The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-17
~ TNSHRIVED GHOST.
,1 r.oRENzO5 MIDNIGHT AD-
VENTURE IN THE GALE DE
OLMEDO.

.,t,J r. Adds in the san FRANCISCO AT0oNu"'
I' ~ .ba City of Mexico, toward the close
-. ,,aar 1881, Friar Lorenzo OF the Mon
o. ". If Los Suspiros de Jesus, was max
- h;s wsv homeward TO that establish
ne :, the chilly hours of very early
"' .ir0 He had been keeping vigil,
mel nv the regulations Of the order,
. nod taken him to chapel in the parish
;, Nnastra Senors de la Soledad, away out
u the Zocalo, that lay about equi-
,''.nt between his two terminals.
rorv old man was Friar Lorenzo, and
.. ...a was far from rapid, so that he had
Sa.r long on the way. By this time he
- az fstigued that his limbs almost re-
800 longer to uphold the spare weight OF
-, rambling aged body. Yet he nerved
.Iu,.slf 20 renewed effort as he heard the
I'm. i,-ld hour doomed out from the big time
Disce Of the cathedral, at the very moment
", bs had reached the entrance to the
Taiis de Olmedo; for the great fatigue he
~ yrss vet exceeded and partly neutral-
iead nv more potent impulse-the squirting
thrills Of terror.
w. p sa,J IL were unfair 20 say that Friar
: orsnzo was a coward; the kinder view
ere 20 consider that the sequestered con-
,rantusl life had developed abnormally an
Extreme constitutional timidity. No priest
IN the monastery-nay, none IN all the great
CIV ~ Mexioo-was better, kinder, or led
10 more godly than that of Friar Lorenzo.
so So meek was he, so holy in his life. that his
srnertor of times found it needful TO rebuke
MIN for excess of fasting ana penance, and
70 exercise vigilance in the way OF seeing
that Friar Lorenzo took ailment enough to
nourish his frail body, instead OF setting
anart his portion for bestowal upon the
swarm Of mendicants that daily haunted
the steps Of the monastery.
But in the active functions Of his Office
in augbt that led him withsut the convent
walls. to intercourse with his kind and en-
counter with the issues of worldly existence
to all such effort and contact the holy
man was most reluctant, being ready to
purchase exemption from such movement
al any cost Of penance.
The superior of the order had struggled
ong against this inhrmlty, 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
eyer-so great, indeed, as to be almost I'M
bearable. The hour, the silence and gloom
Of the deserted streets, with their houses
that appeared sealed and lfeless, and other
like forces, had wrought him up to
q very panic Of abject nervous dread
"a fear OF something, 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 we're still rife concerning this mat
ter. At that period robbers abounded in
Mexico, audacious aud unpunished-robbers
who would murder a man for the garments
he wore. Stories, too, were related of men
who killed for the CHASTITY delight of killing,
whose crimes were inexplicable aud SEEM
jngly causeless, like those murders commit
ted in the dreary street of Don Juan Man
uel, the stern motive of which transpired
only long thereafter. Moreover, the ready
supercilious credences of the day gave will
ing heed to the legends and traditions of the
conquered Mexioans, and found In these su-
psrnatural 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 aud 81
lence was even more terrible than the way
he had just traversed. But this route
meant a saving Of many blocks of circuit,
and after brief hesitation, crossing him
self and kissing his cruoifix which he firmly
believed contained a splinter of the true
cross. the old man entered the dark thor
oughfare, murInuring as he went his
prayers He had scarcely passed the cor
ner when he started so violently as to stag
ger and almost lose his footing, for his gown
brushed and caused to rattle slightly the
sword of man standing silent aud motion
less in the embrasure of a door
way. Friar Lorenzo shuddered as e
felt the eyes Of the unknown bent
piercingly upon him, and be
quickened his steps to hurry onward. He
had traversed half the block and was be-
ginning to breathe more freely, when he
heard behind him the dull fall Of footsteps
following after-not in haste, but with the
assured, deliberate measure that told of the
Iursuers conviction that he could overtake
this object of his pursuit without undue ex-
ertlon. And, in truth, it was but moment
before the echo of that firm, determined
tread sounded close beside the shuffliug, I'm.
certain feet of the friar. who commended
himself 10 the infinite mercy of God, as he
felt the presence Of his pursuer. For some
PAGES the two walked side by side in un-
broken silence. and the monk was conscious
OF the sidelong, scrutiniziug lock of the
other.
Presently, Delay thou, holy rriar," spok,
the object Of his terror; 81 have need of thy
illustrations"
Spare me, pray, your worship. am ole
and feeble; since noon Of yesterday have
Kept vigil, and flesh and spirit alike are
ialntlng. Your worship knows that to cal
at the wicket Of any of the Astounding mon
Asterles will bring you sueeor, temporal OF
splrltual-aid far better than my poor
weak service. pray you, senior, think nc
haTm, but beg to decline the office"
Ihe man at his side laughed shortly-a
crisp, crude laugh, that made the monk fee
as II be were shriveling up as heard it.
GODS death! these friars are presump,
tIous! The ministers of God-the servant,
Oh neaVen-so their creeds profess, yet they
give themselves the airs OF statesmen, anc
Deg TO decline the Offices of their profes-
sion! Have you forgotten your VOWS
sfrah' Have you forgotten to what service
you are consecrateda Nav, then, will
nave you-you and none other. See thai
you move on before me-" He made as IL tc
tinpel the monk by grasping his arm; but
Ine touch of that hard hand 30 affected
Srlaf Lorenzo that he reeled and would
nave fallen had not the man released him
What-what would your worship have
oi meF he ssammered, family. -.
You go to shrive a sinner" and, will
snat answer, his guide halted before q lofty
mansion whose overhanging balconies shad
oHea the street. The somber cavalie
9ushed open the great zaguan, or entrano,
TToof' without knocking, although, as Fria
lorenzo marked, there was a knocker O
Pocular design, quite distinct from the con
tee;u'lonal clenched hand, or lone head-fo
s us was battle ak, falling upon buckler
a. Tno sne two glimmered quite strangely clea
au sue gloom. The funpal- litya arnb ~ kh