Evening star., 1897-05-29

too not succeed in weaving the boys af-
fection from him. or if the mother had
interfered. would They not side with her
in claiming an equal right? He had some
times laughed to himself over the security
CT this hiding place, so unknown and go
unlikely to be discovered by her, yet with
in easy reach of her friends and his enc
miles, he now ground his teeth over the
mistake which his doting desire to keep
his son accessible TO him had caused him
10 make. He put spurs to his horse, dashed
down the little. narrow. ill-paved street,
through the deserted plaza. and pulled up
in cloud of dust before the only remain
ing tower. with its cracked belfry of the
half-ruined mission church new dor
mitory and school building had been ex-
tended from its walls, but in subdued,
harmonious, modest way. quite unlike the
usual glaring "whitep!ne' glories Of provin-
cial towns Steptoe laughed to himself
bitterly. Some of his money had gone in 1t.
He seized the horse-hair rope dangling
from a bell by the wall and rang ii sharp
ly. A soft-footed priest appeared-Fr Do
menico. Eddy Horncastle? All. yes.
Eddy. dear child. was gone
Gene" shouted Steptoe in a voice that
startled the padre Where? When? With
whom
Pardon. seror. but for a time-only
pasear to the next village II is his saints
day-he has a half holiday. He Is a good
boy Ii is little pleasure for him and for
us"
oh said S>eptoc softened into a rough
apology, Il forgot. All right. Has he had
any visitors lately-lady. for instance?"
FIR Domenico cast look half of fright
"A lady heret'
In his relief Steotoe burst into coarse
laugh. "Of course; you see. forgot that,
too. 1 was thinking of one of his woman
fClks-you know. relatives-aunts Was
there any ether visitor?'
only one All, we know the senor
rules regarding his SON.
'OLe?" repeated Steptoe. who was it?''
a al 90 n frfa 49, 81,
ctEd's-most polite. most accomplished, flu-
ent II Spanish. perfect in department. The
SenCr Hcrncastle surely could find nothing
to object TO. FIR. Pedro was charmed with
him. nan of affairs. and yet a good
Cstkolic. too. 1t was a Seaor Van Loo
Don Paul the boy called him and they
talked of the boys studies in the old days
as f-inde1d. but for the stranger being
caDaEero and man Of the world-as II he
had feen his teacher"
IL was proof of the intensity Of the
fatfers feelings that they had passed be-
yond the power of his usual coarse, brutal
EXPRESSION, AID ne Only stared at the priest
with dull. red face In which the blood
seemed TO have stagnated. Presently he
said. tkjckly: when did he Gomez
"A few days ago."
Which way did Eddy go?'
TO Browns Mills. scarcely a league
away He will be here-eyen Dow-on the
refectory and take some of the old mis-
sion wine from the Catalan grape, planted
40 years ago, until the dear child returns.
He will be so happy
NO I'm In hurry. I will go on and
meet linn" He took of his hat, mopped
his crisp, wet hair with his handkerchief,
and In thick slow. impeded voice, more
suggestive than the outburst he restrained
said: And as long as my son remains here
that man. Van Loo. must not pass this
gate, speak 10 him even see him. You
near me? See TO 1t. you and all the others.
See to it. say, Or He stopped abrupt
~. clapped his hat on the swollen veins of
his forehead. turned quickly. passed out
without another word through the arch
way into the road. and before the good
priest could cross himself or recover from
his astC Cnlshment the thud Of mis- horse s
hoofs came upon the dusty read.
IL was ten minutes before his face re-
sume0 its usual color. But in that ten min
utes, as If some Of the struggle of mis-
rider had passed into him. his horse was
sweating with exhaustion and fear For
in that ten minutes. In this new irnagina-
tion with which he was cursed, he had
killed both Van Loo and his son, and burn
reCcherous priests. Then quite himself
agstn. voice came to him from the rocky
trail above the road with the hail Of
Fatferr' ne started quickly as a lad OF
fifteen CT sixteen came bounding down tho
hills de and ran toward him.
'YCu passed me and called to you, BIZ,
you did not seem to hear" said the boy
bre< II lessly. Then i ran after you
Have you been to the mission ."
Steptoe looked at him quite as breath
lessiy. but from deeper emotion. He was
even at first sight. a handsome lad, glowinr
with youth and the excitement Of his run