The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-02-17


to get me away from here. I be-
lieve he would stop at nothing under
the sun to rid California of my per-
nicious influence"
"Ah," said Eulalia, deep in
thought.
'He did rid himself of me once,
you remember. Humphl The
charges he made against mel And
the terrible journey he made, sick
and suffering as he was, to present
them to the Viceroy. He nearly
died, with his crippled leg. But his
belief in what he was doing led him
on, successfully, that time. I adj
mire him. On my soul, do"
The Governor laughed.
"But came back"
Eulalia's mind was working rap
idly. So the Padre Presidente was
that manner of man! One strong in
belief in his duty-but one who
would stop at nothing, as the Gov
ernor had said, to gain his ends in
regard to forwarding the Church in
California.
And he believed Pedro FACES
stood in the way of complete tri-
umph for the Church, therefore
Pedro FACES must leave California;
Sierra had accomplished that once
it might-be-
ga strange man." she said aloud.
''But have made up my mind that
we are going to be friends. Yes,
good friends. He should be a COM
fort to me in this strange land"
The Governor frowned doubtfully,
then reached for his wife's hand
again.
"Splendid!" he cried heartily,
squeezing her fingers. perhaps you
can change his opinion of your hus-
band. Then we can all live here
happily, you and I, and all the chill
dren, in California for the rest of
our ives!"
She withdrew her fingers.
Perhaps" she said softly, "per-
haps I can"
Pedro the Younger and Escabel-
Tito came dashing to the Governors
side.
"Father!" shouted Pedro breath
lessly. "Look ahead! See, there is
something strange moving down the
road! What do you suppose it is,
wild Indians?"
"Ai, my child, I almost wish for
your sake we would meet some wild
Indians. Where is this apparition?
Young Pedro jumped up in his
stirrups, "See-down there at the
turn. Something yellow"
"Yellow?" The Governor leaned
forward. "Ah, yes, I see. I know
who it is. It's Fray Junipero, and
Pho carrying his yellow umbrella!
Andale! We will overtake him."
Fray Junipero, lost in unearthly
dreams, was startled at the sound OF
hoof-beats so near him, and moved
off the royal road hastily as the gay
party of riders dashed toward him.
The Governor refined in his mount,
which reared upright on quivering
launches, and faced the missionary.
"Hail, Father!" he cried, waving
his hat. Then he dismounted hast
lily.
Fray Junipero blinked, and said
softly, "Ah, your Excellency!"
With an impulsive gesture FACES
put both hands on the monks shout
ders. The face, though Drowned and
weather-beaten, gave the impress
sion of being pale and wan. The
deep lines were deeper, the silver
tonsure winter. Beneath his hands
he could feel the shoulders, in their
hot coarse brown covering, so bent,
so thin, trembling. But it was Juni-
pero Serra's eyes that startled him.
Fiery with strange inner fires, they
burned in his bony skull, not meet
ing the Governors intent look, but
darling avidly among the company
of riders on the camonio.
"My brothers my men OF
God :" he murmured, 80 gra-
cious Excellency, where are the an
swers to my prayer?"
Pedro FACES dropped his hands.
He half turned from the missionary,
avoiding his searching look. For a
brief second he stood tense, still, his
hand on the hilt of his sword. Then
he flung his head up abruptly.
"Father Junipero :" he be-
gan bravely.
But Junipero Sierra interrupted
him.
"Don Pedro!" he cried in trem-
bling voice, holding out his hands
fearfully. Don't tell me but
had a vision a promise! All,
praise to God on high! There they
are! All, al, my Brothers.! Come
here, closer! Let me see you /.
touch you! You are holy men, an
answer to prayer!" He stumbled to-
ward Mariana Rubi and Bartolome
Gill holding out his arms. tears
streaming down his cheeks.
The two did not move, but stood
as though stricken in their tracks.
Sierra threw his arms about them,
looked into their sullen faces and
saw only good there.
"Allelujal" he chanted, "Ave Ma
ria Purisima! The prayers of Juni-
pero Sierra are answered."
Still the two stood dumbly. Rubi's
face was red with guilty flush,
while Gill grew pale; they too, like
the Governor, avoided the fires of
his eyes.
In his joy, the fervid missionary
noticed none of these things. He
looked about him for the Governor.
"Ah, forgive me, my son, for not
greeting you'll" he cried. "You and