Part 13 (1/2)
”May you, Donna Antonia, never know what it is to ask for mercy in vain!” murmured Inez; and without uttering another word she turned to depart. Many of those present would willingly have shown the poor maiden sympathy and done her service, but dared not come forward to do so under the eyes of their tyrant. The Castilian alone, with lofty courtesy, accompanied the young lady to the gate, and beyond it. His escort was no small comfort to Inez; she had not to pa.s.s alone through the gazing throng of servants who were without the garden enclosure awaiting the departure of the guests of the governor's daughter.
”May I have the honour of summoning the carriage of the Donna Inez de Aguilera?” asked her courteous protector, bowing low as he spoke.
”No, senor; I will return as I came,” murmured Inez faintly; ”and thanks--thanks!” She could not add more, but turned from her pitying conductor and went on her lonely way.
But Inez could not walk far. The excitement of hope sustained her no longer, no strength for further effort remained. Weights of lead seemed to cling to the poor girl's feet, there was a rus.h.i.+ng sound in her ears as if the ocean were near. Mist gathered before the eyes of Inez, dimming the brilliant suns.h.i.+ne which yet flooded the city. The Spanish maiden had painful difficulty in breathing, and to get air intuitively threw back her veil. As she did so the voice of one who was about to pa.s.s her in the street uttered her name in a tone of surprise. The fainting girl was only able to recognize the speaker ere her powers completely gave way, and she would have fallen to the ground in a swoon but for the supporting arms of Lucius Lepine.
CHAPTER XXI.
TWO ANGELS.
We will now return to Alcala, whom we left on his way to the prison.
Slowly the conveyance in which the cavalier was seated, guarded by several alguazils, rolled through the streets of Seville. Alcala sat as far back in the vehicle as he could, to avoid the gaze of curious eyes; for many of the populace were eager to get a sight of a hidalgo sent to prison for White Judaism, that mysterious crime. Once only did Alcala lean forward in his seat, and that was to catch a glimpse of the outer wall of the huge Coliseo of Seville, the Plaza de Toros.
What a gush of thankfulness came into the breast of Alcala at the sight of that place, the scene of his rash, unG.o.dly venture! Had he been left to expire in that arena which it had been a crime to enter, where would his soul now have been! But the heavenly Father, whom he had so deeply offended, would not suffer the sinner to perish in his sin. Mercy had not only s.n.a.t.c.hed him from destruction both of body and soul, but had made the rebel a son, had granted to the transgressor the privilege of suffering for the sake of the gospel. The realization of the freeness of G.o.d's grace, the depth of His love, excluded for the time from the spirit of the Spaniard all less powerful emotions.
It may be said that there are two heaven-sent guides appointed to lead through life's pilgrimage all those who in faith seek a heritage above. THE FEAR OF G.o.d and THE LOVE OF G.o.d are these two guiding angels. The former, in somewhat austere beauty, appears in garments of spotless white; for _the fear of the Lord is clean_, and on his snowy pinions is inscribed the word ”obedience.” Blessed are they who are led by this spirit of reverence, as a poet has n.o.bly expressed the thought,--”Fearing G.o.d, they have no other fear.”[21]
It is this angel who is wont to meet pilgrims on the outset of their career, to guide their first feeble steps in the narrow path of duty; but oftentimes he yields place to another spirit even more glorious than he. Not that the fear of G.o.d can ever be far removed from the Christian, but his form is half hidden by the radiance of his twin-brother, the second guide of the pilgrim. Holy fear is fair indeed, but who can describe the seraphic beauty of holy love! He s.h.i.+nes with the glory reflected from the smile of a reconciled G.o.d; all the tints of heaven's rainbow glitter in his quivering wings, their motion is light, and their inscription is ”joy.” The fear of G.o.d leads us onward, the love of G.o.d bears us upward. Blessed, thrice blessed, those over whom the second angel waves his pinions of joy!
Often, very often, has this spirit been sent on a special mission to those who suffer for conscience' sake. When he is near, earthly griefs seem to have lost their power to pain; his soft whisper drowns with its music the scoff of the persecutor, the yell of the furious mob.
Cheered by that whisper, the martyr has gone with light step and joyous countenance to meet the king of terrors. He has felt, though man could not see, the waving of the bright wings, and has, with cheerful courage, embraced the cross or the stake.
It is this angel of light who has come into many a sick-room, and turned it into a chamber of peace. He has gently smoothed the pillow, touched the pain-wrinkled brow, and its furrows have disappeared; there has been such happiness imparted by the presence of the love of G.o.d that weeping, wondering friends have owned that the last enemy himself has lost all his sting.
[Ill.u.s.tration: THE ENTRANCE TO THE PRISON
Page 185.]
”No smile is like the smile of death, When all good musings past Rise wafted on the parting breath, The sweetest thought the last!”
Alcala, on his way to his prison, was accompanied by this invisible angel, and, in the strength imparted by the love of G.o.d, could make an apostle's words his own. He could say, ”_We rejoice in the glory of G.o.d. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope. And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of G.o.d is shed abroad in our hearts!_”
FOOTNOTES:
[21] ”Je crains Dieu, cher Abner, et je n'ai d'autre crainte.”--RACINE.
CHAPTER XXII.
STRANGE COMPANY.
The vehicle which conveyed Alcala to his destination stopped at the entrance of a dark and gloomy building, situated in a narrow street.
Through a vaulted pa.s.sage, dimly lighted, Alcala was conducted to a door in which was a grating formed of thick iron bars. At this door one of the alguazils who escorted the prisoner knocked. The face of a jailer was dimly visible through the grating, and then there was the sound of withdrawal of bolt and turning of key; the heavy door was slowly swung back, and Alcala entered the prison.