The Coolidge examiner., 1938-06-09

to which she was responding less
and less as time went on.
She glanced at her husband from
the corner of her eye. How well
she knew him! Every line, every
feature tiny bloodvessel in
the corner of his eye. like question
mark large vein on his tenn
pie that swelled and throbbed at
times the feeling of his hands,
roughened and coarse when he ca
ressed her. The smell of his clothes.
All! Horses, leather, perSpiration.
Would it be difficult to change that
for another man? A man well
groomed, with delicate hands. a
sensitive mouth not buried in
beard? A man whose every move
ment and gesture was graceful. de-
Iiberate She shivered and
clasped her warm hands together.
And then she thought, Dagelet does
smell so Sweetl
"Gloria- Gloria!" sang the choir
and the congregation.
Gloria! Gloriai" sang Eulalia.
She lifted her eyes to the altar
with its hundred candles. There
Junipero Sierra had stood, quenching
the flames of seven candles in the
blood that poured from his breast
there he had lain in his coffin.
And there beneath the floor at the
foot of the altar. lay his bones.
But suddenly it seemed that ev-
erywhere she looked she saw his
eyes, staring at her from the lights,
looking out from the painted sockets
Of the holy images. sorrowful. ac-
cusing.
She shivered again, for a cold
breath seemed to rise from Juni-
pero Serra's tomb, and blow upon
her. She chafed her hands together.
for now they were cold, clammy.
Would this service never end! Just
when she thought she could not
bear it for another instant, she
heard Fray Lasuen pronounce the
benediction. She staggered to her
feet while the procession Of choir
boys and acolytes passed. Then
Don Pedro took her arm, and she
stumbled from the church.
In the compound outside a great
fire had been lighted, for the fathers
at Carmel had planned a fiesta of
their own in honor of the French.
men. La Perouse spoke to the Gov
ernor.
"Sacre occur" he said. frankly
wiping his eyes. but what a scene
to touch the heart! Mon Dieu, Mon
sieur lie Gouverneur, what you Span
ish pioneers have done in this coun-
try! All. can not say any more
than l have said. how it touches
the heart!"
Thank you. Senior el Conde,"
said the Governor gravely. They
were moving toward seats that had
been prepared for them in a ring
around the fire. Eulalia noticed
Dagelet maneuvering to reach her
side.
That sacre pere. your Francois
Lasuen," went on the Count with
Gallo emotion, what a saint is he.
He is the most worthy, respectable
man l have ever met. His mild
ness. charity and affection for these
unu, erably stupid Indians is beyond
expression, Monsieur!"
The gentlemen stood while Eula-
liza seated herself with a queenly
air. Dagelet waited until his su-
perior officer was ensconced in a
great armchair beside the Cover
nor. then slipped to the ground at
La Gobernadora' feet.
Don Pedro looked at him with a
good-natured twinkle.
I'VE are all here, your Majesty"
he remarked to his lady, 'even to
the court jester at your feet"
Dagelet hugged his knees with a
smile. and looked inquiringly at La
Perouse, who translated the remark
for him.
Tell his Excellency," he an.
swered, lit is privilege to be here.
And tell him, please" ne added as
an afterthought, that if it would
please the lady, would stretch out
on the ground for her foot-stool,
like that young savage slave of
hers, if she would permit"
Eulalia gasped at the daring. La
Perouse gave his young friend a
reprimanding glance. and translat-
ed his remarks to the Governor as
he saw fit.
Closer to the fire they saw Fermin
Lasuen appear. and talk with
group of half-naked Indian boys who
were preparing some game.
There is the holy man among his
dark sheep" remarked La Perouse.
Yes, he is a holy man indeed"
replied FACES.
"Junipero Sierra was true saint
but the two are very different. For
instance. you would not have been
privileged to see an Indian cere-
monial if Junipero Sierra were Pad
re Presidente. He did his best to
put down every evidence of the bar
barities the Indians practiced, even
their harmless games. Yes, he was
different. Even the appearance of
the two is different. Lasuen is a