The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-11-13

4er WnaC ne kneW-it was q foreigner,
Engilsn or American, he did not know!
VINO had somehow heard about Gia-
comos accident, and had come asking
ana where he lived; he himself had
been sent with the gentleman to show
MN the way to the house, as he want
ca to see Gaddi. One of the boys from
the office had started some talk about
n bearded man being a great doctor,
but, as to that, he couldn't say, him.
sell. That was all the foreman could
tell her, while she went on with her
washing, and he leaned against the
wall, smoking a cheap cheroot and oc-
c~aslonally lending a hand with the
wringing. He's long enough, in there"
the foreman said at intervals, and
spat.
1t was indeed nearly an hour before
the visitor reappeared. All that time
a murmur OF voices went steadily on in
the inner room, broken sometimes by
a stltled gasp of pain, which terrified
Maria. At length the stranger came
out, smiling very pleasantly, and said
c~heerfully: 60 in and help to get
your good husband ready. I think per-
haps I can make a; sound man Of him
again" Maria hurried in to Giacomo.
He was trembling with hope and eX-
element. HE is a great man, a DOCTOR"
the workman suffered out. He has
looked at my legs and my loins, and
pulled them and poked them-eh, Dio
mic, but he hurt me!-and he believes
he can make me well again! Quickly
now, Maria! My Sunday coat" And
very o the car moved off once. more,
carrying Giacomo, the stranger, and
the foreman back to the town. When
Pepita came in a little later, driving
Tho f,,V.1y LofNro how 1r1l fyof1fpNO hnr
little brothers after her, she found her
mother half crying for Joy. Maria told
her what had happened. If he sue.
ceeds it will be a miracle" she wound
up. Every doctor has said that he
could not be cured"
Pepita's heart sang with joy and
secret pride as she listened. $50 San
Filippo did hear after ALL" she said to
herself. But she said not a word to
her mother of what she had done.
1t was full two months before Gaddi
came back, and during all that time
Pepita never say her father. The
stranger operated the same night, and
Maria went in once Or twice to see
her husband a~fterward, but the poor
have little time to sit by sick beds, and
she v took Pepita, and told her
very little about it-such things were
not for children. The stranger, after
a week, went off in his car to continue
his tour in the south; he gave orders
that GiacOmo was on no account to
leave the hospital till he came back,
and left precise instructions about
massage and treatment. Pepita, won
dering and kept in the dark, neverthe-
less went about her tasks in a sweet
contentment-San Filippo had heard,
the candle had not been wasted. She
could wait.
On the evening when Gaddi returned,
Pepita was just coming home from the
fields with the turkeys when the car
once nor drew up at the little house.
Gaddi and the stranger got out. Gaddi
limped slightly and used a stick, but
he walked quite strongly as he went to
the door to call his wife. When Pepita
saw her father actually walking with
out assistance, her Babbo come back
to them well and strong again, she ran
toward him, flew into his arms, and
chung round his neck as if she would
never let him go. "Eh, picolina," Cal
como said at length, setting her down,
"go and thank that gentleman, for it
is he who has cured me-"
Pepita turned round. The man whom
she had seer in the church was stand
ing in the full glow of the evening sun
shine-the low light gave a reddish
tinge to his beard, and turned the out
line of his hair almost to gold round
his head; the expression on his face, at
that moment, made him look more than
we're like San Filippo in the picture. As
tonished, Pepitia stared at him, hesitat-
ing. "Come 81 chiam?" she asked her
father softly. The stranger heard her,
II am called Philip" he said, smiling
Pepita gasped. "E il Santo!" she
Said-and before anyone could stop her,
she dropped to her knees in the dust
at the strangers feet.
The Englishman put a gentle hand
on the child's bent head. 1T is your
miracle, little one," he said.
Pepita still believes that it was the
saint.
-T# End