The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-12-31

frank curiosity; who Is fire. and who Is town
The worthy mulcteer utterly abashed and
confoundod by this display OF the acolytes d.
rect simplicity contented himself by struggling
his shoulders. and vague "Quien sdbe5"
Come" said the boy gayy confess 1t is
only the a0uardie,,te OF the Blessed Fisherman
thou missest. Never fear. Juanita will find
thee some. And see here she comes"
There was flash Of white flounces along tho
dark brown corridor. the twinkle OF satin slip
pers. the flying out OF long black braids. and
with cry OF JOY young girl threw herself
upon Francisco as he entered the patio. and
nearly dragged him from his mule.
Have n care little sister," laughed the AGO.
lyte. looking at Antonio, or there will be q
connagration. Am the flre 2" he continued
submitting to tho two sounding kisses the
young girl placed upon either check. but still
keeping his mischievous glance upon the mule
teer.
"Quen sale?" repeated Antonio. gruffiy. as
the young girl blushed under his significant
eyes. 1T is no affair o! mine" he added to
himself as he led Pinto away. Perhaps
Father Pedro is right and this young twig OF
the church is as dry and sapless rs himself.
Let the mestizd burn II she likes"
Quick. Pancho." said the young girl. eagerly
leading him along the corridor. This way.
must talk with thee before thou seest Don
Juan; that is why ran to intercept thee and
not, as that fool Antonio would signify to
shame thee. Vast thou ashamed. my Pancho"
The boy threw his arm Familiarity round the
supple. stayess little waist, accented only by the
belt Of the light flounccd saga. and said:
But why this haste and feverishness. 'Nita?
And now look at thee. thou hast been crying"
They had emerged from a door in the corri-
dor into the bright sunlight Of a walled gar
den. The girl dropped her eyes, cast quick
glance around her. and said:
Not hereto the arroyo" and half leading.
half dragging him. made her way through
copse OF p,dnzanjtd and alder until they heard
the faint tinkling Of water. Dost thou re-
member said the girl. it was here" pointing
to an cmbaycd pool in the dark current that
l baptised thee. when Father Pedro first
brought thee here. when we both played at be-
ing monks. They were dear old days. for
Father Pedro would trust no one with thee but
me- and always kept us near him."
"Ay and he said would be profaned by the
touch of any other. and so himself always
washed and dressed me and made my bed near
his"
And took thee away again, and saw thee
not till thou earnest with Antonio. over a year
ago TO the cattle branding. And now. my
Pancho may never see thee again." She
buried her face in her hands and sobbcd aloud.
The little acolyte tried to comfort her. but
with such abstraction of manner and made
quucy of warmth that she hastily removed his
carcssing hand
But why? What has happened! 2" he asked.
eagerly.
The girls manner had changed. Her eyes
flashed. and she put her brown fist on her waist
and began TO rock from side TO side
But III not go she said, viciously.
Go wherern asked the boy.
ON. where" she cch oed. impatiently.
Hear me. Francisco; thou knowest am. like
thee. an orphan; but / have not, like thee,
parent in the Holy Church. For, alas" she
added bitterly, " l am not u boy. and have not
a lovely voice borrowed from the angels. | was
like thee. n founding kept by the charity OF
the reverend fathers until Don Juan. a child
less wdowcr adopted me. l was happy not
knowing and caring who We're the parents who
had abandoned me- happy only In the love Of
him who became my adopted father. And now
- she paused.
And now" echoed Francisco. eagerly.
And now they say it Is discovered who are
my parents"
And they livci'
Mother of God no. said the girl. with
scarcely tllial piety. There is some one.
thing-a mere Don Fulano-who knows ii all.
It seems. who is TO be my guardian
But how? Tell me all dear Jlanita.' said
tho boy with a fcvcrsh interest, that contrast
ed 30 strongly with his previous abstraction
that Juanita bit her lips with vexation.
Ali How? Santa Barbara! an cxtrava-
CANA for children. A necklace Of lies. ! am
lost from ship of which my father-heaven
rest him-is General and am picked up among
the weeds on the sea shore, like Moses in the
burushes. A pretty story. indeed"
nh how h,autiful''' pxclaimpI Francisco
enthusiastically. All. Juani;a would it had
been me-"
"Thee !' said the girl bitterly" thee MOI
1t was a girl wanted. Enough. it WAS me-"
And when does the guardian come y per-
sisted the hoy with sparkling eyes.
He is here even now with that pompous
fool the American Alcade from Monterey-a
wretch who knows nothing OF the country or
the people. but who helped the other American
to claim me. tell the Francisco. like as not 1t
is all q folly; some scnseess blunder Of those
Americdnos that imposes upon Don Juan's
simplicity and love for them"
How looks he-this Americaao who seeks
thce?' asked Francisco.
What care how he looks. said Juanita "or
what he is" He may have the four SIS. for all
co1uetry. he is not bad TO look upon. now /
recall him."
" Had he a long moustache and q sad. sweet
smile and voice SO gentle and yet so strong.
that you felt he ordered you to do things with
out saying ii ? And did his eye read your
thoughts-that very thought that YOU must
| obey him p
Saints preserve thee rancho! OF whom
| dost thou speak n
| Listen, Juanta 1t was year ago. the eve
OF Natividad he was in the church when
sang Look where would. / always met his
eye. When the canticle was sung and was
| slipping into the sacrsty. he was beside me-
He spoke kindly. but / understood him not,
He put into my hand gold for an aginaldo. l
preten led understood not that also and put
| it into the box for the poor. He smiled and
went away Often have l seen him since, and
last night when left the Mission. he was there
again with Father Pedro"
And Father Pedro what said he OK him 2
| asked Juanita.
Nothing Tho boy hesitated. Perhaps
because | said nothing of the stranger"
Juanita laughed. so thou canst keep
secret from the good father when thou carest
But why dost thou think this stranger is IN!
new guardian ~
"nnst thnu not aaa li,tla ciStor ha Was ayor