Carmen Ariza Part 30

But what is righteousness? Ethical conduct? a.s.suredly something vastly more profound, for even that "misses the mark." No, righteousness was right conduct until the marvelous Jesus appeared. But he swept it at once from the material into the mental; from the outward into the inward; and defined it as _right-thinking_!

"Righteousness!" murmured Jose, sitting with head buried in his hands.

"Aye, the whole scheme of salvation is held in that one word! And the wreck of my life has been caused by my blind ignorance of its tremendous meaning! For righteousness is salvation. But Carmen, wise little soul, divined it instinctively; for, if there is one thing that is patent, it is that if a thing is evil it does not exist for her.

Righteousness! Of course it means _thinking no evil_! Jesus lived his thorough understanding of it. And so does Carmen. And so would the world, but for the withering influence of priestly authority!"

At that moment Carmen reappeared to summon him to lunch.

"Come here, little girl," said Jose, drawing her to him. "You asked me to tell you about Jesus. He was the greatest and best man that ever lived. And it was because he never had a bad thought."

"Did he know that G.o.d was everywhere?" The little face turned lovingly up to his.

"He did, sweet child. And so do I--now; for I have found Him even in desolate Simiti."

CHAPTER 7

Carmen's studies began in earnest that afternoon. In the quiet of his humble cottage Jose, now "a prisoner of the Lord," opened the door of his mental storehouse and carefully selected those first bits of knowledge for the foundation stones on which to rear for her, little by little, a broad education.

He found her a facile learner; her thorough ease in the rudiments of arithmetic and in the handling of her own language delighted him.

His plan of tutelage, although the result of long contemplation, and involving many radical ideas regarding the training of children, ideas which had been slowly developing in his mind for years, he nevertheless felt in her case to be tentative. For he was dealing with no ordinary child; and so the usual methods of instruction were here wholly out of the question.

But on several points he was already firmly resolved. First, he would get well below the surface of this child's mind, and he would endeavor to train her to live in a depth of thought far, far beneath the froth and superficiality of the every-day thinking of mankind. Fortunately, she had had no previous bad training to be counteracted now. Nature had been her only tutor; and Rosendo's canny wisdom had kept out all human interference. Her a.s.sociates in Simiti were few. Her unusual and mature thought had set up an intellectual barrier between herself and the playmates she might have had. Fortunately, too, Jose had now to deal with a child who all her life had thought vigorously--and, he was forced to conclude, correctly. Habits of accurate observation and quick and correct interpretation would not be difficult to form in such a mind. Moreover, to this end he would aim to maintain her interest at the point of intensity in every subject undertaken; yet without forcing, and without sacrifice of the joys of childhood. He would be, not teacher only, but fellow-student. He would strive to learn with her to conceive the ideal without losing sight of the fact that it was a human world in which they dwelt. When she wished to play, he would play with her. But he would contrive and direct their amus.e.m.e.nts so as to carry instruction, to elucidate and exemplify it, to point morals, and steadily to contribute to her store of knowledge.

His plan was ideal, he knew. But he could not know then that Nature--if we may thus call it--had antic.i.p.ated him, and that the child, long since started upon the quest for truth, would quickly outstrip him in the matter of conceiving the ideal and living in this world of relative fact with an eye single to the truth which s.h.i.+nes so dimly through it.

Jose knew, as he studied Carmen and planned her training, that whatever instruction he offered her must be without taint of evil, so far as he might prevent. And yet, the thought of any attempt to withhold from her a knowledge of evil brought a sardonic smile to his lips. She had as yet everything to learn of the world about her. Could such learning be imparted to her free from error or hypothesis, and apart from the fiat of the speculative human mind? It must be; for he knew from experience that she would accept his teaching only as he presented every apparent fact, every object, every event, as a reflection in some degree of her immanent G.o.d, and subject to rigid demonstration. Where historical events externalized only the evil motives of the carnal mind, he must contrive to omit them entirely, or else present them as unreality, the result of "bad thoughts" and forgetfulness of G.o.d. In other words, only as he a.s.sumed to be the channel through which G.o.d spoke to her could he hope for success. To impart to her a knowledge of both good and evil was, at least at present, impossible. To force it upon her later would be criminal.

Moreover, _why not try the audacious experiment of permitting and aiding this child to grow up without a knowledge of evil_?--that is, in her present conviction that only good is real, potent and permanent, while evil is impotent illusion and to be met and overcome on that basis. Would the resultant training make of her a tower of strength--or would it render her incapable of resisting the onslaughts of evil when at length she faced the world? His own heart sanctioned the plan; and--well, the final judgment should be left to Carmen herself.

The work proceeded joyously. At times Cuc.u.mbra interrupted by bounding in, as if impatient of the attention his little mistress was giving her tutor. Frequently the inquisitive Cantar-las-horas stalked through the room, displaying a most dignified and laudable interest in the proceedings. Late in the afternoon, when the sun was low, Bosendo appeared at the door. As he stood listening to Jose's narrative of men and places in the outside world, his eyes bulged. At length his untutored mind became strained to its elastic limit.

"Is that true, Padre?" he could not refrain from interrupting, when Jose had spoken of the fast trains of England. "Why, the Simiti trail to Tachi is one hundred and fifty miles long; and it always took me six days to walk it. And do you say there are trains that travel that distance in as many hours?"

"There are trains, Rosendo, that traverse the distance in three hours."

"_Na_, Padre, it can't be done!" cried the incredulous Rosendo, shaking his head.

"Leave us, unbeliever!" laughed Jose, motioning him away. "I have more pliable material here to handle than you."

But Rosendo remained; and it was evident to the priest that he had come on an errand of importance. Moreover, the supper hour was at hand, and perhaps Dona Maria needed Carmen's help. So, dismissing the child, Jose turned to Rosendo.

"You were right," he began, as if taking up the thread of a broken discourse. "Carmen _was_ left on the river bank by the angels."

"Then you do think it was a miracle!" said Rosendo in a voice of awe, as he sank into a chair.

The priest smiled. "Everything is a miracle, friend; for a miracle is simply a sign of G.o.d's presence. And finding Carmen in this musty, forgotten place is one of the greatest. For where she is, He is."

"Yes, Padre, that is true," a.s.sented Rosendo gravely.

"I was led here," continued Jose; "I see it now. Rosendo, all my life I have regarded evil as just as real and powerful as good. And my life has been one of bitterness and woe. Carmen sees only the good G.o.d everywhere. And she dwells in heaven. What is the logical inference?

Simply that my mental att.i.tude has been all wrong, my views erroneous, my thinking bad. I have tried to know both good and evil, to eat of the forbidden tree. And for so doing I was banished from paradise. Do you understand me?"

"Why--well, no, Padre--that is, I--" The honest fellow was becoming confused.

"Well, just this, then," explained the priest with animation. "I haven't gotten anywhere in life, and neither have you, because we have limited ourselves and crippled our efforts by yielding to fear, pride, ignorance, and the belief in evil as a real power opposed to good."

"I have often wondered myself, Padre, how there could be a devil if G.o.d is almighty. For in that case He would have had to make the devil, wouldn't He?"

"Just so!" cried Jose enthusiastically. "And as He did make everything, then either He made the devil, or else there isn't any."

"But that is pretty hard to see, Padre," replied the puzzled Rosendo.

"Something makes us do wicked things."

"Simply the belief that there is a power apart from G.o.d."

"But doesn't that belief come from the devil?"

"Surely--the devil of imagination! Listen, Rosendo: Carmen is daily putting into practice her instinctive knowledge of a mighty fact. She will reveal it all to us in due time. Let us patiently watch her, and try to see and understand and believe as she does. But in the meantime, let us guard our minds as we would a treasure house, and strive never to let a thought of evil get inside! My past life should serve as a perpetual warning."

Rosendo did not reply at once, but sat staring vacantly at the ground.

Jose knew that his thoughts were with his wayward daughter. Then, as if suddenly remembering the object of his call, he took from his wallet two letters, which he handed to Jose with the comment: "Juan brought them up from Bodega Central this morning."

Jose took them with quickening pulse. One was from Spain, from his uncle. He devoured it eagerly. It was six weeks old when it arrived in Simiti, and had been written before the news of his removal from Cartagena had reached Seville. His mother was well; and her hopes for her son's preferment were steadily reviving, after the cruel blow which his disgrace in Rome had given them. For his uncle's part, he hoped that Jose had now seen the futility of opposition to Holy Church, and that, yielding humbly to her gentle chastis.e.m.e.nt for the great injury he had inflicted upon her, he would now make amends and merit the favors which she was sure to bestow upon him in due season.

To this end the uncle would bring to bear his own influence and that of His Eminence, the Archbishop of Seville. The letter closed with an invocation to the Saints and the ever-blessed Virgin.

Jose opened the second letter. It was nominally from the Bishop of Cartagena, although written, he well knew, by Wenceslas. His Reverence regretted that Jose had not come to him again before leaving Cartagena. He deplored exceedingly the necessity of a.s.signing him to so lowly a parish; but it was discipline. His tenure of the parish would be a matter of probation. a.s.suming a penitent desire on the part of the priest to make reparation for past indiscretions, His Grace extended a.s.surances of his support and tender consideration. And, regarding him still as a faithful son, he was setting forth herewith certain instructions which Jose would zealously carry out, to the glory of the sacred Mother Church and the blessed Virgin, and to his own edification, to wit: In the matter of the confessional he must be unremittingly zealous, not failing to put such questions to the people of Simiti as would draw out their most secret thoughts. In the present crisis it was especially necessary to learn their political views.

Likewise, he must not fail to impress upon them the sin of concealing wealth, and of withholding contributions to the support of the glorious Mother. He, as priest of the parish, would be held personally responsible for the collection of an adequate "Peter's Pence," which must be sent to Cartagena at frequent intervals for subsequent s.h.i.+pment to Rome. For all contributions he was to allow liberal plenary indulgences. In the matter of inciting zeal for the salvation of those unfortunate souls lingering in the torments of purgatory, Jose must be unflagging. Each family in the parish should be constantly admonished and threatened, if necessary, to have Ma.s.ses said for their deceased members; and he must forward the proceeds from such Ma.s.ses at once to Cartagena. No less important, he must keep constantly before him the great fact that the hope of the blessed Mother lay in her young. To this end he must see that all children in his parish were in due time confirmed, and every effort made to have the females sent to the convent of Mompox. To encourage his paris.h.i.+oners, he might a.s.sure them of His Reverence's tender regard for them as his beloved children, and that he had certain special favors to grant to them in due time. Also, that a statue of the Virgin, which had arrived from Rome, and which carried the most potent blessing of the Holy Father, was to be bestowed upon that church in the diocese which within the next twelve months should contribute the largest amount of Peter's Pence in proportion to population. This plan should be especially attractive to the people of Simiti, as the town lay on the confines of a district renowned in the ancient annals for its mineral wealth. Herein, too, lay a great opportunity for the priest; and His Reverence rejoiced in the certain knowledge that he would embrace it. Invoking the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Ever-Blessed Virgin and Saint Joseph, His Grace awaited with interest the priest's first report from the parish of Simiti.

The letter fell like a wet blanket upon Jose, chilling him to the marrow, for it revived with cruel poignancy the fact that he was still a servant of Rome. In the past few happy days he had dwelt apart from the world in the consciousness of a new heaven and a new earth, revealed by Carmen. This sudden call to duty was like a summons from Mephistopheles to the fulfillment of a forgotten pact.

He carefully read the letter again. Beneath the specious kindliness of Wenceslas lay sinister motives, he knew. Among them, greed, of course.

But--a darker thought--did Wenceslas know of Carmen's existence? Could Cartagena have received any intimation of his plans for her? Refusal to comply with these instructions meant--he dared not think what! On the other hand, strict compliance with them certainly was out of the question.

As for Peter's Pence, what could the impoverished folk of this decrepit town furnis.h.!.+ And yet, if a reasonable sum could only be contributed at frequent intervals, would not the vampire Wenceslas rest content, at least for a while? Oh, for a fortune of his own, that he might dump it all into the yawning maw of Holy Church, and thus gain a few years' respite for himself and Carmen!

"Bad news, Padre?" Rosendo inquired, anxiously regarding the priest's strained features.

What could the man do or say, limited, hounded, and without resources?

Could he force these simple people to buy Ma.s.ses? Could he take their money on a pretext which he felt to be utterly false? Yet Cartagena _must_ be kept quiet at any hazard!

"Rosendo," he asked earnestly, "when you had a priest in Simiti, did the people have Ma.s.ses offered for their dead?"

"_Na_, Padre, we have little money for Ma.s.ses," replied Rosendo sadly.

"But you have bought them?"

"At times--long ago--for my first wife, when she died without a priest, up in the Tigui country. But not when Padre Diego was here. I couldn't see how Ma.s.ses said by that drunken priest could please G.o.d, or make Him release souls from purgatory--and Padre Diego was drunk most of the time."