The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-03-07

| met tue CouNiCt.
(which way ?" said the robber. Do you
clear out in this fashion, without go much as
Nav God reward you. to the compassionate
soul who picked you upf This isn't the right
thing, comrade. Besides, where can You 60
hereabQlts Are you in hurry to be put IN
the lock upf"
Perico remained silent he neither thought
nor reasoned-had no will of his own
Courage and come along" proceeded the
convict Here We are taking more trouble
to help you than you will take to let yourself
be helped Perco followed him mechani-
cally.
LOOK, Martha" said Andres, seeing Perico
( at distance in company with the roboer,
:" look at your pet-and what q jewel he is, to
| be sure! There be goes with the convict"
And what of it ~ responded Martha. 81
tell you, Andres, that he is good son and .
good Christian"
! IAN imposter and q vagabond, that has
eaten up my hens-and you see where he Is
| going and yet say that he ia good The devil
only understands women"'
| Perico and the convicC, making their way
through Tickets and difficult places, came at
last to an elevation. upon which stood the
captain leaning on his gnn and guarding the
slumbers of eight men, who were lying around
him on the slope. Near him grazed his beat
tiful horse which lifted its head from time to
time to regard its master.
Here is this young man." said the convict
as they drew near.
without changing his position, the captain
slowly turned his eyes and examined the new
arrival from head to foot. His scrutiny fin.
ished. he asked, "Are you fugitive from
Justice 7"
, Perico inclined his head, but did not answer
"There is no cause for fear" proceeded hi
questioner, and presently, in brief phrases
added:
"Men have fatal hours, and of these SOM
are as red as blood and come as black az dark
ness itself. One is enough to destroy q man
, and turn his heart to q stone which has neithe
o pulse nor feeling, only weight. He remain
lost, for the past is past, and there is nothin
q to do but to bear it with pluck. Life is fgh
% in which one must look before him, like a brav
man, and not behind, like q poltroon."
1t al cannot do it." exclaimed Perico veh
as mently. "If you knew"
~ The captain, with an imperative gesture, e:
tended his arm to silence him, and continued
of Here each one carries his own secrets wit
in himself, a seal ed packet without awakenir
ep in the others either curiosity or interest.
you have nowhere to CO. stay with us; he
- we defend all have left-our life. Mine
do not guard because value it, but to keep
as from the headsman.'
ice "But you rob I" said Perico.
ave must do something" responded t
y" bandit, returning, like tortoise, into his ha
i've and impenetrabe she'll.
do Perico neither accepted nor refused the p
in position, he rsmained without volition,
inert body; chance disposed of his wretch
on. existence, as the winds dispose of the dry a
We, heavy sands of the desert.
CHAPTER XVI.
But while Perico, after the occurrences WI
nm we have related, was dragging out misera
Won existence among baud of criminals WI hat
the came of the other individuals of this fam
en- To what extremes had they been carried
nds reseut ment, grief, despair and regepgef
Pedro, from the fatal day on which he
rds his son, had shut himself in his own no
the with his sorrow. The parish priest and sc
of his friends went from time to time to X
him company-not to console him, that
impossible, but to talk with him abont
the trouble, like those who relieve vessels of
IAN bitter water of the sea, not to right them,
Ght to keep them from sinking. They had trie
persuade him to renew his intercourse v
a IN the family of Perico, but without success.
"No, no." he would answer on such o
1000 sions. al have forgiven him before God
ell men bat have to do with his people as tho
onV it had not been, cannot"
'na' Pedro, Pedro, that is not forgiven sss,"
the priest. 1t is the letter but not the 81
ana of the law"
hao Father" replied the poor man, God
'ulse not ask what is impossible"
docs "No, but what he requires is possible"
10 " Sir, you want me to be a saint, and
ana not one; it is enough for me to be Q
Christian, and forgive. Have molested tn
en- Have sought justceH What more can l
Juice "Pedro, returning good for evil, wise
''o walk in peace.''
re- Mercy, mercy, father! why shave 80
'e"', as to lay bare the brainsf God help and +
," Vi them; but each in his own house, and
with us all"