In the midst of the hubbub a hush fell suddenly over the concourse.
All heads turned, and all eyes fastened upon Ana, as she entered the room and moved timidly toward Jose. The people fell back to make a pa.s.sage for her. Her shoulders were bent, and her face was covered with a black _mantilla_.
Don Mario, as his glance fell upon her, again attempted to address the mult.i.tude. A dozen voices bade him cease. A strong arm from behind pushed him from the chair. His craven heart began to quake, and he cast anxious glances toward the single exit.
Gently removing the _mantilla_ from the face of the woman, Jose turned her toward the people. "Friends!" he said in a loud, penetrating voice, "behold the work of Diego!"
He paused for the effect which he knew would be made upon this impressionable people. Then, when the loud murmur had pa.s.sed, he drew Carmen out before him and, pointing to her, said dramatically, "And shall we also throw this innocent child to the wolf?"
The a.s.sembly broke into a roar. Fists were shaken under the Alcalde"s nose, and imprecations were hurled at him from all sides. Don Mario drew his soiled handkerchief and mopped his steaming brow. Then his voice broke out in a shriek: "The soldiers--this day I shall summon them--it is a riot!"
"_Caramba!_ He speaks truth!" cried a voice from the crowd. The babel commenced anew.
"The soldiers! _Caramba!_ Let Diego have his child!"
_"Maldita!"_
"Who says it is not his?"
"I do!"
It was Ana. Clasping Jose"s arm to steady herself, she had turned to confront the excited a.s.sembly.
Silence descended upon them all. Jose held up his hand. A sob escaped the woman. Then:
"The priest Diego had a child--a girl. Her name--it was--Carmen. The child is--dead."
"_Caramba!_ girl, how know you that?" shrilled a woman"s excited voice.
"I know, because I--was--its--mother!"
Pandemonium burst upon the room at the woman"s words. Don Mario started for the door, but found his way blocked. "Diego had other children!" he shouted; "and this girl is one of them!"
"It is false!" cried Ana in a loud voice. "I have lived with him eight years! I know from his own lips that I speak the truth! See what he has done to me! Would I lie?"
"To the _carcel_! Release Rosendo!"
"We will write to the President at Bogota! Don Mario must be removed!"
"_Caramba!_ Such an Alcalde!"
"Let him send for the soldiers, if he wishes to die!"
"To the _carcel_!"
As a unit the fickle people streamed from the room and started for the jail. Don Mario was borne along on the heaving tide. Jose and Carmen followed; but Ana fell back and returned to the house of Rosendo.
The guard at the jail, seeing the concourse approaching, threw down his _machete_ and fled. Rosendo"s eyes were big with speculation, though his heart beat apprehensively. The people jammed into the small hut until it swayed and threatened to collapse.
"The key to the lock--_Caramba_! the guard has it!"
"Catch him!"
"No! bring a _barra_!"
Juan quickly produced a long iron bar, and with a few l.u.s.ty efforts sprung the stocks. A dozen hands lifted the cramped Rosendo out and stood him upon his feet. Carmen squirmed through the crowd and threw herself into his arms.
Then, with shouts and gesticulations, a triumphal procession quickly formed, and the bewildered and limping Rosendo was escorted down the main street of the town and across the _plaza_ to his home. At the door of the house Jose turned and, holding up a hand, bade the people quietly disperse and leave the liberated man to enjoy undisturbed the sacred reunion with his family. With a parting shout, the people melted quickly away, and quiet soon reigned again over the ancient town.
"_Bien_, Padre," said Rosendo, pausing before his door to clasp anew the priest"s hand, "you have not told me what has caused this. Was it the little Carmen--"
He stopped short. Glancing in at the door, his eyes had fallen upon Ana. To Jose, hours seemed suddenly compressed into that tense moment.
Slowly Rosendo entered the house and advanced to the shrinking woman.
Terror spread over her face, and she clutched her throat as the big man stalked toward her. Then, like a flash, Carmen darted in front of her and faced Rosendo.
"It is Anita, padre dear," she said, looking up into his set face, and clasping his hand in both of hers. "She has come home again. Aren"t we glad!"
Rosendo seemed not to see the child. His voice came cold and harsh.
"_Bien_, outcast, is your lover with you, that I may strangle him, too?" He choked and swallowed hard.
"Padre!" cried Carmen, putting both her hands against him. "See! Those bad thoughts nearly strangled you! Don"t let them get in! Don"t!"
"_Bien_, girl!" snarled the angry man, still addressing the cowering woman. "Did you tire of him, that you now sneak home? Or--_Caramba_!"
as Ana rose and stood before him, "you come here that your illegal brat may be born! Not under my roof! _Santa Maria!_ Never! Take it back to him! Take it back, I say!" he shouted, raising his clenched fist as if to strike her.
Carmen turned swiftly and threw herself upon the woman. Looking over her shoulder, she addressed the raging man:
"Padre Rosendo! this is not your house! It is G.o.d"s! He only lets you have it, because He is good to you! Shame on you, for daring to drive Anita away--your own little girl!" Her voice rose shrill, and her words cut deep into the old man"s embittered heart.
"Shame on you, padre Rosendo!" quickly flowed the scorching words. "If G.o.d were like you He would drive you from the house, too! Are you so much better than the good Jesus that you can drive away a woman who sins? Shame on you, padre! Are you better than the good father who was so glad to see his prodigal son? If G.o.d were to punish you for your sins, would He even let you live? Did He not set you free this very morning? And do you now thank Him by driving your little girl from her own home? Do you know that it was Anita who made you free, and who brought me here? G.o.d used her to do that. And is this the way you thank Him? Then you will lose us both, for we will not stay with you!"
Jose stepped up and took Rosendo"s arm. Carmen turned about and continued her scoriation:
"Padre Rosendo, if the good, pure G.o.d was willing to use Anita to save me from Padre Diego and bring me back to you, are you so wicked and so ungrateful that you throw His love back in His face? Shame on you, padre! Shame! Shame!"
"_Caramba!_" cried Rosendo, tears bursting from his eyes. "She has fouled my name--it was a good name, though my parents were slaves--it was a good name--and she blackened it--she--"
"Padre Rosendo, there are only two names that have never been blackened! Your human name is nothing--it is zero--it counts for foolishness with G.o.d! You yourself are making your name blacker now than Anita ever did! She repents, and comes to her father; and he is so much more wicked than she that he drives her out!--"
"Enough, Carmen, child!" interrupted Jose. "Come, Rosendo; go into the parish house! Carmen, go with him!"
Carmen hesitated. Then a smile lighted up her face, and she reached up and took Rosendo"s hand. Together they pa.s.sed silently out and into the priest"s house.
Ana sank to the floor, where she buried her face in her hands and wept violently.
"Wait, Ana," said Jose, tenderly stroking the unhappy woman"s hair.
"Wait. They will soon return. And you shall remain here, where you belong."