An American

the enterprise which we have described in a previous chapter of this book, and assumed a more conventional and handy garb for he had work to do that would require all the strength of his arms and all

ing health had b

ad studied and whose sainted memory he revered almost as much as that of the saints whom he had been taught to worship along with the Virgin Mary and The Babe of Bethlehem; then, he put on next to his skin a hair-cloth shirt so constructed as not to scratch and yet to be very warm; over this he placed a heavy riding-coat which had

cinity where he was accustomed, at all hours, to be found, and, stealthily and quietly, exercising all the precaution of which he was cap

m the village, then, turning again to his left, he walked briskly for another block or two, when he came to a sharp turn and paused as if in dou

en you have gone for two more blocks toward the right. You will find the object of your search has been in waiting for you for some hours and is

as it had assured him, the object of the night-journey he had just made, waiting for him with great impatience, coupled w

Unfortunately, one of our friends lost his life just before the wide doors of the prison were burst open ... no one seems to know how this came about

d the woman who had been waiting there fo

and she was with the crowd, who followed me; she dashed into the entrance of the prison and held his head, which had been almost severed from its body, in her lap until she fainted and became

ened to look earnestly at her when he saw, in an instant, that it held for her great personal appeal; he stopped at that knowledge

y beloved husband, Father Felix. I had not yet told you of our marriage for I wanted you to think of me only in my own personal right, but I am the widow of the man whose shameful

ly, to her great sorrow, for she had but spoken the solemn truth although no

ng tongue for giving to her such a shock as he had just been the cause of; at the same time he could not blame himself as much as he might have done had he not known of

this matter it was he who is now not to be condemned by any human being, for he has gone before his Maker Who will mete out to him whatever is his just dessert. I am d

to make his report as to how he had done the work that she had set

ted to his face and questioned him as to the truth of his last statemen

sinned most grievously ... it breaks my heart," she ended, clasping her soft, white hands together spasmodically, "it breaks my heart to think he could be such a villain as you say he was. Dear Father Felix," she began again, for hope will sometimes come upon the very heels of wild despair, "dear Father Felix, are you sure that this man who is newly dead can be the Vict

tioned the good Priest. He sadl

e fellow in every possible way and the girl, Estrella, of whom I spoke, fairly worshipped him although her own family flouted her for doing so, as he only came to see her at long intervals and seemed ashamed to be seen with her ... seldom ever went

nger have respect for him? Is there any way," she wailed, pleadingly, "is there any way to bear a sorrow such as this one is? Tell me, good Father, tell me, is there any way of escape for me who am as innocent as is this young girl of whom you have just spoken? Is there some way in which I can assist her, Fathe

mazement, but he answered her as calmly

ill let her remain in ignorance of the character of him she loved ... she would the sooner repair the injury, it seems to me, if she could still respect his memory. It must be doubly hard for you, my Daughter, to lose him and respect for him at the same time ... yet, it would have been a terrible knowledge for you to have gained ... that he had misled this innocent girl ... even during his life. A man has little thought of the women who love him when he plays fast and loose with more than one of them at a time, anyway. I wish I knew what words to say to you to make you strong to bear this misery,

on of her sobs and moans of agony of spirit, he began to speak of other matters, hoping to distract her mind and turn her thoughts to other things, thereby giving her an opportunity to face the sorrow that had come upon her so suddenly with more strength than she would have if she continued to dwell on it alone. So he bethou

even now, it seems to me that there must be some mistake about my Husband's being the same man who was the lover of this girl you know about.... I think that I will see her ... there ... beside my darling Husband's body and decide the matter for myself instead of listening to the tales that have been told to me. That is how I think

's body had been placed, and she thanking him for carrying out her wishes even though

earing hard upon his heart. He pitied both the suffering women very much and w

n concerned, had not only been as futile as any work could ever be, but, also, it had brought to her a new and horrible calamity besides the failure of her plans and loss of him she evidently deeply loved as tender women love but only once in all their human lives, perhaps, for Victorio Colenz

whole matter, for he, being what he was, would not be very likely ever to know the heights and depths, as well, of human love, for he had always been a religious devotee in spite of his great strength of limb ... he'd only used his bodily powers to forward the work to which his whole life was devoted ut