Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-08-10
UNSHRIVED.

In the City of Mexico, toward the close
Of the year 1881, Friar Lorenzo, of the
Monastery Of Los Suspiros de Jesus, was
making his way homeward to that es-
tablish1nent in the chilly hours of very
early morning. He had been keeping
vigil, imposed by the regulations of the
order, that had taken him to chapel in
the parish of Nuestra Sonora de Ia Sole
dad, away out beyond the Zocalo, that
lay about equidistant between his two
terminals. A very old man was Friar
Lorenzo, and his pace was far from
rapid, so that he had been long ON the
way. By this time he was so fatigued
that his limbs almost refused longer to
uphold the spare weight of his trem-
bling, aged Lody. Yet he nerved him
self to renewed effort as he heard the
second hour doomed out from the big
timepiece of the cathedral at the very
moment that he reached the entrance to
the Gale de Olmedo, for the great IA
tigue he felt was yet exceeded and partly
neutralized by a more potent impulse
the squirting thrills of terror.
Perhaps it were unfair to saw that
Friar Lorenzo was coward; the kinder
view were to consider that the seques-
tered conventional life had developed
abnormally an extreme constitutional
timidity. No priest in the monastery
nay, none in all the great City of Mexico
was better, kinder or led a. life more
godly than that of Friar Lorenzo. So
meek was he, SO holy in his life, that his
superior ofttimes found it needful to re-
buke him for excess of fasting and pen
ance, and to exercise vigilance in the
way of seeing ttat Friar Lorenzo took
aliment enough to nourish his frail
body, instead of setting apart his por-
ton for bestowal upon the swarm of
mendicants that daily haunted the steps
OF the monastery.
But in the active functions of his Office
in aught that led him without the
convent walls, to intercourse with his
kind and encounter with the issues of
worldly existence-to all such effort and
tant, being ready to purchase exemption
from such movement at any cost of
pcnance.
The superior of the order had strug-
gled long against this infirmity, and the
mission on which he had tonight sent
Friar Lorenzo was in the direct way Of
endeavor to correct the weakness. But
alas! tonight the suffering of the friar
was greater than ever-so great indeed
as to be almost unbearable. The hour,
the silence and gloom of the deserted
streets, with their houses that appeared
sealed and lifeless, and other like forces
had wrought him up to very panic of
abject nervous dread-a fear of some
thing, he knew not what.
1t was not long since all Mexico had
been stirred to horror and dismay by the
disappearance Of the noble priest, Juan
de Nava, whose fate was not made clear
till many long years after, and many
griSly rumors were still rife concerning
this matter. AT that period robbers
abounded in Mexico, audacio1s and un-
punished-robbers who would murder
man for the garments he wore. Stories,
too, were related of men who killed for
the ghastly delight of killing-whose
crimes were inexplicable and seemingly
causeless, like those murders committed
in the dreary street of Don Juan Manuel,
the stern motive Of which transpired
only long thereafter. Moreover, the
ready superstitious credences of the day
gave willing heed to the legends and
traditions of the conquered Mexicans,
and found in these supernatural causes
for even vulgar crimes.
Therefore it was no marvel that poor
old Friar Lorenzo was full of terrors in
his night walk.
At the mouth of the Gale de Olmedo
he halted, for its intensity of gloom and
silence was even more terrible than the
way he had just traversed. But this
route meant saving of many blocks of
circuit, and after a brief hesitation,
crossing himself and kissing his crucifx,
which he firmly believed contained a
splinter Of the true cross, the old man
entered the dark thoroughfare, murmur-
ing, as he went, his prayers. He had
scarcely passed the corner when he
started SO violently as to staggcr and al
most lose his footing, for his gown
brushed and caused to rattle slightly the
sword of man standing silent and mo-
tionless in the embrasure of doorway.
Friar Lorenzo shuddered as he felt the
eyes of the unknown bent piercingly
upon him, and he quickcned his steps to
hurry onward.
He had traversed half the block and
was beginning to breathe more freely
when he heard behind him the dull fsll
of footsteps following after-not i'll
heste, but with the assured, deliberate
measure that told of the pursuers con-
viction that he could overtake this OBJ
ject of his pursuit without undue ex-
ertion. And in truth it was but mo-
ment before the echo of that firm. de-
termined tread sounded close beside the |
shuff1ing, uncertain feet Of the friar,
who commended himself to the infinite
mercy of God as no felt the presence of
his pursuer. For some PAGES the two
walked side by side in unbroken silence,
and the monk was conscious of the side
long, scrutinizing looks of the other
Presently, "Delay thee, holy friar,"
spoke the object of his terror; 81 have
need of thy ministrations.
But Friar Lorenzo answered, trem- |
bling: ''Spare me, pray, your worship.
I am old and feeble; since noon of yester-
day have kept vigil, and flesh and spirit |
alike are fainting. Your worship knows
that to call at the wicket of any of the
abounding monasteries will bring you
succor, temporal or spiritual-aid far
better than my poor, weak service.
pray you, senior, think no harm, but l
beg to decline the Office"
The man at his side laughed shortly
crisp, crude laugh, that made the
monk feel as if he were shriveling up as
he heard it.
''Gnd's death! these friars are nre-
sumpJuous! Inc ministers OF UOd- |
the servants Of heaven-so their creeds
profess, yet they give themselves the
airs of statesmen and beg to decline the
offices of their profession! Have you
forgotten your vows, sirrah? Have you
Poront+o,, r., what corvica ON ara nOnSa- .