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

reckon not bother II the proofs are all right"
replied Cranch carelessly and tho girl won't
think the worse Of me for helping her to a for
tune. Hallo you've dropped something" He
leaped to his feet picked up the breviary which
had fallen from the Padres fingers. and re-
turned II TO him with a slight touch OF gentle
ness that was unsuspected In the man.
The priests dry. tremulous hand grasped
the volume without acknowledgment
" But these proofs p he said hastily; these
proofs. sehor'"
"Oh. well. you'll testify to the baptism. you
know"
But II I refuse; II I will have nothing to do
with this thing! II I WIN not give my word
that there Is not some mistake" said the
priest. working himself into feverish indig-
nation. That there are no, slips OF memory
eh! OF 80 many children baptized. is 1t posi-
BILE for me to know which. Ell? And II this
Juanita is not your girl. Ell?
Then you'll help mo to ind who is" said
Cranch. coolly.
Father Pedro turned furiously on his tor
mentor Overcome by his vigil and anxiety.
he was oblivious OF everything but the pres
ence Of the man who seemed to usurp the
functions OF his own conscience. Who are
you. who speak thus ?" he said hoarsely. ad-
vancing upon Cranch with outstretchsd and
matchmaking fingers. who are you, Senior
Heather. who dare to distate to me- Father
Of tho Holy Church tell you. will have mono
OF this. Never! will not. From this moment.
you Notwithstanding. will never -"
He stopped. The nrst stroke OF tho AnSclus
rang from the little tower. The frs. stroke OF
that bell before whose magic cxorcism all
human passions fed the peaceful bell that had
for fifty years lulied tho little fold Of San Car
nal To n MI reaf n hiR throhfi N 20
ear His trembling hands groped for the cru.
cifx. and carried 1t to his lett breast. His lips
moved In prayer. His eyes were turned to the
cold. passionless sky. where IL few faint. far
spaced stars had silently stolen to their places.
The Angelus still rang. his trembling ceased.
and he remained motionlcss and rigid.
Tho American. who had uncovered In defer
ence to the worshlprer rather than the rite.
waited patiently. The eyes OF Father Pedro re-
turned to the earth. moist rs II with dew caught
from above He looked half absently at Cranch.
Forgive me. my son." he said. in a changed
voice. am only a worn old man. must
talk with thee moro Of this-but not tonight -
not tonight; to-morrow-to.morr
row."
He turned slowly and appeared to glide
rather than move under the trees. until the
dark shadow OF the Mission tower mot and en- =
compassed him. Cranch followed him with
anxious eyes. Then no removed the Quid OF
tobucco from his cheek.
Just as l reckoned." remarked he. quite
audibly. He's clean gold on tho bed rock
after all!'
w
i"a' h,sn' r"'he' !eu'o orean'eu strange
u'e"'n' no" i'i"ci VI " was ie"'''l. NJ" 'one
it lasted. or when he awoke from 1t, he could
n'' 'oi ino "''.o' eAoi'eincnt W 'h' pre-
Vious u"y mao cuimina'eu IN 'epri'e eNal'a'
tioh III W"'e" ne H'eu "no 'ho'eu Us III sop
ui ,1 'His'ehoe'
rms 's "ha' ne re'neuho'r'a. no 'ho"sht nc
morse. and. making his way to the darkensd
church b,J ,,llon mon Me traos hotoro ~,
.'''' .'. ''''." ur'n ~, N'ooH "'i''' '"e
broke from the choir but in accents so dis.
sonar, and mrr.,'rni ,ho, i. ,aan,n1 s, ,"I
lege. and no tremhlcd. He thought he had con
fessed the secret OF the childs sex to Cranch
bu, whether the ne.t morning or n week ln,e,
, he did not know he tancIcd, too, that crancl
had also confessed some ,rIGlng deception
10 MN put wh"' OF WHY ne cou," NOT refie'h
Der. so much greater seemed the enormity o
his own transgrcssion. lie though, cranch had
put In his hands tn" letter he had written To
the Father Superior. saying thai his secret Wa
/
| ,ro.y,l md tina s,,,d,, tin, ,,i,,h, ho,, ~,
"N"w"' anu .''o sc.'u"i' t"al ln'E"t i'h'' en-
sued. But through all. and above all. he wns
! conscious of one ilxcd i,lea-to spek tn, ,,a.
! shora ,,i,h c,,.bi,,, ,,,,I -, ,l> s,,, ,t,,
Shore WIN sahchi'ha' ana unon IN" spot where
she had found Francisco meet the young @ir
who had taken his place. and 70 Part from he.
'o'ever' ho IA" am refoier'!on that ihi'
was necessary to SONS Legal identification o.
! her IA arranged hy Cranch hu, how ar why II,
"a , ' Ins,I. ,,,'., ' 49, .1' ~. va, -.
Wv ''o' unuo''''nu 'hou"" 'A"' IL ""e d p"r
| OF his penance.
| 1t was carly morning when the faithful An.
,on,o "..on,,,,aa b.. =, n.hi.a VIZ Al IA
.oh'o nrco.',a".'" o' '""ch''n" anu "ose' roue
forth witt! him from the Mission II San Carmel
Except on tho exnressionless fonturc. Of the
/ old woman. Their. was anxlaty and gloom un"n
the face OF the little caynraJs ii. dII moi knnw
| how heavily hls strnnrn nbs,rnriiun md Hal.
| iucina,,ons weighed u;,1n tn"ir hono,t hnnr"s
As they wound up Ii" ascent , Of ihn n.oumtai
viii bated trnatn and many VIM uIous OF
| Themselves but with ayss lwnys wisiiuitStIy =.
Ell upon him. Hn wondered il ns mari oi hi.
uenmn"c he ought not 10 nrocmin h,s ain and nj,
nbnse himself before diem but he knew thu
! his devoted followers wouli insist mon shnr
| inn his MIN, hment: and he rein.mhh.rs1 his
nrSnis, 10 Irunch ihni fnr her sns,