caught Luis Garcia's hand and covered it with kisses.

"Oh! thank you, Luis' father! God bless you, God take care of you!"

"Oh! the divine pity of childhood," murmured Ninian, huskily. "She
forgets that it was he who wronged her in the fact that he has now set
her right."

The sick man's face brightened, nor did he withdraw his hand.

"_You forgive me?_"

"Yes, yes."

"The little Luis. The son I never saw. What shall you tell him of his
father?"

"That he was good to me, and that he suffered."

"More. Tell the boy this: I never knew he lived. I should have known, I
should have searched. I did not. Ask him, too, to forgive me. And because
of me, turn him not away."

The nurse motioned all the others to go out, and they went, Ninian
Sharp himself standing guard over the dress-suit case the attendant
had relocked until it was once more safely deposited in the strong box
of the hospital, where even Antonio's greedy eyes could see it no longer.

But Jessica knelt on, awed and silent, yet now quite unafraid. And Luis
Garcia still clasped her hand and fixed his fading gaze upon her pitying
face.

"The mother--Ysandra. Where lies she now? Little one, do you know that?"

"Do I not? In the consecrated ground of the old mission itself. With
all the good dead priests sleeping about her. Rose vines cover her grave
and my own mother tends them herself. Little Luis is made to water it,
sometimes, though, for that is a good way to keep her memory green, my
mother says. Near by is where my father rests. Would--would you wish to
sleep there, too, beside them both, and where Luis could bring flowers
to you as to her?"

"I may? You--are--willing? Would--your mother--so kind--little Luis----"

"My mother pities and helps all who suffer. You suffer, poor man, and
I wish that she were here to tell you 'yes' herself."

But he had closed his eyes and she could not know if he had heard her,
though she was glad to see that the look of pain had almost left his
features. She did not speak again but sat quite still until, at last,
her hand grew numb and she turned toward the nurse, whispering:

"Can I move it? Will it disturb him? He seems to be asleep."

The nurse bent over her patient, then gently answered:

"Yes, darling. Your task is over. Nothing will ever trouble him again.
He is at peace--_asleep_."

CHAPTER XIX

ANTONIO'S MESSAGE

Jessica went back to Ephraim's room, to tell him this wonderful ending
of t