San Diego State University - Del Sudoeste Yearbook (San Diego, CA)

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w- a tgua .g, Va1 open corridor around the court. Passing along in the shadow of the eolonnatle for a short distance, he turned abruptly into the burning heat of the garden and walked down a little path until he came to a small group of trees. He stopped in their shade. A small lntlian boy was lying on the Ground. Though his back was turned and he was apparently asleep, yet the slight sound of Padre Nipero's tread caught his ear. and instantly he was on his feet. He smiled as he saw that it was the priest. llis bright, black eyes, always eager and restless. glanced at the man, l1eyoml him to the adobe buildings, and back to the priest again. The boy seemed to understand that something was wrong; uCan I help you, father? he said. No, Nipo. I am only a little tired this afternoon. I will feel better in the evening, perhaps? jut the boy answered quickly: No, father, it is the Indians again. I know. because I saw you leave the court an hour ago, and now you are returningeantl I will help you if I can. Padre Nipero smiled a little. Does nothing ev er escape your eves, Xipo. 3 he said. llYes, the Indians are somewhat restless this afternoon but I trust it is only the heat of the day. If I have any errands later. I will call you. Nipo. With that the Padre went on through the court and passed again into the building. The room he entered was a long. rather narrow one. The walls were of white-washed adobe. as were those of all the rooms on the place. Heavy oaken beams supported the ceiling. The windows, of which there were only two, .one on the outside and the other on the interior court. were narrow and tleep-set. Iron l1ars protected the outer window. A long oak table stood in the center of the room; around it were placed several chairs. A few loose pieces of paper and a quill pen or two lay on the table. Outtlie wall was a small shelf containingr a few books. This room was evidently the meeting room and library. Padre Nipero seated himself at the 10110 table and gazed absentlv out of the window into the court. He was thinking now of Xipo and uncon- sciously speaking to himself. uHe is a good ehiltl. always willing and ready to help me. He has been of use to me many a time with the lntlians when they have been troublesome. I-Iis quick eyes see everything. and his ears are always listening. Somehow, I seem to have won the boy to me; he pays but little attention to the rest of the brothers, although they are all friendly with him. int he is as faithful as a shepherd dog to me. I believe he would actually lay down his life for me, so devoted he seemsfi The father sat long in his chair. gazing out of the window. His brow grew troubled In his pondering over the greater question of his restless Indian subjects he forgot Nipo. T-he little Indian village lav beyond the clump of trees that skirted the road several hundred yards from the last of the cluster of adobe buildings which formed the home of the padres. The Spanish brothers had built this mission, in ortler to eix'ilize aml ehristianize the natives of the wilderness. Sometimes the ueophytes grew restless under the strict. though kintl. rule of the fathers. Several times in the history of the mission there had been uprisings, and once bloodshed had resulted. tut that had been a long time before. For some years now the neophytes had done no more than to grum- ble and mutter among themselves, and sometimes become sullen in their attitude towards the fathers. It was on - those occasions when an insuhordinate Indian, refused to work that Nipo had been of help to Padre Nipero', the leader of the brothers at the mission. For Nipo' was a favorite of the Indians as well as of the white men. He could coax a rebellious neophyte to work again. when the efforts of the l u

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Hy Edith Strong HR day was intensely hot. with scarcely 21 hreztth uf wind. The sun but down mercilessly upon the tiled mots oi the cluster of adobe building's. and filtered through the dry. dusty fnliztge in the inner Court. llehintl the CUlUllIlZHlC surrounding this court were spots 0f shadow, yet scarcely less hut than the open yard itself. Outside the gmnp of mlnhe buildings stretched a vast country; acres on acres of dusty sage brush. The levelness was hrnken here and there by undulating hills covered with the same tlull-enloretl growth. liar to the north lay a long low range 0f mountains. showingr gray against tlte horizon. le- yontl the vicinity of tht adobe houses. wherever nne ltmketl, there vets sage brush. dry and hot. A road of finely powdered tlnst wound from the groups of buildings toward the farther hills. From the top of the highest hill. the faintest line of blue. almost a mist. could be seen. It was the ocean. far away to the south. The imagination helped one tn feel its cnulness until the eye wandered hack to the tlry and dusty valley directly below. in which were clustered the zulnhe buildings. , A man appeared suddenly from behind a grunp of trees. which screened at seenntl luner line of adobe houses. He was a tall, gaunt person. dressed in the long black ruhes of a priest. He walked slowly. with the air of one who is in deep meditation. Uniting tn the larger 21ml main group of lllllltlA ings. he opened the gate and erussetl the yard within. Entering through the tlunr of the nearest building, he passed intu a long dark hall. the blackness anti coolness ml which emttrastetlpleasantly with the glare of the heat unt- sitle. He went slowly down the hall. antl opening a tltmr on his right entered 21 large. tlimly-lig'htetl rmnn. A younger man, clad in similar garments. ztrosw at his ent'anee. saying: l'ath'e Xiperu, what news? The newcnmer slowly shook his head. I am not satisfied, Padre Francis. l have just returned from the Indian dwellings. There is an ominous atmnsphere almut the place. The people seem restless. They are calm enough when I speak with them, but they are discontented, antl mutter to themselves in groups when they think I am not near. latlre Francis said: HCome. father, do not think too seriously ml the matter. It is probably the h tat which makes them so restless. This evening. when it grows Cool, all will be well again. ' lint llatlre Nipern slltmk his head tluhinnsly. and turning slowly went out of the room by the tlUOl' on the left. lt opened into the Court. and :1 wave of stilling heat struek him as he stepped tlHWH the stmte step leading tn the 20

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padres seemed useless. Thus Nipo had become a valuable aid to Padre Nipero; and whenever the father commanded, the boy obeyed unques- tioningly. But while the padre sat long at the table, gazing absently out of the window and thinking of the restless Indians, Nipo sat under the palm trees, thinking of what he could do to help his beloved master. He knew that something,r must be wrong with the Indians. and he decided to go down to the village and try to pacify them. The resolution formed. he jumped quickly to his feet. and passed tlown the court. He stopped a moment as he came to the little fountain in the eenter; it was a wishingr fountain. Several trees growing beside it threw a little shade upon the water, taking fronts. portion of it the brilliant glare of the reHeetetl sun. Nipo stopped in the shade, and. picking up a pebble. stood looking; down into the water. Then, throwing the pebble into the fountain, he made his wish. watched until the little stone sank out of sight into the depths. amt. turning away, hurried rapidly through the court and into the house. Outside the sun still shone warmly down. Hut the heat was growing less intense. There was now the faintest hint of a breeze: enough to tantalize. not to satisfy. Hut even this was better than the terrible heat of the noon- tlay. for it gave promise of something better. The day was beginning to wane. During the lady afternoon. the mission had seemed almost deserted; but now signs of life began to appear. As sunset approached, odors of the evening in tal in preparation came from the adobe kitchen at the farthest eml of the patio. 'lihe neophytes were seen going back and forth among their houses. Small groups of them came up to the mission with bowls in their hands. to have their portions measured out to them. Several padres. appearing from various rooms. eame slowly out into the court, crossed it. and entered the long low room which served as a refeetory. They, tom wer . assemblingr for the evening meal. But as yet it was a little early. From the top of the chapel at one end of the court, the clear tones of a bell sounded. tVithin the chapel. one of fathers was kneeling at the altar. Above him was a window of stained glass. brought carefully from Spain. Through its panes the rays of the setting sun tiiekercd, throwing,r a crimson light upon the altar and upon the kneeling figure. Save for this stream of light. the chapel was dark. Slowly, other dim figures of padres came in and knelt silently lint one by one they left. and still the one on whom the sutfs last rays fell knelt there by the altar with bowed head. The others had gone silently: they did not wish to disturb their master, Padre Nipero. hit Nipo, who had come with them, did not leave. Long he waited, but the father did not move: the crimson rays vanished. and the shadows deepened until. in the gloom of the chapel. objects became indistinguishable. Then Padre Nipero arose and passed down to the door. Looking back, he saw a figure kneeling at the altar: it was Nipo who had glided down from the far dark corner of the room. and knelt at the spot front which the master had just arose. Padre Xipero recognized him. even in the dusk. Somehow the fancy Hittetl through his mind that Nipo had been watchingr over him while he prayed, and was now oHering a prayer for other Help in guarding his master. HPoor boy, the padre murmured. he is faithful. His is true devotion. And well might the father say this. The air was now cool and refreshing. Night had brought with it a release from the bondage of the day's heat. A fresh. soft breeze was blowingr gently through the palm trees of the court. As the night deepened. the moon. full-eireled and brilliant. slowly rose above the tiled roofs of the build- ing's. It threw its light upon the wishing fountain. silvering it as if by magic. while the breeze playfully rntified the shining surface. iTacefulness and quiet pervaded everything.