in heaven
some day." He started his orisons again, and soon was praying like a
locomotive: "_Ora pro nobis! Santa Maria, ora pro nobis!_"

He stopped and sighed gently. Rosendo stood stupidly before him.

"Rosendo--I must say this before I die--I came to Simiti to see you. I
was approaching the boat to hold converse with you. But, you struck
me--there, _que importa_! And yet--it was about the gentle Ana, your
beautiful daughter--But, wait, Rosendo--God above! hear me through--"

Rosendo had started again toward him.

"Good friend, hear me first, then kill me quickly, for I much desire
to go to my home above!" Diego spoke rapidly. The impression must be
made upon Rosendo at once, or all was lost. The wily priest knew the
_peon_ mind.

"_Bien_, good friend, you have misunderstood me. But I forgive you.
I--Rosendo--I--you will keep my secret, will you not? Bien, I have
left the Church. I am no longer a priest. It was for good reasons that
God took me from the priesthood for other work in His field. _Bien_,
the bonds of celibacy removed, behold! my first thought is for my
beautiful Ana. I came to ask you for her hand. I would render
legitimate her unborn child. I would return to her the peace which she
lost when we became so deeply enamored of each other. Rosendo, I have
come to Simiti to lay my life before you--to yield it to the mother of
my child--to offer it in future service as a recompense for the
unhappiness which, the Virgin knows, I did not willingly bring upon
her, or you!"

Rosendo's head was now in a whirl. His eyes protruded, and his mouth
was agape. "But--the little Carmen--" he muttered.

"Alas! friend," said Diego sadly, shaking his head, while he quickly
grasped the cue, "I have ceased my endeavors to make you believe that
she is my child. _Caramba!_ I can only leave it to the blessed Virgin
to restore her to me when we have both passed the portals of death."

"You still claim to be her father? You--!"

"_Caro amigo_," returned Diego gently, "in these last moments I see in
her the beautiful image of her blessed mother, who was taken from me
long before I met and loved your Ana. But I despair of enforcing my
claim. I await now the reunion which death alone can effect. And so,
friend, be quick! But do not make me suffer. Drown me not, I pray you,
but rather open an artery and let me fall gently asleep here beneath
this noble tree."

A light came into Rosendo's troubled eyes. A cunning smile lurked