XXXIX. MARIA CLARA IS MARRIED.

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CHAPTER XXXIX

MARIA CLARA IS MARRIED.

Captain Tiago was very happy. During all this terrible time nobody

had busied himself with him. They had not arrested him, nor had they

submitted him to excommunications, court trials, electrical machines,

continual hot foot baths in subterranean places, or to any of the

other punishments which are well known to certain people who call

themselves civilized. He had returned to his Manila house. Those who

had been the Captain's friends--for he had renounced all his Filipino

friends from the moment that they were suspected by the Government--had

also returned to their homes after some days of vacation spent in

the Government buildings. The Governor General had himself ordered

these people to leave their possessions, for he had not thought it

fitting that they should remain in them during the great danger.

Captain Tiago was overflowing with gratitude, but he did not know

exactly to whom he was indebted for such signal favors. Aunt Isabel

attributed the miracle to the Virgin of Antipolo, to the Virgin of the

Rosary, or at least to the Virgin of Carmen. The least that she would

concede was that it was due to Our Lady of Corea. According to the

Aunt, the miracle was certainly due to one of these Virgins. Captain

Tiago did not deny that it was a miracle, but he added:

"I do not believe, Isabel, that the Virgin of Antipolo could have

done it alone. My friends have aided in it; my future son-in-law,

Señor Linares has, as you know, joked with Señor Antonio Canovas

himself, whose portrait we saw in 'Illustracion.'"

And the good man could not suppress a smile every time that he heard

any important news about the event. And there was good reason for

it. It was whispered about that Ibarra was going to be hanged; that,

even if many proofs had been lacking, at last one had appeared which

could confirm the accusation; and that skilled workmen had declared

that, as a matter of fact, the work for the school-house could pass

for a fort or a fortification. Even if defective in some parts, that

was as much as could be expected from ignorant Indians. These rumors

quieted the Captain and made him smile.

Just as the Captain and his cousin, Aunt Isabel, were of different

opinions about the miracle, so, too, the other friends of the family

were divided into different parties--those who followed the miracle

monger, and those who followed the Government. The latter party,

however, was quite insignificant. The miracle mongers were sub-divided

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