IX. Señora Valentino Seeks to Interest Padre Osuna
X. The Beginning of the Ball at Señor Mendoza's Hacienda House
XI. At the Supper
XII. Carmelita Dances El Son
XIII. Returning from the Ball
XIV. O'Donnell Takes A Horseback Ride
XV. Señora Valentino Makes a Report
XVI. The Señorita of the Window Pane
XVII. O'Donnell Settles with Yoscolo
XVIII. Farquharson Meets with a Loss
XIX. Señora Valentino and Captain Morando Continue Conversation
XX. Bitter Sweet
XXI. A Few Diplomatic Touches
XXII. Almost--
XXIII. Pedro Zelaya Brings Important News
XXIV. The Next Day
XXV. Brown Takes a Hand at Diplomacy
XXVI. Braving the Storm
XXVII. But Yet a Woman
XXVIII. A Daughter of the De La Mendoza
XXIX. A Departure
XXX. Odds and Ends
XXXI. Across the Years
XXXII. A Wedding