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"Father!" The girl's arms were about his neck.
"But," said Ames, choking down his sorrow, "that man is dead. He, like Goliath, fought Truth, and the Truth fell upon him, crushing him to powder. The man who remains with you now lives only in this little girl. And she has brought me my own son, Sidney, and another, Jose. All that I have is theirs, and they will give it to the world. I would that she could have brought me that noble black man, Rosendo, who laid down his beautiful life when he saw that his work was done. I learn from my inquiries that he and Dona Maria lived with Don Nicolas far up the Boque river during the troublous times when Simiti was burned and devastated. And that, when the troops had gone, they returned to their desolated home, and died, within a month of each other. What do I not owe to them! And can my care of their daughter Ana and her little son ever cancel the debt? Alas, no!"
Sidney turned to the man. "Father, does Jose know that it was Kathleen whom he rescued from the Tiber in Rome, years ago, and who caused him to lose his notebook?"
Another exclamation burst from Jose. Ames shook his head. "No, Sidney, we had not told him. Ah, how small is the world! And how inextricably bound together we all are! And, Jose, I have not told you that the woman who lived and died alone in the limestone caves near Honda, and whose story you had from Don Jorge in Simiti, was doubtless the faithful old nurse of Dolores. My investigations all but confirm it. Padre Rafael de Rincon maintained her there."
Haynerd entered the room at that moment, and with him came Miss Wall.
"Now," said Hitt softly, "the circle is complete. Carmen, may I—"
The girl rose at once and went into the music room. Those who remained sat in awed, expectant silence. Another presence stole softly in, but they saw him not. Soon through the great rooms and marble halls drifted the low, weird melody which the girl had sung, long before, in the dreary Elwin school.
In the flickering light of the fire strange shapes took form; and the shadows that danced on the walls silhouetted scenes from the dimming past. From out their weird imagery rose a single form. Into it passed the unseen presence. Slowly it rose before them from out the shadows. It was black of face, but its wondrous heart which had cradled the nameless babe of Badillo glistened like drifting snow.
The last sweet notes of the plaintive Indian lament fluttered from the girl's lips, echoed among the marble pillars, and died away down the distant corridors. She returned and bent over her father with a tender caress.
Then the great black man in the shadows extended his arms for a moment above them, and faded from their sight. There was the sound of low weeping in the room. For
"these are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
GLOSSARY
A
a buen precio, for a good price. adios, good-bye. adioscito, good-bye (used among intimates). alcalde, mayor, chief of village. algarroba, the carob-tree bean. alpargates, hempen sandals. americano, American. amigo, amiga, friend. anisado, liquor made from anise-seed. a proposito, by-the-bye, apropos arena, bull ring, circle where bull-fights are held. arepa, corn cake baked in ashes. arma blanca, steel arms, generally the machete. arrastra, or arrastre, a mining mill. arreglo, arrangement. arriba, above. arroyo, ditch, small stream, creek. asequia, gutter, conduit for water. auto da fe, public punishment by the Holy Inquisition. avispas, wasps. ay de mi, ah me! woe is me! alas!
B
bagre, fish from Lake Simiti, dried and salted. baile, dance. barra, bar of wood or iron. batea, a wooden basin corresponding to the gold-pan. bejuco, thin filament, growing on tropical trees. Also, vine. bendita virgen, Blessed Virgin. bien, well. bien pues, well, then. billetes, bank notes, government notes, paper money. bodega, warehouse. Also, depot, supply house, cellar. boga, boatman, rower. boveda, vault, or arched enclosure. Burial vault, tomb. bueno, good. buen padre, good father.
C
cabildo, corporation of a town, town council. calentura, fever. camino real, royal road, highway. canasto, large basket, waste-basket. cantina, saloon, public drinking place. cano, canal. caoba, mahogany tree or wood. capilla mayor, high altar, principal chapel. capitan, captain. caramba, an interjection of no particular meaning. carcel, jail. cargadores, human pack-carriers, porters. carisima, dearest little girl. carita, dear little girl. caro amigo, dear friend. catalina, Katharine. cayman, crocodile. champan, a native thatch-roofed river boat. chiquita mia, my dearest little girl. chiquito-a, dearest little one. cielo, heaven. cienaga, a marsh or moor. Sometimes lake. cierto, certain, sure, surely, certainly. cochero, coachman, driver. cola, a tropical non-alcoholic drink. colera, cholera. colibri, humming bird. comadre, friend, when used casually addressing a woman. comjejen, white wood-eating ant. compadre, friend, when used casually addressing a man. conque, adios, "well, good-bye." conque, hasta luego, "well, good-bye until we meet again." conqueros, conquerors. conquistadores, conquerors. cordilleras, chain or ridge of mountains. corriente, right, correct. costumbre del pais, national custom. cura, priest.
D
de nada, don't mention it. desayuno, breakfast. dia, day. diablo, devil. dios arriba, God above! dios mio, my God! dios nos guarde, God preserve us! dios y diablo, God and devil! dique, canal, channel. doncella, young woman.
E
el, the (masculine). enamorada, infatuated one (female). en manos muertas, "in dead hands." escapulario, scapulary. escritorio, writing desk.
F
feria, fair, festival. fiasco, failure. finca, farm. flor, flower (pl. flores)
G
garrafon, jug. garrapata, wood-tick. garza, heron. gracias, thanks, thank you. guaquero, hunter of Indian graves. guerrillas, band of guerrillas.
H
hacienda, farm. hada, witch. hermano, brother. hermoso, beautiful. hermosisimo-a, most beautiful. hidalgo, nobleman, hola! halloo! hombre, man. hostia, sacred wafer used in the mass.
I
iguana, large edible lizard. infanta, Spanish princess.
J
jejen, gnat. jipijapa, very fine woven straw, used in Panama hats. jipitera, child's disease, due to eating dirt.
L
la, the (feminine). lianas, vines. llanos, flat plains. loado sea el buen dios, praised be the good God! loco, crazy, mad.
M
macana, a very hard, tough palm, used in hut construction. machete, cane-knife, large knife used for trail-cutting. machetero, trail-cutter. madre de dios, mother of God. maestro, master. maldito, cursed, cursed one. mantilla, head-scarf of lace. mariposa, butterfly. matador, bull-fighter who slays the bull with the sword. medico, doctor. mestizo, half-breed. milagro, miracle. Also, small gold image, blessed by a priest, and supposed to work a cure. mora, bramble-bush. mozo, waiter, servant, also young boy or man. muchacho, boy. muy bien, very well. muy buenos dias, "good morning."
N
na, an expression of disagreement, disavowal, or demurral. nada, nothing, nada mas, nothing more. nombre de dios, name of God.
O
ojala, "would to God!" "God grant!" olla, pot, or kettle. Also, a stew of meat and vegetables. oporto, port wine.
P
padre, father, Father, priest. panela, the crude sugar of tropical America. pantano, swamp. pater-noster, the Lord's prayer. patio, the interior court of a dwelling, yard, garden. patron (naut.), cockswain of a boat. peon, day-laborer. peso, dollar. peso oro, a dollar in gold. peso y medio, a dollar and a half. petate, straw mat on which the poor people sleep. plaga, plague, pestilence. platano, plantain tree, or its fruit. playa, shore, beach, strand. policia, police. por, for, by. por dios, by God! por el amor del cielo, for the love of heaven! por supuesto, of course. posada, inn, hotel, restaurant. pozo, well, pond, puddle. pronto, soon, quickly. pueblo, town, settlement, people.
Q
quebrada, creek, small stream. que chiste, what a joke! que importa, what does it matter? quemador, public square where heretics were burned. queridito-a, dear little one. quien sabe, who knows?
R
real (reales), a silver coin, valued at 5, 10, or 12-1/2 cents. religion de dinero, a religion of money. ruana, a cape worn by the poor males of tropical America. rurales, country people, peasants, farmers.
S
sacristia, sacristy. san benito, the garb worn by condemned heretics. santa maria, Saint Mary. santa virgen, the sainted Virgin. santo dios, the blessed God! selva, forest. seminario, seminary. senora, Madam, Mrs., a mature woman, a married woman. senorita, Miss, a young unmarried woman. sepulcros, tombs, graves. sierras, mountain chain. siesta, the midday hour of rest, the hottest part of the day. sobrinito, little nephew.
T
temprano, early. terciana, intermittent fever. tia, aunt. tierra caliente, hot lands. tio mio, my uncle. tiple, a small guitar. toldo, awning, the mosquito netting hung over beds. trago, tragito, a drink, a draught. tumba, tomb, grave.
Y
ya esta, vamonos, all ready, let's go! yucca, or yuca, the yucca plant or its roots.
DONE INTO A BOOK FOR THE
MAESTRO COMPANY BY W. B.
CONKEY COMPANY, CHICAGO
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