Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25

commanded, always she must sleep out of
doors. No, she will not take any cold. 1t
is only in our close houses that one catches
cold in sleeping"
He made Carmela repeat the directions
and promise again to be faithful.
Tomorrow night, Christmas night, we
will come again" he said. And, leaving the
mother TRANSPORTED with joy, the strangers
went off toward the sea, under the soft stars
trembling from the sea to the mountains.
THAT Christmas Day will not soon be for
gotten around San Luis Rey. The news
had spread everywhere that the Baby Jesus
had been stolen from the old mission out of
the arms of the Madonna. All who went to
Christmas morning mass saw the desolate
figure among the flowers on the Virgins al
tar, saw the empty arms of the wooden
statue that Andreas Herrera had fashioned
the year the cathedral was finished, which
had stood unframed over one hundred years.
The shock of the discovery robbed of pri-
mary interest the tableau of the Manager and
Child placed for all to see. All eyes wan
dered to the lonely Virgin robbed Of her
Babe on Christmas Eve. What q strange
night for sacrilegious hands to touch the
new born Babe! The churchgoers fastened
off to tell the strange story abroad.
Many who had not visited the cathedral
report of the sacrilege. Over and over the
tale was told: When Emilia Reyes, and Isa-
bella and Ynez de las Casas had put the
palms and candles on the altar late on the
afternoon before Christmas, the dear Babe
was smiling in his mothers arms. When the
confessional was opened for Father Ribana
in the evening by Benito Dominguez, who
had lit the candles, the baby Jesus was alb
sent from his place-absent on Christmas
Eve! Surely it was an evil portent Whose
was the black heart to conceive this thing?
Was it the work of man or fiend?
Little else was talked about at San Luis.
The doctor and the bride had gone up to
Pala twenty miles away to spend the day at
the little chapel, with its belfry tower rising
not upon the church but standing alone in
the field, a quaint sight for travellers.
The news of the absence of Baby Jesus
had sped all along the way. But they who
with Carmea alone knew the secret gave
no information. They found at Pala, Basila
and Baltazara, two old cronies of Angela's,
who after skilful questioning about the house
near San Luis Rey and the sick child there,
were moved to tell the whole piteous drama
of Carmela and the five little graves a story
which the Madonna lady in the blue veil
heard with tears.
That Christmas evening the white car
brought strangers again to Carmela's low
door. The mother was radiant. Gracioza
ate and slept, ate and slept, with only
few minutes to smile and crow. Already the
practised eye of the mother and the doctor
saw the beginning of improvement. Mes
ira Sonora de los Remedies at last had listen
ed! Gracioza would get well! Angela, in
credulous that child could live after daily
shocks of water, was not yet convinced; but
Carnela was faithful to the letter. She
knew of a secret compact, and that Our
Lady had sent help, and she would obey.
Out of doors every moment Gracioza should
stay, and the goat and the hens alone should
feed her!
In twelve days we will come again" said
the miraculous visitants, and the white
noiseless chariot was lost in the horizon the
second time. They left for Gracioza, how
ever, soft blankets and fine linen, a big
square of fowery carpet for the floor, huge
red awning to spread from the porch to the
geranium hedge when it rained.
THAT same Christmas night the little Jesus
came back to the Madonna. Carmela
did not restore it. She was not sure that it
was yet time to trust the mother to remember
Gracioza.
But Bride Armada knew "The neigh