hacienda to remind your father of the comforts
of religion. Whereat, for the first time since that vagabond Moreno
came with his evil tidings, your father smiled. 'Good Father Dominic,'
said he, 'I have need of the comfort of your presence and your
friendship, but I would not blot out with thoughts of religion the
memory of the honor that has come upon my house. God has been good to
me. To me has been given the privilege of siring a man, and I shall
not affront him with requests for further favors. To-morrow, in El
Toro, a general will pin on my breast the medal for gallantry that
belongs to my dead son. As for this trembling, it is but a palsy that
comes to many men of my age.'"

"He had a slight touch of it before I left," Don Miguel reminded Pablo.

"The following day," Pablo continued, "I assisted him to dress, and was
overjoyed to observe that the trembling had abated by half. By his
direction, I saddled Panchito with the black carved-leather saddle, and
he mounted with my aid and rode to El Toro. I followed on the black
mare. At El Toro, in the plaza, in the presence of all the people, a
great general shook your father's hand and pinned upon his breast the
medal that belongs to you. It was a proud moment for all of us. Then
we rode back to the San Gregorio. At the mission, your father
dismounted and went into the chapel to pray for your soul. For two
hours, I waited before entering to seek him. I found him kneeling with
his great body spread out over the _prie-dieu_ where the heads of your
house have prayed since the Mission de la Madre Dolorosa was built.
His brain was alive, but one side of him was dead, and he smiled with
his eyes. We carried him home in Father Dominic's automobile, and, two
weeks later, he died in sanctity. The _gente_ of San Marcos County
attended his funeral.

"In February came _Senor_ Parker, with great assurance, and endeavored
to take possession. He showed me a paper, but what do I know of
papers? I showed him your rifle, and he departed, to return with Don
Nicolas Sandoval, the sheriff, who explained matters to me and warned
me to avoid violence. I have dwelt here since in sorrow and
perplexity, and because I have ridden the fences and watched over the
stock, there has been no great effort made to disturb me. They have a
cook--a Japanese, and two Japanese women servants. Also, this evening,
Senor Parker brought with him as a guest another Japanese, whom he
treats