The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-03-01
Padre yMateo ! VerGglSo'S Cats

starvc? Ian s@rcfgou gave thfms no milk this day. You shall do pennnce for your niquitles.it og
 But. your csccilercy," the sacristan rcmonsirated. with great humility, "i had DO milk left after supplying the sick babe of the sQuaw who died last week. Surely tue kittens can wait" .
 "waltyh s,ormed the padre, Are they mot walllng from hunger even now? Their cries pieree npy heart. How can leave them to your charge and go away for eight long days-and go must"
 At these words hope spIang up In Guadaloupe's p,ridIous heart.
 "Art thou going away. reverend pa; dreY' he asked meekly. Am l, Indeed. to be left alone for eight dnysT g a
 'It Is true" replied the priest sadlly. q must go. am summoned to report to my superior at san Luis Key. and the Journey will require eight days. But how can l go? The Indians can get nlong well enough. but what, ask you, heart of wood. what will become of my cats%' ...... Hi'i., '. .l. /.
 Next day. us. Padre Mateo trudged slowly down the road. sardonlc smile came upon the countenance of the wicked sacrlstan.
 It was nearing midday. Already ig, natius. the oldest aud leanest and hun griest of the cats. had appeared. snlI' lng. to learn if dinner was being cook ed.
 'I will teach thee, villain! muttered the sacris,an nerccly. as he busled himself building a fire. '.l will teach thee to sit and glover at me while ! work till my body shakes with weafi' ness-'
 When the meal was ready. Guada' loupe went to the door. Come. Carlotta. dearest. Come. my Pedro! Come. Car los,' he called tepderly. Hasten with In. for thy dinner awaits! Be quick. then; all Of you" fl .,
 When the ,..s '~"T' s-atcd. Guada- loupe. after tlsl;iy c.osing the doors, hurried to the chapel. From the altar he selected the largest cruciiix, and. bearing this In the left hand and a great whip behind him In his right hand. he retur..ed to the padre's house.
 Holding the cruclfx before him, the sacrlstan entered the room where the cats were assembled. Now, wretches, brutes. vIlialns.' he shouted and at each word came cut from the whip. "FlendS. monsters. ungrateful beasts. receive your puEislrment"'
 The -astonlshed creatures leaped from tLelr seats and tore madly about the llt.lc rooIa. but they could not get beyord the reach of Guadaloupe's whip. He laShed right aud left, still holding the crucllix before him. ull at last he could no longer wield the whip.
 Thrice each day similar scene was enacted. till at the sight of the crucitix the creatures would spring wildly from their seats and seek to escape.
 Padre Mateo returned at night and was welcomed cordially by the per fidlous sacristan. In the morning Qua daloupc called the padre to the break fast meal.
 "But-where are the cats:" asked Padre Mateo. .. 40 Y
 Guadaloupe shrugged hls shoulders. with q look of sadness. Speak not of them. reverend padre"
 But want my cats"
 Your excelleucy. fear you have been bcioOled "~. ....
 "Where are my cats|'
 Well. then. will call them. vcncr' ible padre. bu; first let me speak. l fear ;he creatures are not mere com .on cts. clar why did they concnci themselves So strangely In your ab- ieucct'
 "NonscaSe." roared thc padre. Call ly csts.
 "rUi wall ydSr rcvcrence. AS your rv,r.mcp knows. lt ls my duty always ,n a Thursday to clean the candlr- r!r..S uad tin srtvcd cruclhxcs on the
 .ar. Your reverence well remembers a.t lt ls niy custom always to bring
 .l oc:.ile Into the mir that the dus, .icy no. soil tlr rltar cloth. What will acr rpvcrcucc think when l reveal the ..ch.ducss of your revercncc's catsf ",cy ar, devilssircly. else why should h,y run from the ci'ucldx as the evil ,.r would nee?
 "Nonscnse.' reared the padre. "Cal ny G. ,s"
 So ,he sacrjStaa did us he was bid
 Now" said Padre Matco trlum' phantly when all tho cats were seated about the table. Ave win test thls thing. Bring the crucidx"
 Without word the wicked sncristan Jew to the chapel and returned hold ing the sacred emblem aloft before hlm. At it's appearance the unhappy cats gave a discOrdant howl of despair and fed. aUp I.s..sa tt
 As the last swollen tail disappeared the padre gave gasp and caught the sacrlstan's arm for support
 ',Devlls"' he walled. at last wrInglng bis trembling hands. Things Of evil, tlas, alas. How ye have deceived me! My worthy Guadaloupe. thou hast spo- ken truly. But. oh, how have loved them. Get thy gun. my Guadaloupe. They are fends, Get thy gun and rend their wicked hearts. New York