Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team THE LITTLE LADY OF LAGUNITAS A FRANCO-CALIFORNIAN ROMANCE By Richard Henry Savage Project Gutenberg Editor's Note: There are many French words in this file which have missing letters or invalid symbols because the character set in which this file was produced did not supply letters with the needed diacritic marks. If any reader with skill in the French language is able to correct all these problem words, it would be much appreciated. DW INTRODUCTION. Forty-two years have passed since California's golden star first glittered in the flag of the United States of America. Its chequered history virtually begins with the rush for gold in '48-'49. Acquired for the evident purpose of extending slave-holding territory, it was occupied for years by a multitude of cosmopolitan "free lances," who swept away the defenceless Indians, and brutally robbed the great native families, the old "Dons." Society slowly made headway against these motley adventurers. Mad riot, wildest excess, marked these earlier days. High above the meaner knights of the "revolver and bowie knife," greater than card sharper, fugitive bravo, or sly wanton, giant schemers appeared, who throw, yet, dark shadows over the records of this State. These daring conspirators dominated legislature and forum, public office and society. They spoiled the Mexican, robbed the Indian, and paved the way for a "Lone Star Republic," or the delivering of the great treasure fields of the West to the leaders of Secession. How their designs on this grand domain failed; what might have been, had the South been more active in its hour of primary victory and seized the Golden West, these pages may show. The golden days of the "stars and bars" were lost by the activity of the Unionists and the mistaken policy at Richmond. The utter demoralization of California by the "bonanza era" of silver discovery, the rise of an invincible plutocracy, and the second reign of loose luxury are herein set forth. Scenes never equalled in shamelessness have disgraced the Halls of State, the Courts, and the mansions of the suddenly enriched. The poor have been trampled by these tyrants for twenty years. Characters unknown in the social history of any other land, have been evolved from this golden eddy of crime and adventure. Not till all these men and women of incredibly romantic fortunes have passed away, will a firm social structure rise over their graves. Throttled by usurers, torn by gigantic bank wars, its resources drained by colossal swindles, crouching yet under the iron rule of upstart land-barons, "dashing journalism," and stern railroad autocrats, the Californian community has gloomily struggled along. Newer States have made a relative progress which shames California. Its future is yet uncertain. The native sons and daughters of the golden West are the hope of the Pacific.