The Coolidge examiner., 1938-04-28

ence curses. would do it, God help
me, would do i'll"
He choked. and bent his head in
his hands. Tears trickled through
the fingers that had woven and sewn
raiment for Indians, and built adobe
houses to shelter the heather.
The Governor went quickly from
the apartment Then he walked
slowly into the church, knelt mo-
ment and sat beside his wife. She
looked in alarm at his face.
Pedro" she whispered. what"
He touched her hand Nothing. "
he said, hush"
She could hear his heavy breath
ing. His fingers strayed to his beard.
Then Fray Junipero entered the
church, and they rose.
He celebrated the mass in a
hoarse voice. then turned to climb
the steps to the pulpit. Eulalia
gaSped when she saw his face, gray
above the stiff richness of his bro
caded robe Twice he stumbled and
nearly fell. Eulalia watched the
veined hand on the rail of the balus-
trade with fascination.
A bell. suspended from the center
of the wooden canopy over the pull
pit, rang mysteriously. The Indians
turned their eyes toward it. saw ii
ringing without aid of human hands,
and fell to their knees in supersti-
tious awe.
Then the priest began to speak.
The huskiness left his voice, and il
rang loud and clear in the still
church. What he said, Eulalia did
not know. but the words poured
forth in ringing cadence.
Suddenly. feeling her husband be
side her gripping the arms of the
chair with both hands, she caught
the import of Serra's words.
There is one among you who is
sent by the devil! Listen not to himi
Satan is flashing his tail in this
land Oh, beware, gentiles. beware
the tempter's voice. Listen to the
words of God that come through the
lips of your Father Junipero Sierra,
who is nothing-nothing itself-and
who wishes to suffer. only to suffer
for all your sins as Jesus Christ
and His Holy Mother suffered. Pains
unspeakable - pains unbearable-
thus"
He tore open the breast Of his
robe. Eulalia, through a mist Of
agonized emotions, saw the thin
chest encrusted with haf-healed
sores and ancient scars.
The Indians moaned. A sigh ran
through the congregation. Sierra
raised a cross, its lower end sharp
ened into a point, in one hand. In
the other he balanced a stone.
Lifting both with a wide gesture
he brought the cross against his
lacerated chest. and pounded the
cruel point again and again into his
flesh with the heavy stone.
He staggered down the steps and
mounted the altar. Selling one OF
the branched candelabra he held ii
aloft a moment.
"Ye who fear!" he cried aye
who fear, behold the courage God
gives those who are true to HIM"
His eyes glared straight at the Gov
ernor.
He plunged the burning candles
against his breast. The flames sput-
tered and died. extinguished in his
blood
A shrek rose above the signs and
sobs of the congregation.
On the dirt floor at her husband S
feet lay the wife of the Governor in
a dead faint.
That evening Don Pedro sat be-
side Eulalia. watching her anxious
ly. When at last, to his delight,
she smiled wanly and dismissed the
alarmed Angustias. he knelt to kiss
her listless hand.
How you frightened me. alma
mia, my SOUL" he murmured ten
derby. do you feel better now
stronger"
Il suppose 1 am better. though
feel dreadfully weak. oh, dreadful