Smyrna times., 1889-05-22

wicked sacristan. As the padres portIy
figure diminished in the distance, Gauda- |
loupe, forgetting the stitch in his back
and the ache in his bones, skipped nim-
bly, into the house and began prepara-
tiOns to carry out his evil designs.
1t was nearing midday. Already Ig- |
natius, the Oldest and leanest and hun |
griest Of the cats, had appeared, shifting, !
as he entered the kitchen, to learn if din |
ner was being cooked.
Il will teach thee, villain!'' muttered
the sacristan, fiercely, as he busted him.
self building a fire. 81 will teach thee
to sit and glover at me while work till
my body shakes with weariness!'
When the meal was ready Gaudaloupe
went to the door, "Come, Carlotta,
dearest! Come, my Pedro! Come, Car
LOST he called, tenderly. Hasten within,
for thy dinner waitsl Be quick, then;
all of your
When the cats were seated. and wait
ing, as usual, for Padre Mateo to take
his place and pronounce the benediction,
Gaudaloupe, after tightly closing the
doors, hurried to the chapel From the
altar he selected the largest crucifx,
and, bearing this in the left hand, and
great whip behind him in his right hand,
he returned to the padres house.
Holding the crucifx before him, the
sacristan entered the room where the
cats were assembled. "Now wretches.
brutes! villains" he shouted-and at
each word came a cut from the whip
'tiends! monsters! ungrateful beasts!
Receive your punishment"
The astOnished creatures leaped from
their seats and tore madly about the lit
tie room, but they could not get beyond
the reach Of Gaudaloupe's whip. He
lashed right and left, still holding the
cruciliX before him, till at last he could
no longer WELD the heavy whip.
Enough for this timer he painted,
throwing open the door. "Now, crea-
lures Of evil, depart" and as the last cat
disappeared the sacristan dropped his
whip in a corner, assumed a devout ex-
1 preston and carried the crucifix back to
its place on the altar.
Thrice each day a similar scene was
enacted. The cats were called tenderly
| by name, arranged in their respective
! places and generously served to a savory
repast, only to see the sacristan appear,
bearing the crucifix aloft in the left
hand and the whip behind him in the
right-till at the sight of the crucifix the
creatures would spring wildly from their
seats and seek to escape.
Padre Mateo returned at night and
was welcomed cordially by the perfidi-
Gus sacristan. In the morning, when
the breakfast was ready, Gaudaloupe
called the padre to the meal
"But-where are the cats?' asked
Padre Mateo, upon seeing their seats
UnOccupied.
Gaudaloupe shrugged his shoulders
with a look of sadness as he replied:
''Speak not Of them, reverend padrer
But / want my cats!'
"Your excellence-I fear you have
been befooled."
''Where are my cats?"
"Well then, will call them, venera-
bic padre; but first let me speak. 1 feal
the creatures are not mere common cats
else why did they conduct themselves SC
strangely in your absence?"
"Nonsense!' rOared the padre. "Oi
what do you speak? Call my cats"
''But wait, your reverence. As you
reverence knows, it is my duty always
of a Thursday, to clean the candlestick.
and the sacred crucifixes on the altar
Your reverence well remembers that it il
my custom always to bring them outside
into the air that tho dust may not sol
the altar cloth. What will your rever
ence think when l reveal the wickednes
, , of your reverence's cats? They are al
devils, surely, else why should they run
from the crucifx, as the evil one woulC
flee from the presence Of the Virgin?"
: "Nonsensew roared the padre. "Cal
= my cats!''
: So the sacristan did as he was bid.
y "Now," said Padre Mateo, triumphant
! ", when all the cats were seated abou
} the table, 1--WE will test this thing! Brin
in the cruciixr'
. Without a word the wicked sacristal
flew to the chapel, and, returning, en-
, tered the priests room holding the sacre
y emblem aloft before him. At its az
pearance tho unhappy cats gave a di.
:, cordant howl of rage and despair, an
% fed, as spirits of evil flee from the pre-:
ence of the Virgin.
As the last swollen tail disappeared tn
> padre gave q gasp and caught the sacri
tan's arm for support.
= There was an interval of ominor
Il silence, and the venerable priests coul
le tenance was agitated by conflicting em'
st tions
% Devils" he walled at last, wringin
OF his trembling hands. "Things of evi
Sc Alasl alasl How ye have deceived m
- Ny worthy Gaudaloupe, thou hast spoke
8 truly-but-ohl how l have loved then
~ Get thy gun, my Gaudaloupe. They a
be fendsl Get thy gun and rend the
d. wicked hearts!'-Amy Elizabeth Leig
IS in Pittsburg Bulletin.