through the town that many
lights had been seen in the cemetery on the previous night. The leader
of the Venerable Tertiary Order spoke of lighted candles, of their
shape and size, and, although he could not fix the exact number, had
counted more than twenty. Sister Sipa, of the Brotherhood of the Holy
Rosary, could not bear the thought that a member of a rival order
should alone boast of having seen this divine marvel, so she, even
though she did not live near the place, had heard cries and groans,
and even thought she recognized by their voices certain persons with
whom she, in other times,--but out of Christian charity she not only
forgave them but prayed for them and would keep their names secret,
for all of which she was declared on the spot to be a saint. Sister
Rufa was not so keen of hearing, but she could not suffer that Sister
Sipa had heard so much and she nothing, so she related a dream in
which there had appeared before her many souls--not only of the
dead but even of the living--souls in torment who begged for a part
of those indulgences of hers which were so carefully recorded and
treasured. She could furnish names to the families interested and
only asked for a few alms to succor the Pope in his needs. A little
fellow, a herder, who dared to assert that he had seen nothing more
than one light and two men in salakots had difficulty in escaping
with mere slaps and scoldings. Vainly he swore to it; there were his
carabaos with him and could verify his statement. "Do you pretend
to know more than the Warden and the Sisters, _paracmason_, [138]
heretic?" he was asked amid angry looks. The curate went up into the
pulpit and preached about purgatory so fervently that the pesos again
flowed forth from their hiding-places to pay for masses.

But let us leave the suffering souls and listen to the conversation
between Don Filipo and old Tasio in the lonely home of the latter. The
Sage, or Lunatic, was sick, having been for days unable to leave his
bed, prostrated by a malady that was rapidly growing worse.

"Really, I don't know whether to congratulate you or not that your
resignation has been accepted. Formerly, when the gobernadorcillo so
shamelessly disregarded the will of the majority, it was right for
you to tender it, but now that you are engaged in a contest with the
Civil Guard it's not quite proper. In time of war you ought to remain
at your post."

"Yes, but not when the general sells himself," answer