For it was a year after his death that our ancestor,
Manuel Guitierrez, came from old Spain to the Presidio with a grant
of twenty leagues to settle where he chose. Dona Maria Guitierrez
took a fancy to the canada. But it was a site already in
possession of the Holy Church. One night, through treachery, it
was said, the guards were withdrawn and the Indians entered the
mission, slaughtered the lay brethren, and drove away the priests.
The Commandant at the Presidio retook the place from the heathens,
but on representation to the Governor that it was indefensible for
the peaceful Fathers without a large military guard, the official
ordered the removal of the mission to Santa Cruz, and Don Manuel
settled his twenty leagues grant in the canada. Whether he or Dona
Maria had anything to do with the Indian uprising, no one knows;
but Father Pedro never forgave them. He is said to have declared
at the foot of the altar that the curse of the Church was on the
land, and that it should always pass into the hands of the
stranger."
"And that was long ago, and the property is still in the family,"
said Carroll, hurriedly, answering Maruja's eyes.
"In the last hundred years there have been no male heirs,"
continued Maruja, still regarding Carroll. "When my mother, who
was the eldest daughter, married Don Jose Saltonstall against the
wishes of the family, it was said that the curse would fall. Sure
enough, Caballeros, it was that year that the forged grants of
Micheltorrena were discovered; and in our lawsuit your government,
Captain, handed over ten leagues of the llano land to the Doctor
West, our neighbor.
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