Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1898-05-26

| ~ "'''i'i>' l Hutfncatn Him
huiiS the holy pictured face of the Vir-
EN- ana to the two. Panchita. weak
ana lalnt from long fasting and crv.
ii'S was pouring out heart ana soul.
oni! tlat Santiago--hcr Santiago
might ne saved somehow-in some
way. Ay buen Dios-NInrie madrc do
blos-take her life-her soul for tor.
'ure IN purgatory-only let Santiago
escape! Too weak to pray aloud, she
nag crawied before the shrine, and
win burning, tear-covered face was
'"l,,''S whispering her petitions.
! 4ue girl drew herself up numbly on
her Knees, sobs that came from her
| very soul still shaking her slender
pody. sound outside startled her.
un'ii she remembered that Santiago's
mother had come to weep and lament
WIN her own mother. Out there. I'm the
pa'lo' they were lamenting and wall
ing with loud cries. How could they
90 1t like that-wailng and shrickiny
SO tlat the neighbors could hear? How
"hsr! santiago would be if he could
near them making such noise over
HIN! She cast one more pitiful Clancr
at the Virgin. but the sweet calm face
was so quiet so restful, so little dis
'urpeu. W hat was the use to ask her
ailvthlng! No, there was no helm. She
stood up. lettering. and moved over to
the window. There was no one in
slght; the hot sunshine poured down ON
'iie yellow sandy street and the. gray
auope walls. Out in the middle of the
calle1on some dogs and small children
rolled and tumbled in the dust to-
Ee'her III high glee. A burro. with mel
ahcholy face and long. dropping ears.
munched alfalfa. while his owner
CRANK pulque IN the pulque-shop near
pS' 1t was all so ordinary, so every
gay; ana yet Santiago was to be shot
tomorrow. That Is. unless she could
'iilhK or a plan to save him.
1here was sudden clatter. and the
Cllidren scattered rapidly. with many
uucklngs and holdings of their small.
TAT bodies. as good Padre Francisco. on
his pacing mare. turned the corner and
went rapidly down the street. Behind
MN rode a mozo on Il hacienda horse.
ianchita thought DULY that some one
ar the pulque hacienda of San Juan
must be very i'll and wanted the padre
Tor confession. 1t would be a long ride
Tor the good old man, because San
Juan was many miles away. lie would
be absent from the town for over a dav.
Pulling at the strings of his soutane,
Padre Francisco rode on. his old black
| n1npl. ,i,,,r t,,t
old and shabby that even Panchita's
dim eyes could not but remark it. Poor
Padre Francisco. with no one to look
after his clothes--he was a good man.
and really deserved Il better cloak than
that shabby thing. Perhaps. If she
asked her father. he would allow her to
take the cloak that had belonged to her
uncle, priest of the same order As
Padre Francisco. to give to the latter
good man. And the hood that the padre
wore. covering his head and nearly all
his face-was ever anything seen like
it: One could, OF a surety, wear 1t to q
masquerade: perhaps she might borrow
it for the next 'Balle de Mascaros At
the thought she laughed and choked--
| it would be a good disguise.
The next moment she was weeping
her heart out. pressing passionate kiss
es on the cold feet Of the ivory Christ
He had heard her. after all. and the
Virgin had helped her-interceded for
her. For now she knew what to do.
and Santiago should be saved There
was plan--the Holy Mother had sent
it to her. Now to carry 1t out.
At 6 O'Clock that evening the soldier
on guard before Santiagos door admit
ted without question the thin, stopped
form of Padre Francisco. cloaked and
hooded in his usual manner, and carry
ing prayerbooks and rosary. The good
father was silently telling his beads.
and the soldier bowed hunbly and
crossed himself as he opened the door,
speaking no word. For no Catholic is
privileged to address priest who is
counting his rosary-beads-it is sign
that silence is desired.
The cell door opened and closed ST.
lently after the padre. and the watches
outside heard a smothered, impatient
! ejaculation from Private Moreno. who
was smoking Il cigarette and trying to
write that adioa to Panchita- Then the
door was locked, for the padre was 60
ing to confess the prisoner and the
guards retired. laughing at the idea of
confession for Santiago-thc wickcIest
dog in the army of Mexico.
Lounging in the doorway, the soldiers
specialized lazily as to what was going
on in the condemned cell, 1t was so
quiet. Not even a murnur could be
heard. and finally the men agreed that
the padre was praying silently. with
Santiago cursiny in the other corner of
the room.
1t was dark-quite dark when Padre
Francisco came out. with head bowed
lower than ever. cloak wrapped diScOn-
solately about him, and fingers still tell
ing his beads He had been there for
an hour. and surely Santiago was either
talked down or dead ny this time.
shall we 90 and seer asked guard.
mo, hombre; let the poor brute
Alone" said another
TO the men who watched all night
for fear that the prisoner might escape.