Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/400

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
383
383

mrnis VERSUS infinite. oG3 , hMve an ending, which of course carriea with it thei' nec^sary concdnsioi^ that it had a beginning, but is the Great Unknowable to be included in the axiom? For if He, it, or They ever had a beginning or will have an ^ding, then it could not be the Infinite Almighty power which humans delight to contemplate; bat be- cause of tins incomprehensible "In the Beginning/' being as inexplicable as "World without End," poor finite mortals need not rack their insignificant brains to comprehend the finis of the Universe. But when it'comes to the "longest lane must haveaturntug," then it is meet to exercise the thinking faculties for the purpose of callihg attention to the "ifs" and "huts" of human experiiences;, hence to reassert that every tale must have an ending is worn out; but to say the longest tale is often very stale, or the longest story doesn't bring glory, or a volume's sine may not be despised, or a short tale may have a big sale, or the largest book may merit the darkest nook, or a few pages may go down to future ages, or the public might gobble the latest novel; refrain says, "Amen, so might it be!" but following the amen, you audibly exclaim, "Darn, cease your yarn, and quit whipping him around Eobin's barn!" Very well, just be calm , and you shall have the palm; but the personages of the plot must be disposed of. Upon reaching Tiguex, Father Juan de Padilla procured the consent of Coronado to return to Qui- vira. He was accompanied by a Spanish-Portugese, and a Negro and a half-blood and some Indians, but because the good father wished to leave the tribe where he was located to go and preach the Grospel to the Padoucasj their deadly enemy, and the holy man insisting on carrying the good news, it caused them to kill him. It cannot be truthfully recorded which of the Quivirian tribes took his life, but no doubt the good priest's last prayer was: "Forgive themj