Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-08-12

middle OF the calltiOln some dogs
and small children rolled and
:umbled in the dust together in
high elee. A burro, with melan
choly face and long, dropping ears,
munched alfalfa, while his owner
drank pulque IN the pulQue. shop
near by. 1t was all so ordinary,
so evry day; and yet Santiago was
to be shot tomorrow That is, un-
less she could think Of a plan TO
save him.
There was a sudden clatter,
and the children scattered rapdl
with many dnckings bObblngs of
their small. fat bodies, as Padre
Francisco, on bis pacing mare,
turned the cornoI and went RAPID
~ down the street. Behind him
rode a mOzO on hacienda horse.
Panchlta thought duly that some
one at the pulQue hacienda OF S'n
Juan must be very i'll and wanted
the padre for confession. 1t would
BE- long lide for The good old
man, because San Juan was many
miles away. lie would be absent
from the town for over day.
Pulling at the strings OF bis
sou. tame, Padre Francisco rode
on. his Old black coat happlng in
the breeze. 1t was SO Old and
shabby that even Pdnchita's dAlk
eyes could not but remark 1t, Poor
Padre Francisco, with no one 10
look alter lis clOthes-he really
deserved a better cloak than that
shabby thing Perhaps, If she
asked her father, lie would allow
her 10 take the cloak thatfad be
longed to her uncle priest of the
same order as Padre Francisco, col
give TO the latter. Aud the hood
that the padre wore, covering his
head aud uearly all his fac--waS
ever anything seen like liz OIe
could, Of a surety, wear it 10 al
masquerade, perhaps she nigh
borrow it for the next Bale de
Mascaros.' At the thought she
laughed and choked-it would be
IgOOd disguise.
The next moment she was weep.
ing her heart out. For now she
knew what to do, aud Santiago
should be saved. There was a
plan. Now to carry 1t out.
At six O'clock that evening th'
soldier Oh guard before San'lago's
door admitted without quest' n
the thin, stopped form OF Padre
Francisco, cloaked aud hooded In
his usual manner, and carrying
pray books. The father was sll
rntly telling his beads, and The
soldier bowed humbly as he open.
ell the door, speaking no word.
For no Catholic is privileged to
address a priest who is counting
his rOsary.5eadS-it Is sign that
silence IS desired,
The ell door opened and closed
silently after the padre, and The
watches outside heard smother.
ed, impatient ejaculation from
Psiyate Moreno, who was smoking
cigarette and trying bard to
write that adios to Paucbita. Tben
the door was lock ID, for the Padre
was gong to confess the prisoner,
and the guards retired, laughing at
the idea of confession for Santiago
the wickedest deg in the army.
LOunging in the doorway, the
soldiers speculated lazily as to
what was going on IN the condemn
ed cell, it was so quiet. Not even
murmur could be heard, and
finally the men agreed that tbe
padre was praying silently, with
Santiago railing in the other cor
ner of the room.
1t was dark-qlite d4rk-when
Padre Francisco came ont, with
head bowed lower than ever, cloak
wrapped disconsolately about him,
and fingers still telling his beads.
He had been there for an hour, and
surely Santiago was either talked
down or dead by this time. "Shall
We 60 ard see Z" asked a guard.
mo, hOmbre; let the poor brute
alone," said another.
To the men who watched all
night for fear that the prisoner
might escape, it seemed century
before midnight gave way TO the
darkness that comes before dawn,
though to the prisoner-Qulen saDe
Such waiting is hard even on the
men who are not to die, and there
was a sound of relief when at last
l..,1,la a n (