The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-01-07

Peace. then! and lot thy tongue take ex-
ample from hers. Bring her with thee into the
sacristy and attend without Col"
Father Pedro watched the disappearing figure
of the muleteer and hurriedly swept his thin
dry hand. velned and ribbed like q brown No
vember leaf. over his stony forehead. with q
sound that seemed almost rustic. Then he
suddenly stifrened his fingers over his breviary.
dropped his arms pcrpendlculnry before him.
and with rigid step returned to tho corridor
and passed into the sacristy.
For moment in the half darkness the room
seemed to be empty. Tossed carelessly in the
corner appeared some blankets. topped by q few
struggling black horse tails like an unstrand-
ed RATA. A trembling agitated the mass as
Father Pedro approached. He bent over the
heap. and distinguished In Its midst the glow
ing black eyes OF Sanchicha, the Indian cente-
marian OF the Mission San Carmel Only her
eyes lived. Helpless. boneless. and jelly-like.
old age had overtaken her with q mild form OF
deliQuesccnce.
Listen. Sanchicha." said the father. grave
ly. 1t Is important that thou shoudst refresh
thy memory for q moment. Look back four
teen years. mother; 1t is but yesterday to thee.
Thou dost remember the bnby-a little mucha-
cha thou broughtest mo then-fourteen yenrs
ago ?"
The old womsn's eyes became Intelligent.
and turned with quick look toward the open
door OF the church. and thence toward the
choir.
The Padre made q motion OF irritation. mo.
no! Thou dost not understand; thou dost not
attend me. Knowest thou OF any mark OF
clothing. trinket. or amulet found upon the
babe"
The light OF the old woman's eyes won't out.
She might have been dead. Father Pedro
waited moment. and then laid his hand I'M
patiently on her shoulder.
Dost thou mean there are none?"
A ray Of light struggled back into her eyes.
None"
And thou hast kept back or put away no
sign nor mark Of her parentage? Tell me. on
this cruciNx."
The eyes caught the crucinx. and became as
empty rs the orbits Of the carven Christ upon IL.
Father Pedro waited patiently. A moment
PASSED. Only the sound OF the muleteers spurs
was heard In the courtyard.
1t Is we'll" he said at last. with sigh Of re-
lief. Pepita shall give thee some refresh
ment. md joss will bring thee back again. |
will summon him."
He passed out OF the sacristy door leaving 1t
open. A ray of sunlight darted eagerly in. and
fell upon the grotes1ue heap in tho corner.
Snnchicha's cycs lived again; more than that.
n sn;ular movement came over her face. The
hIdeous caverns " hertoothless mouth opened
She laughed. The stop OF jose was heard in
the corridor. and she became again inert.
Tho third day. which should have brought
the return Of Antonio. was nearly spent. Father
Pedro was impatient but no. alarmed The
good fathers at San jose might naturally de-
tain Antonio for tho answer. which might re-
quire dclibrration. II any mischance had
occurred 20 Francisco. Antonio would have re-
turned or sent Il special messenger. At sunse,
he was in his accustomed seat in the orchard
his hands clasred over the breviary in his list
less lap. his ewes fixed upon tho mountain he
tween him and that mysterious sea that had
brought 80 much into his lie. He was filled with
a strange desire ~ see il. a Vague CURIOSITY
hitherto unknown to his preercupieu life. He
wished 10 gaze upon that strand. perhaps the
very spot whore she had bee n found He doubted
not his questioning eyes would discover some
forgotten trace of her. Under his persistent will
and aided by the Holy Virgin the sen would
give NJ its secret. He looked Mt the fog creep
ing along thc summit and recalled the latest
gossip Of San Carmel: how that since the ad-
vent o. the imert"dnoS. it was gradually en-
croachins on tho Mission. The hated name
wildly recalled to him the features OF the
stranger rs he had stood before him three
nights ngo in this very garden 80 wildly that
he sprong to his feet with nm exclamation. 1t
vas no fancy. hut Senor Crunch himself adj
vancing from under tho shadow OF n pear tree.
Il reckoned I'd catch you here" said Mr..
Cranch. with the same dry practical business
fashion. as if he was only rcsumng an inter-
rupted conversation. and l reckon | amt
going TO keep you mint longer than d i'll
toher day He mu,ely referred to his watch.
which he already held in his hand. and then
put it back in his pocket Well! we found
her.
Francisco" interrupted tho priest with a
single stride laying his hand upon Cranch's
arm. and staring into his eyes.
Mr.. Cranch quietly removed Father Pedro's
hand. Il reckon that wasn't the name as /
caught it," he returned dryiy. Hadn't you
better sit down"
Pardon me--pnrdon me. senor." said tho
priest hastily sinking back In his bench. Il
wns thinking of other things. You-you-
came upon nae suddenly. thought it was the
acoyta. Go on. s,hor! am Interested"
thought you'd b." said Cranch. quietly.
That's why l camc. And then you might be
Of service too"
True. true" said tho priest. with rapid &C.
cents: and this girl, senior. this girl is"
Juanita. tho msst'zd. adopted daughter Of
Don Juan Briones. over on tho Santa Clare
Valley" replied Cranch jerking his numb over
his shoulder and then sitting down upon the
bench beside Father Pedro.
The priest turned his feverish eyes pierre
ingy upon his companion for few seconds
and then dog9edly fixed them upon the ground
Cranch drew plug OF tobacco from his pocket
cut off II portion. placed it In his cheek and
then quietly began to s,rap the blade OF his
jack knife upon his boot. Father Pedro saw 1t
from under his cyelids. and even in his preoc-
cupation despised him.
Then you are certain she is the babe you
seek ?" said the father. without looking up.
Il reckon as near as you can be certain OF
anything. Her age tallies She was the only
founding girl baby baptized by you-vou
know "-he partly turned round appealin.ly to
the Padre" that year. Injin woman says she
picked upa baby. Looks like a pretty clear
case. don't it,"
And the clothes. friend Cranch ?" said the
priest. with his eyes still on the ground and a
slight assumption OF easy Indifference.
They will be forthcoming. like enough.
-ban ! i,pa nj rrap oh IN