The woman shook her head.
“No. Why should he be here? But I know the place, yes. In my heart of hearts, why not? And the blessed Lady who died for my poor son. Pablo, soul of my life, afflicted of God, Pablo—the natural, where are you this day!”
“‘Pablo’? The ‘Lady of Refugio’? Then—who are you?”
Carlota was now upon her knees before the trembling creature whose memory had been so strangely stirred. But, at sight of her thus humbled, the crone herself stood up and set the child upon a bench. Still standing, she burst into a rapid story of that which has been already told: of Pablo’s desperate illness and his nursing back to health by the all-loving “Lady of Refugio.” How that name, that household, was a spell to conjure by; and that here—if she who had long ago married a Pueblo had influence—the children of Refugio should have rich and speedy justice. More: there could be nothing too good or sacred in the whole tribe for them.
“Come, little girl. Let us go. Ah! proud, proud am I thus once to lay my hand upon the flesh of her who died to save my son!”
“Is Pablo here?”
“Not now. Sometimes he comes, far, far between. He is not like others. Against my father’s will I married and I have been punished, yes. Against his will and against the faith I had been taught by the good Padres. I was happy, why not? Till my husband, a brave, fell dead in the field, gored by one of his own cattle. My son is happier than I, for he knows neither sin nor its punishment. But, come. I can still be of use. Come.”
The councilors were amazed by the intrusion of old Paula and her charge, but listened respectfully to her story and her plea. She was reputed to be very wise and was known to be a most excellent nurse. True, those hardy Pueblos rarely required nursing, yet, when they did, it were well to be friends with her who ministered to them. The dose might be wrong if the giver were offended.
When she ceased speaking Carlos was immediately brought out of his dark room and set in the midst; and to see the twins rush, sobbing, yet laughing, into each other’s arms touched even those stolid Indians and inclined some to lenient judgment.
Yet, it was the eldest man speaking, and he must be heard: