The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-04-04
Padre Mateo
 VeroGGo'S Cats

"Heart of stone" said the good faure Matco VerGugo 10 his sacrlston. Qua daloupe. would you let my kittens starvc? ] gm sure you gave thems no milk this day. You shall do penance for your luiqui,ies"
 But. your exccllency." the sacristan remonstrated. with great humility. "l had no milk left after supplying the sick babe of the sluaw who died last week. Surely the kittens can walt
 ',wah?" stormed the padre. Are they not walllng from hunger even now? Their cries pierce my heart, How can | leave them to your charge and go away for eight long days-and go must"
 At these words hope sprang up ID Guadaloupe's pertidIous heart.
 Art thou going away, reverend pa dreY' he asked meekly. Am l. Indeed to be left alone for eight daysT
 "It Is true" replied the priest sadly. T must go. am summoned to report to my superior at san Luis Key ana he Journey will require eight days But how can go? The Indians can get along well enough. but what ask you, heart of wood, what will become )f my catsT
 Next day. as Padre Mateo trudged slowly down the road. a sardonic smile came upon the countenance of the wicked sacristan.
 It was nearing midday. Already lg' natlus. the oldest and leanest and hun yrlest of the cats, had appeared. sniu' .ng. 10 learn If dinner was being cook sd.
 "I will teach thec. villain" muttered the sacrlstan flereely, as he busied hlmself building fire. "l will teach :hee to sit and glover at me while work til my body shakes with weari' ness"'
 When the meal was ready, Guada' loupc went to the door. Come, Carlotta' dearest. Come. my Pedro! Come, Car los" he called tenderly. "Hasten with tn. for thy dlnDer awaltsl Re quick. then: all of your
 When the cats were seated, Guada- loupe. after tightly closing the doors iurrled to the chapel. From the altar ne selected the largest cruciflx. and, bearing thls in the left hand and great whip behind him In his right hand. he returned to the padres house.
 Holding the cruclhx before him, the sacrlstan entered the room where the cats were assembled. Now, wretches, brutes. vlllainsr' he shouted. and at each word came cut from the whip. "Flends, monsters, ungrateful beasts receive your punlshmentF
 The astonlshed 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, stlll holding the. crucifx before him, till at last he could no longer wleld the whip.
 Thrice each day similar scene was enacted, till at the sight of the crucihx the creatures would spring wildly from their seats and seek to escape.
 Padre Mateo returned al night and was welcomed cordially by the per hdIous sacristan. In the morning Qua daloupe called the padre to the break fast meal.
 "But-where are the catsf" asked Padre Mateo.
 Guadaloupe shrugged his shoulders. with a look of sadness. Speak not of them. reverend padreT"
 But want my cats"
 Your excellency, fear you have been befooled.'
 Where are my catsT
 "well, then, will call them, vener' able padre, but first let me speak. l fear the creatures are not mere com mon cats. else why did they conduct themselves so strangely in your ab- senceT
 'Nonsenser roared the padre. "Call my catsT
 But walt, your reverence. As your reverence knows, 1t Is my duty always on Thursday to clean the candle sticks and the sacred cruclfxes on the altar. Your reverence well remembers that 1t 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 reyerence's catsf They are devils surely, else why should, they run from the crucifix as the evil one would heeY
 "NonsenseT roared the padre. "call my catsl''
 So the saeristan did as he was bid.