The morning call., 1893-01-12


One night he Canon retired at the time
the chickens 60 10 roost, for he had severe
cold. 1t was q dreary evening, and the
rain was falling in torrents, while the WIND
shook the houses and whist through the
streets.
For that very reason. the Canon enjoyed
! living in his warm bed, snugly tucked up,
and experiencing that delightful dTOwsineSs
which pTeeedes sleep His aching bones.
tortured by rheumatism. were feeling a
grateful warmth, and be could breathe
quite freely. l. was a moment OF sybarltc2l
| enjoyment, such as prolongs tie feeble
existence II old men. The Canon had Just
murmuTed the last evening PRAYER, when
the d0orbell was violently rung, and hot
discussion was heard going on IN the ante
chamber. 1t grew more and more excited
until Dona Ramona, holding cand!estick
on high, burst into the room 10 Inform the
Canon that d shabbily dressed woman, who
looked like q beggaT, Insisted on seeing HIM
at once Like q soldier at the sound OF the
| TeYelle, the Canon SpTang from his bed, and
scarcely waiting to cl0the himself went out
into the an.echamber 10 meet the stranger
The water was streaming from her gar
ments, for the rain had wet her TO the SKIN.
ooh most holy man" she exclaimed,
endeayorng to kiss the Old priests hand.
my brother is at his last gasp. and viii not
confess. he is dying ike dog, senior. and
pardon me for speaking SO. Come, good
sir, try 10 move his hardened heart, SO that
his siaful soul may not thus be launched
into another world unpardoned.
"WhO is your brother, my good woman?'
"The notary ROca."
The Canon gaZed in establishment at the
woman's shabby garments, and as she read
his thoughts. she siammered:
Il am a cigar-maker. and as my eyesight
is poor, / can earn only scant livelihood.
My brother is rolling in wealth, but he
never gives me a single cent. lie has
Mol nd hrF nj n 2 q
all he has, and here am |, with my four
little ones. obliged 10 arm my bread by the
sweat Of my brow. But do not think that |
have come on account OF his money, or be-
cause l wish him to leave it 10 me- Il was
born p0Or and ! shall die puoT, and |
should not care if il were not for my chill
dren. But do not want my brother to lose
bis soul do not want him TO be con-
demned forever"
''See here, my poor woman" said the
Canon, already touched by her yehemence.
81 am not capable Of convincing any one
nor moving his heart. Go to Father In
ciensO."
IAN. father. that priest may be very
good, but there is no other man so sanity
as you are. in Marineda."
Oh human weakness! As she spoke, the
Canon felt an inward satisfaction and said
bona Ramona, give me ms umbrella"
"YOur umbTellaW snapped tile house
keeper. Don't y0n know that it is in tat
tiers. like the banner Of the LiteraTiOs, and
that | was obliged TO send it TO be reeOv-
cred ?"
The Canon hesitaied for moment and
then said timidly:
Wei, bring me my cloak and my old
hat. and my muflieT."
He left the house with the woman, and
the rain beat down on their @iefsnseleSs
heads, while tie heavy gusts of wind al
most took their breath away rs it drove
them along. The rain penetrated his gar
ments. and chilled the poor Canon 10 the
very marrow.
on" he thought. IF l only had a sip Of
wine or brandy! If l could only warm my
self by the blaze of a good firtp
After a long tramp they reacted the house,
and the cigaT-makeT boldly knocked on the
door, and as il was not opened at once she
knocked still louder. A formidab bic looking
woman with mustaches, bulglng eyes and
fieShy, heavy form, made heg appearance at
tie door and overwhelmed them with in
veetlYes. She e1deayOred 10 close the door
again, but the cigarm maker had thrust her.
self into The opening like a wedge and
fOaming with rage, cried:
Get out Of the way, get out of the way
| have brought this holy man, so that my
brother shall not die ike dog! Get cut Of
the way. you hOrrid thing"
She pointed to the Canon behind her,
shiyering with cold.
1t was singular, but the fleshy woman
knew him at once, and as she recognized
him her bearing changed; her eyes No
longer flashed fire, and she meekly said:
Come in, good father. come in. Pardon
me. for did not see you. You relieved
the distress Of my Door mother, don't you
recollect? Ia heaven is still recorded the
money you gave her to enable her to buy
vegetable stall in the marketpiace TO earn
her living. Oh, nc, / shall never shut my
door in your face. Come ii, sir, and make
yourself at home, but please remember that
| have been doing the work in this house
for the past three wears, and it is only Just
that wien Senior Roca dies he should leave
me something. Come in"
The Canon drew himself up. The spark
Of life within him was rekindled under the
glow Of that enthusiastic reception. of that
unexpected gralitude-the result of good
acton which he had long ago forgotten.
mysterious light lllumined his spirit, and
sudden thought, terrible as we'll as COM
forting, thrilled him TO the very center Of
his heart This thought changed his deadly
GOODNESS into aTdoT-a species of apostolic
ferYOr. He entered the sick mans room
with firm step.
The notary was in one of those painful
crises which are the foTerunnerS Of death
His chest rose and fell as he gasped for
breath, and his painful respiration could be
heard from the DassagewaY. In spite OF his
suffering he noticed the entrance Of the
Canon, and wildly waving his arms and
uttering hoarse cry lie showed his dis
pleasure.
Notwithstanding this, after the house.
keeper HAD shaken up his pillows. SHE dis
creetly withdrew, leaving him alone with
the CanOn-the healer Of souls.
The Canon stopped on the threshold as
though hesitatng or waiting for the inspi-
ration OF the moment TO move him. His
limbs were cTamped with cold, but there
was an ardent glow within him now, which
filled his soul with holy fire. He no longer
thought OF warming his stomach by sip of
wine, ner If drawing near to the grateful
blaze Of the fireplace, nor Of going back to
his comfortable bed.
He went up TO the sick man and knelt be-
side him.
The notary fixed upon bis visitor his dim
eyes. already glazed with the film of death
What. what are you doing there % he
painfully calculated.
81 am praying" replied the priest. shat
you may confess aud may repent Of your
sins and save your soul"
"And you-by heayenl What business is
u oil yours, / would like TO know. Here,
Pepa."
Don't call Peps, for she knows that l
Shall not harm you: l am interested in
saving your soul" replied the Canon, draw
ing himself up, and raising his voice, while
he seemed 10 increase in stature and spirit,
as ne lOund within himself a strength Of
Will and flow OF ideas which we're fully
equal to any OF Father Incienso's
Il am Interested, because you may die To-
DAY, out am sure-do you understand me?
that l myself shall not live eight days
longer. had severe cold, and was i'll in
bed, but have come to hear you confess.
am drencaed 10 the skin, and know
have caught my death. but do not want to
present myself before the Almighty with
empty hands, and have made up my mind
to save your soul In order not to lose nv
own have not been Of much use TO God
during my lifetime-do YOU understand
OF none at all And now he calls