The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-07-18

stayed.
And when tho deaths grew many, and
there was sore need for yet more nurses for
the sick, the convent of the C2puc ainss
opened It's doors, and the holy nuns came
forth and gave their aid. The Holy Father
gave them grace snd fullest absolution when,
in the after years, their prayer for pardon
went TO Rone) The blessed presence
and sweet gentleness Of these sanity nuns
brought comfort into many stricken house
in that most dresry time Bat-such was
the division of their work among the sick
the Franeiscanos and the Capucninss rarely
met.
Fs:thful was Padre Jose in caring for the
sick, ana in consoling in the name Of the
blessed saints, those whose sickness was even
unto death. Almoet his olly rest ives the
little spsce, morning and evening, when he
sat beneath mis- palm. And being after ma
many years of jealous labor, but q frsil man,
and going thus constantly into thoss places
where the pestilence was a. 6. worst, the
time came when he himself felt tnat the fever
had him in It's hold; and lis heart was glad
dened, for he knew that now his rest would
come.
Close upon the evening of the third day,
feeling then that his release was near, he
ssked that they would carry him out beyond
the convent walls into the garden, and place
him in the seat beneath his pal n, snd leave
him there.
Beautiful is the evening in Monterey.
When the sun has sunk beyond the crest of
the noble Mira, q great burst Of red and
golden glory leaps up into the sky and tor
long time hangs quivering there above the
mountains. Clouds Of gorgeous eoloring
Aost beyond the Sierra and outline its SON.
be, jagged ridge against their Tich splen-
dor; and through the clefss bstwsen tue
peaks, broad rays Of light shoot ont across
the valley, and battle the farther mountains
IN liquid flame And even more beautiful,
or, perhaps, only differently beautiful, is the
time little after this, when the glorious
magnifcence had vanished from the sky, and
in its place have come subdued, delicious
coiorings-echoes of the splendor that has
passed away.
And Psdre Jose, sitting beneath his palm,
with the fever quite gone from him-for It
had done its work-thanked God in his heart
that this most perfect earthly beauty should
be his last sight of earth 1t wac fit pre-
lude, as he whispered to the palm-his head
resting, as for years he had been won't as he
sat there to rest it. against the palms loving
uunk-for the sight yet more beautiful, be-
ing heavenly, that would be his so soon.
DTeamily he whispered his thankfulness for
al that the palm had been to him; for all its
constant tenderness and love through these
long years. Then the cool evening wind,
which sweeps down from the mountains at
the end of the hot days, and brings with ]! q
most Gelectable refreshment, passed softly
through the palm leaves, and made again the
old, sweet story Of the pslm.ree's gratitude
ard love. And, possessing none of the sell
fshness that goes with, If indeed, it be not
TIE very essence of, sll human love, the
pslm.tlee murmured its own joyfulness that
the time had come when the one whom it
loved so truly would cease TO be acquainted
With sorrow, ard would know only the per-
feet happiness Of an endless, holy pace.
Then the Padre whispered again, or It
may be thst this thought was framed only
in his heart, his longing to see the Dona
Ana yet orce more before his eyes forever
closed 10 things of earth. And, lol as this
longing rested upon his soul, there cana to
the open gate Of the convent garden-being
led thiiher, surely, by Gods good grscs-a
holy num- and. looking on her face, the
Padre Jose knew that for the little time of
life yet lett 20 him the love ths. he had lost
was found
So she sat beside him, beneath the palm,
stroking his cold hand lovingly; yet with
love chsstened by long suffering of loves
lscK, and now sanctioned because it welled
out anew toward one upon whom rested Wis
IDLY the hand Of death. Together they talk.
ed of the long years which, in their severed
lives, would have been dead years bu. for
the life that hsd some to each from a lising
love Of God; and as they talked, Padre Jose
csme to know that in all this dresry time
the had not been star from him, but near at
Land-wstching over him as an angel might
have watched. and rejoicing in the fair per-
fsction Of his holy work For she had pay
cd that she might be sent to where he was;
and her prayer had been granted through
firm confidence IN her loyal faith to the
higher love which she hsd protessei IN lax
ing upon her her holy VOWS.
Slowly the splendor of the sky and noun
tains faded into the mellow h2lf-tiass aud
subtle blendings of delicate colorings through
which the gracious sunlight passes before it
is lost in the dull dusk OF night. As she
Cherished it between her own warm hands
the hand of Padre jose grew yet more cold;
and she knew how little was left TO him of
life.
Presently, as the light grew fainter and
fainter. and rs the spirit of Padre Jose grew
ACtS dIA ACec = will VI O1tt ~ Gtlt " t-D
stiffness of the evening air the ringing of the
srgelus; low, tremuloUs rngiog, for the
ringer in the tower was worn with much toll
and watching, and scarce had strength left in
him to sound the call 10 prayer. There was
a waiting melancholy, Jet deep tenderness
in the faint ringing OF this Eeet bell, "a
though it mourned-yet with q great compass
sion, in which was hope.
And as its dying tones vi5rated softly
through the dusky air, there went a shivering
rustic through the branches of the deserted
palm, there came thrill of mortal agony
into lonely womsn's heart--for the spirit of
Padre Jose, leaving poor, earthly love behind
it hsrsh earthly toll and care, hsd passed
hence into the perfect love OF heaven, into
the perfect and eternal rest.
Here in is seen amystsry o. the natures OF
man and woman. The man, to Danish his
Lore, had sought to place the woman afar
from him; but the woman, no. less resolutely
deter mined that her love shoull be crushed,
knew that she beat could crush It when near
the man.
CURIOUS, USEFUL. AND SCIENTIFIC
When travelling on a railroad IL il 50 d thai