The sun., 1898-12-25

Indians talking in tones Of reverence,
for even these thick skinned red men
recognized there was something above
them in this holy mission.
"Christ the Lord Is born today, Ale
luijah, Alleluijah came from the clioster
below.
Dies irae dies lila
Solvet saeclum in flavilla,'
groaned the old priest by his side. The
dying mans fingers moved over his
beads.
'Recordan Jesu pie
Quod sum causa tuae viae.'
era Angelica's eyes closed, his fingers
ceased to move.
'"Requiescat in pace murmured a
young monk on his knees. The dying sun
sets light turned to gold and flooded the
dim room. Fra Angelica opened his eyes
and murmured, Valencia / come to thee,
join thee, Valencia. ! smell the roses
in thy hair
'"Dies irae dies illa,' droned the old
priest.
Valencia
"The missile dropped from the admin
istering priests hands, he gazed at the
others, who, with curiously blank faces
were mumbling and counting their
beads. Hark! the vesper bells. They
rang out on the silence. The peal of the
silver bell seemed to sing, Rest, Rest
and peace
"Valencia, I hear thee. All, the bell,
the bell, Valencia. 1t is thee speaking
to me. Holy Virgin hear me-Valencia.'
The monks chin dropped Oh his chest,
his hands hung lifeless at his side, his
soul had left its prison. The bell stopped
ringing with sudden harsh broken
sound.
'"Chrst the Lord is born today, Ale
luijah! Alleluiiahr'
"About his neck, hanging to golden
chain, was found the picture of Sonora
Valencia de Castro, OF the house of
Eiturbi Y Moncasdas."
"He died with a womans name on his
lips, a sacriligious sin in a monk, | sup
pose, father?"
eyes: he could not be buried in the
holy ground but his boues were inferred
in that knoll by the oak tree, and for
years mass was said for his soul. No
tomb was raised save single stone, with
Fra Angelica OH it, The silver bell was
found to be broken. 1t never rang again.
1t had cracked in two places and fallen
to the ground. On the inside near the
top was scratched, TO Lorenzo from
Valencia Lorenzo was Fra Angelica &
name in the world. The bell was buried,
no one knows where. The two old
priests, who were strong in upholdng
the purity and sanctity of the church,
buried it one night outside of the Mis-
sion walls. Some say they buried it with
Fra Angelica. Some say it was found
years after with his bones, but no one
knows, and there is no written record left
4 to tell.
"All old Madrid remembered when
the bell was moulded. They had all heard
the story of Lorenzo Velazquez, scion of
the noble house of Murro, who, inspired
by religious fervor, Joined the Jesuit
fathers when they set sail for California.
He had been betrothed to the Sonora
Valencia de Castro. He sailed with the
Jesuit fathers and the legend goes that
Sonora Valencia never smiled again. She
ordered the casting Of silver bell. She
would attend the ceremony, which was
to be held on Christmas Day after the
service in the Cathedral. The brilliancy
and popularity of this most beautiful
woman in Madrid, the mystery of her
sudden retirement from society, brought
about an immense amount OF interest in
the event. All the world was present at
the ceremony. At one end OF the plaza,
coquetting and laughing, were dark
eyed Castiian beauties and flashing Span
ish officers in gay uniform. Very formal
was the melting of the bell Sweet voiced
novitiates sang. The melted silver was
about to be poured into the mould.
Sonora Valencia appeared. She was robed
in pure white bridal rament, the legend
says Her black hair was caught in a
veil of rare lace. On her fair arms were
two bracelets of heavy twisted gold her
betrothal bracelets. She walked straight
ahead, her eyes calm with that peace in
them not to be found in the eyes of those
, whose thoughts are on this world TAX
ing the bracelets from her arms she
flung them into the melting silver The
crowd watched with bated breath. The
mass OF hot metal was poured into the
hot mould. Valencia dc Castro drew
her veil down and walked toward the
church. She was never seen again in
this world. Rumor has it she entered
, the convent OF Carmelo."
The old Padre paused, puffed his pipe,
never taking his eyes from the valley
| now bathed in pure moonlight. After a
! long silence, during which there was
that in his face which commanded re-
spect, he went on. "The bell was never
replaced, and since then San Juan de
| Capistrano has only had three bells.
/ "What beastly thing for those hard
J hearted men to do, to bury him outside,
| away from the rest as though he we're a
leper. Don't you think he had a right
to care for the woman, who had loved
him? Do you think any man could for
, get woman like that? DO you think he
, did his duty any less well for that? |
suppose they thought him a very
wicked mani" vehemently interrupted
the youth.
"Yes, a verv wicked man, my boy; a
| very.wicked man, but -
, III you had cared for any woman
r would you forget her just because you
shave your hair and wear coarse, brown
robe and -" but the Padre with a
, hurried GESTURE interrupted him.
t Hush, my impulsive boy, you are
' talking to a priest, not a man." and they
+ walked slowly toward the Mission.
. Can anyone describe the atmosphere