Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04

leading on to Loreto, the port OF La Paz, where rode
the ships that sailed to Panama, to Spain,-to all
the lusts of the World, the Flesh, and the Devil.
The thought flowed like wine into his brain.
Silently Z he sprang over the threshold OF the
the altar step. moment more, and with the box
thrust in his belt pouch, he retraced his steps He
of sweat chung to his brow. His hands were clanmy
and shaking What that sound Again he
looked toward the door, half in dread OF seeing the
awful presence of Avenging Angel blaze before
him Only the starlit square of mission garden
No! There \ shadow, tall and black, fitted past.
Not the Archangel of his fears but the reeking Mas
ter of the Underworld Hebrera's teeth chartered
He could scarcely control scream. Then the habit
of the soldier reused He would go down stand
ing: He would face the horror, though it scar his
eyeballs
He staggered toward the doorway and leaned
heavily against the wall The handle of his sword
struck against the stone The shadow turned. The
terrified man lurched forward
What. you sleepess too" came the voice of
the padre. HERRERA gasped and with difficulty con-
trolled himself Il fancied l heard unwonted
noise, " the quiet voice went on. - became restless
with some vague misgiving In truth, have scented
unrest among my flock and here in the wilderness
knows not the day the hour He broke off
abruptly Il have had dream, evil dream
Come with me, my | would make of the
safety of my trust 1t is foolish, know; but these
Indians but newly in the fold
MECHANICALLY the bucaneer followed the priest
A'A as he took his way to the church, whose flank
formed the opposite wall of the court AT the
threshold he hung back. He heard the echo of his
companions step ring hollow from the vauted cell
ing of the empty building. He heard his fingers
fumbng by the ravished altar caught the sharp
striking of the flint the quick blazing of the tow
suddenly extinguished, and heard the exc1ama-
ton of horror and dismay.
He realized that the murder must be committed
now-now And it not in his power to say this
man!
The priest came stumbling from the church and
fell into the of his guilty guest 1T gonel 1t
is gone. OH My dream was true! This is iudg-
ment upon my sins! he cried in anguish. oh, my
son, my SON. it is Judgment Again it is my sin of
pride lie has laid upon my spirit the burden of
this soul that is damned, damned eternally to
burning hel'
- The adventurer half led half carried, the
sinking padre to the room, laid him on
the rawhide cot, struck light with
his flint and steel, and lit the tiny
wall lamp. His face was livid and
his mouth twtched
Ugarte raised his cenched fist
and beat on his head and breast.
= Have pity, 0 God!" he cried
Have pity! These are my
y * children brought them to Thy
~ faith Visit not this poor back
a. sliding savage with Thy eternal
- wrath Lord, Lord, they are but
n chlldren!
Throwing himself on his knees,
-. he buried his face in his hands
49, and wept.
~ HERRERA looked on aghast
= Visions of seethng fire and brim-
stone, unnamable shapes and
horr1d sounds, sickened him. The
voice of the priest rose, broken
~ by sobs
49, Lord in Thy mercy, con-
- denim them not! | should have
~ kept them from temptation. |
love them, 0 Lordi | will ex-
= ~ plate for them; for they do not
DENEhsSR2 UNDERESTIMATE
A NEW horror of himself seized
F2SE2 upon the thief His own
u d.: soul seemed to rise and look him
3eo~c.pcsS in the eyes, demanding if it must
be forever damned He strove
tospeak He would have thrown
himself down and confessed;
but ned nd