St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-30
THE MARQUIS OF ALCANTARA.
From the Spanish.

| downward way, while Pedro resumed
his ascent.
This adventure made deep impress.
| sion upon Pedro, and he became melan-
chOly at the thought of poor RoderigO
| burning in the flames forever; still he
! trudged on, every foot of the road SEEM
! ing harder to climb. until at length he
reached the fourth milestone from
heaven. Being very weary, he sat
leaning his back against the stone.
He had been there but a short
time when, to his great surprise,
sounds of weeping seemed to
como from the other side of the
| stone, and upon getting up to recon-
noitre (fOr the stone was very large) he
was astoniShed to see Juan. the gambler
and lover of bull fights, stretched upon
the ground weeping piteouSly. At the
sight of Pedro he rose and flung his
arms around the old cobbler's neck,
saying between his sobs that he was
| thankful for meeting an old acquaint-
ance in that dismal spot. In answer to
Pedr0's sympathetic questioning he
told the following story:
/ You may, perhaps, remember" said
he, that died about week before
you did, and made up my mind then
that | stood no show of getting to
heaven, but it was no harm to try and
so l climbed this billy road, and finally
succeeded in reaching the much-wished-
for place.
''There were dozed people lounging
about outside the gate, and so / merely
counted as one more.
''Ali were evidently waiting for the
wicket to open, and signs of Impotence
were noticeable all about me. When at
last the time came for opening the
wicket, st. Peter looked out and counted
all those who were waiting, with his
long, bOny forefnger. pointing it at
each one separately. After this he
SmO0thed his great flowing white beard
once or twice, and remarked that all
was ready, while one of the angels set
the gate ajar.
1.-THE examination began, and felt
even more nervous than before, for st.
Peter seemed to be particularly severe
on card playing and drinking. and see
ing that there was no chance for me to
pass the examination satisfactorily,
resolved to use stratagem, and while he
was examining the hearts Of the others
Iquietly slipped inside the gates, as
thought, unobServed.
Once inside [ started off at grand
pace over the gold and jasper, feeling
that if l reached the heavenly city my
place would be secured tor all time to
come. as would never be discovered.
was destined to disappointment. for,
as | heard afterward, had not been in
side the gate minute when old St.
Peter exclaimed: ''Why, how is this ?
| There is mistake somewhere, for
there were thirteen here moment ago
and now there are only twelve" and he
counted them all again with his lankY
forefinger. The next minute he said:
"Oh! know what the matter is. It's
one of those fellows from Madrid who
has slipped inside the gate. | think |
can bring him out again, however" and
the white haired doorkeeper chuckled
inwardly, and. turning to an angel who
was standing near by, said: Gabriel,
step outside the gates and sound the
call for bull fight"
"All of this was, of course, entirely
unknown to me at that time, and the
first thing / knew the ringing notes of
trumpet calling the people to bull
fight struck in upon my ears like a
bomb. Inaver could withstand it, and
suppose | never shall. Moreover. at
that time | was curious to know what
sort of bull fight they had in heaven:
so turned back and ran at full speed
toward the sound, wherever that might
be. Suddenly. to my chagrin and as
tonishment found myself outside the
gates. which had passed in my sense
less rush, and there stood st. Peter wait
ing for me with a sardonic smile on his
face.
"'Ahap he cried. SO you would even
leave heaven to go to bull fight, would
you,' and the joke was SO great that the
tears fairly rolled down his Wrinkled
cheeks.
THAT is how" said Juan in concIu-
| sion. II was cast out of heaven and or
dered down to hadeS for all eternity"
Of course Pedro felt very sorry for his
| fellow-lodger. who, though of some
what thoughtless disposition, he did not
believe to be really bad. He had re-
ceived his sentence from which there
was no appeal, and Pedro was forced to
! leave him and continue his way.
At last he came in sight of the pearly
| gates, and he was truly thankful that
his journey was almost over.
| Here was the goal for which he had
delight, which could only be entered by
followers of the faith, and where all
! men were equal.
| There was no one in sight, and the
| wicket was closed, so the poor cobbler
| sat himself down upon hard bench
| and waited for the wicket to open.
| Getting tired at length he rose and
| tapped very gently on the wicket, but
| though he waited some time no answer
| came, and he knocked again, this time
a little louder than before.
swell! what is it?' he heard harsh
| voice exclaim, and the next minute st.
Peter appeared at the window. ''Well!
| what do you want?" repeated the saint.
| caiA
the poor cobbler, who thought that by
being very polite he could perhaps
| soften the harsh words and looks.
Eyes, I'm very WE'LL" replied the
saint. "But what do you want?"
''And [ hope your family is well, your
holiness" persisted the 1.-THE cobbler
''Great goodness, man. we don't have
| families in heaven" cried the saint,
shaking his head impatiently. sin the
name of Time what do you want?'
MAY it please your holiness" said
Pedro coming at last to the point, 81
want to be admitted"
.'Oh, is that all you wish?" asked the
now irate d0orkeeper, and as poor Pedro
nodded his head he continued, "Then
| why couldn't you sit down until
crowd gathered, and not be interrupting
me in this way ali the morning. / can
scarcely get half-hour'S nap during
the day." and then as Pedro started to
make an apology St. Peter suddenly
closed the wicket with bang, and he
| was left in solitude once more.
He heaved deep sigh and reseated
| himself upon the hard wooden bench,
where he tried to while away the hours
! with thought, when suddenly he heard
| the clatter of hoofs coming up the road,
and soon. to his great surprise. he saw
| his former landlord, the marquis, gallop
up to the gate, mounted OH fine old
war horse, and commence pounding on
the latch with heavy gold-hilted
| sword which he carried in his hand.
Hearing all the racket, st. Peter
| opened the wicket with bang and ex-
claimed. angrily: who's making all
| this noise?"
'It is I,"replied the marquis. proudly.
| 81, Marquis of Alcantara, in the prov
ince of Andalusia, grandee of Spain;
| knight of the Golden Fleece, command
| er-in-chief of the Royal Dragons. gov
ernor general of Murcia, knight of the
| order Of"
Enough cried the saint; '.just