Dawn and the Dons/AN INTERNATIONAL ROMANCE
CHAPTER XIV
AN INTERNATIONAL ROMANCE
ILLUSTRATING and emphasizing the isolation of California in the days of Spanish dominion, and the slowness with which meager news of other lands drifted to its people, comes the romantic story of Senorita Conception Arguello, who as Sister Mary Dominica, was the first novitiate of the first religious sisterhood in California, the Dominican Order at Monterey. Down through the centuries, historians have recorded great loves, and painter and poet have immortalized them. But for sweetness and purity, and for steadfastness of woman’s devotion, no more beautiful story was ever told than that unfolded by this tender romance of Spanish California.
Nikolai Petrovich de Rezanov was a Russian nobleman, tall, handsome and blond. He had been a protege of the great Catherine, and he continued a court favorite after the Queen’s death. In 1806, under Czar Alexander I, he sailed for Alaska, charged with the organization, supervision and relief of the Russian colonists there, and to this end was clothed with full governmental authority.
Finding the colonists suffering from lack of essential foods, he straightway sailed for California, where he hoped to secure the needed supplies. Rezanov knew of the Spanish orders prohibiting trade with foreigners, which if strictly adhered to by the Governor of California, would prevent the accomplishment of his purpose, but the situation demanded immediate attention, and he determined to persuade the Governor to some suitable arrangement. Expecting to make Monterey harbor direct, contrary winds forced him to put in at San Francisco for what he intended should be a temporary stop, whence he promptly dispatched a messenger by land, with a formal communication to Governor Jose Joaquin de Arrillaga, advising him that he would shortly do himself the honor of calling upon the Governor at Monterey. Not to be outdone in courtesy, the Governor replied that he would come to meet so distinguished a guest at the port of his arrival. While awaiting this visit of the Governor, who in accord with the spirit and custom of the day did not hurry, Rezanov paid his respects to the Commandante of San Francisco, Jose Arguello, who entertained him fittingly. At his home, Rezanov met the Commandante’s daughter,
and the little love-god at once began an active campaign. Conception Arguello—Concha was the Spanish petname for her—was then accounted the most beautiful Just sixteen years old, of gentle birth and Castilian descent, petite, vivacious, talented and witty, with black hair and black eyes, she at once attracted and fascinated the big Russian blond.
According to Dr. Langsdorf, who accompanied Rezanov as surgeon and naturalist, Senorita Conception “was lively and animated, had sparkling, love inspiring eyes, beautiful teeth, pleasing and expressive features,
and
fine
form,
a thousand
other
charms,
a yet
was _ per-
fectly simple and artless, ‘the heavenly dawn into one
drop
of
dew,
a
beauty of a type to be found, though not frequently, in Italy, Spain and Portugal.” A brave and handsome Nordic had met a gentle and _ beautiful Mediterranean, and the fires of love had burst into immediate flame. After a season of ardent wooing, and a recounting of the splendors of the Court of St. Petersburg, Seforita Conception surrendered, and gave her consent to Rezanov’s proposal of marriage. Then arose a serious, and for a brief space a seemingly insurmountable barrier to the consummation of their hopes and plans, for Conception was a devout Roman Catholic, and Rezanov was a loyal member of the Orthodox Greek Church.
She took her religion from Rome, he from St.
Petersburg. The father objected, the padres opposed, and the lovers felt the heavy hand of church upon them. There were many conferences, much consulting, and more arguing, but love finally had its way, and the betrothal was announced. But one thing remained. Rezanoyvy, in view of his official status in Russia, must secure the approval of the Czar, the spiritual head of the Greek Church, and of whose Court Rezanov was a noble part. This, however, Rezanov deemed a mere formality, and made preparations to depart for the Russian capital. His mission to California, largely through the influence of Conception and her father, was
completed,
and a commercial
ar-
rangement made with the Governor, which the Governor
undertook to have ratified by the Spanish authorities. In the language of that staid old authority, the Encyclopaedia Britannica, when Rezanov set sail for home, by
way of Sitka, his ship “was full of breadstuffs and dried meats, he had the promise of the perplexed Governor to forward a copy of the treaty to Spain at once, and he was affianced to the most beautiful girl in California.” So he sailed away. The weeks lengthened into months, and the months into years, but no word came to the waiting senorita. Cavaliers in plenty sought her hand, but she was true to the Russian lover to whom she had Finally, in deep despair, but with her faith in Rezanov unshaken, she took the veil of a nun, and entered the convent at Monterey. Harte finish the story:
Let Bret
Forty years on wall and bastion swept the hollow idle breeze, Since the Russian Eagle fluttered from the California seas; Forty years on wall and bastion wrought its slow but sure decay, And St. George’s cross was lifted in the port of Monterey;
And the citadel was lighted, and the hall was gaily drest, All to honor Sir George Simpson, famous traveler and guest. Far and near the people gathered to the costly banquet set, And exchanged congratulations with the English Baronet; Till, the formal speeches ended, and amidst the laugh and wine, Some one spoke of Concha’s lover, heedless of the warning sign.
Quickly then cried Sir George Simpson, “Speak no ill of him I pray! He is dead. He died, poor fellow, forty years ago this day,— “Died while speeding home to Russia, falling from a fractious horse. Left a sweetheart, too, they tell me. Married, I suppose, of course! “Lives
she yet?” A deathlike stillness fell on banquet, guests and hall, And a trembling figure, rising, fixed the awe-struck gaze of all.
Two
black eyes in darkened white hood;
orbits gleamed beneath the nun’s
Black serge hid the wasted figure, bowed and stricken where it stood.
“Lives
she yet?’ Sir George repeated. All were hushed Concha drew Closer yet her nun’s attire. “Sefior, pardon. She died, too!”
as Conception’s father was the next to the last Governor of California under Spain; her brother, Luis Antonio Arguello, was the first Governor of California under Mexico; and a half century after her betrothal to the Russian baron, the Sister Mary Dominica Arguello died at Benicia, where the Dominican
Order moved in 1854,
following the removal of the State Capital. From the historic facts here briefly told, Gertrude Atherton has woven one of the greatest of her romances of California,
- “Rezanov.”