the Fair of San Juan.
Therefore watches Manuela--therefore lightly doth she start,
When the sound of distant footsteps seems the beating of her heart;
Not a wind the green oak rustles or the redwood branches stirs,
But she hears the silver jingle of his ringing bit and spurs.
Often, out the hazy distance, come the horsemen, day by day,
But they come not as Bernardo--she can see it, far away;
Well she knows the airy gallop of his mettled _alazan_,[5]
Light as any antelope upon the Hills of Gavilan.
She would know him mid a thousand, by his free and gallant air;
By the featly-knit sarape,[6] such as wealthy traders wear;
By his broidered calzoneros[7] and his saddle, gaily spread,
With its cantle rimmed with silver, and its horn a lion's head.
None like he the light riata[8] on the maddened bull can throw;
None amid the mountain-canons, track like he the stealthy doe;
And at all the Mission festals, few indeed the revelers are
Who can dance with him the jota, touch with him the gay guitar.
He has said to Manuela, and the echoes linger still
In the cloisters of her bosom, with a secret, tender thrill,
When the hay again has blossomed, and the valley stands in corn,
Shall the bells of Santa Clara usher in the wedding morn.
He has pictured the procession, all in holyday attire,
And the laugh and look of gladness, when they see the distant spire;
Then their love shall kindle newly, and the world be doubly fair,
In the cool delicious crystal of the summer morning air.
Tender eyes of Manuela! what has dimmed your lustrous beam?
'Tis a tear that falls to glitter on the casket of her dream.
Ah, the eye of love must brighten, if its watches would be true,
For the star is falsely mirrored in the rose's drop of dew!
But her eager eyes rekindle, and her breathless bosom stills,
As she sees a horseman moving in the shadow of the hills;
Now in love and fond thanksgiving they may loose their pearly tides--
'Tis the alazan that gallops, 'tis Bernardo's self that rides!

[Footnote 5: In California horses are named according to their color.
An _alazan_ is a sorrel--a color generally preferred, as denoting
speed and mettle.]

[Footnote 6: The sarape is a knit blanket of many gay colors, worn
over the shoulders by an opening in the center, through which the head
is thrust.]

[Footnote 7: Calzoneros are trowsers, generally made of blue cloth
or velvet, richly embroidered, a