The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-01-30

don't you recollect? In heaven is still
recorded the money you gave her to en-
able her to buy a vegetable stall in the
market place to earn her living. Oh, no,
shall never shut my door in your face.
Come in, sir, and make yourself at home,
but please remember that have been
doing the work in this house for the past
three years, and it is only just that when
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 gratitude-the result
of good action which he had long ago
forgotten. A mysterious light illumined
his spirit, and sudden thought, terrible
as well as comforting, thrilled him to the
very center of his heart. This thought
changed his deadly GOODNESS into ardor-
species of apostolic fervor. He entered
the sick mans room with firm step.
The notary was in one of those painful
crises which are the forerunners of death.
His chest rose and fell as he gasped for
breath, and his painful respiration could
be heard from the passageway. In spite
of his suffering he noticed the entrance
of the canon, and wildly waving his
arms and uttering a hoarse cry he
showed his displeasure.
Notwithstanding this, after the house
keeper had shaken up the pillows she
discreetly withdrew, leaving him alone
with the canon--the healer of souls.
The canon stopped on the threshold.
as though hesitating or waiting for the
inspiration of the moment to move him.
His limbs were cramped with cold, but
there was an ardent glow within him
now which filed his soul with holy fire.
He no longer thought Of warming his
stomach by sip Of wine, nor Of draw
ing near to the grateful blaze of the fire.
place, nor Of going back to his comfort
able bed.
He went up to the sick man and melt
beside him.
The notary fixed upon his visitor his
dim eyes, already glazed with the film Of
death.
"What-what are you doing there?"
he painfully calculated.
~ am praying" replied the priest,
''that you may confess and may repent
Of your sins and save your soul"
"And you-by heaven! What bust
ness is it OF yours, would like to know?
Here, Pepa."
"Don't call Pepa, for she knows that
I shall not harm you; am interested il
saving your SOUL" replied the canon,
drawing himself up and raising his
voice, while he seemed to increase in
stature and spirit as he found within
himself strength Of will and flow Of
ideas which were fully equal to any Of
Father Incienso's.
81 am interested because you may die
today, but am sure-do you understand
me?-that I myself shall not live eight
days longer. I had a severe cold and
was i'll in bed, but have come to hear
you confess. am drenched to the skin,
and know I have caught my death, but
I 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 my own.
IT have not been of much use to God
during my lifetime you understand?
of none at all. And now he calls me
to himself, and do you want me to say
to him, I am SO incompetent could
not even touch the notary Roca's hearth
But now possess q power of speech,
such as I never had before, and do you
want to prevent me from deriving any
benefit from it? No, sir; you must lis
ten to me. I shall not go away from
here without absolving you from your
sins, even if am torn to pieces. Kill
me, if you wish to, but listen to me and
heed what say"
The last episode in the history of the
canon occurred at the portals of heaven.
The notary's soul and his own reached
it at the same moment, for the notary
was converted BY the apostles tardy
eloquence. The notary, both shame
faced and overjoyed for, to tell the
truth, he had never dreamed he should
be able to go to heaven notary
stepped back politely to mako way for
the canon's soul, But the canon said
smilingly to the repentant simmer as he
drew back, 'No; you must enter first"
Translated from the Spanish Of Emilio
Pardo de Bazan for Romance by Mary
Springer.