why he is come?'"

"'He came from Los Angeles, on important business with the padre,'
Miguel replied."

"'How do you know he is from Los Angeles, and that his business is
important?'"

"'Because, while you were seeking the padre, Don Manuel was so impatient
at your delay that he could not stand still, and kept striding up and
down the length of the arcade, muttering to himself. Once I caught the
words that if the padre but knew the importance of his business, he
would make great haste. When I led away his horse, he told me to take
good care of it, for it must carry him as far on his way tomorrow as it
had to-day from Los Angeles.'"

"'And what is this important business?'"

"'Quien sabe!' answered Miguel, with a shrug of his shoulders."

"This was very little to be sure, and it served only to increase my fear
that all was not right."

"But I heard nothing further that night."

"The next day was the Sabbath. Nothing occurred before mass; breakfast
was eaten by the stranger, alone in the padres' dining-room, and the
padre was not seen by any one until the hour for mass. The other padre
was here at Pala to take the place of the fraile who was sick. The
beautiful church was crowded, every neophyte casting a glance now and