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

What sayest thou. good Antonio 7" asked
Francisco. quickly opening his blue eyes In
frank curiosity; who is fire. and who 10 towr
The worthy muleteer. utterly abashed and
confounded by this display OF the acolyte's d.
rect simplicity. contented himself by shrusging
his shoulders. and vague "Quisn sabe'"
Come" said the boy. eayly. confess II IL
only the aouardieue OF the Blessed Fisherman
thou niissest Never fear. Jusnita will find
thee some. And see hero she comes"
There was fash Of white nonnccs along the
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 a. he entered the patio. and
nearly dragged him from his mule.
" Have care. little sister" laughed the AGO.
lyte. looking at Antonio or there will be q
confederation. Am I the IRE ?" he continued.
submitting to the two sounding kissea the
young girl placed upon either cheek. but still
keeping his mischievous glance upon the mule
| teer.
"Qtiien sabe7" repeated Antonio. grufiy. a.
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 a. himself.
Let the mestiza 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 lie 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 stayless little waist. accented only by the
belt OF the light nounced sdyd. and said:
But why this haste and feverishness. Mia
And now / look at thee thou hast been crying"
They had emerged from door In the corri-
dor into the bright sunlight OF walled gar
den. The girl dropped her eyes. cast quick
glance around her. and said:
mot hereto the arroyo" and half leading.
half dragging him. made her way through a
copse Of n,ansania and alder until they heard
the faint tlnkling OF water. "Dost thou re-
member" said the girl. =" 1t was here" pointing
| to an embayed pool In the dark current. that
I 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 DO profansd 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 year
!
Pancho. l may never see thee again" She
buried her face in her hands and sobbed aloud.
The little acolyte tried to comfort her. but
with such abstraction OF manner and inade-
quacy of warmth that she hastily removed his
caressing hand.
But whyy What has happened3" 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 I'll not go" she said. viciously.
Go where" asked the boy.
oh. wherc7" she ech oed. impatiently,
" Hear me. Francisco; thou knowest am. like
thse. an orphan but have not like thee, a
parent in the Holy Church. For. alas" she
added. bitterly. Il am not Il boy. and have not
lovely voice borrowed from the angels. was
like thee, a founding. kept by the charity Of
the reverend fathers. until Don Juan. . child
less widower. adopted me. / was happy. not
knowing and caring who were the parents who
had abandoned me. happy only in the lovo OF
him who became my adopted flasher. And now
| -" she paused.
And now?" echoed Francisco. eagerly.
And now they say It Is discovered who are
my parents"
And they live7"
Mother OF God! no." said tho girl. with
a
thing-a mere Don Fulano-who knows 1t all
it seems. who is TO be my guardian"
| But how? Tell me all. dear Jianita." said
the boy with foverish interest that contrast.
ed so strongly with his previous abstraction
that Juanita bit her lips with vexation.
An. How Santa Barbara! IN extrava-
ganza for children. A necklace Of lies. I 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
buIrushes. A pretty story. indeed"
oh how beautiful exclaimed Francisco
enthusiastically. All, Juanita! would it had
been me-"
THE - said the girl bitterly" thee! MOL
1t was girl wanted. Enough. it WAS me-.
And when does the guardian Gomez" per.
sisted the hoy with sparkling eyes.
" He is here oven now with that pompoua
fool the American Alcaide from Monterey-a
wretch who knows nothing OF the country OF
the people. but who helped the other American
to claim me. tell the. Francisco. like as not II
| is all u folly: some senseess blunder OF those
.ime'icanos that imposes upon Don Juan'e
simplicity and love for thcm.'
How looks he-this americana who seeks
thee ?" asked Francisco.
What care how he looks" said Juanita, ''or
what he is" He may have the four SIS, for all
| L care. Yet, she added with a slight touch oil
co1uetry. " he is not bad TO look upon. now l
recall him"
Had he long moustnche and sad. sweet
smile. and II voice so gentle and yet so strong
that YOU felt he ordered you to do things with
out saying it? And did his eye road your
thoughts-that very thought that you must
obey him p
Saints preserve thee, Pancho! OF whom
dost thou speak ?"
Listen. Juanita. 1t was a year ago. the eve
! of Natividad. he was in the church when
sang. Look where l would. always met his
eye. When the canticle was sung and was
slipping into the sacristy. he WINS beside me-
He spoke kindly. but | understood him not
He put into my hand gold for an a5uualdo
pretended understood not that also, and put
it into the box for tho poor. He smiled and
went away. Often have seen him since md
last night when left the Mission. he was there
! again with Father Pedro"
And Father Pedro-whst said he OF him ~
asked Juanita.
Nothing" The boy hesitated. Perhaps
| because said nothing OF the stranger"