, 1889-07-02

not waiting from hunger even now? Their
cries pierce my hearth How can l leave
them to your charge and go away for
eight long days-and go 1 must!-know-
ing that they will not be fedy'
At these words hope sprang up anew
in Gaudaloupe's ~peridious heart.
"Art thou going away, reverend pa
dre?' he asked, meekly. "Am 1, indeed,
to be left alone for eight long days?'
sit is true" replied the priest, sadly.
81 must go. l am summoned t. report
to my superior ut San Luis Rey; and the
journey will require eight days. Blu
how can 1 go? The Indians can get along
well enough, to be sure, but what, 1 ask
you, heart of wood, what will become of
my catsy'
So Gaudaloupe promised earnestly to
attend to all their wants, to call them
regularly to their meals, to administer to
the ailing ones their allotted ~spoonsful of
herb tea, andfto endeavor to solace and
cheer them during the absence of the
priest. Next day, as Padre Mateo trudg-
ed slowly down the road, a sardonic
smile came upon the countenance of the
wicked sacristan. AS the PADRES portly
figure diminished in the distance, Gauda-
loupe, forgetting the stitch in his back
and the ache in his bones, skipped MIN
bly, into the house and began prepara-
tions to carry out his evil designs.
1t was nearing midday. Already Ig-
natius, the oldest md leanest and hun
griest of the cats, had appeared, shifting,
"a he entered the kitchen, to learn if din
ner was being cooked.
Il will teach thee, villainl' muttered
the sacristan, fiercely, as he busted him
self building a fire. 81 will teach thee
10 sit and glover at me while 1 work till
my body shakes with wearinessI'
When them meal was ready Gaudaloupe
went to the door. Come, Carlotta,
dearestl Come, my .Pedrol Come, Car
losr he called, tenderly. "Hasten within,
for thy dinner waitsi BE quick, then;
all of you'll"
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 a
great whip behind him in his right hand,
he returned to the PADRES house.
Holding the cruciix before him, the
btC AohHA Ut AOOIl mlltlS lit
cats were assembled. "Now wretches!
brutesl v~illainsl" he shouted-and at
each word came n cut from the whip
"fends! monstersl ~ungrateful beastsl
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
1aghnl ,;rIt n,1 Lea lin Lz11..- IL.
crucifix before him, till at last he could
no longer WELD the heavy whip. .
Enough for this timel" he painted,
throwing open the door. "Now, crea-
lures of evil, departr and as the last cat
disappeared the sacristan dropped his
whip in a corner, assumed a devout ex-
preston and carried the crucifx back to
its place on the altar.
Thrice each day n similar scene was
enacted. The cats were called tenderly
by name, arranged in their respective
places and generously served to u 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 sightof the crucifx the
creatures would spring wildly from their
seats and seek to escape.
Padre Mateo returned at night and
was welcomed cordially by the perfidi-
GU sacristan. In the morning, when
the breakfast was ready, G~audaloupe
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 padrel"
but 1 want my catsl"
"Your excellence-I fear you have
beer befooled."
Where are my cats?'
"Well, then, 1 will call them, venera-
BILE padre; but first Let me speak. 1 fear
the creatures are not mere common cats,
else why did they conduct themselves so
strangely in your absence?'
''Nonsensel" roared the padre. "Of
what do you speak? Call my catsr'
"But wait, your reverence. AS your
reverence Knows. it is my duty always,
of a Thursday, to clean the candlesticks
and the sacred crucifxes on the altar.
Your reverence well remembers that it is
my custom always to bring them outside
into the air that the dust may not soil
the altar cloth. What will your rover
ence think when 1 reveal the wickedness
of your reverence's cats? They are all
devils, surely, else why should they run
from the crucifix, as the evil one would
flee from the presence of the Virgin?"
'Nonsense!' roared the padre. "Call
my cats!'
So the sacristan did as he was bid.
"Now," said Padre Mateo, triumphant
ly, when all the cats were seated about
the table, I'VE will test this thingl Bring
in the cruciGxI"
Without a word the wicked sacristan
flew to the chapel, and, returning, en-
tered the priests room holding the sacred
emblem aloft before him. At its ap-
pearance the unhappy cats gave a dis
cordant howl of rage and despair, and
fled, as spirits of evil flee from the pres
nee of the Virgin.
AS the last swollen tail disappeared the
padre gave q gasp and caught the sacris-
tan's arm for support.