The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-02-14
Padre MAteO
VerduSo's Cats

Mateo Verdugo to his sacristan, Qua
daloupe, "would you let my kittens
starve? I am sure you gave thems no
milk this day. You shall do penance
for your iniquities!"
~3ut, your ~excellency," the sacristan
demonstrated, with great humility, Il
had no milk left after supplying the
sick babe of the squaw who died last
week. Surely the kittens can wait"
Waltz stormed the padre. "Are
they not wailing from hunger even
now? Their cries pierce my heart. How
can I leave them to your charge and go
away for eight long days-and go l
must!"
At these words hope sprang up in
Guadaloupe's %perfidious heart.
art thou going away, reverend pa
drey' he asked meekly. "Am l, indeed,
to be left alone for eight daysT"
ut is true" replied the priest sadly.
Il must go. l am summoned to report
to my superior al San Luis Rey, and
the journey will require eight days.
But how can l go? The Indians can
get along well enough, but what, I ask
you, heart Of wood, what will become
of my cats?"
Next day, as Padre Mateo trudged
slowly down the road, a sardonic smile
came upon the c~ountenance Of the
wicked sacristan.
1t was nearing midday. Already Ig-
natius, the oldest and leanest and hun
griest Of the cats, had appeared, sniff
ing, to learn il dinner was being cook
ed.
81 will teach thee. villain!" muttered
the sacristan iercely, as he busted
himself building a fire. 81 will teach
thee to sit and glover at me while l
work till my body shakes with weari-
ness!!'
When the meal was ready, Guada-
loupe went to the door. Come, CarlOtta,
dearest! Come, my Pedro! Come, Car
LOST he called tenderly. Hasten with
in, for thy dinner awaits! Be quick,
then; all of you"
When the cats were seated, Guada-
loupe. after tightly closing the doors,
hurried to the chapel. From the altar
he selected the largest crucifix, and,
bearing this in the left hand and a
great whip behind him in his right
hand, he returned to the PADRES house.
Holding the cruciix before him, the
sacristan entered the room where the
cats were assembled. 'Now, wretches,
brutes, villainsv' he shouted, and at
each word came a cut from the whip.
"Fiends, monsters, ~ungrateful beasts,
receive your punishment
The astonished creatures leaped
from their seats and tore madly about
the little room. but they could not get
beyond the reach of Guadaloupe's
whip. He dashed right and left, still
holding the crucifix before him, till at
last he could no longer WELD the whip.
Thrice each day a similar scene was
enacted, till at the sight of the crucifix
the creatures would spring wildly from
their seats and seek to escape.
Padre Mateo returned at night and
was welcomed cordially by the per-
fidious sacristan. In the morning Qua
daloupe called the padre to the break
fast meal.
"But-where are the cats?" asked
Padre Mateo.
Guadalupe shrugged his shoulders,
with a look Of sadness. "Speak not Of
them, reverend padre"
"But l want my CATS"
"Your excellency, I fear you have
been befooled."
"Where are my cats?"
"Well, then, / will call them, veneer
able padre, but first let me- speak. I
fear the creatures are not mere conn.,
mon cats, else why did they conduct
themselves SO strangely in your alb
sence?"
"Nonsensev' roarcd the padre. "Call
my catsw
"But wait, your reverence. As your
reverence knows, it Is my duty always
on a Thursday to clean the candle
sticks and the sacred crucifixes on the
altar. Your reverence well remembers
that It is my custom always to bring
them outside into the air that the dust
may not soil the altar cloth. What will
your reverence think when / reveal the
wickedness Of your reverence's cats!
They are devils surely, else why should
they run from the crucifix as the evil
one would f1eeY
"Nonsense!'' roared the padre. Call
my cats!"
So the sacristan did as he was bid.
"Now." said Padre Mateo trium-
phantly when all the cats were seated
about the table, I'VE will test this
thing. Bring the crucifi1"
Without a word the wicked sacristan
flew to the chapel and returned hold
ing the sacred emblem aloft before
him. At it's appearance the unhappy
cats gave a d%iscordant howl Of despair
and fed.
As the last swollen tail disappeared
the padre gave a gasp and caught the
s~acristan's arm for support.
"Devils!!' he walled. at last wringing
his trembling hands. SThings OF evil,
alas, alas! How We have deceived me!
My worthy Guadalupe, thou hast spo-
ken truly. But. oh. how have loved
them! Get thy gun, MY G~uadaloupe.