THE STONEMASON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 28, 10 November 1893, Page 23

THE STONEMASON.

(From ths Spanish of Fksnan Caballebo.) (Concluded.)

" It it possible that yoa are in yoar glory listening to such childish nonsense V asked the old Oonde, as he watched the Marqaesa with a •mile on her lips and hei eyes full of interest. Ido not deny it," she answered. ; M I love children." " Yoa do not agree with your friend Lara, who looks on Herod as a most opportune man, and the belt commissary of police that ever existed," replied the old Oonde, laughing. M Even in joke, it disgusts me to bear such sayings. Good God I bow sad and gloomy this world would be without children — like the heavenß without stars. Do you know, I think the horrors of the end of tbe world will be consummated by tbe sterility of the women — and children failing will be one awful presage of the end ?" " If your idea is correct," said the Oonde, laughing, •' we at present have no fear of it. " Thanks be to Qod," said the Marquesa, • Father, father I" cried out all the children in chorus, jumping up to meet a tall man of good presence who came in, followed by a lad of thirteen, II Father, I knew my A I" " Father, my hem is so neat I" " Father, baby opened his mouth and I pat in my finger, and he bit me 1" "That was to convince thee that be had teeth," said tbe father ; and turning to his wife, added, " Maria, Nichols has worked so well that the master has raised his wages one real." " Thanks be to God I ' answered his wife. " Well, then, let us go and dine." "To dinner 1" shouted all the children, and in a moment the table was arranged and a large dish containing an excellent Olla of cabbages and carne fresco,, or pork, was placed on it. "Do you know," said her old friend to tbe Marquesa " that thi g Olla, with its morsel of pork, is so well mixed that, seeing tbe appetites enjoyed by this good family makes me wish to be iuvited to share it." "And above all," said the Marquesa, " it does not give you a headache like the strong smell of this jessamine arbor. Ie seems to me I have convinced you. Have you ever seen, or cjuld you draw a picture of more complete happiDesß ? Look at these faces s > full of health, peace, and joy I Can you ask more of earthy felicity V 11 Look yonder," said the Conde, pointing with his ring r to the other side of the garden. The Marquesa looked, and under a shed, where tie wush-tabs were placed, stood a young girl washing. Watching with attention, the Marquesa saw that from time to time a tear fell lrom her eyes on to the light and shining soap suds. " Show me," said the Oonde, '• one picture of human life that has not a corner for ttars." '• Misita," (short for Mercedes) " my daughter, you do not comr,' cried the mother, her face even more animated and contented th.n before. " This morning 1 carried the senora's linen home ; tbe bailiff had just come from the farm bringing in two pails of milk, ' Take one home,' said the senora, ' and some rice and sugar, and make a feast for your children.' So give thanks to God, my children, and pray (or the senora.' 1 " May Gjd repay her I may God repay her I" exclaimed tbe whole family with one voice. " This chorus is sweeter to yoar ears then all tbe melodies of Bosaini, Verdi, or Meyerbeer 1" said the Conde, with emotion, to tbe Marquesa, who rejoined — "As all that belongs to Qol mast be I I well remembu 1 how, in my childhood, my mother was wont to impress on mo 'he infiuite value, and extreme sweetness of e>—Dios ot lo pague\ (May God repay you I) I understood it then, and each day I understand it better, This is the treasure that the rich are bound to lay up for thsmstlves in order that at they last judgment tbe may have an eqm-

valent to the sufferings that form the possessions of the poor. Bat for this we should come off badly in the just scales of merit. When all the chitdrens voices were silenced as they ate of the rice milk, the mother said to her eldest daughter— "Yon do not eat meat, my child ; yon are p»le aod yoar eyes are swollen with crying. You are fretting yourself to death, and I shall do the same if you leave me. What can be done f God has so willed it, you must submit. Santiago has drawn a soldier's lot, and who can help him?" " He who coald give three thousand reaUit for a substitute, and Santiago knows one, a soldier, who wants to re-enlist," said Misita with a bursting heart. "Three thousand reales? Look yoa that if as if nothing can be done," said the father, " never in my life have I seen so much money at once. The px»r cannot even think of substitutes, little one." "Do not cry, child of my soul, my poor little one," nid her mother. "You break my heart. Santiago is a good fellow, more noble than gold, bat as he has drawn his lo\ what more can be done f Conformity, conformity, my daughter, it is the virtue of the poor. If I coald find the thre9 thousand realet, I would give them to yoa with a thousand loves, and as I can do no more, take these fire reaiM for the lottery, and if you win yoa can buy off Santiago." " And she haa won 1" cried the Marquesa, stepping oat from her fragrant hiding place. " MMta, I will pay the substitute for yoar lover, I will find him work, and I propose to be godmother of yoar happy betrothal." It is easier to imagine than to paint the astonishment, the joy the rapture caused by the apparition of the Marqaesa, and her words ; they were shown in the expressive and noisy manner of Andalnuani. Miaita alone, silent aod motionless, gave no expression to her delight and gratitude except by her looks, which followed her benefaekreu until she was out of sight. " Misita will not cry any more," said one little sister to Alonso, " as she will be married now." '< And what is it to marry that all the folks like it to much } " asked Alonso. " Big fool I to marry is to go to church, and then eat and drink ever so much," " Viva! Viva! that is why they like it," exclaimed Alonio, throwing two coppers into the air. " Are you convinced ? " asked the Marqaesa of the Conde as they walked away, " Partly," answered he ; " it may pass for complete happiness — but ifs durability ? " " It appears to you that what we have seen cannot last T " " I think as b fore, that all is transitory in this life, and happiness above all." "Very well, incorrigible pessimist, we will defer the settling of our wager for one year ; but if at the en 1 of a year their ha ppiness continues, you will own yourself vanquished ? " " I will own myself vanquished with as much pleasure as yoa will proclaim yourself victorious." During the following year ths two friends, who appeared to personify in themselves illusion and experience, did not forget their wager ; indeed, every time that the Marquesa saw the young Mercedes after her marriage, and noticed her joyful appearance, she attacked the old Conde afresh, bat he never lowered his black flag. At the end of the ye.r they availed themselves of the same shelter that had answered so w^U before, to taka another psep into the home life of this respectable and happy family. This time tbey arrived late. Tae father and his eldest son, who were stonemason?, were returning to toeir work. Alonso who now not only knew bis A, but its neighbour B, and many others, ran off to school with a whipping-top. The little Aniquilla was making faces as her eider sister dragged her along by tbe hand to the dame scbocl, where ub yet she only went to learn to sit still ; and Maria was starting on a message, holding Pichorro by bis petticoats as he tried to walk alone. Santiago remained behind with his wife, who held in her arms a newly-born baby. " See how be laughp," said Misita to her husband, touching the baby's cbin with her finger, as mothers are wont to make them laugh. ll He seems as if he were six months old," said the father looking at his child. ' Con Dios, Misita." '' What ! go.ng already ? " " And what elte can 1 do ? " " Come home quickly," •' Be sure I will." "Then a Dios:' " A Dios:' Santiago, who was a'so a stonemason, took up his hat, and, looking back, as he w a ked away, at his wife aod baby hurried to rejoin her father. Mercedes began lo ciress her child with passionate love. " May Qod bless tbee chili of my heart, glory of thy mother, angel of Qod, light of tbe morning I I would not change tbee for the

Prince of the Astarias and I would not ohange my lot with the Queen of Spain I " 44 Ton have lost yonr bet I " said the Marquesa, joyously clapping he? hands. Mercedes, the senor laid a wager with me that we could not find complete and lasting happlnesi in this world- You have gained me the wager aad I thank you for it." •• The senor did not bear in mind," answsred tho happy Mercedes whose heart overflowed with content and gratitude, " that there are families so fortunate as to have in this world an angel who takes charge of their happiness." " It is true, I did not bear this in mind," answered the Conde, "and it is just that I pay the penalty by losing my wager ; but in honour of the truth you will allow, Marqaesa, that this is an exceptional case, and tbatyow are the fortuno of this family." "Do not say so— do not say so," exclaimed the Marquess, laying her fan on her old friend's Hps, "you friehten me. lam only a weak instrument that Providence makes use of for Its high and adorable ends. What can poor human strength do against the order of things disposed from above for this world ? " They started to go away, when a distant noise w >s heard, which came nearer and louder, and they were stopped »t the door by a crowd of people who collected round it. Two men were carrying a hand ladder, and on it the mangled corpse of B»ntiago. The nn. happy man had fallen from a height of a hundred feet I The purport of this narrative, the consequences that spring from it, need not be enlarged upon. It is narrated without comment. We only say with Gerbert, life is a sad mystery whose secret can only be explained by faith, which teaihes us that it is Cosa cumplida tola en la otra vida—" Completed only in the other life."