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my adversary in an affair of honor。 I gave him a mere flesh…wound； and by
this time he must be quite recovered。 He was my friend。 But as he came
between me〃
Gaston stopped； and the Padre； looking keenly at him； saw the
violence that he had noticed in church pass like a flame over the young
man's handsome face。
〃That's nothing dishonorable；〃 said Gaston； answering the priest's look。
And then； because this look made him not quite at his ease： 〃Perhaps a
priest might feel obliged to say it was dishonorable。 She and her father
werea man owes no fidelity before he isbut you might say that had
been dishonorable。〃
〃I have not said so； my son。〃
〃I did what every gentleman would do。〃 insisted Gaston。
〃And that is often wrong！〃 said the Padre； gently and gravely。 〃But I'm
not your confessor。〃
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PADRE IGNACIO Or The Song of Temptation
〃No；〃 said Gaston； looking down。 〃And it is all over。 It will not begin
again。 Since leaving New Orleans I have traveled an innocent journey
straight to you。 And when I make my fortune I shall be in a position to
return and〃
〃Claim the pressed flowrer？〃 suggested the Padre。 He did not smile。
〃Ah； you remember how those things are！〃 said Gaston： and he
laughed and blushed。
〃Yes；〃 said the Padre； looking at the anchored barkentine； 〃I remember
how those things are。〃
For a while the vessel and its cargo and the landed men and various
business and conversations occupied them。 But the freight for the mission
once seen to； there was not much else to detain them。
The barkentine was only a coaster like many others which had begun
to fill the sea a little more of late years； and presently host and guest were
riding homeward。 Side by side they rode； companions to the eye； but wide
apart in mood； within the turbulent young figure of Gaston dwelt a spirit
that could not be more at ease； while revolt was steadily kindling beneath
the schooled and placid mask of the Padre。
Yet still the strangeness of his situation in such a remote； resourceless
place came back as a marvel into the young man's lively mind。 Twenty
years in prison； he thought； and hardly aware of it！ And he glanced at the
silent priest。 A man so evidently fond of music； of theaters； of the world； to
whom pressed flowers had meant something onceand now contented to
bleach upon these wastes！ Not even desirous of a brief holiday； but finding
an old organ and some old operas enough recreation！ 〃It is his age； I
suppose；〃 thought Gaston。 And then the notion of himself when he should
be sixty occurred to him； and he spoke。
〃Do you know； I do not believe；〃 said he； 〃that I should ever reach
such contentment as yours。〃
〃Perhaps you will；〃 said Padre Ignacio； in a low voice。
〃Never！〃 declared the youth。 〃It comes only to the few； I am sure。〃
〃Yes。 Only to the few；〃 murmured the Padre。
〃I am certain that it must be a great possession；〃 Gaston continued；
〃and yetand yetdear me！ life is a splendid thing！〃
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PADRE IGNACIO Or The Song of Temptation
〃There are several ways to live it；〃 said the Padre。
〃Only one for me！〃 cried Gaston。 〃Action； men； women； thingsto be
there； to be known； to play a part； to sit in the front seats； to have people
tell one another； 'There goes Gaston Villere！' and to deserve one's
prominence。 Why； if I was Padre of Santa Ysabel del Mar for twenty
years no！ for one yeardo you know what I should have done？ Some day
it would have been too much for me。 I should have left these savages to a
pastor nearer their own level； and I should have ridden down this canyon
upon my mule； and stepped on board the barkentine； and gone back to my
proper sphere。 You will understand； sir； that I am far from venturing to
make any personal comment。 I am only thinking what a world of
difference lies between natures that can feel as alike as we do upon so
many subjects。 Why； not since leaving New Orleans have I met any one
with whom I could talk； except of the weather and the brute interests
common to us all。 That such a one as you should be here is like a dream。〃
〃But it is not a dream；〃 said the Padre。
〃And； sirpardon me if I do say thisare you not wasted at Santa
Ysabel del Mar？ I have seen the priests at the other missions。 They are
the sort of good men that I expected。 But are you needed to save such
souls as these？〃
〃There is no aristocracy of souls；〃 said the Padre； again whispering。
〃But the body and the mind！〃 cried Gaston。 〃My God； are they nothing？
Do you think that they are given to us for nothing but a trap？ You cannot
teach such a doctrine with your library there。 And how about all the
cultivated men and women away from whose quickening society the
brightest of us grow numb？ You have held out。 But will it be for long？ Are
you never to save any souls of your own kind？ Are not twenty years of
mesclados enough？ No； no！〃 finished young Gaston； hot with his
unforeseen eloquence； 〃I should ride down some morning and take the
barkentine。〃
Padre Ignacio was silent for a space。
〃I have not offended you？〃 asked the young man。
〃No。 Anything but that。 You are surprised that I shouldchooseto
stay here。 Perhaps you may have wondered how I came to be here at all？〃
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PADRE IGNACIO Or The Song of Temptation
〃I had not intended any impertinent〃
〃Oh no。 Put such an idea out of your head； my son。 You may
remember that I was going to make you a confession about my operas。 Let
us sit down in this shade。〃
So they picketed the mules near the stream and sat down。
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PADRE IGNACIO Or The Song of Temptation
IV
You have seen；〃 began Padre Ignacio； 〃what sort of a man Iwas once。
Indeed； it seems very strange to myself that you should have been here not
twenty…four hours yet； and know so much of me。 For there has come no
one else at all〃the Padre paused a moment and mastered the unsteadiness
that he had felt approaching in his voice〃there has been no one else to
whom I have talked so freely。 In my early days I had no thought of being a
priest。 By parents destined me for a diplomatic career。 There was plenty of
money andand all the rest of it； for by inheritance came to me the
acquaintance of many people whose names you would be likely to have
heard of。 Cities； people of fashion； artiststhe whole of it was my element
and my choice； and by…and…by I married； not only where it was desirable；
but where I loved。 Then for the first time Death laid his staff upon my
enchantment； and I understood many things that had been only words to
me hitherto。 To have been a husband for a year； and a father for a moment；
and in that moment to lose allthis unblinded me。 Looking back； it
seemed to me that I had never done anything except for myself all my
days。 I left the world。 In due time I became a priest and lived in my own
country。 But my worldly experience and my secular education had given
to my opinions a turn too liberal for the place where my work was laid。 I
was soon advised concerning this by those in authority over me。 And since
they could not change me and I could them； yet wished to work and to
teach； the New World was suggested； and I volunteered to give the rest of
my life to missions。 It was soon found that some one was needed here； and
for this little place I sailed； and to these humble people I have dedicated
my service。 They are pastoral creatures of the soil。 Their vineyard and
cattle days are apt to be like the sun and storm around themstrong alike
in their evil and in their good。 All their years they live as children
children with men's passions given to them l