Part 41 (1/1)
Would you have me false to the vows of my Order? to the voice of the Master?”
”But you are crippled, helpless, in continual pain!” She crossed hastily to hi upon her knees at his side ”Oh, _pere_, we cannot leave you; it would ers stroked her brown hair, his eyes alight with the fire of enthusiasm
”Whether or not I am worthy of martyrdo hand of the bleeding Christ Daughter, you are a child of the true Church; your pleading should never retard the labor of the priesthood My suffering is nothing, h such sacrifice soulsflames of hell”
She could not speak, but sobbed, her face hidden
”Where do you go seeking other tribes?” I asked hoarsely, scarcely believing his words
He arose with difficulty to his feet, holding himself erect on the rude crutches I noticed now, for the first tiirdle
”Yonder, Monsieur, to the ard,” a new dignity in his manner as he pointed up the narrow canyon ”There are tribes a few days' journey away I have learned of the told their nae of salvation”
”But you will starve on the journey”
”I carry food here,” touching the bag ”It will suffice; if not, there are berries and roots in abundance My Master has always fed me in the wilderness”
What irlish face fronting ether, the dark eyes fearless and resolute I laid my hand on Eloise's shoulder
”It retfully ”We can but depart”
She arose slowly to her feet, her eyes still sadly pleading The _pere_ gazed questioningly into both our faces, the rigid lines of his nity, ”we of a desert priesthood are ordained unto strange duties, and unusual privileges Do you love this ave one rapid glance aside into my face Then she answered in all si upon his crutch, he touched her with his hand
”Yet he who perished yonder was your husband How came you thus to marry, with your heart elsewhere?”
”It was the desire of my father, and the will of the Church”
He bowed his head, his lips uidance
”Then the will of the Church hath been done,” he said humbly ”Here in the wilderness we perform the will of God, untrammelled by the councils of men 'T is , and join in e those of one heart It is not ether except with the solemn sanction of Holy Church”
My pulses throbbed, yet I could only look at her, as she stood tre
”But--but, _pere_, will it be right?” she faltered faintly
”Let the dead past bury its dead,” he answered gravely ”I hold it right in the name of Christ, from whom I derive authority Geoffrey Benteen, take within your own the hand of this woether in the sun; a dreae rite spoken by hiether upon the stones, hand clasping hand, while above our bowed heads were uplifted the priest's thin, white hands in benediction Whether or not in that hour Andre Lafossier exceeded his authority I cannot tell In heart ere joined of God; our union has never been questioned ofto prevent the sacrifice, as he moved away froht, that slender figure, in frayed, tattered black robe, going forward alone, and in agony, to death or torture It was in my heart to cry after hihty motive of his sacrifice, and restrained me with uplifted hand Far up the canyon, he paused a lanced back The distance already veiled his face, but up into the sunlight he lifted the silver crucifix Then he disappeared--to endure his fate in Christ's name Then, hand in hand and heart to heart, our voices silent, Eloise and I went down into the valley to where the boats lay The dead past was behind us; the future was our own
THE END