The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-12-31
Frightened by toad Blood OF the Maityrei
It's like any foolish grip

shrink from any Of Gods harmless creatures.
And only last week thou vast dsdainful OF
poor Muricta's pig, forgetting that san Antonio
did himself elect one his faithful companion.
oven in glory"
Yes. but 1t was so fat and go uncleanly.
holy father" replied the young acolyte. and
| it smclt So
"smolt 40? q echoed the father doubtfully.
Have a care. child. that this is not luxurious
ness Of the senses. l have noticed OF late you
gather over much OF roses and syrinHa-excel-
lent In their way and in moderation but still
not to be compared with the Nower Of Holy
Church-,hc lily
" But lilies don't look we'll on the refectory
table. and against the adobe WALL returned the
| acolytc with pout OF q spoilt child; and
surely the flowers cannot help being sweet.
| any more than myrrh or incense. And l am
not frightened at the heather .ime,cdaos
either "o,r There was small one in the gar.
den yestcrday-a boy like me-and he spoke
kindly and with pleasant face
What said he TO thee. child p asked Father
Pedro nxiously.
Nay the matter OF his speech could not
understand" laughed the boy; but the man
ner was as gentle as thine. holy fathcr.''
"'St. child" said the Padre impatiently.
Thy likings are rs unreasonable as thy fears.
Besides. have not told thee it Ill becomes
suliu VI SnTlbt W WITH tuOSc SOnS VI
Beliaip But canst thou not repeat the words
tho 'oorois he saidl" he continued sus-
piciously.
IT'S o harsh tongue the Americdnos speak
in their throat" replied the boy. But he said
Devilishnisse' and pretty as a-girl,' and
| looked at me-
The good father made the boy repeat the
words gravely. and as gravcly repeated them
after him with infinite simplicity. They are
but heretical words" he replied in answer TO
the boys inluiring look it 1t woll you under
stand not English. Enough. Run away child
and DO ready for the Angelus. will commune
with myself awhile under the pear trees"
Glad to escape so easily. the young acolyte
| disappeared down the alley OF fig troes. not
! without furtive look ut the patches Of chick
| weed around their roots. the possible ambus-
! cadc of creeping or saltant vcrmin. The good
priest hcaycd sigh and glanced around the
darkening prospect The sun had already dis
| appeared over the mountain wall that lay be-
tween him and the sea. trimmed with faint
white line Of outlying fog. A cool zephyr
! famed his chcck; it WAS the dying breath of
the rieaios generates beyond the wall. As Father
pedros eyes were raised to this barrier. which
seemed To shut out tho boistcrous world be-
! yond he fancied he noticed for the first time a
slight breach in the parapet over which an ad-
vanced banner OF the fog WAS TUTORING Was
| II an omen? His speculations were cut short
by voice at his very side
He turned quickly and behold one Of those
"hcathens" whom he had Just warned his
! young acolyte against; one OF that struggling
band OF adventurers whom the recent gold dis
| coveries had scattered along the coast. Luck
lily the fertile alluvium of these valleys. lying
parallel with the sea, offered no Indications
to attract the gold seekers. Nevertheless to
Father Pedro even the infrequent contact With
| the AmercdHos was Objectionable They We're
! at once inuuistive aud careless They asked
| questions with the sharp perspcacity OF con-
trover-y. They received his grave replies with
the frank Indifference of utter worldness.
Powerful enough to have been tyrannical op-
prcssors. they We're singuarly tolerant and
gentle, contenting themselves with a playful.
good natured irreverence. which tormcnted
the good father more than opposition. They
| We're felt to be dangerous and subversive.
The americana. however. who stood before
him did not Extensively suggest these national
qualities. man of middle height. strongly
built bronzod and slightly gray from the vicis-
STUDIES of years and exposure, he had an air of
practical seriousDcss that commended itself to
Father Pedro. To his religious mind it suG-
gested selfconsciousness; expressed in the
dialect OF the stranger it only meant bust
ness"
I'm rather glad foundyou out here alone. I"
began the latter; it saves time haven't got
to take my turn with the rest in there'-he in
dicated the church with his thumb" and you
haven't got TO make an appointment. You
have got a clear forty minutes before the An
eelus rings" he added. consulting large sill
yer chronometer, and l reckon l kin git
through my part OF the job inside Of twenty.
leaving you ten minutes for remarks. ! want
to confess
Father Pedro drew back with q gesture OF
dignity. The stranger. however. laid his hand
upon the PADRES sleeve with the air of man
anticipating objection, but never refused. and
went on:
"Of course. l know. You want me to come at
some other time and In there You want 1t in
the reg lar style. That's your way and your
time. My answer is: 1t amt my way and my
time. The main idea Of confession. l tako ii.
is gettin' at the facts I'm ready to give EN- il
you'll take 'em out here now. II you're willing
to drop the Church and confessional and all
that sort O. thing. /. on my side, am willing to
give up the absoution. and all that sort O
thing. You might" he added. with an uncon-
| scious touch OF pathos In tine suggestion
'heave in word or two OF advice after get
through for instance. what vou'd do in the cir
cumstanccs you seel That's all. But that's
as you please. 1t aint part OF the business"
| Irreyerent rs this speech appeared. there
was really no trace Of such intention in his
manner. and his evident profound conviction
that his suggestion was practical and not al
all inconsistent with ecclesiastical dignity
would alone have been enough TO touch the
Padre. had not the strangers dominant per
sonalty already overridden him. He hesitated
The stranger seized the opportunity to take
his arm. and lead him with the half familiarit,
OF powerful protection to bench beneath the
refectory windows. Taking out his watcl
again, he put it in the passive hands OF the as
tonshel priest saying. Time me-" cleared
his throat. and began:
Fourteen years ago there was ship cruis
in in the Pacific jest off this range. that wa
!, ez nigh on to a He'll afoat as anything riggct
kin DO. II chap managed to dodge TIL
t Capcn's Delaying pin for atlme. no was boun'
to he fetched up in the ribs at last by tn
mate 8 boots There was chap knocked dow
the fore hatch with q broken leg in the Gull
and another jumped overheard or Cape Cor
rientes. crazy as q loon. along clip OF tn
head from the Cap'en's trumpet Thems facts
a The ship was q brgantine. trading along tn