DAWN AND THE DONS 144
mountable 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
