The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-12
The Tribune Is Printed on Paper Furnished by
MEGARGEE BROTHERS

her little black figure passing swiftly
beside the moonlit wall. saw 1t sud-
denly slide into a shadowy fissure, and
vanish.
In his blank disappointment he could
hot bear to Renter the house he had
left so sanguinely a few moments be-
fore, but walked moOdily In the garden
His discontinue was the more COM
plete since he felt that his defeat was
owing to some mistake in his methods
and not the incorrigibility of his sub
ject
Was 1t not spiritual weakness in him
to have resented so sharply the girls
imputation that he wished to make love
to her? He should have borne it as
Christians had even before now borne
slander and false testimony for their
faith. He might even have accepted 1t,
and let the triumph of her conversion in
the end prove his innocence. Or was
his purpose incompatible with that
sisterly affection he had SO often
preached to the women of his flock? He
might have taken her hand, and called
her Sisters Pepita," even as he had
called Deborah Sister" He recalled
the fact that he had for an instant held
her struggling in his arms: he remem-
bered the thrill that the recollection
had caused him, and somehow 1t now
sent burning blush across his face.
He hurried back into the house.
The next day thousand wild ideas
took the place of his former settled
resolution. He would seek the padre.
this custodian Of the young girls soul;
he would convince him Of his error, or
beseech him to give him an equal access
to her spirit! He would seek the uncle
Of the girl. and work up his feelings.
He would begin his missionary work
with Conception, and then enlist her
In the task Of saving Pepita's soul. But
remembering the old woman's singular
conduct-by the light OF Pepita's rev.
elation-he shrank from her question
ing glances. A dreadful suspicion that
she might have OWNED some secret i'm
pelling power In his nature, that he had
not dreamed Of himself, began to haunt
him.
Then for three or four days he re-
solved to put the young girl from his
mind. trusting after the fashion of his
kind for some special revelation from a
supreme source as an indication for his
conduct This revelation presently oc-
CURED, as 1t Is apt to occur when want
ed.
One evening his heart leaped at the
familiar sound Of Pepita's guitar in
the distance. Whatever his ultimate
intention now. he hurriedly ran into
the garden. The sound came from
the former direction, but as he unhesi-
tatingly approached the mission wall
he could zee that she was not upon 1t.
and as the notes Of her guitar were
struck again. he knew that they came
from the other side. But the chords
were q prelude toone OF his own. hymns.
and he stood entranced as her sweet.
chlld-like voice rose- with the very
words that ne had sung. The few de-
fects were those of purely oral imita-
tion, the accents even the slight reitera-
tion Of the -" were Pepita's own:
we are traveling home to God.
In the way our farxers trod
They are happy now. and We
IS Soon their happiness shsil see.
He was astounded. Her recollection
Of the air and the words was the more
wonderful. for he remembered now that
he had only sung that ~ Articuldt6
once. Hii&. y H. etill greater 4delig9t
ma surprise her voice rose again bn
~ sec6a6x vesss, With = touch of plaG-
sitsnsl thaH srellsd ~ thseat: