ng formulated died
within him; the final card which he would have thrown lay crushed in
his hand. He rose and came and stood before her.

"The people believe you a child of the ancient Incas," he said slowly,
taking her hand. "What if I should say that I know better?"

"I would say that you were right, Monsignor," she replied gently,
looking up into his face with a sweet smile.

"Then you admit the identity of your father?"

"Yes, Monsignor."

"Ah! And that is--?"

"God."

The man bent for a moment over the little white hand, and then
immediately left the house.

CHAPTER 18

Monsignor Lafelle in his interview with Carmen had thrown out a hint
of certain rumors regarding her; but the days passed, and the girl
awoke not to their significance. Then, one morning, her attention was
attracted by a newspaper report of the farewell address of a young
priest about to leave his flock. When she opened the paper and caught
sight of the news item she gave a little cry, and immediately forgot
all else in her absorption in the closing words:

"--and I have known no other ambition since the day that little
waif from a distant land strayed into my life, lighting the dead
lamp of my faith with the torch of her own flaming spirituality.
She said she had a message for the people up here. Would to God
she might know that her message had borne fruit!"

The newspaper slipped from the girl's hands to the floor. Her eyes,
big and shining, stared straight before her. "And I will lead the
blind by a way that they know not--" she murmured.

The telephone rang. It was Miss Wall, ready now for the postponed
ride. Carmen clapped her hands and sang for joy as she summoned the
car and made her preparations. "We'll go over to his church," she said
aloud. "We'll find him!" She hurried back to the newspaper to get the
address of the church from which he had spoken the preceding day.
"They will know where he is," she said happily. "Oh, isn't it just
wonderful!"

A few minutes later, with Miss Wall at her side, she was speeding to
the distant suburb where the little church was located.

"We are going to find a priest," she said simply. "Oh, you mustn't ask
me any questions! Mrs. Hawley-Crowles doesn't like to have me talk
about certain things, and so I can't tell you."

Miss Wall glanced at her in wonder. But the happy, smiling countenance
disarmed suspicion.

"Now tell me," Carmen went on, "tell me about yourself. I'm