The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-12-17


neck high into the water; for
surely the saint must not 50 IN
alone.
The statue was making its way
very slowly along the inundated
streets, for the feet OF the bearers
sank deep into the water under
their load; and they could adj
vance at all only with the ai6
Of the faithful, who gathered
about the litter on all sides to
help. "A writing mass OF bare.
sinewy arms rose from the water
like tentacles of human octopus
to carry the saint along.
Just behind the image came the
curate and the political dgni-
taries, riding astride the shoulders
of some enthusiasts who, for the
greater pomp Of the ceremony,
were willing to serve as mounts,
though the tapers Of their riders
kept getting into their faces.
The clrate began to feel the
cold water creeping up his back.
and ordered the saint. iashore
again. In fact San Bernardo was
already at the endd OF the lone,
and actually in the river itself.
His guards of honor were having
time Of 1t to keep treir feet in
{ he face IT the current, bur they
were stlll willing to so on, be-
neviIIe that the farther the statue
went into the stream, the soClter
the waters would go down. At
last, however. the most foOlhnrdy
withdrew, The saint came back.
Though the procession ut once
went on to the next road and to
the next, repeating the same per-
ft,rnauce
And suddenly it stopped rain
ing.
a wild cheer, shout It JOY
and triumph, shook the multi
tude.
aVitol 81 pare San Befnat:.'
Now would the people Of the
neighboring towns dare dispute
his immense power? There was
the proof! Two days Of incessant
downpour, and then, the moment
the saint showed his face cur Of
doors fair weather!
In fervent thanksgiving weep
ing women rushed upon the saint
and began to kiss whatever part
OF the image was within reach
the handles OF the litter, the
decorations of the pedestal, the
bronze body itself.
The procession marched on for
more than an hour still along the
river. Then the priest, who was
dripping wet and had exhausted
more than a. doben horses" under
him, forbade It to continue. Leave
ii to those peasants, and the nom
sense would 90 on till dawn! So
the curate observed that the saint
had already done what was re-
quired OF him. Now it was time
to GO home!
Rafael handed his taper to one
of his l1enchmen and stopped on
the bridge with a number Of ex
perienced observers, who were.
larnenting the damage done BY
the flood. At every moment, no
one could say just how, alarm
ing reports Of the destruction
wrought by. the river were COM
ing In. Now mill had been
isolated by the waters, and the
people there had taken refuge
1 on the roof, firing their shot
guns as signals OF distress. Mary
orchards had been completely sub
merged. The few boats available
in the city were doing the best
they could IN the work Of rescue.
Yet the people spoke with rela
tive callnness. They were accus-
toned to this almost annual visi-
tation, and accepted it resi8nedly
as an inevitable evil. Besides,
they referred hopefully to kilograms
received by the alcalde. BY dawn
help would be coming In. The
governor In Valencia was sending
!. a detachment OF marines, and the
lagoon would be filled with navy
boats. Everything would be all
right in few hours. But II the
water got much higher mean
while!
They consulted stakes and other
water marks along the river, and
violent disputes arose. Rafael,
for this part, could see the flood
was still rising, though but slowly.
The peasants refused to believe
it. How could the river rise after
Father San Bernardo had gone
into it? No, sir, It was not ris-
ing. That was all lie intended
to discredit the patron. And a
sturdy youth with flashing eyes
threatened to disembowel with one
stroke of his knife-like that
q certain scoffer who maintained
that the river would go on rising
il only for the pleasure of refuL-
ing that charlatan of friar.
Rafael approached the brawlers.
and by the dim lantern light
recognized Cupido-the BARBER
sarcastic fellow, with curly side
whiskers and an aquiline nose,
who took great pleasure IN polk
ing fun at the barbarous, I'm
shakable faith OF the illiterate
peasants.
BrulI knew the barber very well.
The man was one OF his childhood
favorites. Fear Of his mother was
the only thing that had kept him
from frequenting Cupido's shop
the rendezvous Of the city's gay
est set, hotbed of gossip and
practical jokes, a school OF guitar
playing and love songs that keeps
the whole neighborhood astir.
Rafael was still fond of Cupido.
though not very intimate with
him. In all the sedate, conssrva-
tive world around him, the barber
seemed the only person really
worth while talking with. Cupido
was almost an artist. In winter
he would go to Valencia to hear
the operas praised by the news
papers, and in one corner Of his
shop he had heaps of novels and
illustrated magazines, much mil
dewed and softened by the damp,
and their leaves worn through
from continual thumbing ny Gus
toners.
When Rafael found him upon
the bridge that night, after the