Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-03-24


him to be superintendent Of the busi-
ness details OF the little community.
They gave him an unoccupied cell fer
his own use; but as often as they
urged him to take the irrevocable vow,
he would declare that as yet he was
not worthy. He even affected, as far
as possible, the habit of his superiors,
and was foremost in deeds of charity
and self-denial The Indians regarded
him as a lay brother; but he never
smiled nor mingled in their amuse-
ments as did the others. So, not know
ing his name, he passed TO and fro
among them as lei Padre Triste.'
All this came to him as he basked
In the sunlight. A shadow lay athwart
him. Looking UP he saw Padre Sebas-
tiano. The laborers were at their tell.
The air was full of fragrance of freshly
turned earth and of bursting buds.
Henceforth this world was his world.
The past was buried. No more for him
would the orange flowers bloom in the
far-away Boulson de Mapimi; no more
would he dream of the golden-haired
senorita Of Chihuahua. He, too, would
be a father, and these patient, dusky
sons of the soil would be his children
his care.
Padre" said he, arising, II am re-
solved. If you are willing, will take
the VOW"
1.-THE saints be praised Diego, you
are no longer my son, but my brother"
and with streaming eyes the priest hur-
ried away to break the joyful news.
That night Diego lay down on his
pallet with feeling of bIIssful security
such as he had never known before.
Scarcely had he fallen asleep when ne
was aroused by rude shake.
Get up, Diego! A wagon has been
overturned in the canon on the road to
Santa Fe. A messenger has just come
from there. One man is badly hurt,
and there is woman in the party. The
place is about fifteen miles from here,
but you can ride fast, and know what
to do. Take a bottle of brandy with
you, and whatever else you may need
from the medicine chest God speed
you'll"
With all his spiritual fervor the
|
had once been un caballero. His horse,
the same that he had ridden to San
Pedro, had grown fat and lazy in the
corral, and Ell Padre Triste felt a saw
age glee as he dug in the spurs and
galloped away over the untracked sand
in the chill of the night. In half an
hour the way became rocky. The
mountains, at first distant black
band, now arose to the stars, an in
surmountable barrier, save where the
little stream that gave life to the mis-
sion had furrowed its way through
perpendicular walls thousand feet in
height. The horse went warily. The
darkness could almost be felt, and one
false step might mean death. Diego
did not think of this. He was WON
dering whence these travellers came.
Were they from Mexico, making pill
grimage to the City of the Holy Faith?
If so, could they by any chance recog-
nize him? After all these years was he
doomed to meet his just deserts?
He had plenty of time to ponder
these things before the sickering light
Of midnight campfire disclosed his
journeys end. Voices reached him.
The speech was his mother tongue. On
the ground near the fire lay a man
moaning, his comrades doing all in
their power to alleviate his suffering.
Near by, wrapped in blankets, was a
sleeping form. Diego tied his horse and
advanced toward the group. He did
not see familiar face. The watchers
rose to meet him.
ooh, padre, you are just in time. Jose
is almost dead"
mot so, friends" he replied in their
own language; hes long way from
being dead man. Put on some wood
and make blaze
He poured some liquor down the
throat of the writing wretch, bound up
the wounds and set, as best he could,
the broken limb. All this took time,
and as the fire burned more brightly
and the noise of the conversation grew
louder, the form in the blankets moved
uneasily. Then the blankets were
thrown back and woman approached.
Diego's back was toward her. He saw
nothing but duty.
"Diego!"
Ell Padre Triste bounded to his feet
and turned. The hair that glistened
like the ripening wheat on Mapimi up
lands and the eyes Of dark dreamy blue
were before him; but the smile was
gone. In its place was an expression
of establishment.
Sonora Maria, how do you come
here?"
For you, Diego; I stood it as long
as l could, and then-and then Ramon
said he thought you had gone to Santa
Fe, and / ran away to find YOU"
But, Senior Americana! II he had
been alive you would never have
thought of me-" Diego said bitterly.
Diego" the old smile crept around
the lovely mouth-"Diego, Senior Amer
cano did not die. His wife came down
to nurse him two weeks after you ran
away. He is alive yet for aught
know He just got good lesson, and
IL wanted little fun, you see. Won't
you forgive me?"
"Mariquita!'
The next morning as Padre Sebss-
tiano was looking toward the north
west he saw a cloud of dust approach
ing. 1t came nearer--a horse, and ii
carried two. Nearer yet. It was Diego.