The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-06-22
I rI0uTEBEY P8ST0R8L.
By KATE P. S1EGEoLD.

Father Gaspard was selected by
the Father Superior at Monterey to
carry message to the Mission San
Juan, forty miles away. He was Of
fered horse to ride, but refused it,
and started on foot.
It was May, the most delightful
month in the year, and Father Gas
pard, free from the restraint Of the
mission, beguiled the way by singing
and soliloquizing something after
this wise:
n Indeed no: I feel far safer on my
own legs than on the back Of an i'm
pish bronco that plants his four feet
|sall together in one small spot and
phumps MS back like a hend incar-
nate. Die not / myself see the
Father superior's face blanch when
he mounted him to ride down the
coast?"
Father Gaspard was strong and in
good health, barring a threatened
obesity and shortness of leg, but
with the aid of a stout oaken staff he
made good progress. 4 light refec-
ton at midday and q short siesta so
refreshed him that he almost seemed
to trot, so fast did the ups and downs
of the mountain trail speed under
his feet.
He passed the night with a herls
man, who shared with him his simple
fare, and in the morning, after giving
the man his blessing, proceeded on
his way through the mountain pass,
to the edge Of the Salinas River.
Tucking his gown around his waist
and carrying his sandals in his hand
he forded the stream in shallow
place, mounted the bank. and drew
long breaths OF delight at the view
before him.
The valley stretched leagues away
to the south, where the mountains
- seemed to meet the sand dunes separ-
ang it from the sea on the west.
ere we're no landmarks of any
md, not tree, shrub or rock-cnly
S& unbroken prairie Of yerdure and
overs, azure sky overhead, and q
Sentle breeze moving the grass.
# The good father hasteneo on. Well
ae knew that later in the day these
sreat Salinas plains were the very
snozzle Of the bellows through which
EShe trade winds swept, and toward
$svening a terror to travellers from the
&fog that rolled in from the sea: EN-"
geloping, drenching and bewildering
5hem so it was folly to continue their
Quincy. They must stop where they
were until the next morning, when
the welcome trade winds once more
arose and drove the fog away in fan
tastic clouds over the mountains.
- It was the good priests intention
to cross the plains and reach the
ranch Of Don Manuel OF the Gabilan,
where he would pass the night, sure
of o kindly welcome and good cheer.
But about noon, suffering from heat,
fatigue and the pangs Of hunger, he
bethought himself Of shepherd who
tended ths sheep Of Don Manuel,
with whom he had stopped once or
twice when overtaken by the fog,
and who had the knack Of frying fri
ioles most deliciously.
Yes, there to the right was the
hut, ard a short distance away
the flock. So the priest turned
from his course, and soon reached
the shepherds hut. He sat down
on bench by the door until he
recovered his breath. Then put
ting his hands to his mouth. called
loudly, Pedro! Oh, Pedro!"
The sheep were huddled together
in groups, heads to the ground, their
woolly backs resisting the heat OF the
sun. At his call some lifted their
heads, but the shepherd did not rise
from his sleep on the ground, as
Father Gaspard expected. Instead,
the black head of q shepherd dog
lifted itself on the further side OF the
flock. Then cireling around it. he
came bounding and leaping toward
the priest. On reaching him he ra1
around and around, barking, jump
ing and trying to lick his face.