ame from born
aptitude.

Here Apolinaria remained for several years, engrossed in her work which
had now taken complete possession of her. As she became better known,
she had calls from many high caste Spanish residents who desired her
services, and not only those living in Santa Barbara, but in near-by
towns--San Buenaventura, Santa Inez, and as far as Los Angeles; and her
fame reached, at last, the whole length of the chain of settlements
in the province, from San Diego to San Francisco, for she was the sole
person in that part of the country who undertook the office of what is
now filled by the trained nurse. After a time, Apolinaria, finding there
was room for many more like herself, gathered a few young women into a
class whom she taught what she knew in regard to nursing the sick, and
upon whom she called for such assistance as they were able to give.

One morning a mission neophyte came to her with a message from Father
Amestoy, that he desired to see her as soon as she could come to him.
Wondering a little at the seeming urgency of the request, she took her
way to the mission at the end of her morning's visit to the hospital.
She met the Father walking slowly up and down in front of the monastery,
every now and then looking off down the road with anxious impatience. As
soon as he saw Apolinaria approaching, he hurried to meet her.

"My child," he exclaimed, "you are come at last! I have been watching
for you the whole morning."

"I could not come before, Father," she replied. "Did you want me at
once?"

"Yes, Apolinaria," the Father answered. "Late last night a messenger
came from San Diego with a letter from Father Barona, imploring us to
send you down there. They are in great trouble. The smallpox is raging;
so many neophytes are ill that help is needed to care for them. The
fathers are worn out with watching and tending the dying, and burying
the dead, and all the Spaniards are too occupied with their own sick to
be of much assistance. They want you to come. Will you go, Apolinaria?"

"Most assuredly, Father," Apolinaria replied promptly. "I shall be ready
to start to-morrow at daybreak. I cannot leave sooner for I must
give last directions to my pupils. But how shall I go? Have you made
arrangements for me?"

"You can return with the messenger. I shall give him full instructions.
With hard riding you can reach there in three days. Do you think you
can stand it? I would not ask it did not they need yo