CHAPTER XIII.THE PEACE OF THE SOUL.
Helen Hinckley raised her beautiful face, shining with a light divine, and said: “It is the fulfillment, your Honor. It is the peace of the soul that ‘passeth all understanding.’”
At that moment the Governor dropped her hands; extinguished the light in the room, opened the door a little wider, and strained his ear to catch the unusual sound that came in from the street below.
Helen Hinckley knew at once the meaning of the sound, and said: “I must not delay longer telling you the object of my call.”
As these two people (whose souls had sought each other through two other lives and failed utterly to find the other, from the simple fact that their material environments were such that their very souls had no power to break through the terrible prison house in which they seemed to be encased, and fly to the arms of its counterpart) stood in the dark doorway, Helen Hinckley told the Governor all that had happened between herself and Marriet Motuble.
It was the dearest moment of his life when he felt her warm breath upon his cheek, while she whispered the story in his ear.
“A strange creature, that Marriet Motuble; a very strange creature,” he whispered in reply.
“She is more daring now than in the other life. She is a woman to be avoided. When one is so constituted that the association with a person harms him, instead of doing him good, the best plan is to keep at a respectable distance, and do the person all the good possible from that distance. But hark! What is that?” she concluded, as she clutched the Governor’s arm in her fright.
They stepped out on the small balcony and both listened breathlessly.
The Governor replied: “It was the report of a gun. Ah, there is another, and another. Hark! the police are after them.”
“The Executive Mansion is well guarded by the soldiers.Ido not believe that they will be able to enter the house. The unguarded moment is the dangerous time, your Honor,” said Helen Hinckley, as she stepped into the room and gently led the Governor with her.
“On the subject of guarding my house,” replied his Honor, “I gave strict orders that no extras should guard me or be placed around my property. It is my duty, as the official head of this great State, to protect the lives and property of private citizens. The officers of the law will do their duty if there be an uprising, which I can hardly believe will take place. I am not a coward. I will not run and leave my people to face the trouble alone.”
“What you have said is quite true, and no one wouldexpect any less from your Honor,” replied Helen Hinckley; “but there is an old law concerning self preservation. Your Honor recalls it, does he not? Yes? Well, then, you may be compelled, in order to carry out the law, to keep out of sight of these fanatics—these would-be revolutionists—until they are taught to remember—until they see the power of the Light Divine.”
“Hist! hist!” both the Governor and Helen Hinckley heard the warning which came through a door that led into the room where they stood, from an adjoining room.
In another instant, the clear, piping voice of the old man who had uttered such revolutionary sentiments at the meeting of these disturbers of peace, called out in hushed tones: “Find him, boys; find him. He’s not in his bed. I thrust daggers all over it. Then I climbed on it and crushed my heels on every part of it; but he was not there. Our brave leaders are behind the bars, boys, and we are handicapped. Now this imposter and enemy of the church must die! Come, boys. Forward, march!”
Helen Hinckley pulled the Governor’s ear close to her mouth, and said: “Your Honor, to stay here means instant death. The physical power of two people against one hundred or more is of no avail. Come; you must leave this room with me through the outside door. You must this moment feel the force of being able to overcome the law of gravitation. Slip your hands under the strap across the back of this small propeller; step on top of the railing on the balcony;trust me; do what I whisper into your ear, and we will escape. You must come, if not foryour ownsake, for mine,” she concluded.
“I will go, my life, for your sake,” said the Governor, his voice full of emotion.
At once Helen Hinckley led him onto the balcony. He stepped with her on top of the railing. He put the cap of his long black dressing gown over his head, and with no support except the arm of Helen Hinckley, which she had quietly slipped through his, he walked out with his companion into space.
The leader of the revolutionary party and his many followers, who were seeking his life, at that moment stepped into the room they had just left. The cool breeze of the early morning rushed in through the open door, feeling which, the old man at once exclaimed: “He has escaped; a door is open, if I am not mistaken. A light will soon settle the question.”
No sooner was the idea given voice, than several of the men present pressed the end of the miniature torches they carried in their pockets, and instantly the room was ablaze with light. With these small torches in hand they rushed to the open door, with the vain hope that they might catch the runaway.
“We are misled,” piped the old man. “No human being could have escaped from this small balcony, without the use of ropes and ladders. And none are here. We are misled! We are misled. Forward—march!” he cried, after military fashion. “We will search every nook and corner of this great mansion, until we find him. We will not be stopped. We are powerful,and will slay every one in our path who objects to the course we are taking.”
The old man was frantic—frantic from the thought that they might fail in taking the life of the Governor.
He stalked into the hall followed by the other marauders, all of whom seemed determined to demolish and otherwise ruin as much of the house furnishings as possible.
After completing the entire circuit of the rooms on that floor, they started toward the wide staircase to descend to the floor below for further search.
At the head of the stairs they suddenly came to a standstill, and all trembled with fright at what they saw.
The brave old man who was only a moment ago so courageously leading his warriors to battle beheld a child in white standing at the head of the stairs, with arms outstretched, and he cried: “Jesus and Mary defend me! This spirit is sent to warn us of death. Oh, oh.” He immediately fell upon his knees and buried his face in his hands. His followers stood still and watched the figure before them in breathless fear.
“I am no spirit,” said the child, Catalina Martinet—for it was she who stood before them—“but I have been one, and in that other life which ended so strangely for me, I knew you, poor old man. How well I remember seeing you in the yard of the cathedral and watching you and a boy pull the rope which rang the bell in the high tower of the cathedral. At the same time you helped to pull the rope, several boys in the tower beat the big, old bell with sticks.”
“Ah, Jesus and Mary, save me! This is a spirit, I am sure,” cried the old man.
“I repeat,” said Catalina, “I am not a spirit now, but I was once. Now I live again, again! Old man, I recall how the very sight of you pulling the old rope made me tremble with fear, if I had committed the slightest deed contrary to the priest’s teachings and had not confessed. You remember, do you not, old man?”
The only reply vouchsafed was a shake of the head and a groan.
“No?” she continued. “Then youshall remember, Señor Antonio Noriega, the time you broke your leg when you were a very, very old man, and you lay in the little dark adobe room back of the cathedral and died for want of attention. Say, Señor Noriega, you need to remember. There needs be an awakening of your soul; now is a good time for the beginning. Arise, sir; leave this house this very moment and cease your evil designs.”
The old man stricken with horror, arose and in a trembling voice, said: “It is the voice of a spirit. I am warned. Oh, that my eyes were open, that I might see!”
“Here, old man,” cried one of the fellows present, “don’t get scared and leave us at this early stage of the game. Remember, we are out for revenge.”
“Come,” said the clear, sweet voice of the child Catalina. “You must leave the Governor’s house this very moment. Arise! Forward-march! Take this bottle, Señor Antonio Noriega, and when you step yourfoot on the public street, drink its contents. Thenremember; you will live again, and you will see things not seen by the eye, and hear things not heard by the ear.”
The old man clutched the bottle tightly in his hand, and started down the steps at a lively pace.
Quietly and without a word the men followed. On reaching the door that led into the vestibule, the entire party were surprised on being commanded to surrender.
Antonio Noriega gave up his arms at the first command; but such was not the case with the others. For a few moments a hard fight was waged between the officers of law and the revolutionary party.
In the confusion and darkness, several offenders of law escaped from the house, but were closely pursued by officers. The others were taken in custody by the soldiers and policemen present, and conveyed to jail.
At the moment the old man stepped from the Governor’s Mansion onto the public street, Catalina Martinet cried: “Señor Antonio Noriega,” and he raised the small bottle to his lips and drained it empty. “Remember, remember.”
Different members of the revolutionary party cursed in an undertone, “Memory Fluid,” all occult science, its devotees, and the administrators of law in general.
As the last man disappeared from view, Catalina Martinet cried: “I will make them all live. I will get many vials, fill them with ‘Memory Fluid,’ and when the sun makes the day very bright, I will take them in a small basket, and go out amongst these people,who are alive, yet do not live, and as I hand a vial to each man who looks vicious, I will say: ‘Drink this and live.’ And when enough men drink the fluid, the war which is going to be will be stopped. Come, Juan, take me upstairs. I am sleepy and I want a bowl of milk.”
Juan had stood close by during the affray, possibly too frightened to move; and now that Catalina spoke to him, he moved forward and cried: “Your Honor, the child is not human. I must leave your service.”
Catalina clutched his arm tightly, and in a fit of childish glee, said: “See, Juan; I am Catalina, a big, healthy child. I was a spirit once, but now I am flesh and blood. Come on, Juan, take me upstairs; then get me a bowl of milk. I am hungry. Come on, Juan; I am not a ghost. I am poor Catalina. I am tired and hungry, Juan. Carry me.” She raised her arms up to him. Without a word he lifted her in his arms, and hurried with her to the little room adjoining the housekeeper’s; which was on her arrival furnished with every article for childish comfort and pleasure that could be found in Chihuahua. Strange to say, the house which only a few moments ago was filled with violators of the law whose intent was murder, was now so still, that a person stepping into the home of the Governor, could hardly imagine that such a state of affairs ever could have existed in such a quiet and magnificently appointed home. Catalina fell asleep in Juan’s arms, and the slumber of the healthy child whose breath fell gently on his cheek, was the one demonstrated fact that she was a child offlesh and blood and very human, notwithstanding she might be a novice in spiritual attainments. He was convinced of the human part, however, and smiled to himself, as he laid her on the bed, at the fright she had given him. Her head had no sooner touched the bed than she opened her eyes, and said: “Juan, bring me a bowl of warm milk, please. I am hungry—hungry—hungry.”
Juan replied, at the same moment turning his head to hide a smile: “Muchacha mia, Juan will bring you a bowl,muy grande, at that,de leche caliente.”
“Stay, Juan,” she cried, as he stepped into the hall. “You are not afraid of me now, are you?”
“No, no, child. You are a very, very lively little girl and no spirit. Of that fact I am fully satisfied. I am going now for the milk. Good-bye, sweet child. Juan is your friend.”
“Juan is a strange old fellow,” said Catalina, as she cuddled down on her little bed. “He was afraid of me because he thought me a spirit. I wish my dear papa was here. I will go and find him as soon as it is very light. If all these people could onlyremember, there never would be a bloody war. I must find Miss Helen Hinckley and Miss Marriet Motuble. She befriended me in the other life and built a very large, nice tomb for me when I died. She was very, very good to me, but she is queer; silly, I think now. I heard papa and Señor Guillermo Gonzales and Julio Murillo say she pretended to die and be buried in the Motuble tomb, where I was placed, and when they went there to see the body, they found in the coffin—onlya waxen figure. I wonder why she pretended to die and didn’t. I wonder if she thought some one would cry—my papa, I suspect—and she would only make believe she was dead, to see who cared or would cry. Papa would cry, I know, if I were dead. I believe I will die and see. I will wait, though, till Juan gets my warm milk; for I am awful hungry. It is thinking about the ugly war and those wicked men who were just here, that made me want my hot milk this early in the morning.” At that moment Juan entered the room, bringing a howl of hot milk and a plate of shredded graham bread, and placed it on a little table by the side of her bed.
She drank part of the milk, and laying her head back on the pillow, said: “Juan, would you cry if I were to die now?”
Juan was startled, and replied: “Now you are going to scare me again. Because youremember, and say you lived here once before, it’s no sign that if you die now and ever live again, that you willremember. You would better hold on as long as you can, now that you are here. You are a little girl, and young; you have no business talking about dying. God did not make you to kill yourself. You drink the rest of the milk before it gets cold, and go to sleep.”
“Juan,” continued Catalina, “if you would be sorry, then how much more sorry my papa and Miss Hinckley would be.”
“I suppose your mamma would be very sorry too; and his Honor would be most distracted if you died so young. He has taken the greatest fancy to you ofanyone since I came into his service; and that was when I was a very young man. You don’t know what a good place you have, little girl, and my advice is to stay close to it while you can,” concluded Juan, with a bob of his head.
“Listen, Juan,” continued the child. “I feel like I must die. I will die at once. Come close to me. Sit in this chair, and you can see how I do it.”
Juan took a seat by her little bed, not because he wanted to, but from the fact that he could not resist her influence.
“I mean, Juan, his Honor, the Governor. He is my papa, you know, and would be very sorry if I were to die. The man and woman into whose family I was born are nothing to me now. I never cared much for them, nor they for me; so no one there will cry. Why, Juan I took them a bottle of ‘Memory Fluid,’ and tried to get them to take it, so they could remember and we all could be happy. I could not be staying with people who only care for this life. Persons who see the thingsonlyseen by theeye.”
“Goodness!” exclaimed Juan, rising. “How can anyone see exceptwiththeir eyes? Child, you are talking about things you know nothing of. Drink your milk and go to sleep. I can’t stay here much longer a-humoring you. I’ve got to attend to Señor Murillo,” concluded Juan, rising.
“Sit down, Juan, sit down,” quietly said Catalina; and Juan obeyed meekly.
“Great One, who lives here and everywhere, who knows all and causes all, speak to me. Advise me.Will I be interfering with my soul, will light be shut out from me; will I be in the way of anyone seeing things not seen by the eyes, if I leave the matter we call a body, and go to you? The people into whose family I was born are harming me, and I, a little girl, am not strong enough in will or in knowledge of law to make them follow me.” Turning to Juan she continued: “I have not been answered yet, Juan, but I feel as if I must go; but I will come back, I will come back, and his Honor, his Honor will be my papa. See, Juan, I am going.”
“Oh, don’t go yet,” cried Juan; “there is the bell. I must answer it.”
Catalina sat up in bed, and as Juan left the room, called: “Don’t be gone a moment, Juan. I want to go away.” Then to herself she continued: “It is not right for me to have been born into a family that do not know me, that do not know the other world, and who do not remember. I cannot be happy. I must live again. Great One above, shall I come?” She leaned her head upon the little pillow encased in a dainty linen slip, and remained perfectly silent. When Juan opened the door a few moments later, and rushed into the room, she sat upright, and before he had time to speak, said: “Juan, I am not going now. I can help his Honor. I can help others. I can give many ‘Memory Fluid’; but before the cruel war ends, I will leave and come again.”
“I am almost out of breath, I hurried so fast to get back before you could die. I got some terrible news. It came from the President, and as his Honor was nothere, Señor Julio Murillo opened the dispatch and translated the ciphers. He believes there will be trouble all over the States. He says he will telephone him personally in a few hours, and on his arrival in Washington if the revolutionists are gaining in number and giving more trouble, the army will be called out, and peace will soon be restored. His Honor is not in the mansion, and everyone but Señor Julio Murillo fears that some harm has befallen him.”
“Oh, no; not everyone,” cried Catalina. “I am not afraid he is harmed. He is with Helen Hinckley and safe. She loves him. Señor Julio knows where they are, but I do not; but I can find them. Go on, Juan. I am going to sleep; the warm milk is taking effect. I will sleep, but not die for some time to come; not until I feel that I have done all possible good. Then I will go and come back again, and then you will know me; you will not be dead, but you willremember. Go on, Juan; I am going to sleep. Tell his Honor, if you should see him before I do, not to be alarmed, if he does not see me for a few days. I will be very busy while the struggle lasts; at least, while it lasts in Chihuahua. Many are needed to spread ‘Memory Fluid.’ It will have more effect in spreading truth abroad and quelling the war at hand, than millions of guns. I am needed to keep my eye upon several whom his Honor will pass by, now that the lives of his people are in danger. I will be a detective, Juan, and because I am a child no one will mind me being around. There is ‘The Plunger from Kansas,’ Mrs. Grange, and Marriet Motuble, who need the eye of thelaw upon them, but on account of the trouble caused by Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir, Father Hernandez and Rev. J. T. Note, they will be forgotten. It is my duty to see to them, and I will perform my duty well. Go on, Juan; I am very sleepy.”
The little fair head again fell back against the pillows, and in the few moments Juan stood by silently watching, she fell into a sound slumber.
“She is flesh and blood,” he soliloquized, standing quietly by her bedside looking upon her plump, childish face. “Yes, she is flesh and blood; but she has a great spirit in her. She is unlike other children. I am afraid of her, yet I know she is only a child. She is a prophet. I will take ‘Memory Fluid,’ then I can see things not seen by the eyes. Ah, there is the bell again, again, again; something out of the usual is happening.” Juan quietly and quickly left the room. In the hall he met Julio Murillo, walking faster than he had ever known him to walk before. On seeing Juan he cried:
“I leave orders not to admit anyone to the house to-day. Under no circumstances will this order be countermanded. I will leave by a private entrance. No one will see me go nor return. Señor Guillermo Gonzales alone will occupy the Governor’s private study until my return. Under no circumstances intrude on him. He must not be worried about me, nor by anyone asking questions; and it is your business to keep quiet, and guard the house well, and his Honor’s interests in general, until I return.”
Juan replied: “Trust me, señor. I have never yetbetrayed his Honor or his interests. The hour is very early; you have not had your morning meal. His Honor would not forgive me if a guest left his home, even if the hour be four, without his customary meal. Recline here, señor, and in a very few minutes I will return with a lunch just fitted to this early hour.”
“Your advice is good, Juan. I will accept your hospitality. But be quick; every moment counts now. I have located the three men who were last night confined in jail, on a charge of treason, and who escaped less than an hour ago. While I had no trouble in locating them, there will be much difficulty in getting them again behind the prison bars. You are right, Juan; I will need my morning meal before attempting their arrest. Bring me a bowl of hot milk, a plate of buttered toast, and two soft-boiled eggs, and bring it quickly, Juan. The revolution is inevitable, and we must face it like men and stop it; if possible, without bloodshed. Yes, I will wait, Juan, just fifteen minutes.”
As Juan passed from the presence of Señor Julio Murillo, he gave a sharp, low whistle, his only means to express the great surprise he had just received.
“Well, this is a nice state of things. The Governor spirited away, the prisoners escaped, Catalina on the eve of dying, ‘The Plunger from Kansas’ gone again, a woman arising from the dead, and a war on hand, all at the same time. Yes, a strange world. I don’t believe I will know as much as I do now, if I do not stop thinking so much about all of these strange things. I don’t believe I will take ‘Memory Fluid.’ I will haveno time then to do anything but remember everything that happened when I lived before. I really wonder if I have lived before, or more than once. How funny it would be to remember four or five different lives. As soon as I get Señor Julio Murillo’s breakfast to him, and he is well out of the house, I will experiment with ‘Memory Fluid.’ I will be a subject. Oh, I wonder who I was when I lived before? Ha! ha! ha! ha! Wouldn’t it be a great joke if I was in my first life a president? Maybe I was George Washington, or the Mexican President, Santa Ana. Yes, that is a great joke. I have my own curiosity up, and will drink a gallon of that ‘Memory Fluid,’ if it will make me remember.”
Juan strode on toward the kitchen hurriedly, to give the order for Señor Julio Murillo’s breakfast, and then sat down on a stool and deeply meditated, upon the subject of “Memory Fluid.”