The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-01-07
Copyright.
AT THE MISSION OF SAN CARMEL.
tGonclusion.l
III.

side the little graveyard caught the last glitter
OF the morning sun on Pinto's shining head
stall. and heard the last tinke Of Antonio's
spurs. something very like q mundane sigh
escaped him. To the simple wonder OF the
majority Of carly worshippers-the ha,f-breed
converts who vigorously attended the spiritual
ministrstions OF the Mission. and ate the tenn
poral provisions OF the reverend fathers-he
deputed the functions OF the first mass to CO.
adjutor. and. breviary In hand. sought the
orchard Of venerable pear trees. Whether
there WAS any occult sympathy In his reflec-
tons with the contemplation Of their enarled.
twisted. equity. and knotty limbs. still bearing
gracious and goodly fruit. know not. but It
was his private retreat. and under one OF the
most rheumatic and misshapen trunks there
WAS rude scat. Here Father Pedro sank, his
face toward the mountain wall between him and
the invisible sea. The relentless, dry. practi-
cal Californian sunlight falling on his face.
grimly pointed out q night OF vigil and suffer.
ing. The snufYy yellow OF his eyes was in
jeoted yet burning; his temples were ridged
and veinod like tobacco leaf; the odor OF
desiccation which his garments always ex-
hailed was hot and feverish. ms II the FIRE had
suddenly awakened among tho ashes.
OF what was Father Pedro thinkina2
Hs was thinking Of his youth a youth spent
venerable a. now. He was thinking Of his
youthful dreams Of heather conquest. emu.
lstine the sacrifices aud labors Of Junipero
Sierra: dream cut short By the orders OF the
Archbishop. that sent his companion. Brother
Diego. north on mission to strange lands. and
condemned him to the isolation OF San Carmel.
He Was thinking OF that fierce struggle with
envy OF . fellow creatures better fortune that.
conquered by prayer and penance. left him pa
dent. submissive. ana devoted 10 his humble
work. how he raised up converts to the Faith.
even taking them from the breast OF hereto
mothers.
He recalled how once. with the zeal OF propa-
gsndism quickening In the instincts Of a child
less man. he had dreamed Of perpetuatng his
work through some sinless creation Of his own !;
OF dedicatine some virgin soul. one over whom
hs could have complete control restricted by
no human paternal weakness. to the tnsk he
had begun. But how? OF all the boys eagerly
offered to the Church by their parents there
seemed none sufficiently pure and free from
parental faint. He RENE mbered how. one night
through the intercession Of the Blessed Virgin
herself. as he firmly then believed this dream
Wa fulfilled. An Indian woman brought him
Q Wdueer child--a baby girl tina, she had picked
up on the scashore. There we're no parents to
divide the responsibility. the child had no past
to confront. except the memory OF the ignorant
Indian woman. who deemed her duty done. and
whose interest censed in giving 1t to the Padre
The austsre conditions Of his monkish life
compelled him to the first step In his adoption
Of 1.-THE concenlment Of it's scN. This was
aasy enough. rs he constituted himself from
that moment its sole nurse and attendant, and
boldly baptized it among the other children by
the name OF Francisco. No others knew its
origin. nor cared TO know. Father Pedro had
taken 0.uchdcl,O founding for adoption; his
jealous secluslon of it and his personal care
was doubtless sons sacerdotal formula. at once
high and necessary
He remembered with darkcninG eyes and i'm
peded breath how his close comnan 10 shi y a nd
daily care Of this helpless child mad revealed to
him the destinations Of that paternity denied
to him; how he had deemed 1t his duty to
struggle ngnnst tho thrill OF baby fingers laid
upon his yellow checks, tho pleading Of mar
tioulate words. the eloGucnce Of wonder seeing
and mutely questioning eyes, how he hat sue
cumbed again and again and then struggled
no more, seeing only in them the suggestion Of
childhood made incarnate in the Holy Babe
And yet. even as h. thought. he drew from his
gown little shoe. and laid Il beside his hrc-
Wary. 1t was Francisco baby s,ippcr-a tlu-
pllcats TO those worn by the miniature waxen
6gnre OF the Holy Virgin herself in her niche in
tho transert
Had he feit during these years any rualms Of
conscience at this concealment Of tho chld's
sex None. For to him tho bnba was scxle-s
es most h~itted one who WINS to live and die at
the foot Of the altar. There was no attempt to
deceive God-what matterrd else Nor was lie
Withholding the child from the minstrations
OF the sacred sisters; there was no convent
near tho Mission. aal rs each year passed the
difficulty OF restoring her to the position and
duties Of her sex becumo greater and more
dangerous. And then tho acoyte's destiny
WAS sealed by what again appeared to Father
Pedro As \ direct Interpolation OF Providence.
The child developed voice Of such exquisite
sweetness and purity that an angel seemed to
have strayed into the little choir. and knecling
worshippsrs below transported. sazcd upward
half expectant Of heavenly light breaking
through tho gloom Of the raiterei ceiling. The
fame OF the little singer filled the Valley Of San
Carmel. II was a miracle vouchsafed the
Mission. Don Jose Peralta remembered-Rh
yes-to havo heard in old Spain OF boy Choir
listers with such voices And WAS this sacred
trust to be withdrawn from him? Was this
lifs which he had brought ont Of an unknown
world OF sin. unstained and pure consecra;ed
and dedicated 10 God. just in the dawn Of
oowor and promise for tho glory 81 the Mother
Church. to be taken from his side? And ut the
word Of . self-convictsd man OF sin-a man
whose tardy repentance was not yet nbsolved
By the Holy Church, Never! Never! Father
Pedro dwelt upon the strangers rejection Of
the ministrations Of the Church with pitiabie
satisfaction. Had he accepted 1t. he would
have had sacred claim upon Father Pedro's
sympathy and confidence. Yet he rose again.
uneasily and with irregular steps returned to
tho corridor passing the door OF the familiar
little coll beside his own. The window. the
table. and even the scant toilette utensils were
filied with the flowers Of yesterday. some Of
thorn wttherod and dry. Tho white gown OF the
little chorster was hanging emptiy against
the wall. Father Pedro started and trembled
1t seemed as though the spiritual life OF tho
child had slipped away with It's garments
In that slight chill. which even in tho hottest
days In California, always invests any shadow
cast In that white sunlight, Father Pedro shiv-
ered In the corridor. Passing again into the
garden. he followed In fancy the wayiarng
figure OF Francisco; saw the child arrive at tue
rancho OF Don Juan. and with the fateful blind
neRs of ALI dreame proiected picture most