As the circling years went ’round and she could See beyond the golden morning of her Sunny life the ripening noonday coming On, she longed to see the world beyond her Mountain home; but named it not to Cedric. With her years she grew more fearless, wild and Venturesome. With Zimbo and her rifle, She scaled the dizzy heights of rock and crag Where condors built their nests, and knew the Devious windings of the wild doe’s trail, Thro’ manzanita groves and chaparral. In a seat of granite, nature fashioned, Like a throne, shaded by a giant oak Upon a summit looking oceanward, She would sit in dreamy mood and watch the Silvery line of surf that fringed the far-off Fading stretch of blue. Once she saw a sail Appear, then slowly vanish in the offing; And in the quiet of an early morn, She heard the low sweet chime of mission bells. GILBERT. To that same port where Cedric landed with His Zola, others came from distant parts. Some came to seek their fortunes, others came To buy and till the soil, some to obey The inborn instinct of the pioneer. One family, leaving all behind, had bro’t A sickly child. Rich and prosperous they Had been, and with children blessed; but a dread Contagion had swept them all away save One; and he, left delicate and frail, the Idol of their hopes--no other left to Keep the family name. From those who best could Speak, they learned there was no hope unless it be In taking him to that fair, sunny clime. They hastened there and gave him for his home A quaint old hacienda of the Dons; With many leagues of land that lay between The mountains and the sea. There amid the Orange groves and vineyards, in the freedom Of the range where roamed his father’s flocks and Herds, young Gilbert soon became a gay young Caballero--grew as strong and fearless As vaqueros of the range--could twirl the Lariat or aim the rifle true as they. Sunburned, strong and handsome was Gilbert, in Showy costume of the Dons, with clanking Spurs, gold-mounted trappings on his coal-black Leo, ambling thro’ the massive arches Of the mission. Señoritas smiled on Him; he returned their loving glances. This His parents seeing, feared their Angelo Blood be mixed with that of darker hue, besought Him to return to their old home and there To find a bride of his own faith and kind. He quieted their fears and said that he Was wedded to the mesa and the hills. He loved the mountains more than ever Bridegroom loved his bride, his heart was free; But kind and true and dutiful to them, He promised solemnly that he would do As they desired before he took a wife; For ne’er could he repay the love and care By them bestowed on him, their sacrifice.