iling.

"'Tis a bit faded," said the old man, holding it nearer.
"Fra--An--tonio! Was it thou?"

"Even so, sir. I married the mother, as I buried her yester eve upon the
sand."

"'Tis a fact established," said the Viceroy, satisfied at last. "Don
Francisco de Guzman, Alvarado that was, thy birth and legitimacy are
clear and undoubted. There by your side stands the woman you have loved.
If you wish her now I shall be honored to call you my son."

"My lord," answered Alvarado, "that I am the son of an honorable
gentleman were joy enough, but when thou givest me Donna Mercedes----"

He turned, and with a low cry the girl fled to his arms. He drew her
close to him and laid his hand upon her head, and then he kissed her
before the assembled cavaliers, who broke into enthusiastic shouts and
cries of happy approbation.

"There's more evidence yet," cried the priest, thrusting his hand into
the bosom of his habit and drawing forth a glittering object. "Sir, I
took this from the body of Sister Maria Christina, for upon my advice
she entered upon the service of the Holy Church after her bereavement,
keeping her secret, for there was naught to be gained by its
publication. That Church she served long and well. Many sufferers there
be to whom she ministered who will rise up and call her blessed. She
killed herself upon the sands rather than give aid and comfort to this
man and his men, or submit herself to the evil desires of his band.
Sirs, I have lived long and suffered much, and done some little service
for Christ, His Church, and His children, but I take more comfort from
the absolution that I gave her when she cried for mercy against the sin
of self-slaughter than for any other act in my career. Here, young sir,"
said the priest, opening the locket, "are the pictures of your father
and mother. See, cavaliers, some of you knew Don Francisco de Guzman and
can recognize him. That is his wife. She was young and had golden hair
like thine, my son, in those days. You are the express image of her
person as I recall it."

"My father! My mother!" cried Alvarado. "Look, Mercedes, look your
Excellency, and gentlemen, all! But her body, worthy father?"

"Even as her soul hath gone out into the new life beyond, her body was
drawn out into the great deep at the call of God--but not unblessed,
senors, even as she went not unshriven, for I knelt alone by her side,
unable by my wounds and weakness to do more service, and said the offi