Wichita eagle., 1889-05-31

I
"1t is true" replied the priest, sadly.
81 must so. am summoned to report
to my superior at San Lalis Rey; and the
journey will require eight days. But
how can go? The Indians can get along
well enough, to be sure, but what, ask
you, heart Of wood, what will become Of
my cats?'
| 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, and to 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 MINI
bly, into the house and began prepare
tons to carry out his evil designs
1t was nearing midday. Already Ig-
natius, the oldest and leanest and hum
griest of the cats, had appeared, shifting.
|
ner was being cooked.
81 will teach thee, villain" muttered
the sacristan, fiercely, as he busted him
self building 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,
dearesti Come, my Pedro! Come, Car
LOST he called, tenderly. Hasten within,
for thy dinner waits! 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.
GaudaIoupe, after tightly closing the
doors, hurried to the chapel. From the
altar he selected the largest crucifix,
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 crucifx before him, the
sacristan entered the room where the
cats were assembled. "Now wretches!
brutes! villainsv' he shouted-and at
each word came cut from the whip
''iends! 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
dashed right and left, still holding the
crucifx 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, departr' and as the last cat
disappeared the sacristan dropped his
whip in a corner, assumed devout ex-
preston and carried the cruciix back to
its place on the altar.
Thrice each day 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 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 perfdi-
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 look of sadness as he replied:
''Speak not of them, reverend padre"
'But want my cats!''
"Your excellence fear you have
been befooled."
"Where are my cats?"
"Well, then, will call them, venera-
bic padre; but first let me speak. l fear
the creatures are not mere common cats,
else why did they conduct themselves SO
strangely in your absence?"
''Nonsense!" roared the padre. "Of
what do you speak? Cali my catsr'
''But wait, your reverence. As your
reverence knows. it IS my duty always,
of Thursday, to clean the candlesticks
and the sacred crucif1es 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 rever-
ence think when reveal the wickedness
of your reverence's oats7 They are all
devils, surely, else why should they run
from the crucifx, as the evil one would
flee from the presence of the Vhgin?"
"Nonsense!" roared the padre. "Call
my cats!"
So the sacristan did as he was bid.
'Now," said Padre Mateo, triumphant
| ", when all the cats were seated about
the table, 1--WE will test this thing! Bring
In the crucifxr
Without word the wicked sacristan
few 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
fed, as spirits Of evil flee from the pres
ence of the Virgin
As the last swollen tail disappeared the
padre gave gasp and caught the sacris-
tan's arm for support.
There was an interval of orninous
silence, and the venerable priests coun-
tenance was agitased by conflicting emo
tioEs.
"Devilsy' he walled at hast, wringing
his trembling hands. Things Of evil!
Alas! alas! How ye have deceived me:
NV worthy Gaudaloupe. thou hast spoken
truly-but-ohl how / have loved them!
Get thy gun, my Gaudaloupe. They are
hendsi Get thy gun and rend their