New Ulm review., 1901-07-03
HIS FIRST ISABEL

Have you ever been in the Cathedral OF
Cadiz? Have you knelt before the image
of the city's patron saint? If SO, you
can better appreciate this little recollec-
ton of a summer night.
One evening after vespers in the ca
thedral, when all had gone, wrapped in
my own meditations, became lost to the
distant noise of the outside world and
blind to all within. sank down in the
shadow of the pillar, not noticing the
disappearance of the suns rays or the
coming and going of the worshipers.
The hours passed. 1t was night-late
at night. awoke from half dream, half
meditation, to find all darkness and all
stiffness, except slow, measured tread
on the sounding pavement before the al
tar.
I sat motionless as stone while the
sound of the footsteps passed within
few PAGES of me, and fancied that in
the darkness could draw the outline of
man as he approached the apartment
of the cathedral where the beautiful inn
age of the patron saint of Cadiz awaits
the homage due her.
Thoroughly awakened by this mystery
"a SAAO AAshtp S4Cpl 1OI Wa1d line u SudQ-
ow until, by the light that burned before
the image of the saint, l discovered that
the newcomer was decrepit monk, bow
ed with years of study and penance, who
had already knelt in silent devotion be-
fore the most beautifully perfect and per-
fectly beautiful Of the images made holy
by the virgin mother of Jesus Of Naza-
reth.
After few moments he arose from
his devotions. and, clasping his trembling
hands, he gazed with fixed eyes into the
unchanging face of the hallowed image.
Beautiful, beautiful he murmured.
For moment ] completely forgot my
self, the place, the time-everything, and,
springIng to my feet, | exclaimed:
Beautiful! More than beautifuls'
The aged man drew his loose garments
around him, and, making the sign of the
cross, he stepped boldly to where he
could dimly see mans form in the dark
ness.
Speak, he cried. Speak, be you
man or demon! What brings you hereY'
In few words explained the circum-
stances that caused my being at that
hour in the cathedral.
The good father not only believed me.
but considered was quite fortunate in
being in that solemn place and at that
most solemn hour, and. more, he appear
ed pleased at having discovered me. /
was so impressed with this fact that I
made bold to abruptly ask:
And, good father, how came You here
at this hour Of the night ~
| at once perceived that 1t was with all
the old mans self possession that some
passion was restrained, and for the mo-
ment regretted having asked the ques-
ton.
My dear boy" said he, after mo-
ment's thought, 4 am an old man, tot
texing very near the grave. 5 have se-
cret that till now has been Licked In my
own breast. It viii no doubt appear
strange. most strange, to you. to fad a
lover In man Id this dress and Of my
years. bat yon win learn as time goes BY
that love changes not with years"
The old man pansed for few moments
and then proceeded with his story.
xs<her van an image maker, and
I, when vexy yuuns IN years, both by
choirr and aecasadty began sharing with
him the lab0 ox the shop. can. AZ we'll
- Il + wefs bat yesterday, teel the nri1e
had m doing nay part OK the work, and
when I could shape figure entire my
hAnniAsa uaa snrnaa,a-