The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-12-30
upon him with an unspoken entreaty
L ~

which he could not ignore.
"What worries you now, my good
Father" he asked affectionately.
The missionary folded his hands
in the sleeves of his robe, and began
speaking.
''It is this. The fall of the year
is upon us. What crops we have
will soon be gathered, the fruit will
be dried, the corn stored. And the
mountains shall drop down new
wine A busy, happy time. But to
me, sad and thoughtful time. 1t
is autumn, and nature prepares for
sleep. And l am recalled to my
long sleep, and my body's NOR
tality. All, my poor old bodyl"
Don Pedro looked at him quickly.
"You are not well? How is your
ulcered leg?"
THAT is nothing. Since the young
mule driver put some of the ONT
ment upon it that he uses on his
beasts / have not thought much
about it. But you must know / do
not regret my miserable carcass
it's due infrmities. 1t is only that
I fear / shall be called to my un-
deserved reward before I have fin
ished the tasks I have set myself
to do for the glory of God in Cali
fornia."
Padre milo, if you should be
taken from us this night, which God
forbid, you have accomplished more
than seems humanity possible for
one man to do. You have per-
formed miracles, wonders
The other groaned.
Nothing! Nothingl A few hands
full of souls brought to salvation
when there are still thousands wan
dering in benighted darkness in this
California! 1t is not enough. Strong
er and stronger every day, every
hour, hear the command to bring
in more souls. seem to see whole
armies of dark unsaved spirits, their
arms lifted, begging, pleading, pray
ing for the Church to rescue them
from never-ending damnationl" He
raised his clasped hands toward
heaven, and gazed upward.
The Governor stared at the mis-
sionary, then averted his eyes as
though embarrassed.
"Ah, my son." the father contin-
ued, "you love California. Why do
you stand in the way of her further
development? Why do you impede
the progress of Mother Church?
Why, oh, why, do you not lend
your assistance, your influence to
the founding of that mission on the
Santa Barbara Channel which is so
dear to my hearth"
He took step toward the Gov
ernor, with outfung hands; impas-
stoned, eloquent.
FACES avoided the missionary's
eyes, which met his only at mo-
ments like this, and which burned
with fanaticism unfathomable to the
soldiers understanding. He felt mis-
cradle, small; shriveled, cringing
monster groveling in the path of
flaming archangel.
He rolled his eyes helplessly for
another point on which to rest them
than upon the fervid missionary. A
good, round soldiers oath would
have helped him. He hesitated to
mouth it, but whispered it to him.
self, gaining strength from it's pun
gency.
81 can not promise you that mis-
sion," he replied shortly. ''There is
already a preside established at
Santa Barbara, and more soldiers
can not be spared for mission"
"And why not? Two soldiers out
of whole garrison! Only two, to
establish a mission! What could be
more Important"
FACES patience fled.
Good Father, you attend to your
affairs of the Church, and will at
tend to mine of the State! Only two
soldiers you say. l need every So
der in the province, and more be-
sides to protect California"
The priest turned on his heel, and
walked into his house. The Cover
nor followed him firmly.
Pho, an Indian boy, was lighting
the candles.
"Begone," ordered the priest.
The boy cast a frightened look at
the angry faces distorted by the
candleIght, and scuttled out. Priest
and soldier faced each other across
the table.
"You know well / am a good
churchman, continued the Cover
nor. ST am not pious man by ma
ture, but in my lenience with you
Franciscans in California / have al
most overstepped my authority.
Why, in Mexico, they call me a
frailero, priest lover!"
'They do misjudge you," muir
INJURED Sierra with a touch of sar-
caSm.
mo more than you do. l have
done what I could for the Church,
and for these worthless Indians,
who, in my mind, seem better off
in their native savagery than living
under the yoke of slavery which the
Church has laid upon them"
ITO BE CONTINUED)