Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-09-12
UNSHRIYED.

4--@%A tA-r. - - ~ t4Itltst Az t0 A.4A4
tabishment Ia tie chilly hours Of very
sarfy morning Sc had bs,en keeping a
vigil. imposed ~ lae regulations Of the
order. that had t.,keI. him 70 a chapel IN
the parish Of Nusstra sonora DE- Ia Sole
dId, away out beyond the Zocalo, that
hay about ssaihstant between his two
terminals. A very old man was Friar
Lorenzo, and his pace was far from
rapid, So that be h..d been long on the
way. BY this time ne Wac 20 fangued
that has limbs almost refused longer 70
uphold tie spare weight of his trom-
bling. aged body. Yet IL neryed HIM
self h renewed effort as he heard the
Eeoond hoar Doomed ont from the big
tInsepiece Of the cathedral at the very
moment that be reached the entrance 10
the Gale 10 Olmedo, for the great IA
tisue he FELT wl-s yet exceeded and partly
neurraltzed by more potent impulse
the sparriRg thrills of terror
Perhaps il were unfair - say that
f'riar Lorenzo was a coward: the kinder
view were % consider that the seques-
tered conventional life had developed
abnor1nally an extrene constitutional
rimidlty. No priest IN the monastery
my. none In al the great City Of Mexico
was better. kinder or led life more
godiy than that Of Friar Lorenzo. SO
meek WAS be. 50 holy IN his life. that his
superior oftnmess found 10 naedful 70 re
bude him for excess Of fasting and pen
Ance. and - exercise vigilance in the
way OF seeing thas Friar Lorenzo took
alimeut enough 10 nOurish his frail
body. instead Of setting apart his por-
lion FOR beHtowal upon the swarm Of
mendicants that daily haunted the steps
az the monastery.
But ia the active functions Of his office
In anght that led him without the
convent walls. ~ intercourse with his
kind and encounter with the issues of
worldly existenc1-to all such effort and
contact the holy man was most reluc-
tant. being ready TO purchase exemption
from such movement at any cost Of
penance.
The superior OF the order had strug-
Ylod long against this infirmity. and the
mission on which he had tonight sent
Friar Lorenzo WIS IN the direct way Of
endeavor "a correct the weakness. But
alaai tonight the suffering Of the friar
was greater than ever-so great indeed
as 10 Be- almost unbearable The hour.
the silence and gloom Of the deserted
streets. with their houses that appeared
scaled and hfaless. and other hike forces
had wrought him up 10 very panic Of
abJeot nervous dread-a fear of some
thing, he knew not what.
II was not long SINCE all Mexico had
been stirred 70 horror and diSInay by the
disappearance Of me noble priest, Juan
&c NRva. whose fate WAS not made clear
till many long years after. and many
grisly rumOrs were still rlfe concerning
this matter. At that period robbers
aboondsd in Mexico, audscions md un-
punishest-rohbers who would murder q
man for the garments he wore. Stories,
loo, were related II men who killed for
the CHASTITY delight OF killing-whose
crimes were inexplrabLe and seemingly
caaseless. ike those murders committed
In thsdreary street Of Don Juan Manuel,
the stern motive Of which transpared
only long thereafter. Moreover. tha
ready superstiti0us credences Of the DAY
gave willing heed to the legends and
traditions II the conquered Mexicans.
and found in these supernatural causes
for even vulgar crimes.
Therefore it was no marvel that poor
odd Friar Lorenzo was full OF terrors in
ms night walk
AT tbs urrIth Of the Gale he Olmedo
De halted. Tor rs intensity Of gloom and
silence wss even more terrible than the
way be- had Just travgrscd But this
route moanta saving Of many blocks OK
circuit. and sitter 3 brief hesitation.
crossing himself aud kissing mis- crucifix.
which be 6rTnly believed contained a
splinter Of The true cross. the old man
entered the dark thoroughfare. murmur.
INK. as be- went. his prayers he had
scarcely passed ths corner when h.
started SD Violently ~ TO staggcr and al
most lose his footing. for mis- gown
brushed and csused 20 rattle slightly the
sword * a man Standing silent aud mo.
tionless in the sInbrasure q n doorway
Friar Lorenzo shuddered a. he felt the
eyes q The unknown bent piercinxly
upon him. ard be quickened bis steps to
hurry onward.
BE bad trsvsrssi half the block and
wa beginning D. breathe more freely
when IA heard behind hin tbe dui fail