The Coolidge examiner., 1938-02-24
6 Pronounced FGh'hays.
CHAPTER 1


Governor of the CALIFORNIA;, Upper
ard Lower, drank toast to his
Most Catholic Majesty. King Carlos
IL Of Spain. then filed his cup and
rstsedCit to the priest in Franciscan
rcbe land cowl sitting opposite him
sdross the hand-hewn table.
ITO your Reverence!" he said.
80 Fray Junipero Sierra. pious
pGiest. intrepid missionary. tireless
traveller. and if I may. good SOL
dier!" He drained the cup, and
wiped his short mustaches and
baard with a brown hand.
Junipero Sierra smiled slowly. "A
thousand thanks. Senior ell Goberna-
DOR" he began tremendously. But
FACES stopped him with a twinkle
IN his eye.
mo. no, Padre! None of that
when we are here alone. You and
I have enjoyed too many privations
together. have gone thirsty and hun
CRY, have eaten mule meat or
worse, too many times for us to
stand ON ceremony when we are
by ourselves, even though you are
Padre Presidente Of the Missions
in California. and :"
Governor of all the CALIFORNIA;, 4"
finished the priest. But had be-
Ieved that is. 1t had come to
my attention. that his Excellency
believed there were times when he
was not greeted with the proper re-
spect when he deigned to visit the
Mission San Carlos at Carmel"
FACES laughed. "Oh, thatl That
complaint was simply necessary to
show some Of these priests that a
healthier respect for the Crown was
a desirable trait In them. That
never applied to you. Padre"
I'VE are in a country where we
are unable to demonstrate the rec
ognition due your worthy person.
The King himself would understand
=.
would not be displeased, however.
but edited. believe. and he would
rejoice to witness that what is pos
sible to do is done"
FACES still smiled. though the 9TH
er's tone implied a rebuke.
''Scold me, Padre. if you will. l
deserve it. I suppose. But I have
been thinking of something de-
Gliding something. And today I have
sent messengers with. the results OF
my decisions to the viceroy in Mex
leo. And what do you suppose the
message iS?"
The priest caught his breath and
moved his fingers uneaSily toward
his beads. Although he seemed to
be studying a corner of the brush
ceiling over the Governors head,
he was reading FACES. and FACES
knew it. Years of a wary com.
sadeship had taught Sierra to read
every expression in the others face.
He had seen it light with a strange
inner fire when some vista Of this
new California unrolled itself be.
fore FACES; seen it grow lean and
tense through long days Of starva.
ton and burning heat or gray and
drawn when the Governors small
company Of Catalonian soldiers fell
one by one. prey to the scurvy. But
he could never quite tell whether the
lines that branched from the twin
king brown eyes came from squint
ing against the blazing sun. or from
sudden rollicking laughter.
Now he realized he had never seer
quite this expression before. He fel
a little excitement communicated tt
himself from FACES feverish eyes
A little excitement, and quite lit
tie fear. This message-had it to d.
with him? We're some of his cher
ished plans for furthering th'
Church in California to be frustrat
ed? He breathed heavily.
81 dare not suppose. You viii
have to tell me-"
FACES pushed back his chair ant
began pacing back and forth dow
the dirt floor of the long room.
''I have been thinking. and hav,
decided that it is not well for mai
to live alone. That Is natural, ism
II. Padre, and a teaching of th
Church? All, yes. So l have thi
day sent word to the Viceroy tha
1 wish to have my wife Join m
here"