the buildings within sight. I was driving one of the cows home from the
pasture to provide milk for the padre's supper, and saw him as he
reached the mission. As soon as I came up to him, he asked me:"

"'Is the padre here?'"

"'Si, Se–or.'"

"'Tell him Don Manuel wishes to see him at once,' he said, in a
commanding tone."

"Calling one of the boys not far away to look after the cow, and to take
care of the stranger's horse, I went to the padre's room and knocked.
After waiting a moment, and getting no reply, I knocked again. Hearing
no sound, I opened the door and went in. The room was empty, but the
door leading into a small side room, from which was an entrance into the
church for the padre's use, stood open, and I knew he was in the church.
At any other time I would have hesitated, but the traveler had spoken so
sternly that I dared not delay, so went on into the church. There was
the padre kneeling before the altar of our patron saint, San Luis Rey,
his rosary of beautiful gold beads and ivory cross in his hands; but so
still one would have said he himself was a statue. I waited again, in
hopes he would finish his prayer and come away; but the minutes went by
and still he did not move. At last I stepped toward him, stumbling a
little against one of the seats that he might know some one was there.
He heard the sound and, rising slowly, turned and came toward the door
near which I stood. When he saw me he asked what was wanted. I told
him."

"Is it come at last?' he said, more to himself than to me, and walked