The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-10

which see daily around me. feel that
without q protest not only the flesh but
the spirit Is mortified. But my bodily
strength Is mercifully returning. and
found myself yesterday able to take a
long ride at that hour which they here
keep sacred for an idolatrous rite. un-
der the beautiful name of "The Ange-
lus." Thus do they bear false witness
to Him! Can you tell me the meaning
of the Spanish words. Don Keyhot-
ter?" l am ignorant Of these sensuous
southern languages, and am aware that
this Is not the correct spelling, but
have striven to give the phonetic equiv
alent. 1t was used, ! am inclined to
think, in reference to myself. by an
idolater.
p. S.-You need not trouble yourself.
i have just ascertained that the words
in question were simply the title Of an
idle novel. and. of course, could not pos
sibly refer to me.
Howbcit II was as 'Don Quixote"-
l. e.. the common Spaniard's concep-
ton Of the knight Of La Mancha. mere
ly the simply fanatic and madman-
that Mr. stephen Masterton ever after
rode all unconsciously through the
streets of the mission, amid the half
pitying. half-smiling glances of the peo-
pie.
In spite of his meditations. his single
volume. and his habit Of retiring early.
he found his evenings were growing
lonely and tedious. He missed the
prayer meeting, and. above all. the
hymns. He had fine baritone voice.
sympathetic as may be imagined, but
not cultivated. One night, in the seclu-
sion of his garden, and secure In his
distance from other dwellings, he raised
his voice in familiar camp meeting
hymn with a strong Covenanter's ring
In the chorus. Growing bolder as he
went on. he at last filled the quiet night
with the strenuous sweep of his chant.
Surprised at his own fervor. he paused
for a moment. listening. half fright
ened. half ashamed Of his outbreak.
But there was only the trilling of the
night wind in the leaves, or the far
Off yelp of a coyote.
For p moment he thought he heard
the metallic twang of stringed instru-
ment in the mission garden beyond his
own, and remembered his contiguity to
the church with stir of defiance. But
he vas relieved nevertheless. His pent-
up emotion had found vent, and with
out the nervous excitement that had
followed his old exaltation. That night
he slept better. He had found the Lord
again-with Psalmody!
The next evening he charced upon O.
softer hymn of the same simplicity. but
with vein of human tenderness in its
aspirations which his more hopeful
mood duly rendered. At the conclusion
of the first verse he was, however, dis
tinctly conscious of being followed by
the same twanging sound he had heard
on the previous night. and which even
his untutered ear could recognize as
an attempt to accompany him. But be-
fore he had finished the second verse
the unknown player, after an ingenious
but Intellectual essay to grasp the right
and almost pettish flourish. and loud
chord, abandoned 1t with an Impatient
bang upon the sounding-board of the
unseen instrument Masterton finished
it alone.
With his curiosity excited, however,
le tried 10 discover the locality of the
h'dd"n player. 'Ihe .eoun1 evidently
cam" from the u. "tn garde.,, but in
h,- ~. rance the language he cJuid
not even interrogate his Indian house
keeper. On the third night, however.
his hymn was uninterrupted by any
sound from the former musician. A
sense OF disappointment, he knew not
why. came over him. The kindly over
ture Of the unseen player had been
relief to his loneliness. Yet he had
barely concluded the hymn when the
familiar sound again struck his ears.
But this time the musician played bold
confidently, and with a singular
skill on the instrument.
The brilliant prelude over to his en-
tire surprise and some confusion,
soprano voice, high. childish, but infin-
itely quaint and fascinating, was mis-
chievously uplifted. But alas! even 70
his ears. ignorant Of the language. L
was very clearly a song of levity and
wantonness, of freedom and license, Of
coquetry and Indictment! Yet such
was It's fascination that he fancied it
was reclaimed by the delightful child
like and innocent expression of the
singer.
Enough that this tall. gaunt. broad
shouldered man arose, and overcome by
q curiosity almost as chiidlike, slipped
into the garden and glided with an In
dian softnesss of tread towards the
voice. The moon shown full upon the
ruined mission wall, tipped with clus-
ters Of darl, foliage. Half hiding. half
mingling with one of them-an indis-
tinct bulk of light -colOred huddled
feeces like an eXtravagant birds nest
hung the unknown musician. So in
tent was the performers preoccupation.
that Masterton actually reached the
base of the wall Immediately below the
figure, without attracting its attention
But his foot slipped on the Crumbling
debris with swapping OF dry twlgs.
There was quick little cry from above
He had barely time to recover his posi-
tion before the singer. impulsively
leaning over the parapet, had lost hers,
and fell outwards. But Masterton was
tall alert and self-possessed. and threw
out his lursC arms. The iext moment
they were full Of soft f,ounces. a strug-
Cling figure was against his breast. and
q womans frightened little hands
around his neck.
(To be continued)
Alexander.