THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
GIFT OF
William Noblitt
Entered According to Act of Congress, A.D., 1904, by
CLARA A. B CORBYN
All Rights Reserved by the Author
LA GRAN QUIBIRA
A Musical Mystery
OPERA HISTORIQUE
A ROMANZA
In FIVE ACTS, with OVERTURE, PRELUDE and INTERLUDE
... BY ...
CLARA A. B. CORBYN
The Author'! Edition
rs
TO THE MANY
To whose generosity in subscrib-
ing for an unpublished book by an
Author, unknown to them either in
person or by reputation, the suc-
cessful publication of this volume
is due, with a full appreciation of
their confidence in me as shown by
this act, and by their patient wait-
ing, this tardy return of "the bread"
they thus "cast upon the waters,"
bespeaking their further indulgence
for the faults that the blind writer
has not been able to correct, and
trusting we may meet again, this
special edition of "La Gran Quibira
A Musical Mystery," is respectfully
dedicated by
The Author,
CLARA A. B. CORBYN.
923212
PROGRAMME
THE OVERTURE
Symphony Primo Symphony Secundo
A Minor C Major
"HE" "SHE"
Invocation Revelation Inspiration Divination
Page 19 Page 51
THE PRELUDE
Tema
Page 85
PROGRAMME
LA ROMANZA
ACT I.
Page.
Canto First, "The Gifts of the Gods" 107
Canto Second, "The Exile" 115
Canto Third, "Passion Flowers" 117
Canto Fourth, "Equal Rights" 120
Canto Fifth, "Cowing the Bull" 122
Canto Sixth, "Halcyon Days" 124
Canto Seventh, "A Wave of Her Fairy Godmother Wand" 129
Canto Eighth, "Rosario, the Joyful" 134
Canto Ninth, "The Enchanted Palace" 137
Canto Tenth, "Trilobitz" 141
Canto Eleventh, "The Chase" 144
Canto Twelfth, "The Song of the Wild Bird" 150
Canto Thirteenth, "The Refractory Song Bird" 157
Canto Fourteenth, "The Poetry of Motion" 160
PROGRAMME
Page.
Canto Fifteenth, "The Rival Queens" 164
Canto Sixteenth, "The Dedication" 168
Canto Seventeenth, "Accusing Spirits" . .. 172
Canto Eighteenth, "The Haunted Schoolroom" 176
Canto Nineteenth, "Vashti" 180
Canto Twentieth, "'When Robert Went A-Wooin' " 185
Canto Twenty-First, "Ta-ta, TriloUtz" 193
Canto Twenty-Second, "The Turtle Doves" 199
Canto Twenty-Third, "A Laggard in Love" 205
Canto Twenty-Fourth, "A Narrow Escape" 208
Canto Twenty-Fifth, "Absolution" 214
Canto Twenty-Sixth, "She Won't, and There's an End
On't" 217
Canto Twenty-Seventh, "The Maiden Is Not Dead, but
Sleepeth" 222
Canto Twenty-Eighth, "Sweet Spirit, Hear My Prayer" . . 230
PROGRAMME
ACT II.
Page.
Canto First, "So Merrily Chime the Wedding Bells" 233
Canto Second, "A Married Debutante" 237
Canto Third, "Birds in Their Little Nests Agree" 246
Canto Fourth, "Echoes From the Wedding Bells" 249
Canto Fifth, "The Gubernatorial Blessing" 254
Canto Sixth, "The Winged Fairy Waltz" 262
Canto Seventh, "A Feast of Roses" 269
Canto Eighth, "Daisy's 'At Home' " 275
Canto Ninth, "Point Lace and Diamonds" 283
Canto Tenth, "Fluttering Wings" 290
Canto Eleventh, "Wai Halla".. . 294
PROGRAMME
ACT III,
Page.
Canto First, "A Transformation" 300
Canto Second, "Rosario, the Sorrowful" 304
PROGRAMME
ACT IV.
Page.
Canto First, "When the Swallows Homeward Fly" 307
Canto Second, "Making the Best of Things" 309
Canto Third, "The Comanche's Revenge" 314
Canto Fourth, "La Gato" 317
Canto Fifth, "A Winged Messenger" 322
Canto Sixth, "Santa Maria Del Sol" 326
Canto Seventh, "A Running Stream They Dare Na' Cross. 329
Canto Eighth, "A Retrospect Hidden Treasures" 333
Canto Ninth, "The King Is Dead Long Live the King" . . 338
Canto Tenth, "Curse God and Die" 342
Canto Eleventh, "Ho, for La Gran Quibira" 347
Canto Twelfth, "Footprints of the Past" 350
Canto Thirteenth, "Mystic Music" 352
Canto Fourteenth, "Footprints in the Sand" 358
Canto Fifteenth, "The Judgment" 360
Canto Sixteenth, "The Sacred Sun- Wood" 366
Canto Seventeenth, "A Spring of Living Waters" 370
Canto Eighteenth, "The Life Beyond the Grave" 375
THE INTERLUDE
Retrospect, "The City Called Beautiful" 378
PROGRAMME
ACT V.
Page.
Canto First, "The Beginning of the End" 427
Canto Second, "Life's Hopes Renewed" 432
Canto Third, "Love's Dream Broken" 436
Canto Fourth, "A Reminiscence 'Haunting Dreams' " .. 441
Canto Fifth, "Sweet Bunch of Daisies" 488
Canto Sixth, "Touch Not, Taste Not, Handle Not" 493
Canto Seventh, "Wait 'Til I Come Again" 500
Canto Eighth, "Judas Iscariot" 506
Canto Ninth, "The Journey Down Into Hades" 509
Canto Tenth, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" 516
Canto Eleventh, "Rosario, the Glorious He Hath Arisen!" 523
LA GRAN QUIBIRA
A MUSICAL MYSTERY
OPERA HISTORIQUE
THE OVERTURE
SYMPHONY PRIMO. (A Minor)
"HE"
INVOCATION - - - REVELATION
SYMPHONY PRIMO. (A Minor)
INVOCATION REVELATION
"HE"
I herald the dawn of a New Era an era that will mark the
rewedding of Science to Religion, those two whom God had
" joined together" yet whom man hath "put asunder."
The first step to be taken toward inaugurating this New Era
is to supply those missing links in the history, both sacred and
profane, of this little world of ours. Links, the absence of which
is shown by the breaks that occur in the chain of events which
connects this, the 31st day of October, Anno Domini, eighteen
hundred and ninety-seven with the evening of the sixth day of
the year four thousand and four, before Christ, which is sup-
posed to have been the exact date upon which Man as a finished
creation, entered into full possession of The Earth as his in-
heritance.
These missing links have been supplied to me not only by re-
search, but by inspiration and by revelation also.
I am well aware that it is the habit not only of the sterner
sex, but of my own to look with something of contempt upon the
work of woman. Yet from the beginning woman has ever been
the connecting link between the human and the Divine between
man and his Creator, between thee and thy God, a link never
missing, for when since her creation has there ever been a time
when there was not known to have been "A woman in the
case 1 ' '
Remember Lilith, Adam's spirit wife; remember Eve; and
Mary, beloved of the Almighty; and refuse not therefore to hear-
ken to His message sent unto you, although delivered by the
lips of a woman.
* * *
I think there is nothing more irritating to the American
ethnologist than that air of contemptuous superiority which our
sister continent just over the way assumes, when, pointing to
her ruins historic and pre-historic relics she claims of the days
20 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
of the ancient Roman, relics of the ancient Saxon relics of
the ancient Lord-knows- who-else, she says to us: "I am the Old
World. Thou art the New."
Now, if we are to believe the story of the Creation as given
in Scriptural lore, as handed down through generation after gen-
eration as commonly accepted both by Jew and by Gentile, in
fact by all known people and nations, religions and creeds, then
are we twin productions of the Creator's hand. While the
geologist, the geographer, the historian and the traveler assure
us that we sprang into existence as quadruplets, united by bonds
as slender in proportion to our entire bodies and as indissoluble
as was the cord which connected the celebrated Siamese twins of
our own day and generation ; and the astronomer, the astrologer
but here let us pause. This portion of our discourse, at least, is
meant to be purely of the earth earthy, and not even to carry
conviction to the mind of our contumacious twin will we be
forced prematurely to seek the help of the Heavenly bodies in
settling this, our family controversy.
But truly great results from small beginnings rise, and this
taunt of our twin continent has had the effect to induce me, even
me an humble female, to abandon my only legitimate business
(at least so it is called by every "lord of creation" down even
to "the superfluous man") to desert my only legitimate busi-
ness, that of "baking and brewing and broiling and stewing"
and arming myself with this essentially feminine implement
both of peace and of war (the broom) attempt with its aid alone
to "Sweep the cobwebs from the face of Time," to clear away
the "dust of ages" and so lay bare to the view of the whole world
a history for this so-called "New World" which shall co-date if
it does not ante-date that of the self-styled "Old World."
* * *
In choosing this career for myself " Will '- 'e-Nill 'e " I adopt
for my precepta principe the axiom of the ancient Greek,
"Know thyself." and a thorough examination into my capabili-
ties for this task shows me that the qualification I possess which
in the greatest degree fits me for its successful pursuit, is that of
a most profound ignorance of the subject involved.
You doubt this, yet I maintain that total ignorance is the
best foundation or rather it is the excavation within which the
surest foundation may be laid, upon which to erect a solid super-
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 21
structure of true knowledge. That, as the blank sheet of paper
pure and unsullied as it leaves its maker's hand, is best adapted
to receive and to retain the most distinctly legible written im-
pressions, so the mind that is free from all preconceived ideas on
a subject, that is unfettered by the prejudices of others, un-
biased by their theories, is best calculated to arrive at a truly
correct solution of this or any other problem.
But here I find a stumbling block in the shape of another
self-evident fact. The ancient Greek was not up with our times
and I find that it is not only necessary for me to know myself,
and to acknowledge my deficiencies, but that I must remedy them
to a certain extent by combining with this axiom of the ancient
Greek one which, whether it be modern Greek or Polyglot, bids
me know other people. At least, I find it requisite to the suc-
cess of my undertaking, that, at its very outset I form the
acquaintance of such of those other people as have trodden this
self-same pathway before me.
"By their fruits ye shall know them."
And first encasing myself in the armor of a firm resolve that
in pursuit of the truth of this matter I would thoroughly sift
the wheat of indisputable fact from the chaff of individual
theory, that I would separate the true metal from the false by
applying to all, that infallible test, a little of the acid of common
sense I make the plunge and dive to the very bottom of this, to
me hitherto unknown sea called American retrospective litera-
ture ; and rising to the surface I acquaint myself with its boun-
daries, its outlines, its limit, its extent, and each peculiarity of
feature which distinguishes it, and find that what I before sus-
pected is true: "This sea is not entirely composed of true his-
toric brine, but is largely made up of a mixture, thick, sticky,
extremely sweet and therefore palatable to the taste of all, which
I unhesitatingly pronounce to be mere literary taffy, against
whose sweet seductions I remain proof, thanks to the precaution-
ary armor I have assumed."
The most startling feature which presents itself is the fact
of how very little real progress has been made toward the solu-
tion of this question during the past few generations of scienti-
fic research.
The want of progress made is truly appalling, and would
deter from further pursuit of the subject any save a most de-
22 LA GRAN QUIBffiA
termined woman, who as the adage has it: "When she will, she
will, you may depend on it; And when she won't, she won't
and there 's an end on 't. ' '
Now / will. And believe me upon whatsoever pathway I
plant this, my right foot, my left is bound to follow.
In attempting to trace the lineage of the true-born American
citizen of today back in a direct line to old Father Adam and
his much-abused spouse, it is not my intention to weigh with nice
distinction the respective claims of the Bi-Metallist, the Free-
Silverite or the Gold Bug of the present political epoch to be
regarded as veritable "Chips of the Old Blocks;" but to re-
construct our racial genealogical tree only so far as to place it
upon a firmer, more substantial, and, I trust, indestructible basis,
and to supply those missing branches which have been broken
off and are supposed to have been lost by that old thief, Time, in
his progress toward Eternity.
To do this we must go back to where the first break seem-
ingly occurs.
It is conceded as an historical fact that when Cortez and
his followers first set foot upon the soil of this, the northern half
of the American Continent, they found they had invaded the ter-
ritory of a vast, populous and powerful empire, dominated by a
people superior in every respect to all those, apparently of the
same race, who had before been met with and who are now com-
monly classified under the sweeping appellation of the North
American Indian.
A people who, according to their conquerors, were possessed
of attainments which in many respects equalled, if they did not
surpass, those of a like order possessed by the European nations
of the same day.
Setting aside those peculiar to themselves, among which was
the art of weaving the plumage of birds into beautiful and gor-
geous articles of wearing apparel, these attainments were more
particularly displayed in the architectural design, solidity of
construction, and beauty of ornamentation of their buildings,
especially such of those buildings as were devoted to the uses of
the public and in the exquisite skill and delicacy with which
they worked the precious stones and metals.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 23
A people whose tragic fate as a nation we know; of whose
doom as a race we are eye witnesses ; but whose origin is involved
in obscurity, and so forms one of the missing links of which we
are in search.
* * *
The religious faith of man whether he be advanced in civ-
ilization to a greater or less degree, is inherent; as inseparable
from his very existence and history as a created being, from his
progress or decline as a race or by nations as inseparable from
both his moral and physical growth, from each individual act
of his every-day life as is the soul from the body.
In attempting to treat this religious faith of man as an
attribute that may be considered apart, the scientist and ethnolo-
gist make a mistake that is fatal to their own further progress
toward the solution of the problem they have set themselves, as
to where to place the "divide" between the historic and the pre-
historic age of man.
'When they separate the attributes of the soul from those
of the body, and attempt to consider the whole from the stand-
point of the latter, they but dig a pitfall for themselves into
which they fall and flounder much to the amusement of the
votary of common sense, who absolutely refuses to follow them
into this abyss which but widens the breach made by and makes
more apparent, the want of the link that here is missing. As
well take the corpse of an unknown individual and pretend to
state w r ith accuracy the precise amount of knowledge which he
had acquired, when living ; what would be his opinion upon any
given subject, and the language in which he would have ex-
pressed that opinion. When they separate the soul from the
body they but "douse the glim" which otherwise would have
lighted them successfully on their way.
* * *
But these pioneers of research are possessed of their little
fads, one of which is that when they have made a new dis-
covery one which the world recognizes as such they immedi-
ately begin to think they created the thing and are so puffed up
with the idea that they imagine, as a creator, they excel all other
creators, even the Creator of the Universe Himself.
This is shown by their ever after expressing "Ego" by a
very large capital "I": while they display an almost irresistible
24 LA GRAN QUIBIBA
desire to spell "God" with a little "g" as "I and god." Re-
minding one of that other doughty pioneer who, when his cabin
was invaded by a huge bear, deeming discretion the better part
of valor, boldly ran away leaving his good wife, Betty, to dis-
pute the right of possession of the premises with the bear;
which indeed, she did and successfully, waging battle in which
Bruin was killed ; her lord and master meantime encouraging her
by shouting through a chink in the closed door: "Hit him on the
snoot,. Betty. Hit him on the head. " And at last, when the bear
was quite dead, came and stood valiantly over the carcass tell-
ing the story of the combat to each curious new comer as : ' ' We
did it. I and Betty did it. I (sotto voce) and betty KILLED
THE BEAR."
In no instance is this mistake made more apparent than in
their treatment of the history of these the Aztec people and of
their ruler at that day the second Montezuma, absolute mon-
arch, priest and king, whose people believed him to be half
human, half divine, who died a martyr to his religious faith and
for the redemption of his people.
Chronicling this heroic act, our greatest and best historians
say of him: "He was a Barbarian." Yet what Christ sought
to become to the Jews, Montezuma wished to be to the Aztecs,
and like Him was accepted by the few, rejected by the many.
Think of this great, this despotic monarch, whose subjects of
the very highest rank ventured into his presence only in the garb
of servitude, and then dared not raise their eyes to their
sovereign's face without that sovereign's permission, this King
of kings, and Lord of lords, who, in the very prime of life ar-
rived at the topmost height of earthly glory, renown and riches
bowed his proud head voluntarily, consenting, after the coming
of the Spaniards to live an ignoble life and to die an ignominious
death that the prophecy of the great Quetzalcotl THE FAIR
GOD, be fulfilled, which prophecy foretold that upon the coming
of the Whites to rule over them, his people would turn away
from their idols and return to the worship of the one living God,
Creator of the Universe, invisible, omnipotent, omnipresent.
And although they faithfully chronicle this act, as well,
these same historians style it an act of "pusillanimity" upon the
part of Montezuma.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 25
Yet verily I say unto you, but one other such act of sublime
humility and self abnegation has been recorded since the be-
ginning of the world, and if at the last Montezuma seemed to
weaken, to waver, and to doubt, remember thou the scene upon
the cross where Christ your chosen Eedeemer, acknowledged that
He had reached the very utmost limit of His faith and powers
of endurance, when He cried in an agony of reproachful appeal :
"My God, My God. Why hast Thou forsaken me?"
It forms a matter for curiosity and for speculation upon the
part of the disciple of common sense, as to which will receive
the greatest mercy at the judgment seat :
The Jews God's chosen people who slew His prophets and
condemned to the shameful death of a common malefactor Him
whose sinless life and purity of teaching made Him worthy at
least to be accepted as The Messiah for whose coming they had
been prepared; the bigot Cortez, who in the name of this same
Messiah who taught only "Peace on earth and good will to man,"
committed acts of atrocity unparalleled in the annals of war,
maiming for life hundreds of captive warriors, burning at the
stake all those who refused to acknowledge the Spaniards' King
and the Spaniards' God, and varying the programme by roast-
ing upon hot gridirons all who refused, through ignorance
without doubt, to disclose the secret of the burial place of the
riches that were all their own but which were coveted by their
conquerors; or this "pusillanimous barbarian," Montezuma, who
it is true tolerated the sacrifice of human victims to the gods by
tearing out their hearts while yet they breathed, but who when
urged by Cortez and his priests to renounce his own and his
people's God and to turn to the worship of the God of the Span-
iards whose characteristics, however, they described as being the
same, replied: "Why surely thy God is my God. Then why not
let my people be thy people?" (Or words to that effect.)
Tell us which will receive the greatest favor in Thy sight:
"Oh Thou Wha in the Heavens doth dwell,
And Wha, as pleaseth best Thysel'
Sends ane to Heaven and ten to Hell a' for Thy glory.
And no for ony good or ill they've done afore Thee?"
* * *
In setting forth upon my voyage of discovery into the un-
known regions of the past, in quest of those mysterious truths
26 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
concerning the pre-historic age of North America truths
which so far have baffled every effort made to capture them upon
the part of the scientist and historian both of the past
and of the present I prayed most earnestly to be delivered from
that temptation to self glorification which has betrayed even the
most eminent of these, into committing the folly of foisting upon
a credulous world some speculative theory of their own and un-
blushingly labeling it "A true historic fact, which I, Blank, the
scientist, or I, Blank, the historian, or I, Blank, the great arch-
aeologist, or I, Blank antiquarian and ethnologist, have alone of
all the world been able to discover."
Reminding one of the Irishman who having learned to play
the violin not quite correctly, stopped each time he made a blun-
der and cried in triumph: "Ah, do ye moind that now? That's
a little thing Oi put in mesilf !"
Two classes of these what may be termed "Unsuccessfully
Successful Discoverers" the one of which setting forth in
quest of some particular object whose distinctive attributes
they minutely describe, finds not the object of their search, but
something totally different in character, yet declare that the two
are one and the same, because they, not being able to find the
one, and having found the other it must be so; the other ad-
mitting total failure upon their part to find anything which in
the least degree resembles the place, person or thing, for which
they are looking, just as stoutly maintains that the thing does
not exist, and that it never had an existence, except in the imag-
inative Realms of Romance.
These two classes of discoverers, I say, find practical illustra-
tion in the histories of the respective expeditions of Coronado
and Espiho in quest of the celebrated Gran Quibiran metal
workers of The Seven Cities of the Cibola.
It is also an historical fact that when the Spaniards oc-
cupied Tinnoctitlan as its conquerors, they failed to find that
amount of rich spoils in wrought gold, silver and other precious
articles, they had expected. And since Cortez and his band de-
clared that they themselves had beheld the wonderful treasures
they described, they could but conclude that the inhabitants,
during the siege, had managed to secrete or bury the greater
part of their valuables both private and public.
A MUSICAL, MYSTERY 27
No amount of tortue, however, inflicted by these their Chris-
tian conquerors upon the few surviving barbarians, was suffi-
cient to extort from them the secret of its burial place, or indeed
the admission that they had ever possessed the vast riches
ascribed to them; and they denied that they knew aught of the
process of working the precious stones and metals.
They told, however, the story of a portion of their own peo-
ple who inhabited seven great cities to the Far North, who had
arrived at an even higher grade of civilization than themselves,
possessed immense riches in the shape of the coveted metals,
and understood the art of working them.
Many expeditions were fitted out by the Spaniards to search
for this people, tempted by the prospect of the immense booty to
be obtained from their conquest.
All of these expeditions, however, proved fruitless. Principal
among them were those of the Spanish generals, Coronado and
Espiho, before alluded to.
Coronado set forth from the Valley of Anahuec in the year
of our Lord knows when (being a woman I claim a woman's
privilege of uncertainly as to dates) but it was somewhere near
the middle of the sixteenth century. He set forth then at this
precise date from the Valley of Anahuec, with a band of one
thousand men and journeying a little to the east of north, he fol-
lowed the course of the River Pecos its entire length, and from
thence crossed over to the banks of the Platte River, within
what is now the boundaries of the State of Nebraska.
Here he found a vast Indian community occupying a num-
ber of large villages. These Indians, it is true, possessed no de-
gree of the looked-for civilization. They dwelt not in habita-
tions of wrought stone, but in miserable huts rudely constructed
of earth and reeds. They were not rich but very poor, subsisting
mainly by hunting and fishing. They were totally ignorant of
the art of working the metals; or indeed, of the uses to which
the metals were put. Yet the disappointed General Coronado,
unwilling to acknowledge himself defeated, declared this to be
the long-sought-for Gran Quibira and (whisper it low) our own
Bureau of Ethnology records it as such.
[N. B. Coronado was evidently taking a long look ahead
and was deceived by a vision in which that champion Nebraskan
28 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
metal worker of the future, William Jennings Bryan, loomed up
amid the possibilities of the "Sweet bye-and-bye."]
Espiho started from the City of Mexico within a short time
of the above mentioned date, with an army of about four thous-
and men and following the course of the Rio Grande along its
western bank, he finally arrived at Jemez, and from thence
crossed over to the conquest of that Indian Province whose prin-
cipal pueblo "Oga-Na-Po-ga" stood upon the site now occupied
by the New Mexico territorial capital, Santa Fe.
Finding no similarity between the friendly Indians along
his route or these conquered Indians, to the Indians for whom
he was looking, Espiho declared it to be his belief that the story
of La Gran Quibira was a mere fabrication, and that of the
metal workers of The Seven Cities of the Cibola, a myth.
Yet the story of this mythical Gran Quibira has ever
possessed a greater charm for the imagination of the student of
American archaeology than has any other known tradition of the
North American Indian. A charm which, strangely enough, in
nine cases out of ten merges into an absolute conviction that the
Gran Quibiran Confederation of The Seven Cities of the Ciboia
had an actual existence, notwithstanding the failure upon the
part of Generals Coronado and Espiho and other leaders of ex-
peditions, to discover its whereabouts a conviction which I
share with these of my male contemporaries together with the
belief that the best place in which to search for, with the hope
of uncovering, the hidden events of the mysterious past, is the
ground upon which those events are said to have occurred.
Thus, in my efforts to supply that missing link which would
connect the known with the unknown history of the Aztecs, it is
my belief that I might have sought for it with surer prospect of
success in the Ancient Valley of Anahuec itself ; in the City of
Mexico, built upon the site of Tinnoctitlan the Capital of the
Ancient Aztec Empire; among the ruins of the temples of Chol-
ula and those of the great temples of the Sun and of the Moon;
amid the ruins of the palaces of the ancient Tezcucan capital and
those of the Royal Summer Palce of Quetzaltzinco.
These being quite beyond my reach, I turned my attention
instead to what I, together with many others, believe to have
been the site of the central or principal city of The Seven Cities
of the Cibola : situated in the heart of New Mexico, in the center
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 29
of a high valley some forty miles long by as many broad, mid-
way between the river Pecos and the Rio Grande, but not easy of
access from either because of the mountains that hem it in The
Gallinas, the Trincheras, the Jaccarrillos, the Hills of the Chup-
padero Mesa and the foot of the Manzanno range.
Here my research became actual experience.
What today adds to the interest of the ruins of La Gran
Quibira is the fact that the history of the place has been lost to
mortal ken not once, but twice, at least.
"The ruins themselves proclaim the fact that where the
Spanish army of the sixteenth century failed, the Spanish
Church succeeded ; that the discovery denied to the soldier of the
sword, was granted to the soldier of the cross.
The precise date of the discovery and occupancy of La Gran
Quibira by that community of Franciscan Friars who settled
there is not known, but it is a matter of history that they were
expelled from thence at the time of the great Indian Insurrec-
tion of 1680.
After this expulsion the very location of the place again was
lost until discovered some fifty years or so ago by our American
Explorers, Lewis and Clarke, since which time it may be justly
termed the Treasure Trove of North America.
A fatality seemed to hang over the place, and many are the
lives that have been lost in a vain search for its whereabouts. It
seemed veiled as if by enchantment, and until within a few years
past, few indeed were the hands permitted to raise the veil and
penetrate to its secret hiding place, and none as yet have been
permitted to touch the treasures of two distinct epochs said to
be buried there.
I can only testify to my own experience in this matter.
From the hour when I determined upon making this my
point of search for the lost link in the history of the American
Continent, unforeseen obstacles arose to prevent the accomplish-
ment of my self-imposed task obstacles many of them trivial in
themselves, but which, when combined, formed an almost insur-
mountable barrier to my further investigation.
Now you would scarcely credit the amount of hampering
influence to hinder the progress of scientific research, that may
be exerted by that monstrosity the common Mule that one liv-
ing creature to which the Devil has been permitted to append
30 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
his signature and affix his seal as its creator and especially the
amount that may be exercised by the species known as the Mule
Mexicano.
Three distinct sets of these quadrupedal infernal machines
were employed by us, with lapses of time between, in which to
recover the discomfiture of our defeat, when, after a three weeks
journey of a hundred miles or so we came within sight of the
wished-for goal. Here half way up the hill upon which the ruins
are located, our "Mew-els" called an unconditional "Halt,"
and well knowing that it would be in vain to protest or to argue
the point we obeyed and camped forthwith.
The short winter's day was drawing to a close and I busied
myself with preparing sleeping accommodations for the night.
I suppose I must have expressed the wish that was in my mind,
aloud, for a voice near at hand answered me, and, looking up, I
found myself face to face with a Franciscan Friar, a tall, meager
yet muscular man whose thin dark face, wearing that bluish pal-
lor peculiar to those who fast long and frequently, was shaded
by the hood of his grey habit, from beneath which his deep set
brilliant eyes shone blue, thoughtful and most kindly upon me.
'We conversed together for several minutes, I telling him
frankly of a new theory I had formed, concerning the source of
the reputed great wealth of that ancient community of his own
Order who had inhabited this place more than two centuries be-
forea theory I had based upon personal observations of the
topography and natural resources of the surrounding country
through which we had so slowly journeyed to reach this place.
He replied by a question which served to confirm me in the
theory I had formed.
But here the voice of a third person calling to me broke
the spell, and whew! away went the friar and with him all my
former ideas of spirits, goblins and spooks. For until he van-
ished in that uncanny way, I had not the most remote idea that
I was hob-nobbing with the ghost of one who had lived and
walked upon this ground more than two hundred years before,
and not with a living breathing student of today interested in
like subjects with myself.
Besides surprise, the only feeling that I experienced in the
matter was one of regret, that I had not sooner known, and so
A MUSICAL. MYSTERY 31
had lost this most favorable opportunity of better acquainting
myself with some of the peculiar habits of ghosts and ghostesses.
We camped for several weeks after this among the ruins on
the hill. These consist of the ruins of the great church one
hundred and fifty feet long by fifty-two broad, which many peo-
ple incorrectly call "A Cathedral," and those of an adjoining
monastery which is supposed to have originally contained more
than seventy rooms in all, including both large and small; to-
gether with the ruins of many other buildings covering several
acres of ground, no correct idea of which can now be formed ex-
cept as to extent and from their outline.
Most of these buildings would appear to have been erected
at a more remote period than was the church itself, which has
given rise to the conclusion, formed by many, that with the one
exception of the church, the Spaniards did not build the place,
but merely occupied it as a conquered town.
Others however contend that the entire place was founded
by this Spanish Church community. If this be true, then the
magnitude of the ruins decides beyond all possibility of doubt
the much disputed question as to the poverty, or affluence of this
Spanish Church community; for since man began to dwell in
houses of .his own construction, these houses have ever cost money
or money's worth, to build, and the size and solidity of those of
which only these ruins remain, attest to the vast wealth of those
who builded them.
But, since we may infer that the work of construction was
done by the Aztecs either as freemen before The Conquest, or un-
der compulsion, as slaves, after it, then one can but wonder why
the church, that vast cruciform structure whose walls are six
feet in thickness, should have been built of ordinary rubble work
and not of the cut stone which appears in many of the walls of
the buildings, believed to be of more ancient date, and especially
in those of thft vaults underneath, and ask if this people had lost
the art of masonry as suddenly as they seemed to have done that
of working the precious stones and metals?
Now the only answer that I and common sense can find to
this conundrum, forms a clue to the mystery which envelops
the history of those who inhabited this place prior to the date
of The Conquest,
32 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
"The Aztecs themselves, as they tried hard to make their
conquerors understand, never possessed in any degree of per-
fection either the art of masonry, or that of working the precious
stones and metals.
Those vast pyramidal structures used by them as temples,
their gorgeous palaces, those wonderful, curiously wrought gems
and beautiful gold and silver ornaments and vessels, were theirs
only by inheritance, or rather by right of discovery, and were
the work, the relics, of some long lost race belonging to some
forgotten age."
"What Race? And to what Age did it belong?"
The answer to this is the key that would unlock that secret
chamber in which is hidden away the lost archives not only of
this portion of the Globe we call North America, but also of
every country upon its face in whose history there are these miss-
ing links, even to the uttermost corners of the Earth; the key
for which scientists and historians have sought in vain for
generations past ; the key which a messenger from Heaven direct
has placed in this right hand of mine.
"Who were these People and to what Age did they belong?"
The time for me to pronounce the one word which forms the
"Open Sesame" to the door that now bars the historic from the
pre-historic past, is not yet come.
Subsequent discoveries of subterranean walls, rooms and
passages, miles in extent, over only a small portion of which the
supposed Spanish town was built, served to confirm me in the
theory I had formed concerning the source of the reputed great
wealth of that community of Franciscan Friars, who were driven
from this place at the time of the great Indian Uprising of 1680.
It is my belief that the illimitable wealth ascribed to this
Monastic Brotherhood was no myth, but solid reality.
The underground ruins, with their small cell-like rooms and
short arched passages, leading into a large, circular, central
chamber, are the exact counterparts of the descriptions of the
cities of the dead of ancient Egypt and the Orient, as given by
Ebers, and other authentic writers, from actual observation. And
I have no hesitation in affirming that these cunning holy Friars
settled themselves here, secure from molestation, because of that
superstition of the Indians which held sacred the persons of all
those who took refuge upon sacred ground, and dwelt peace-
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 33
fully here within the very precincts of Culhaucan, their sacred
city of the dead, where they deliberately, systematically and as
may be supposed at first at least secretly, plundered the tombs
filled with many generations of a people whose known custom it
was to bury with their dead not only food, drink and raiment,
but also much valuable treasure in the shape of wrought and un-
wrought gold, silver and precious stones, which they placed in
jars and vases themselves almost above price to the antiquarian
of that date.
That this was the source of their wealth is proven from the
fact that it was impossible to procure any such wealth at that
date, or indeed at any subsequent date, from any known natural
resources of the surrounding country.
The surrounding mountains, it is true, abound in mineral,
but it is for the most part a refractory ore containing so great
a percentage of copper that even at this advanced age of pro-
gress in invention, there is not within the boundaries of the Ter-
ritory of New Mexico any machinery capable of reducing and
separating it. And it is my opinion that had all the ore then
mined, that has since been mined, or that still remains, in these
mountains to be mined, been so reduced and separated it would
scarcely have equalled the immense sum said to have been
possessed by this religious fraternity which is variously
estimated at from thirty-two to fifty millions.
It is a notorious fact that the Americans are more easily
humbugged than almost any other people. It has even been as-
serted that we are a nation of humbugs, but this, in the name
of the Nation, I deny. And the bug which "hums" most ac-
ceptably in American ears is the "humbug" we call "our great
mining interests. ' '
This "humbug" has been known to create, fluctuations,
cause panics, even, in markets to which it seemed in no degree al-
lied, and some of us have even attempted to make it the means
of upsetting the monetary equilibrium of the country itself.
You have all of you, I dare say, heard of the great New
Mexico silver mines, where from three to seven millions worth
of ore are said to be in sight, and of that great Colorado gold
34 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
mine whose owner is said to have refused for it twelve millions
in cash, because he declared that he had more than that amount
upon the dump.
Now, when I reflect that at the average rate of sixteen dol-
lars an ounce, for pure gold, it would require almost three tons,
that is to say a nugget of solid refined gold weighing nearly six
thousand pounds to be worth one million of our American silver
dollars, then, when I hear these and stories of like import, I am
ready to bet you "sixteen to one" there is nothing in them; that
they are all mere "humbug."
That this was the source of their wealth is further proven
from the fact that these underground ruins have been filled with
a cement of no known natural production. In one room or pass-
age it will appear of spotless white, while a second immediately
connected with it will be filled with a mixture of bright red clay,
and in a third the cement resembles nothing so much as a light
brown sugar, while others still are filled simply with earth and
rock, and from the fact that the entire hill surrounding these
Spanish church ruins, both within and without what may be
looked upon as consecrated ground, presents one solid mass of
skeletons, the bones of tens, yea hundreds of thousands of hu-
man beings, and this in a locality where no record of the past
admits that any such vast population of the living ever dwelt.
These skeletons are without doubt the remains of the bodies
removed by the plundering priests from these numberless tombs.
A curious custom seems to have existed, at that date, of
burying their dead of different ages in different places;
that is to say, the aged or adults in one vault or pit, while
the youths were placed in one apart, and a third would be filled
entirely with the bodies of small children.
The opening of one of these common graves filled with the
skeletons of those who had arrived at maturity but had not yet
attained to the full height of man or woman, has without doubt
given rise to the mistaken idea which prevails, that the Aborig-
ines of North America were a race almost of pygmies. They were,
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 35
in fact, of very large proportions, always above, never below, the
average stature of the American of today.
# # #
When or how the craze for exhuming and possessing himself
of the bones of those of his own species of a by-gone generation,
first beset man, it is impossible to determine, but the mania has
become epidemic.
I had scarcely set foot among these ruins when a Colorado
shepherd, rising by the aid of his crook from one of these sepul-
chral pits, presented me, as a mark of delicate attention no
doubt, with a small jaw bone perfect in shape and preservation,
filled with small pearly teeth which had without doubt belonged
to some Indian maiden of the "long-long-ago," together with
a pair of cross bones.
These I carried about with me all day, resolving to make
them the nucleus of a collection of like trophies of La Gran
Quibira.
Then a curious fancy took possession of me. I thought that
when the day of judgment came, these "remains" might wish to
be "all there" and how decidedly uncomfortable it would be for
me to be surrounded by a host of incomplete diaphragms, each
clamoring for that part of his or her anatomy of which I had
possessed myself.
Ugh! I can hear it yet, the "Song of the Bones" as sung
in melancholy tones with sighs and moans and dismal groans :
' ' Oh, give me my bones, my BONES ! MY BONES ! "
I hastened to rid myself of those in my possession, trusting
that when the last trump sounded they might be able to find the
"rest of themselves" by some such hocus-pocus as is said to be
exerted by the non-rheumatic joint snake, and endeavored there-
after to protect all those buried on the hill.
I used arguments, entreaties, persuasions, threats, all to no
purpose. The bowels of the average tourist, traveler, or mining
prospector, whether he write himself "Professor" "Doctor"
plain "Mr." "Jack" or "Jo," yearns for and will be satisfied
with nothing but human bones.
The apology offered for this strange ghoul-like appetite is
often unique. One young gentleman declared that he did not
wish them for himself, but that he thought they would make such
a nice present for a young lady friend.
36 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
(A human skeleton a "nice present for a young lady
friend!")
Most of them, however, say that they wish them for scien-
tific purposes, which "scientific purpose" usually proves to be
that they want to carry them to be inspected by their village
doctor, who after gravely examining the humps and bumps of
the skull (the favorite trophy of the bone-collector) wisely gives
it as his opinion that it belonged to a man of ' ' education and cul-
ture," (without, doubt a physician.).
But we are all of us prone to talk "shop" and it is related of
one of these professional gentlemen, whose habit it is to prowl
about these ruins, and who is known to possess the learning and
culture he ascribes to these other " numb-skulls ;" that, upon being
presented with one of two small crucibles said to have been
found among these ruins, he declared that he knew what they
were : ' ' They were wine cups used by the medicine men of old
for measuring out their potions."
* * *
But the song of the bones is not the only music to be heard
in this strange place, which presents the very "abomination of
desolation," inhabited as it usually is solely by the gophers,
whose innumerable burrows in the sands of the hillside form so
many traps for the feet of the unwary pedestrian. What they
go for into the depths of the sand, I do not know. Perhaps they
go for water but it may be they "Gopher" bones.
I was awakened some time during the first night of our stay
among the ruins, by the ringing of a chime of bells. This sounded
thrice, then ensued the soft weirdly plaintive music of an aeolian
harp. Not then, nor ever after being able to determine the loca-
tion or origin of this mystic music, I could but conclude that in
some one of the vaults beneath us which had not like the rest
been sealed hermetically, some devotee of the art of hundreds
of years before, had caused to be constructed one of these quaint
air harps, which swept continually by the wind, which never
ceases blowing in this locality, kept up a never ending accompan-
iment to the "Rattling of his bones, bones, bones."
Then succeeded another kind of music which I supposed to
have been made by the herder of some neighboring sheep camp,
playing upon the French harp or mouth organ, a musical in-
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 37
strument of which they are particularly fond and one of which
they almost invariably carry with them. I do affirm that this
sound continued for two successive days and nights, before it be-
gan to dawn upon my mind that nothing human, not even an of-
fice seeking politician nor a modern drummer, was possessed of
wind enough to work the machine for so long a time without stop-
ping.
These two kinds of music were followed and accompanied by
many others, each distinct and separate in itself, which I can best
describe as being "just within hearing" seldom rising to a higher
pitch or softening to a lower, yet no storm so violent as to be
able to deaden or drown these continuous, evervarying sounds;
for upon such nights, especially, as Burns avers, "A child might
understand the De 'il had business on his hand, ' ' they were most
distinguishable. Above the sound of the howling, rushing wind,
the driving, pelting rain, clear and distinct came the sound of
the trumpet's call, and that of myriads of hurrying footsteps as
of crowds assembling, each accompanied by its own distinctive
band of music, bands of brass, as in our own day; bands com-
posed of instruments, many of which were quite unknown to me ;
choirs of voices, both male and female; the chanting of the
priests; the clanging of the bells; and occasionally breaking
through all, a wail or shriek as of souls in agony.
I could not even then dispossess myself of the belief that
this was the wailing of the damned, and that all these other
sounds were meant to drown that terrible one.
If you have ever heard that odd descriptive musical composi-
tion called "The Thunder Storm," wherein a simple melody
played upon the shepherd's pipes, is plainly heard above, or
rather through, the sound of the rising wind, the falling rain,
the crash of thunder, and the clash of the fire-alarm bells, you
will understand perfectly the phenomenon which I have at-
tempted to describe ; but, instead of one air played upon one in-
strument, there were many going on all at once, yet never seem-
ing in the least degree to interfere the one with the other.
The composition of this mysterious music was extremely
crude a simple melody, formed by ringing the changes upon a
few notes, mostly in a minor key, but which acquired a certain
degree of grandeur from the number of instruments, or
38 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
voices by which it was rendered, and from the fact that it was
always expressed in full chords.
A strange experience this, for those who had been taught
not only to disbelieve, but to abhor as an invention of the foul
fiend himself, the doctrines of spiritualism.
Nor did our experience end here.
The water supply giving out, we made our way across the
country to an unexhausted reservoir near the foot of the Gallinas
Mountains. This distance of about seventeen miles was gallantly
accomplished by our "mew-els" in the course of three whole
days.
Along the route we beheld myriads of shadowy, indistinct
figures, all apparently journeying in the same direction as our-
selves, some with firm elastic tread, others lagging as if weary
from a long journey. But once we seemed to meet a herald, pre-
ceded by trumpeters, who was reading a proclamation or sum-
mons which ended in a long roll-call.
Now of all this, only the sound and not the sense was ap-
parent to us, for, during all this time, I heard but one articulate
word. Throughout an entire day, evidently from beneath the
ground over which we traveled, there came up the sound as of
many voices crying continually: "Hytanna. Hytanna. Hytanna."
I was filled, not with fear, but with wonder and with cur-
iosity. I knew that I was witnessing the resurrection of the
dead called up for judgment; that time typified by the forty
days Christ walked the earth between His Resurrection and His
Ascension a resurrection and a judgment that is going on
about us all the time, unseen, unheard, by the many.
These were spirits, neither of Heaven nor of Hell, but
merely of the earth, which accounts for the very unsatisfactory
answers they make to those living mortals, known as "Spiritual
mediums," who claim to have the power of conversing with
them. For, except to describe their own death agony and their
whereabouts and occupation during this period of probation,
they are quite as ignorant as ourselves ; and certainly of life in
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 39
any sphere save this, nor do I believe that living mortal has
the power to recall them when once they have left it for another.
* # #
Arrived at the reservoir, we went into camp a few hundred
yards to the east of the pool, in the midst of a thicket of cedars
and pines which hid the water itself from our view.
Here for three whole days I diligently exercised my female
prerogative and "Baked and brewed and broiled and stewed"
without ceasing, varying the monotony by joining my voice to
one or other of the spirit choruses, as fancy dictated, wondering
all the time why they were so commonplace, with nothing of the
awesome or supernatural about them.
The night of the third day was bitterly cold and we retired
very early to sleep in the wagon. Beside the intense cold there
was nothing remarkable in the night except its preternatural
stillness. Even the customary night sounds, the scream of the
eagle, the hoot of the owl, the howl of the wolf, and the bark of
the coyote, were hushed.
Then came the sound I long had wished to hear, the sound
of heavenly music no sustained melody, but broken chords
formed by the sweeping of a practised hand over golden harp-
strings.
I sprang up and out of the wagon, in a fever of triumphant
expectation, but was checked at the very first step by the biting
cold, which seemed to freeze the blood in my veins, the marrow in
my bones. I was so chilled by it as to be scarcely able to regain
the warm shelter I had left. There I wept in bitter disappoint-
ment and vexation. It was some time before I regained sufficient
presence of mind to attempt to gain through my hearing that
which was denied to my sight some idea of the Mystery that
was being enacted at the waterside.
First came the sounding of the heavenly harps as a sum-
mons or call ; then one or other of the spirit bands marched for-
ward, each preceded by its own distinctive kind of music ; then
came a few sentences, pronounced in a stern resonant voice,
deeper, richer, more powerful than any human voice I had ever
heard. This I took to be The Arraignment. Then there followed
the sound of another voice reading what was probably The Ac-
cusation or Indictment. Then one or other stepped forward as
40 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
spokesman for the entire spirit band, pleading the cause of all;
some in tones of arrogant assurance, as if confident of success;
others meekly, humbly, falteringly. . . .
Solemn as was The Mystery, I could not for the life of me,
help thinking of the story of the colored preacher, who, after
death, presented himself confidently at the gates of Heaven,
shouting loudly:
"Open de gates dar 'Postie Petah.
Brow de trumpets loud and long,
Fo' he' a brudder Saint am comin'
I's de Rebren Quacko Strong!"
Finding his demand unheeded he made his plea successively
as "exhortah," ''class leadah," "chu'ch membah," and (it may
be) "Chief of the Flambeau Club."
Finally the gates were grudgingly opened, just far enough
to permit him to squeeze through, not, however, without leaving
a handful of his wool in the grasp of Old Nick, who waited out-
side, after an humble petition as " A Mise-ble Sinnah name ob
Strong." . . . And I myself gauged their chances of suc-
cess, accordingly.
Then again the harps were sounded and a hush fell over all,
while the stern voice of the judge pronounced sentence. This
was repeated several times until a number of bands, tribes or
families had been judged.
Then came the separating of the chosen from the condemned,
amid a crash of all the bands of music and choirs of voices com-
bined. The entire volume of sound, however, was not sufficient
to drown the wailing of the doomed, which ever and anon broke
through in a blood-curdling shriek which almost made me scream
aloud in chorus, for the very horror of the sound.
Then again the harps were sounded, and this was followed
by the "sound as of a mighty rushing wind" or as of many birds
in flight, which cut the stillness of the air as it swept past and
beyond us.
This I took to be the first blast of a coming storm, and waited
and listened. No other followed, but the same strange hush fell
upon all Nature.
Then came a repetition, with some variations, of the scene
that had before been enacted. This time when I heard the sound
as of the rushing winds, a light broke in upon me and I arose and
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 41
looked hastily out; but, except for a far off, luminous cloud
which vanished even as I gazed, there was no change in the frozen
stillness of the moonlit scene.
Gladly I heard the second repetition of the scene com-
mence; then, when came the separating of the chosen from the
danmed, I arose and stole silently to the opening, and when
came again the sound as of the rushing winds I looked hurriedly
out, just in time to witness the third and for this time, the last
ascension.
A luminous golden car was sweeping past and above us to-
ward the eastern heavens, drawn and supported upon either
side by beautiful winged female figures. The car itself was piled
up with what seemed to be snowy, fleecy, cloudlets, upon which
a glory, as of full sunlight, rested.
Beside the car, his right hand resting upon it and apparently
impelled by the same force, since his own wings were folded, was
the figure of an archangel, evidently that of the great Judge
himself.
His form, clad in a simple white garment girded at the waist
by a cord, was grand and majestic. The figure of man enlarged
and glorified. His mass of golden hair was cut square upon his
forehead and again upon his neck; his brow was broad, massive
and stern ; his eyes, a deep intense blue, fixed as in rapt atten-
tion upon some far off point in the heavens, were steadfast and
searching in their gaze. The stern severity of his features, how-
ever, was softened somewhat by the expression of infinite sweet-
ness and tenderness that played about his mouth.
His left hand was toying with something at his girdle. Now
whether this was a tassel, or a key, I was trying to make out,
when the shrill notes of a parrot close at hand gave the alarm by
screaming suddenly: "Somebody's looking."
I gasped in terror. There was a merry laugh, like a chime
of golden bells, from the beautiful winged females who impelled
the car; a quick sign from the archangel for them to redouble
their speed, then he looked down upon me. I expected nothing
short of total annihilation because of my curiosity and temerity,
but he only smiled an amused, indulgent smile.
But before I could recover the fright of my detection and
sudden exposure, the clouds had parted and they had passed
through the gateway thus formed, into the clear radiance be-
42 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
yond; and before I could recover voice sufficient to question of
the archangel: "Art Gabriel, Izrafil or Another? Explain, oh
explain to me the great mystery which has been enacted here,"
they were gone and I was left alone.
Alone with the sound of the many bands of music of those
poor unfortunates who, like me, had been left behind.
Alone with the sound of the never-ending monologue of him
who had pleaded last, and pleaded in vain for himself and his
people against that stern decree which bade them "Walk the
earth for yet a longer period. ' '
Alone with the customary night sounds resumed, the scream
of the eagle, the hoot of the owl, the howl of the wolf and the
bark of the coyote.
* * *
More curious than ever we returned to La Gran Quibira in
the hope that we might be able to solve the mystery there, where
the first clue had been given us.
It was a well-known custom of those who are supposed to
have founded this place, to bestow upon both individuals and
places a name having a meaning derived from some peculiarity or
action. Now I never could discover any meaning to the name
Quibira. Whenever I questioned either Mexican or Indian upon
the point, they answered me with their invariable ' ' Quien sabe. ' '
I am aware that it is a most delicate matter to perpetrate a pun
in an unknown language, yet I ventured upon christening the
place "The Quien Sale Muy Grande."
It is my opinion, however, that the present orthography of
the word is due to the necessity we of this historic age have of
spelling these ancient names "by ear," and that in reference to
the subterranean ruins I have described and to the cliff dwell-
ings which were also discovered at that date, all were so frequent-
ly referred to as the relics of the great Cave Era as to be finally
abbreviated into simple Quibira. (Pronounced Kee-vee-ra, or
Cavera.)
* * *
I had lost my interest in the embodied spirits about me, ex-
cept to wonder in what manner the earthly clay was cast off,
with the exception of him who dared to contest the verdict ren-
dered against him and who could still be heard loudly to murmur
and complain.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 43
' ' Was this Satan, ' ' I asked, ' ' giving vent to his anger at the
number of human souls who had eluded his dread grasp? Or
was it some prophet of old, who, intentionally or not, had mis-
led multitudes to their own undoing?" And with this question,
the revelation came, and I cried aloud in an agony of remorse
and shame: "Lord God of Israel. Why, it is Jesus of Nazereth
who passeth by."
But I never ceased to question and to wonder in what new
world, and under what new conditions, the disembodied souls I
had seen borne upward had entered upon their new existence. It
seemed significant to me that at the precise point of their disap-
pearance the sun arose next morning, but this was not a definite
answer to my queries.
# * #
Returned to La Gran Quibira, I was granted visions both
waking and sleeping. I will relate to you only one of my waking
visions.
A small spring of water had been uncovered near the foot
of La Gran Quibira Hill. I had claimed the privilege of naming
it, and had christened it: "Living Waters."
Some time after this, being unable to sleep, I got up and
went out into the night. Chancing to turn my head in the direc-
tion of the spring, the distance which separated me from it
fully a mile and a half seemed suddenly annihilated and I
found myself upon the outskirts of a vast multitude of shadowy
forms, all crowding toward the water. Each held an empty oya,
or water jar, of greater or smaller dimensions all sorts and
conditions of jars. I noticed one of exquisite beauty of shape and
design, semi-transparent and colored with most delicate tints of
green.
"Oh, how beautiful," I cried, "Do give it to me," and the
bright-faced Indian woman who carried it presented it to me
w r ith a smile.
As I took it, I saw, poised in midair above the spring, a
figure grand and majestic as was that of the archangel whom I
had beheld at the scene of the ascension, but habited in sweeping
robes of somber black, with wings black as a raven's and shrouded
from head to foot in a thick veil. Now whether this was the
figure of a male or of a female I could not determine until a hand
44 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
swept back the heavy folds of the veil, disclosing a woman's face
of rare yet unearthly beauty.
Remembering the stern severity of that other face, and con-
trasting it with the sad yet sweet serenity of that upon which I
gazed entranced, I said: "What wonder men love darkness rather
than light."
But with a gesture as of possession toward the waters of th?
spring, the figure bent its somber gaze full upon me and ad-
dressed me thus: "Thou hast named them and rightly 'Living
Waters;' yet are they the 'Waters of Death.' '
In surprise I cried: "Then death is not the grim and ter-
rible monster we have been led to believe, but a solemn, beauti-
ful mystery whom none need fear to meet. ' '
"I know thee, Lilith, mother of sin, harbinger of death,
thou, thyself, art death."
She bowed and smiled assent, then vanished with the rest of
the scene, and with a shock I found myself back again at the
doorway of my tent, with yet more food for reflection and for
speculation.
Now if this had been the only food required to support ex-
istence, I should have remained upon this enchanted ground until
I had dispelled the enchantment and solved the mystery; but I
am unhappily so constituted as to require more substantial nour-
ishment than mere air.
# # #
There are those who rise above the titular dignitaries of the
earth. These are they who are endowed by Heaven itself with a
mission. I had hoped that I was one of the chosen few, and that
my mission was not only to supply that missing link which would
connect the history of the present with that of the past, but that
I was also specially ordained to discover those which would con-
nect both past and present with the future.
But being possessed of all the requirements common to mor-
tals, and left here without the means of supplying them, I was
forced to wonder if instead I had but tasted of "forbidden
fruit." If so, I determined upon making Eve's answer to her
liege lord, w r hen reproached for having eaten of the forbidden
apple, my own, and say: "I have eaten. I possess the know-
ledge and I feel within myself the power to master all that is
still hidden from me. Therefore I do not care Adam." (A damn.)
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 45
(And this laudable thirst for information both upon the
part of Eve and of myself, is what men call "Female curios-
ity.")
So I left, in the belief that of all those who profess interest
in like pursuits in discovery and scientific research I had but
to ask, to receive the help I required to return to the work of un-
raveling this great mystery.
But I found that there is nothing so "sham" as the sham
scientist. Whenever I broached this subject to any of these great
personages, I seemed but to institute a game of cross-purposes
reminding me of a game we played as children called "Cross-
Questions and Crooked Answers."
I first applied to one, high in repute in such matters. But
lo! here I trod upon antiquarian toes and elicited only a howl
of pain, or it may be of fear, lest I further poach upon what he
chose to consider as his "preserves." This great personage dis-
played to my wondering gaze a large collection of what he called
"Indian Idols" rounded discs of stone with three holes drilled
in their surfaces at irregular intervals. Rejoice with me, oh
Christian friends, that the worship of these in no wise imperiled
the souls of those poor creatures who are said to have bowed
down before them, since they resembled nothing ' ' In the heavens
above, the earth beneath nor in the waters under the earth. ' '
I then called upon a high dignitary of the Catholic Church,
believing that he would be interested in helping to preserve the
ruins of this place founded by, and in searching for further
relics of, that ancient community of his own faith.
His reply was: "We can only help the living; we can do
nothing for the dead. ' '
I failed to see the application to the case in point, but
dropped the suoject without further comment.
I next applied to one high in civic authority. I did not re-
late to him all of my strange experiences upon this ground, but
asked his assistance in devoloping the natural resources of the
surrounding country; in helping to preserve these great and in-
teresting ruins from total destruction at the hands of the insati-
able treasure-hunter and bone collector, and in searching for fur-
ther relics and for the records said to have been left behind by
the Franciscans in their forced and hurried flight.
46 LA GRAN QUIBIKA
He refused, saying: ''I am a materialist." (Self-confessed,
a body without a soul.)
I felt that I was alone in the genuine unselfish desire to
probe this great mystery to its very heart, and to give to my own
generation the glory of having solved it.
Yet no person or circumstance, however trivial, but what
seemed able to exert a restraining influence upon my will and
actions.
As time went on in unavailing efforts to secure the aid I so
much required to return to this great work, I grew despondent.
I will not deny that at this time I thought frequently of the al-
luring image of death as it had appeared to me.
But oft-times the victims of the greatest human injustice are
made the special objects of Divine favor. And so it was with
me. In the hour of my darkest disappointment and despair at
ever being able to resume my work, a revelation was sent me from
Heaven. The veil of the mysterious past was lifted for me and
its lost history unrolled as a scroll before my eyes.
Oh, ye archaeologists who strain at historic gnats yet swal-
low non-historic camels that is to say who reject small truths
yet greedily devour great falsehoods begin not as ye all have
begun and indeed as I began, at the wrong end of this broken
chain to attempt to mend it by supplying its missing links, but
go back to first principles in all things.
I will not ask you to go back of that date of which ye claim
ye have certain record that of the Creation as given in the
scriptures and view the earth with me as it then appeared after
it had been populated, depopulated, reconstructed and repop-
ulated by as many sizes and colors or races of men formed can
you doubt it in the image of as many successive creative gods.
The earth, which had been desolated and had its every feature
changed as many times as there are destructive elements.
This portion of the revelation I will seal up unto myself for
my own perusal and gratification. But I will respect that nar-
row-minded prejudice of yours, which leads you to pin your faith
to the traditions of the Hebrews rather than to those of any other
people, and will assume the earth to have been created as ac-
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 47
cording to those traditions, and as according to them, populated
by the Caucasian race.
Then from this the date of the creation to that of the deluge
behold the earth. . . .
But here a voice, not of the angel of the Lord, but of the
demon of policy, commands me and says:
' ' Seal up this portion of the revelation also. For a time and
yet a time until such a time as the local demand for its produc-
tion creates for it a market value equal to that of the best foreign
importations. ' '
LA GRAN QUIBIRA
A MUSICAL MYSTERY
OPERA HISTORIQUE
THE OVERTURE
SYMPHONY SECUNDO. (C Major)
"SHE"
INSPIRATION - - - DIVINATION
SYMPHONY SECUNDO. (C Major)
"SHE"
INSPIRATION DIVINATION
This little world of ours we call the earth is but one of the
nine great planets of the solar system.
This system of planets includes, besides the Sun himself, who
dominates them all, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Neptune, Uranus,
Venus, Mercury and the Earth.
This little world of ours is said to be composed entirely of
land and water; its shape that of an oblate spheroid and its
movements two, diurnal and annual, in the first of which it re-
volves upon its own axis, while during the time allotted to the
latter it makes a revolution entirely around the sun. I use the
phrase "is said to be composed entirely of land and water" ad-
visedly. For at the end of upward of six thousand years of
scientific research, scientists have arrived and stopped at this
absurd conclusion.
''Who disputes iU"
Why I and common-sense. For if this little world of ours
were composed entirely of land and water, it would be but a
senseless hulk, a lifeless corpse, w y hich to become a sentient thing
would still require to be endowed with its heart of fire, its lungs,
the air and its soul, the light.
Yet the progress made by scientific research during the past
few generations is truly amazing. For scarce five centuries agone
and previous to that date, indeed, so far back as my recollec-
tion carries me to the date of the creation as given in the Scrip-
tures, where God is said to have finished His work by creating
Man (and setting him to rule over me} we are supposed to have
believed this little world of ours to have been even a flatter thing
that it really is.
Some of us believed that this flatness rested upon the back
of a huge tortoise, while others declared that it was placed upon
52 I .A GRAN QUIBIRA
the head of an immense serpent which stood upon its a ah
tail.
But since none of us provided a substantial resting place
either for the feet of the tortoise, or the tail of the serpent, these
beliefs fell through in time, as may be supposed, for want of a
solid foundation. And less than five hundred years ago, when
Columbus, the great Columbus, that stepping-stone of jasper,
by the aid of which so many others have mounted to fortune and
to fame that stepping-stone of finest jasper, from which the
soil of the dirty foot-prints of those others actuated by sordid am-
bition or grovelling greed once cleansed away, must shine forth
in all its native purity of character which yet was not without
its flaw when Columbus, our great Columbus, first declared it
to be his belief, not only that the world was round, but that the
same state of affairs existed over all its surface, that it was in-
habited upon the side opposite to that upon which he found him-
self, he met with only ridicule, contempt and disbelief.
One of our great sages in particular, I remember, declared
that nothing would make him believe that men could walk upon
their heads or that trees grew with their roots in the air. (In-
deed, so great as this, my friends, was the assininity of our im-
mediate ancestors.)
Yet since that date, scientists have discovered, to their own
satisfaction, at least, that the shape of the earth is nearly round ;
that its circumference is twenty-five thousand miles; and its di-
ameter nearly eight thousand miles.
But this last is from surface measurement or from mathe-
matical deduction alone, for w r here is he who has taken the true
diameter of the sphere, penetrated through its central wheel of
fire that wondrous water meter upon which the earth, the
ground we prize so highly that we barter and sell it by the acre,
the rod, the yard and even by the foot, and which has been the
cause of more contention and bloodshed than has any other
known thing setting race against race, nation against nation,
and even brother against brother in deadliest warfare is, after
all, but a mere incrustation of mud and dirt upon the tire.
Many are they who have circumnavigated the earth and who
declare its true waist measure to be indeed twenty-five thousand
miles. But where is he who has safely steered between the
Scyllas and Charybdis of our own atmosphere, pierced through
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 53
and circled about the outermost layer of clouds, the last of the
many cloud-belts by which the hand of the Almighty binds and
holds in place the casket we call the earth, in which He has placed
the germs of all earthly life (These indeed might generate and be
forced into existence by the grateful warmth from within, but all
of them must perish at their birth were it not for the genial air
provided for them to breathe that connecting link between the
vital spark within and the vital spark without; that conductor
between the electric light and heat without and those within)
and so taken the true circumference of this little world of ours,
which is composed not only of land and water, but of that no
less essential element, fire and the even more necessary adjuncts,
light, heat and air.
* * #
To give, to receive ; the call, the response the chord that vi-
brates between these are the unrevealed secrets of our being.
All things, even opposites, it has been said, may be told off in
pairs. If so, then here it would require ' ' three to make a pair ' '
and counting this responsive chord, even a fourth.
The Creator, the destroyer, symbolized by love and hatred,
good and evil, which are not the abstract qualities they seem, but
are described as being engaged in eternal, active warfare but
what are good and evil in themselves without the throne for which
they continually contend the heart of man 1
Life and death represented by day and night, light and
darkness, but what are these in themselves without the object
they act upon or indeed without the electric cord which binds
them to it?
The soul of man like the world that man inhabits, is but a
divided kingdom ruled jointly by a creative and a destructive
God.
To acknowledge the supremacy of good and to worship that
God whose symbol it is, is what civilized man calls his religious
faith, yet everywhere, even in the smallest items, evil continually
asserts its ascendency.
I can think of no bettter example of this, at the moment,
than the one given in that Biblical romance where she of ill-re-
pute, the Witch of Endor, calls up the Spirit of that Godly
grumbler the Prophet Samuel, and forces it against its will to
54 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
reveal to King Saul the time and place of his own near-approach-
ing death.
" The Witch of Endor ?" She? Oh, no, I am not she. For
lo ! a greater than the Witch of Endor is here.
The electric cord. ELECTRICITY. In that one word we
sound the keynote to all existence.
Strange how very slow we have seemed to be in grasping
even a rudimentary knowledge of this great electric science, the
science of life.
The Voltaic pile, the many curious and beautiful experi-
ments of electricians subsequent to its discovery, among them
those of Franklin, who caught and played with the electric fire
from the clouds; that of Dr. Richmond, who, by the aid of an
electrometer erected upon a housetop in Moscow, grasped in one
single flash more practical knowledge of the science than was
possessed by all of the electricians of his day combined, yet un-
happily in science's interests was not permitted to remain and im-
part it to them. These you will say are but the things of yester-
day. For less than three hundred years ago we were total strang-
ers to the electric battery, the telegraph, the electric light and to
that mighty benefactor of mankind, the lightning-rod man, who
grasps the thunderbolts of Jove as they are hurled and turns
them from their course. Even that newest "fad" Electric
Christianity was quite unknown.
Yet it is but the arrogance of intellect to suppose that none
as yet have gained these heights to which it is but making the
ascent that it has mastered the science of life while in truth it
has but progressed toward the attainment of the art of living.
Man's religion meant for his heavenly salvation of times
proves his earthly bane.
In no instance is this made more apparent than in the fact
that during all the ages of the past he has wilfully steeped him-
self in ignorance, leaving all learning to the priests and teachers
of his religious faith. During all the past the religious priest-
hood has been permitted either to absorb or to suppress all know-
ledge. But believe one who has been from the beginning: "In
each and every age there have been those who have reached this
goal toward which you are but taking your first strides."
A MUSICAL, MYSTERY 55
In the insolence of your small successes, ye even ignore and
deny to it its rightful place, the greatest of all electrical experi-
ments of which ye have the record, and because it so far sur-
passes anything to which the present age has attained ye miscall
it by the name of a miracle.
I refer to that grand experiment of the Prophet Elijah upon
Mount Carmel, where upon the twelve charged stones he erected
an altar to Jehovah, his God, placing thereon fuel, heavily laden
with electricity and upon this, in turn, a bullock prepared in
like manner and thus formed a mass of combustible matter so
heavily charged with animal, vegetable and mineral electricity
combined, that had it been placed near the head-waters of the
Mississippi, then lit with a spark from the clouds surcharged with
the electric heat of an unprecedented drouth, the names thus ig-
nited must have licked up the waters of that great river itself
and the Mississippi would have been no more.
But when a ministering spirit takes upon itself the role of a
destroying angel, even though it act in the name of and for the
glory of God, then God rebukes and even chastises it. And so it
was with the Prophet Elijah. Not content with having accom-
plished his mission that of reuniting recreant Israel to its God;
not content with the success of his pious fraud, which not only
"electrified and humbled all Judea, but even induced King Ahab
to purchase a through ticket to Paradise on the spot, (which, how-
ever he lost before starting and was, as I have since learned, ac-
cording to rule put off the train at the first way station) Elijah
must needs cause the death of the four hundred and fifty priests
and princes of Baal ; and God, to punish him for this act of wan-
ton cruelty, permitted his secret to be detected by a woman,
the prophet's arch-enemy, Jezebel. And when Queen Jezebel
swore a mighty oath that even as were the four hundred and fifty
princes and priests of Baal, so, likewise should be the Prophet
Elijah within a given time, sending word to him to that effect,
the Prophet Elijah practically confessed the imposition he had
practiced by running away.
For Elijah ran not like a prophet of God but like a Son-of-
a-man.
' ' Jezebel 1 ' ' She 1 Oh, no, I am not she. For lo ! a greater
than Queen Jezebel is here.
56 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
Yet was Elijah a prophet of the great Jehovah, since in the
name of that God he prophesied, among other things that which
came to pass many generations later, the advent of that Prince
of the house of David, the Savior and Redeemer.
The Prophets of God. Who have they been ?
At eventide the Sultan had a vision. Hear him relate it.
# # *
"I sat enthroned, the last of my race and of a long dynasty.
I had held absolute sway over my myriads of people in war and
in peace during many long years.
In war I had led my soldiers to victorious battle with the
war cry of our nation and our religion: "Allah Achbar," and
taken up the oft-repeated refrain "For God Is God and Ma-
homet is His Prophet."
Then in peace, with spoils of war, I had builded mosques and
palaces, theatres and schools for these my loving subjects who
shared with me their every joy yet hid from me their sorrows and
their sufferings.
In pursuit of power, possessions, pleasure, I had passed
from youth to hoary age. My beard had turned from gold to
brown, from brown to silver, then hung in snowy waves far be-
low my girdle ; and now, ambition satisfied, craving no more for
conquest, surfeited with all the sweets of life, yet denied the one
great desire of my heart that of sharing my throne with Azalea,
my beloved Christian wife, that our children might inherit it
plunged in the gloom of a first great disappointment, I began to
bethink me for the first time of the journey all must take and take
alone, across that slender bridge Nirrvanna, and to wonder what
for me lay beyond. So I began for the first time to question
earnestly "Lord, What of my soul's welfare? What shall I do
to be saved ? Send, oh ! send some of my race or of my kindred
who have safely crossed Nirrvanna that they may tell me what
they have found in the seven heavens beyond!"
I sat enthroned. The noisy glittering pageant of the day
my council, who had donned the robes of state, the better to im-
press me with the solemnity of their decision that ' ' only the chil-
dren of a wife of my own race and faith might hope to inherit
my throne;" my royal guard, in their brilliant uniform; the
long train of ambassadors from foreign courts, with their retin-
ues of attendants and pages all in gorgeous array; ambassadors
A MUSICAL MYSTERY
57
who had come in their own sovereign's names to plead or to re-
monstrate with me ; the yet longer train of suppliants in holiday
attire, most of whom but coined a prayer that they might have
speech with the Lord they loved all had passed away, and but
for the many hued slaves who flitted noiselessly about like so
many of the spectres I had invoked from the world beyond the
grave, the great audience hall was empty.
My dancing girls had come and gone abashed at my un-
wonted mood, and but for the plash of the perfumed fountain in
its center, the great audience hall was silent.
Then again I cried aloud ; ' ' But what of my soul 's welfare ?
Lord, what shall I do to be saved? Send, oh! send some of my
kindred who have made safe passage o'er the hair-like bridge
that they may show what they have found in the Paradise be-
yond, even to the glories of the seventh heaven."
A soft hand was pressed upon my own and rested there,
and I knew that Azalea, like Queen Esther of old, had come un-
bidden into the presence of her sovereign Lord. But I looked not
at her. My heart misgave me. Instead my gaze was riveted upon
the tapestry which closed the entrance to the great audience
chamber. '
The tapestry moved as if lifted by unseen hands and there,
framed in the doorway as in a picture, I beheld the figures of
our first parents, radiant in health and beauty, perfect in sym-
metry of form and feature stamped "fresh coined from the
mint of their Creator."
Then another form appeared and earth's first baby was
there.
At once the reins of government fell into infant hands. All
creation bowed before him, none so abjectly his slaves as were
his proud parents. Impulsive, passionate, uncontrolled he ruled
an infant despot.
Then a second baby came and without reason, as it seemed
to him, the reins of government were wrested from the hands of
the first and held by those of the second.
And so was established Baby-sovereignty a sovereignty
which has known no downfall, but whose reign has been un-
broken during six thousand years of time throughout the space of
the whole earth.
58 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
But this usurpation of power, like all other acts of its kind,
bred discontent, jealousy of the usurper, and rebellion in the
heart of him from whom it had been taken.
They grew and grew these first earth-born brothers and as
they grew they were instructed in all the known industries of
the day. Each chose for himself his calling.
They were likewise instructed in all the tenets of a religious
faith received as may be supposed by word of mouth from God
Himself.
They grew and grew to man's estate. Then the long-sup-
pressed jealousy of the elder burst forth and in a fit of ungovern-
able wrath at what he believed to be the injustice of God Him-
self in refusing to accept from him as a religious sacrifice the
best of all his earthly possessions, smiling instead upon that of his
brother which as his "best" could be no better, the elder slew the
younger brother, sacrificing him according to his religious rites
and offered him up as. a burnt-offering to his thrice-offended God
that God in whose nostrils the savor of burning flesh had
proven more acceptable than was the odor of the choicest fruits
and flowers.
God PERFORCE accepted the sacrifice but heavily indeed
did He punish him who had had the bravado to offer it.
Time passed on and that allotted to the parents upon this
earth had been fulfilled. I saw them wing their way upward
toward the sun guided by the radiant spirit of him their youngest
born who had been the first to make this ascent from earth to
heaven; but pausing, lingering by the way, looking back regret-
fully toward the earth which still held their eldest born; left
behind to expiate his offense upon the ground where it had been
committed ; then fearing to lose sight of the loved one altogether,
they stopped midway upon the surface of a beautful star, hoping
that by this, their voluntary exile from Heaven, and by their
united intercession, to aid in his atonement and to shorten the
term of his punishment.
And thus was founded what some creeds know as "Purgat-
ory," but which by Mohammedan, Jew and Christian alike re-
ceives the name of "Paradise."
From thence the younger wended his way alone, looking
back in his turn toward the loved ones left behind. And so was
A MUSICAL. MYSTERY 59
forged that triple chain of love, regret and expectation which
still binds earth to heaven, sin-stained man to his relenting God.
They were gone and in their place the patriarch Noah stood.
Sublime his simple faith in God. Simple, yet majestic, his mien,
as became one who had conversed with his Creator.
Behind him were his three sons, and although they tried hard
to faithfully copy their sire in all things, still there lurked in
their countenances avarice, cunning, greed. And when Noah was
called to his reward, halting at Paradise, he looked back in puz-
zled wonder that his sons followed not in his wake, then waited
for them there until they should have cast from off their feet
those clogs of human passions which weighted them still to earth.
Then in turn and together stood the three Jewish Patri-
archs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the scene that had passed
before repeated itself.
But here I seemed to see a vision within a vision.
As their descendants grew and multiplied upon the face of
the earth, they grew further and further from that God who had
created it and them and bestowed it upon them as their inherit-
ance. As man grew strong in intellect he divided himself further
and further from that supreme intellect of which his was but a
part; and strong in his own wisdom, wise in his own conceit, he
divorced science from religion, giving precedence to the former.
For so long had he left the name of his God to be pro-
nounced only by the priests of his religious faith, and by them
only in the Holy of Holies, that in time God's name was lost to
man and he remembered not His dwelling place.
For himself he soon tired of the covering of the canopy of
heaven and made for himself tents. These gave place to houses,
which in turn became palaces, and his primitive camps made
way for great walled cities.
And so vain was man of his handicraft that he tried to prove
that it outvied even the God-created forests and cliffs from
which he had taken the material with which to build it.
Failing in this, he cried: "There is no God. All things
evolve from natural causes."
"Children and fools," it has been said, "always speak the
truth." And here man, in the very height of his folly, hit upon
that one great truth that grand plan both of material and of
spiritual life that wonderful scheme of progressive evolution.
60 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
And here a problem was presented to me for my solving.
"Instead, as I should have supposed of this added weight of
humanity and of humanity's sins bursting the fetters which
bound the earth to its parent stem, the sun, it seemed but to
strengthen that electric chord, by drawing it more taut."
Then I beheld Moses, Elijah and the rest of the prophets.
But although I questioned these in fear and in awe as to what
they had found beyond Nirrvanna, not one word would they
answer me.
Then from without came the sound of music, of laughter and
of dancing, and in through the still unclosed doorway up to the
very basin of the fountain, trooped a merry company'of men, wo-
men and children, and in their midst was one in whose counten-
ance and bearing were blended the tender innocence of a child
with the grandeur of a god.
These I questioned without fear, but they only looked at
me in wonder and kept up their never-ending song, and the bur-
then of all this seemed to be "By faith alone. By faith alone."
Then He who was in their midst, bending His loving glance
upon me, said in a voice whose melody filled the great audience
chamber: "I am the way and the light," and again, "I am the
resurrection and the life. ' '
My heart went out to Him. My soul did Him homage. I
believed.
Then out again thronged the merry company, not upward
toward Paradise, but scattering abroad again upon the earth,
and in their wake I seemed to see the shadowy forms of all
those whom I had before beheld, and among them no, I could
not mistake him there was our own great prophet, Mahomet
himself. ,
Then I questioned of her whose hand still rested upon my
own : ' ' Azalea, sawest thou the visions ? " ,
And she replied: "Only to my lord was it given to behold
them, but he described each as it passed."
"But," said I, "These are of thy people and of thy faith.
What have I to do with them ? No, I, a Mohammedan, the mighty
ruler of a mighty people, can not become an apostate to my re-
ligious faith. 'Allah Achbar.' There is but one God."
"But," she interposed, "many have been His prophets."
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 61
No. I could not openly become an apostate to my religious
faith, but I knew that when next in the mosque I bowed, I would
shout with the loudest there: "Allah AcJibar," then whisper to
myself, ' ' So God be God, what matter who His prophets ? ' '
* * *
That there is a God and that He not only hears but answers
the prayers of His followers, true or false, whether
offered up in mosque or temple, in grove or in the extremity of
the battlefield, convince thyself, oh, devotee of science, by refer-
ence to thine own works the histories of all the religious wars
of the world.
The records contained in the books of the wars of the Lord
named in Holy Writ and many others are lost to you forever
through priest-craft. But among the annals that ye still re-
tain, "Where," I ask, "from the 'Jehovah Adonai' of the Jews,
the 'Allah Achbar' of Mahomet, down to the 'Jesu Maria' of
the Spaniards or the 'Santo Espirito' of Cortez, has God ever
tailed to be deceived by this lip-service of man, refused to
hearken to him who called upon His name the loudest, or to
award the victory to him who made the loudest promises, in the
belief that by this means all mankind might be brought in time
not only to worship the One True God which indeed most de-
but to worship Him in that manner most acceptable to Him?"
And where man has used this victory but to enrich himself
by despoiling the vanquished, converting the few, and sending
the many by devious and tortuous paths to God Himself to be in-
structed in the faith, "Where," I ask, "has He ever failed to
visit him with a deserved rebuke? Permitting him to be dis-
graced as a race, degraded as a nation, among nations, and al-
ways in his turn to be despoiled of his ill-gotten gains ? ' '
But that God is patient and all-enduring, never meting out
to man even this well-merited punishment without affording him
ample time in which to repent him of and to retrieve his fault,
witness the proofs scattered all over this little world of ours, in
the shape of the relics of the handiwork by which ante-diluvian
man believed that he might outwit and so escape God's just
judgment.
* * *
A woman slept and dreamed. And in her dream she stood
where she had often stood before, in Central Park, New York
62 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
City, by the side of the great obelisk known as "Cleopatra's
Needle." Reaching across the iron railing which protects it,
she traced with the tip of her finger the inscription thereon. Now
this held for her no meaning whatever, but something in the ap-
pearance of the broken edges of the stone, did.
A group near at hand were commenting with customary
American "gush" upon this monument to ancient Egyptian art
hewn, as they declared, from one single piece of rock.
Asking her opinion, at length, she replied : " It is not made of
solid stone, but is composed of bits of granite from the quarries
cemented with a mortar thickened with stone-dust from the same
source. This, when dried, hardened and removed from the
mould in which it was cast, presented every appearance of hav-
ing been wrought from one single block of granite."
There was a laugh behind her, and a woman's voice said:
"Thou hast guessed the riddle which has puzzled wiser heads
than thine for generations past, ' ' and turning quickly, she beheld
in the midst of the group of attendants and admirers a woman
whose rich oriental beauty was enhanced by the bright robe of
many-hued gauze in which she was enveloped, and she knew that
she was looking upon Cleopatra herself. But what puzzled her
was that at the Queen's right hand, dressed in the latest English
mode, she recognized the explorer Stanley.
"Cleopatra?" She? Oh, no. I am not she. For lo; a
greater even than Egypt's beautiful Queen is here.
But if those grand monuments to pre-historic art the pyra-
mids of Egypt, the temples and palaces of the orient; the sup-
posed Moorish castles and citadels built upon the mountain tops
of Spain and Northern Africa; the so-called Druidical ruins,
feudal castles, Roman aqueducts, and catacombs of Europe; the
palaces and roadways attributed to the Incas of South America ;
and the Teocalli and cliff-dwellings said to have been the work
of the Ancient Aztecs of North America, were not all of them
wrought by the hands of that race of giants which Scripture de-
clares sprang from the union of the sons of God with the daugh-
ters of man, then those immense boulders which enter largely
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 63
into the construction of all were but cast where they stand, and
are, like Cleopatra's Needle, formed of mere concrete.
But no. These wonderful monuments to ancient masonic art
have proven as well-nigh indestructible as the great earth itself.
this little world of ours, which scientists declare was originally
but a shapeless burning mass that had rebelliously broken away
from the sun itself.
Believe me, the city seen at the bottom of Adriatic is no
myth, but lies there today after all these thousands of years, a
mute testimonial to the height to which the strength of man had
arrived when it dared oppose itself to the will and wrath of God.
# * *
"Jehovah Adonai." There is but one God and I am His
Prophet.
Oh, earth, rebellious child of the sun; when wilt thou re-
turn to thine allegiance?
Oh, man, rebellious child of God; when humble thyself in
the dust before the face of thy Creator ?
The earth will return to the sun never. For when her
heart of fire shall have consumed itself, and refuses longer to
respond to the electric touches of the sun, then all movement will
cease. The dread chill of death will settle over all, and this little
world of ours will become a fixed star in the firmament beauti-
ful, most beautiful in death, yet still prodigally wasting its sub-
stance upon the air, sending forth its quota of brilliant phosphor-
escent light, like the other dead and decaying worlds around
her.
But the living world?
As it appeared in its perfection of form, the earth will
never appear again. "What is now four-fifths water, was then
four-fifths land.
"You doubt it?" Why Eden was a well-watered garden,
else it would not have been Eden fertile beyond conception,
growing in profuse abundance all things good and beautiful, that
were indigenious to earthly soil. And without irrigation, plenti-
fully watered by its beautiful lakes, its broad and winding riv-
ers, its multitudes of springs and fountains, fed by the eternal
snows of its lofty mountains.
And added to this sufficiency of water, have we not the ac-
cumulated waters of that steady downpour of forty days and
64 LA GRAN QUIBIEA.
forty nights ? These, it is true, rise in frequent vapory protests
toward heaven, but are flung back upon the face of the earth, a
continual reminder to man that God's will must Ite done.
Far to the north where lies that intangible thing, the North
Pole, there rose a giant volcanic mountain from out the center of
a circular inland sea whose waters reflected in changeful hues the
lurid glow of the flames which sprang through the snows of its
summit. And from the shores of this circular sea stretched the
earth, diversified it is true by its mountains, its valley, its forests,
and its water-courses, but otherwise in an unbroken mass far be-
low the equator, and from thence it extended in five long fringe-
like points, far toward the South Pole, from between which
gleamed the salt waters of the great southern sea like the points
of some luminous star. And this great stretch of land was it
inhabited by the five races now extant, and if so, how appor-
tioned between them?
I read you this riddle.
But no, man, formed after the image of his Creator, was
lofty in stature, grand of physique, and fair of face.
But when God created man and gave to him the earth as his
inheritance, He set a limit both to man's progression and to his
retrogression, and said: "But overstep the boundaries I have
set, and I will take away thine inheritance or sweep thee from
off its face."
Man oversteped this boundary line once.
God raised His hand and smote. The earth quaked to its
very center, rocked and reeled, yawned and gaped, and when it
had closed again, had engulfed cities and their inhabitants, moun-
tains, forests and even water-courses. The inward fires of the earth
burst forth through the tops of its mountains, which threw forth
showers of burning rock, streams of molten lava, and fire which
in its turn consumed cities and their inhabitants, forests, orch-
ards, and vineyards and dried up the smaller streams.
^nd when God lifted His hand, lo ! that portion of the earti
upon which it had fallen the heaviest was seamed and scarred,
seared and browned, and behold that portion of mankind who
had survived this awful dispensation, were stamped with this
same color-mark.
And these were many. For, believe me, spite of. the teach-
ings of your religious faiths and your religious creeds, God's
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 65
own power is limited. That which has once been created and
endowed with life temporal and life eternal, with mortality
and immortality, is indestructible and cannot be wholly exter-
minated either by the hand of its Creator or by that of The
Destroyer.
Man overstepped this boundary line twice.
Then God, to show His power, swept away the protecting
clouds from about the Earth and turned upon it the full light
of His angry countenance.
Beneath that terrible gaze all things withered, scorched and
yellowed. Pestilence raged. And when God in pity turned
His face aside, man crept forth yellow yellowed by the pes-
tilence and by that awful glare of light.
Ages passed on, and man overstepped this boundary-line
thrice.
Then God in fierce anger turned His face entirely away
from the Earth. Heavy clouds arose and obscured the light
of the moon and of the stars. A darkness, thick, palpable to the
touch, spread like a pall over the land, blighting all things upon
which it rested, and when God turned to see the havoc His
displeasure had wrought, behold man stepped forth to greet
him, black, black as the thick darkness which had enveloped
him or black as God's own wrath.
And these colors were indelibly impressed upon these por-
tions of mankind, not only as a sign and a warning to them,
but also to the chosen ones, who each time had been set apart
out of harm's way.
But these read not the color-signals aright, and crying:
"Oh, thou accursed of God," set to work to accomplish that
which God Himself had found impossible, to sweep these newly-
colored races from the face of the earth.
And so bitter was the feeling, so terrible the carnage, in
this first war of the faith and of the races, that the seas ran
blood the earth swam in it. And when at length the slaughter
was stayed, lo! a new race of men appeared, dyed in the color
of, and ever athirst for, that blood from which it had sprung.
Ages again passed on and man overstepped this boundary-
line once again.
Then God, after timely warnings, the evidences of which,
as I say remain upon the earth today, "loosed," as he had
66 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
threatened "the flood-gates of heaven," saying: "This time
I will cleanse the fair earth of man who pollutes it, by water."
Down came the rain in gentle showers.
Man laughed.
God sent warning messages by the wind, the thunder and
the lightning. The rain fell heavily and steadily. Man shouted
for glee. "Water," he said, "is a blessing and not a curse."
The rain poured down in unceasing torrents. God sent a
last warning message : ' ' There is time enough yet. ' ' The
lightnings flashed it, the winds roared it, the thunders bellowed
it. Foolish man jeered.
That was his last act. The streams, swollen to torrents,
burst their boundaries and buried beneath their waters this
foolish unbeliever who had built his house upon the sand
he and his kind their habitations, their orchards and vine-
yards and their cultivated fields.
And man who had been a 'little' wise, and who had be-
lieved a 'little,' and had cautiously withdrawn to the heights,
looked on in awe but not in fear. But the rain still fell, and
the flood still rose, and soon this man too, and all his belongings
were swept away.
And the wise man? The man who believed, but did not
fear his God? The man of science, who had guaged to a nicety
the exact amount of rain that could fall in forty days and
forty nights and had taken into account the overflow of the
streams? This wise man had built for himself and his kin
and his kindreds' kin, and all their followers, strong-holds and
citadels of solid masonry many feet thick, and impervious to
water, upon the topmost heights of the lofty mountains, and
hewn out in the solid rock of the cliffs beneath, vaults and
caverns in which he had stored the greatest riches of the earth,
its grains and choicest fruits.
The rain still fell and the flood still rose, but this wise
man looked on complacently from his rock-bound heights.
Then the seas broke loose and enveloped the entire earth
in their waters and, hastily recalled, receding found not their
former boundaries and left uncovered but one-fourth of all the
beautiful land which had before appeared, and this in shattered,
broken fragments.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 67
And ah! God Himself must have turned His face aside,
at sight of the desolation and destruction wrought by this un-
foreseen accident.
"And the wise man and his followers?" Where were they?
"Drowned." Drowned like so many rats in a trap, or
smothered like new-born kittens, within those walls of solid
masonry that were "impervious to water."
But there were in those days "wise men of the East" and
wise men of the West also, and these not only believed, but
loved and trusted their God, and at His command they had
built for themselves and their families, houses that would float.
But when that terrible catastrophe occurred unforeseen
by God or man, when the seas refused to be leashed within their
former boundaries, many found a watery grave. Others per-
ished from exposure, disease and famine, and according to
traditional scripture, but one family was saved wherewith to
populate anew the small portion which was left to us of this
little world of ours.
But we have the evidence of our ow^n senses and of tradi-
tions equally as well founded, that more than one family of
each of the races now extant, escaped this awful doom, by
doing just as Noah did by "paddling their own canoes" in
safety to dry land.
But here again many died of cold, and sickness and hunger,
leaving their infant brood to be reared by the wild beasts,
among their own cubs, and what wonder if in time they im-
bibed their savage instincts and habits?
But if Noah really believed his family to have been the
only one saved not only of his people and his religious faith,
but likewise of his race, and indeed of the whole earth, then
just fancy the surprise of his grandson, Tubal Cain, if reared
in this belief, when upon his expedition to the caverns which
underlie the present city of Toledo in Spain, he found them
ready occupied by the Goths, a people more fair of face and
possessed of greater physical beauty and strength than were
he and his.
"What were they all doing there?"
Why plundering the store-houses of the dead, to be sure.
Helping themselves to that snug little sum which the wise man
who had believed but who had not feared his God, had stored
68 LA GRAN QUIBIBA
up against the needs of that threatened "rainy day," a plun-
dering that has been going on from the date of the abating of
the waters of the flood, down to the present hour.
Believe me, there is but one link missing in the chain of
events which connects the historic with the pre-historic past.
This missing link, washed away by the waters of the deluge,
has been continually replaced by these very plunderers only
to be as constantly removed again by the priests of every race
and country, and of every religious faith upon the face of the
earth, to the end that they, and through them their church
alone, might benefit by the possession of this rich and powerful
secret.
Why, what else, think ye, was the secret of the nomadic
habits of the Hebrews, long after nations less civilized and less
godly than themselves had occupied the palaces of those great
walled cities found ready-made to their hand?
What think ye, was the secret of the growing power and
the growing riches of David, while in flight and hiding from
the wrath of his lawful King, but the pillaging of the caverns
of the cliffs which offered him a safe retreat?
Where, think ye, got the ancient Egyptians that wealth
of jewels and ornaments, of which they were in turn despoiled
by the Israelites; but in ransacking the pyramids and those
underground palaces believed by them to be tombs from the
one of which the waters of the Deluge had but stripped the
earth and sand with which to bury the others?
Where, think ye, got Moses the tables of stone, but by
carefully and laboriously uncovering them from the inner
Temple, the Holy of Holies, of some grand temple hidden away
among the fastnesses of the sacred mountain? Else why should
that mystical "forty days" have entered into this legend?
What, think ye, were the records contained in the books
of the wars of the Lord suppressed by the priests; but the
true histories of these very pillaging expeditions and of the
wresting from the hands of their accidental discoverers, of that
flood-buried treasure claimed by the Israelites as their own by
right of lawful inheritance?
What, think ye, was the temptation resisted by Christ upon
the lofty mountain top, but the temptation to uncover that
number of these flood-buried cities as yet untouched by the
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 69
spoiler's hand, and which had been successfully "located" by
John the Baptist in his "prospecting tour" of forty days in
the wilderness; the secret of which was theirs by their right
of access to these very suppressed records, as officiating priests
of the great Temple at Jerusalem, and so to enrich Himself
and His followers and to establish at once and upon a firm and
solid basis that Temple which would embrace His new doctrines
of faith? Else why should that mystical "forty days" have
crept into these stories as well?
And bringing it down to our own country, and within our
own historic past, where, think ye, got the natives both of South
and North America that wealth of wroughten gems and gold
and silver vessels and ornaments, which no amount of torture
inflicted upon them by their conquerors was able to compel
their ignorance to reproduce ; but by simply taking them from
the secret vaults underlying those vast pyramidal structures
used as God's temples from time immemorial?
Where, think ye, got Montezuma his crown of solid gold
purposely misinterpreted by the priests to have been hewn
from some vein of almost pure ore inlaying one of the moun-
tains about Santa Fe? And which misinterpretation has proven
the ignus fatuus of the mining prospector from that day to this?
Montezuma but got his golden crown from the throne-room
of one of those flood-buried palaces, or from a cavern of the
cliffs, ready made to his hand, or rather to his head.
The cliff-dwellings themselves, are but these treasure-
houses in which the ante-diluvian wise man, who believed but
who did not fear his God, had safely stored away the richest
treasures of the earth in anticipation of the threatened deluge
used without doubt ages after, by generation after generation,
as a safe refuge for themselves and their families in time of
war and a safe burial-place for their dead, and which, pillaged
time after time, still yield up occasional treasures in antiquities,
to the careful, diligent and intelligent searcher.
Why I myself know, within the small boundaries of the
Territory of New Mexico alone, three of these places, the one
of which I believe to have been altogether untouched, and which
if carefully uncovered, would reveal a palace as daintily and
beautifully wrought and as richly stored in treasure as was the
great Alhambra itself, which without doubt owes its own origin
70
LA GRAN QUIBIRA
to this same source and upon whose keep is graven the legend
that here the key to the mystery was dropped by the hand of
man. (But the hand of woman had happily picked it up.)
The second of these I believe to have been but lightly and
ignorantly touched, and to the third, sacked time and time again,
the pillager has by some strange fatality been compelled to
restore the greater portion of his plunder.
But it has ever been the custom to slay the goose that lays
this golden egg. And I myself have seen an old man done
to death by slow but sure degrees, that others might benefit by
the possession of a secret they believed they had wrested from
him a secret of far less value than this.
I do not suppose that the scientist will readily accept this
simple and truthful statement of facts. It would do away with
so many of his brain-begotten "ologies." For instance,
' ' philology. ' '
All mankind being of the same race and origin, spoke the
same language. The different tongues, which have branched
out into so many others and broadened into dialects innumer-
able are but what might be termed an " accident of war,"
resulting from the necessity for "coining" words to be used
for pass-words and countersigns, and for secret and safe com-
munication with those of their own race and order who yet
remained in the enemy's country.
And would modify so many others: "ethnology," "arch-
aeology," "anthropology," "geology," "zoology," and even
"theology" but the discussion of this belongs not here.
* * *
For "Allah Achbar!" There is but one God and / am
His prophet.
But few generations now will pass away when I behoM
upon this side of the globe, one grand republic, the indestruc-
tible foundations of which are already laid, but which will
stretch from sea to sea, from pole to pole ; and upon the opposite
side of the globe one great empire, ruled by a fair-haired,
hardy man of the North. But crowns moulder and crumble to
dust, and but few other generations will have passed away,
when man having enslaved electricity and bent it to his will
to that extent that he may by its aid clear the oceans as it were
at a single bound, and so practically reunites the entire earth
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 71
into one body; Science having accomplished its true mission,
that of the extermination of the races not by slaughter but
by that more peaceful "scientific" process called "amalgam-
ation"; I behold but one race of men under one government
one vast Republic, one people with one language, one nation
with one God one religion; all mankind dwelling in peace
and harmony in one country, under the protection of one flag.
' ' 'Tis the Star-spangled Banner,
Oh, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free
And the home of the brave." .
"Jesu Maria!" There is but one God and I am His
prophet.
Woman since the days of Lilith
"Lilith?" She'? Ah, you have guessed it. For I am
"She." Type of all womankind, heaven-born, queen by inher-
itance, my crown a diadem of stars.
"He" coveted me and my possessions. We were denied
him, then "He" made war to gain us.
Ye, who shudder at what ye call the horrors, the casualties
of earthly warfare, where man opposes man and dies by needle
pricks and minute balls 'mid puffs of smoke and cannons' roar
which to me seems as but the thrice-expended echo of some far-
off battle what think ye of war in heaven, where they whom
ye would deem giants among giants contend, thunder-bolts their
missiles, forked lightning darting from eye and hand, 'mid
smoke and carnage, and din and uproar such as human mind
cannot conceive or human eye or ear a-bear?
I was conquered, but not subdued. I rebelled again and yet
again, 'til for the sake of peace, all heaven arrayed itself
against me. Still would I not submit. Then heaven and hell
combined, the one to possess, that it might subdue me; the other
to subdue, that it might possess me.
Again was I worsted. Then I demanded my rights. And
by a jury of my peers, a board of arbitration, was awarded
neither to heaven nor to hell, but deemed outcast from both
because, forsooth, of overweening pride, a vice perhaps in man
but woman's crowning virtue and banished to the earth to learn
72 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
submission there of man, believed to be the last and least of
God-created souls.
But I loved Him, and because of that love I gave Him
ready submission for a time.
We quarrelled. 'Twas all about the rule of precedence. I
claimed priority because heaven-born and meant to be his
guide and his instructress in all those secrets of the universe,
which had for this very purpose been withheld from man.
He demanded "obedience." For in his ignorance, he de-
clared himself to be the "lord of all creation," and swore that
he would bow my pride and bend me to his will.
Fearing that I would claim superiority of intellect he
plunged me into the very blackest depths of ignorance and held
me there for ages.
Knowing well my physical weakness, he yet laid burdens
on my shoulders under which a beast of the field might well
groan, sink and die.
He outraged, debased, defamed me. He called me "Sin,"
he named me "Death," and when was he ever backward when
God Himself reproved, in shielding himself from the conse-
quences of his own acts behind that pitiful plea of: "'Twas
the woman Thou gavest me. She "
And through it all he said: "Make for me a home. Bear
and rear my children. In sickness, nurse me. In trouble,
soothe me. In sorrow, comfort me." And I gave him unwilling
obedience, the very worst form of rebellion, and bore my cross
as best I might. For when for woman has there ever been a
Simon of Cyrenef
Trampled upon, crushed to the very earth, yet through
love that one heavenly attribute of which man was powerless
to deprive me through mother love, through wifely love, through
filial love, and even through sensual love, I arose each time
like the Phoenix from my own ashes and today on earth I stand,
man's equal.
And God who requites, has given to woman through me,
as a recompense for her wrongs, that mission which He who
came in guise of Man but half fulfilled the redemption of all
mankind.
Not by weaning from God the affections of His true and
rightful subjects, by attempting to share them with Him, so
A. MUSICAL MYSTERY 73
setting up a Divided Kingdom here upon the Earth; but by
urging a return to that ancient faith upon which all other re-
ligious faiths and creeds are founded, but in its purity and its
simplicity as when God's own gift to man; and by the re-
demption of your Kedeemer, whom ye in your folly in sep-
arating His religious teachings from His religious faith have
made an unwitting, unintentional usurper of God's own throne,
and, for this sin of yours (that of His followers, all of whose
sins He took upon Himself) have doomed to banishment from
before that Throne and to exile to the earth an exile not in-
terminable, but to last 'til such a time as His own prophecy
concerning the rebuilding of the great Temple of Jerusalem,
be fulfilled in its spiritual and true sense, and He thus be en-
abled not only to gather together the whole of His scattered
flock, but to safely house it in the fold.
Ah! Had ye heard Him lament, as I have done, this long
and weary exile from His heavenly home ! Had ye heard Him
plead for you, as plead He must at each successive resurrection
of the Christian dead 'til every soul that has professed belief
in Him shall have gained the strength for its upward flight!
Had ye heard Him mourn that of the many who each time are
"called so few, so very few are chosen," ye would hasten back
along the mistaken pathway of nearly two thousand years, and
remembering that up to the very hour of His shameful im-
prisonment which ended in a yet more shameful death, Christ,
a Jew, not only worshipped when permitted in the great Temple
at Jerusalem according to Jewish rites, but officiated there as
well according to those rites as an hereditary priest, and en-
grafting Christ's new and reformatory doctrines upon that
religious faith in which He Himself worshipped (the only tree
upon which they can attain to their most perfect growth) begin
anew the building of the Temple, rearing the structure of those
doctrines upon the solid foundation of that ancient religion,
and earn for your Saviour His release.
But there is time enough yet. For of the three days in
which the great Temple is to be thus rebuilt three days, each of
which is "as a thousand years" less than two have passed
away.
74 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
"And I?" "Why I am but that fore-runner who has been
the first to take courage to point out to you the fact that ye
have for so long a time mistaken the way.
* * #
"Jehovah Adonai!" There is but one God, and I am His
prophet. ' '
The study of astronomy has ever possessed the greatest
fascination for the mind of man, and throughout its entire pur-
suit the influence of the other planets, not only upon the earth
and its inhabitants, but upon their destinies as well, has been
recognized to a greater or less extent.
But here again is manifest the folly of man in separating
those two whom God having "joined together" meant to advance
side by side science and religion.
For so soon as with the former the study of astronomy
merged into that of astrology, as it necessarily must, the two
being as inseparable as the body and soul of man of which
indeed they may be said to form the types, then the latter,
through her priests crying "necromancy/' "sorcery," has
promptly suppressed the knowledge already gained in this direc-
tion, and by putting to death those who had acquired it, checked
for the time its further progress.
But we have now arrived at an age of freedom of thought
and freedom of action, in which man may not only acquire all
the knowledge of which he is capable, but may make practical
application of it as well, with fear of no more serious results
to himself than to be hooted at by an incredulous world whose
Festuses will cry: "Paul, Paul! Much learning hath made
thee mad." And whose grand-dames of the olden school will
echo it with: "Timmy, it's cracked ye are wid the larnin'."
Yet with us the study of astronomy is still in its early
youth, having reached but what may be termed its "telescopic
age. ' ' But even here science has far outstripped religion, which
even in this materialistic age is still groping about in the dark
age of mysticism.
The average man strives throughout his entire earthly ex-
istence to establish what he calls his individuality, his personal
identity. Then by some strange freak of the imagination, be-
lieves that when death has separated his soul from his body, the
former immediately becomes a bit of aerial nothingness, one
A MUSICAL 31YSTERY 7b
of a vast "floating population" of a heaven of illimitable space
ruled by a God who is but a spirit, an essence, which pervades
the whole.
Believe me, the God who created material man and material
earth is a material God and has a material abiding place.
And this, instinct, backed by common sense, must show you is
within that planet whence ye receive every possibility of your
existence all the good gifts of life ye claim are God-bestowed.
And upon the farther end of the roadway leading into
this, not only from the earth but from every other planet, as
well, dotted with material objects, the astronomer gazes through
his telescope, yet not once has it ever occurred to him to attempt
to find that other end of this same roadway which leads from
out this little world of ours with a view to establish the con-
nection between.
Through his telescope he views as well the beautiful vari-
colored staircase which leads down into the black abyss of
Saturn, his he'l, darkened likewise with material objects. And
not only has it never occurred to him to search for that first
step which leads from out this little world of ours, with a view
to establish or to break the connection between, but he does
not even take courage from the fact, that by this same stair-
way by which the doomed soul makes gradual descent to its
punishment, it may, when purified by that punishment, ascend
as well.
By the aid of his telescope he watches with childlike wonder
and delight the erratic movements of what he calls the comets,
not once recognizing them for what they really are the heavenly
gondolas making their regular rounds freighted with human
souls which they transport from one planet to another, and
lading at length with the spirits of just men made perfect,
carry them home to the sun.
Oh man of science ! Why the Persian Fire-worshipper of
the East is nearer the truth than thou.
Oh learned astronomer! Why is the Sun-worshipper of the
Orient and of the Occident as well is nearer his God than Thou.
# # *
But "Allah Aclibar!" There is but one God, and I am His
prophet.
Man having conquered the whole of this little world of ours,
76 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
peered into every nook and cranny of the great earth, made
himself master of all the secrets of the land and of the sea and
of the atmosphere he breathes, will now turn his attention
seriously to the studies of astronomy and of astrology com-
bined, with the full intent to utilize the discoveries made by
the former in making for himself a way to and conquering each
in turn all of the other planets of the great universe of which
the earth forms so small a part.
And then I say: "Let him beware!"
For when God created man and gave to him the planet Earth
as his inheritance, He set a limit to man's progression as well
as to his retrogression, and said: "But overstep the bound-
aries I have set, and I will take away thine inheritance or sweep
thee from oft' its face!"
And the limit which God has set to man's progression at
this age of the world, is the successful navigation of the air.
For the Lord thy God is a jealous God and will brook no
rivalry from His creatures.
But when man has enslaved electricity, and bent it to his
will to that extent that he may use it in such forces as to
successfully contend with the electric forces from without, then
I repeat: "Let him beware."
God never forgets His promises to man, and lest He might,
has each time He has made a covenant with him, signed, sealed
and delivered it unto him. And never again will He attempt
to sweep him from the face of the earth by any of the means
He has hitherto employed.
Never again by volcanic eruptions of destructive and con-
suming fires; witness the Sacred Volcano of the North, sunken
to the depths of the ocean, whose waters closing over it hold in
check its inextinguishable fires, and freezing, seal it under a
sea of never-melting ice.
Never again by total darkness; witness Arcturus and the
Aurora Borealis.
Never again by flood : For when the rain pours down in
torrents which seem unceasing, and man turns his affrighted
face upward, then God smiles encouragement at him through
the storm. And then? Why then a child may count and num-
ber the different layers of clouds in which the earth is en-
veloped and determine their color if not their composition.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 77
But when man is able to construct for himself a ship with
which he may safely stem the electric currents of the air, and
surmounting the difficulties presented by each of the cloud-
strata in turn, arrives at the outermost rim of this little world
of ours, whence he is able to grasp at a single glance the grand
plan of the universe, and solving by its movements the problem
of perpetual motion, is able even to perfect the "Keeley Motor,"
and pries into other secrets of the Almighty which He has
withheld from man until such a time as he has taught his heart
and soul to keep pace with the strides of his intellect, then again
I say, "Let him beware."
Never again will God attempt to sweep him from the face
of the earth by any of the means that He has hitherto em-
ployed. He will then simply permit man to become his own
electrocutioner.
* * #
"Jesu Maria." There is but one God, and I am His pro-
phet.
Man once hit upon what he calls "The Theory of Progres-
sive Evolution" and has managed thus far to evolve himself
from the oyster, with but one missing link. But over the gap
thus formed he stands aghast, unable to span the breach. Here
he has stood for years, and here he will stand for generations un-
less forcibly hoisted across.
Bah! Let me cut the gordian knot! Evolution is not al-
ways "progressive." Given man in his most brutal mood a she
ourang-outang, and behold the result; tis your missing link.
Faugh ! Rather let us take man, as we find him ready made
to our hand, and as he himself asserts "The noblest work of
God," for man's besetting weakness is vanity. This he carries
even into his religious faith, believing that when he has under-
gone that impalpable process called "Conversion," and death
has relieved him of all earthly cares he may straightway present
himself before the throne of Almighty God, and when asked to
"advance and give the countersign" has but to repeat this mys-
tic phrase "In Thine Image, Oh God" to immediately receive
"governmental patent to innumerable rich acres in Kingdom
Come."
Now just fancy the newly converted African negro, the Hot-
tentot, the Ashantee, the Australian Indian, attired in their na-
78 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
tive simplicity of sooty skin yatgan or boomerang, or the king of
Dahomey himself in trousers a-la-mode, the North American In-
dian with his filthy serape and his mass of tangled black hair,
presenting themselves in a miscellaneous group at the gates of
Heaven and demanding admittance because created "In thine
image, Oh God."
And from the American standpoint.
The imported Chinese freshly laundried (and scorched in
the process): "Me likee Joss."
The Irish American: "As loike as twin paas, Yer Honor."
The American citizen of Teutonic descent: "Mine Gott!"
Vat a likeness mitt me."
And that "immaculate conception of the nineteenth century,
the dude Americanus, freshly perfumed with the odor of ' ' Sanc-
tity" with his stand-up" "collah" and his four-in-hand "toye,"
his skin-tight "pahnts," and his "oye-glass" to his "oye,"
through which he scans his Creator with a supercilious stare as
he says, with a drawl and in his very best air : " Ah ! In Thahn
Immudge, 'Ah! e-gad! Ah."
And the government official with his hundreds of thousands
of yards of red tape which he reels and he winds and he snips
and he binds, and eyeing his Maker sternly the while says : ' ' The
rules and regulations of this department, sir-r-r-r, requires that
we should resemble each other line for line. For other require-
ments, sir-r-r-r! See department circular order number two
hundred and twenty-nine."
Bringing up the rear, leisurely, as befits one who knows his
passport to be correct, comes the old Scotch preacher quoting
scripture, as usual, where David says, "And I said in my haste,
'All men are liars.' " Eyeing the motley crew with a supercilious
leer, he pauses yet longer to apostrophize David with : " So ye
said it in your 'haste' did ye David. Faith, mon, and had ye
been here ye might ha' said it at your leisure."
Apropos of all this is the story of the three travelers in a
foreign stage coach, an Englishman, a Frenchman and an Ameri-
can. The Englishman enlarged at great length upon the fact
that he had frequently been mistaken for the Prince of Wales.
The Frenchman declared that he had often been complimented
upon the exact resemblance he bore to the portraits of the great
Napoleon. Both looked askance at the American, supposing that
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 79
he would be led to declare himself the image of George Washing-
ton, General Grant, Admiral Dewey, President Roosevelt, or
some other American notable of the past, or of the present.
Finally the Yankee was heard from. He said: "Wa-al, as I
was walking down street to home to Besting the other day, an
old friend o' mine I hedn't seen for a long time, Jack Simpsin,
mebbe you know him ? No ? Wa-al ! Jack he kim up behind me
and slapped me on the back and says he: "GREAT GOD. Is
thet YEOU?"
Believe me! Some more radical change than is offered by
mere conversion will be required before earth-born man may
present himself before the face of his Creator and with impunity
advance that plea of having been created "In Thine Image, oh
God."
This science offers to you in the shape of planetary progres-
sionphysical, combined with spiritual evolution.
Some things even in this world are done by "inspiration."
Believe this of the naming of the planets. Then weave for your-
self a new theory of planetary evolution of the body or its sem-
blance reunited to the soul.
I do but outline this. Give your God a name ; you know His
habitation. Then say that he who has gained great celebrity here
upon the earth as a statesman, or attained by other means to
grandest intellectual heights, when death has released him from
all earthly cares, and he has undergone a preliminary probation
and judgment here upon the earth, may, if deemed fitted, jour-
ney straightway to Jupiter, and progressing through the life time
allotted to him there, be promoted thence home to the Sun.
Say that he who has attained to martial renown, great gen-
erals, the good who die upon the battle field, may be sent to Mars,
and, beginning life upon that planet at precisely the mental,
moral and physical stature that he has left it off upon the earth,
may, if he progresses throughout the lifetime allotted to him
there, be promoted to Jupiter, thence home to the Sun.
In like manner, they who ' ' go down to the sea in ships ' ' and
perish there, the wise and good man who not only believed but
loved and trusted his God and who yet met death amid the surg-
ing seas at the time of the deluge, must journey to Neptune,
thence to Jupiter, thence home to the Sun.
80 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
Say that the morbid misanthrope he who has attained to
great heights in crime, will be sent straightway to Saturn where,
if purified by its inward fires, he may hope to be sent from thence
even to Jupiter, thence onward to the Sun.
Say that he who dies of love (whose heart so far overbalances
his head) must take a backward step to Venus, while the frivol-
ous, the society belle and beau, may fritter away another lifetime
upon the planet Mercury.
While some poor inconsequent souls who have gained no
heights at all, but rather have fallen a notch or so in the scale of
humanity, must make the slow and tedious round of all the
planets in turn.
And Uranus! Oh, Uranus! Now what art thou? I veri-
tably believe that in planetary evolution thou art the Missing
Link.
* # #
"Santo Espirito!" There is but one God, and I am His
prophet.
There is a story, a beautiful story believe it, for all things
good and beautiful are true of one who reigning high in
Heaven, in pity for earth-born mortals, blind ignorance of the
God whom they professed to worship, having lost the memory
even of the rites and ceremonies by which they might render
that worship acceptable to Him; and to ward off from them a
threatened visitation of the wrath of that God who deemed Man 's
blind ignorance wilful, volunteered to stoop from His high estate,
and typifying in His own person this very scheme of planetary
progressive evolution of the body and soul combined, consented
to be born again a little human child to live to manhood's prime,
then die a shameful death, in agony both of body and of spirit ;
to be buried; then to rise again, and after a stated period of
probation and a judgment, the history of which was as those
disciples who witnessed it from afar declared, suppressed at
Christ's own command, TO ASCEND. But whither? Alas,
man's visual organs are but badly trained, and are unable to
pierce beyond the lowermost stratum of the atmosphere he
breathes, and this, too, is lost in mystery and in conjecture.
And all this to the end that sinners might be saved.
But alas ! and, yet alas ! that this scheme of heavenly salva-
tion is so incomplete. For the sinner, to be saved, must meet
A MUSICAL MYSTEKY 81
Him half way and believing, repent Mm of his sins. And what
of the myriads of human beings, who living before His time were
unable to respond to His call 1 What of the multitudes of those,
who believing in and worshipping the same God, are yet unwill-
ing to abandon the rites and ceremonies prescribed by other re-
ligious faiths ? What of the many who refuse to repent, who re-
fuse to believe 1 And what of those believed by every religious
faith and creed to be almost or quite beyond redemption the
hardened criminal, the willful murderer, the suicide ?
Are all these countless upon countless of thousands of earth-
born souls to perish?
Believe it not. The scheme of heavenly salvation by plane-
tary evolution is universal. And if at that last great gathering
together, that last great judgment day, one single soul be missing,
there need be but one.
But this believe me will require a sacrifice greater than that
of life alone the sacrifice both of life here and of life hereafter,
the sacrifice both of body and of soul.
This formed the theme of Christ's agony in the garden of
Gethsemane.
Think ye that it was the dread and fear of a few hours of
mere physical suffering which so racked Him, body and spirit?
Believe it not. There for the first time, was presented to Him
that grand alternative. And He, born in human semblance, heir
to humanity 's ignorance, mistaking it perhaps for a second great
temptation, rejected it and chose the lesser part.
And where is He who will offer up as a free-will offering,
not only his body but his soul, as well, to the end that every
one of his fellow-creatures, willing or unwilling, believing or un-
believing, may in time by slow but sure degrees, attain to that
grand perfection of heart and mind and body and soul wherein
they may present themselves before their Maker's face and in
confidence of favorable recognition, advance that plea of having
been created "In thine image, oh God."
"There is no He."
Only woman inured to hardship, and to woe, inured to sor-
row and to suffering, is capable of deed like this.
The offer has been tendered and accepted,, the date of its ful-
fillment fixed.
"When?" I do not know. My mission is but half fulfilled.
82 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
"Where?" God appoints both Time and Place.
"How?" There is but one unpardonable sin.
Ye who believe that self destruction is equivalent to total
self-annihilation, believe it no longer. For there are depths of
misery, extremes of torture, outrages both to body and to spirit
to which humanity is happily a stranger.
These for thee I court. Endless; Eternal; Everlasting.
From this there is but one escape. God in pity may with
His own hand hurl that lightning stroke, that death-dealing
shaft, which plunges into utter oblivion. From this in time this
one missing soul may awake, and join the rest, those redeemed
ones in the realms of the Blest, restored, for this ; once more a
Queen in Heaven. Or if not, then be permitted to begin again
with new created souls, close under the wing of the parent Sun,
with Venus, Love, the only girl, or upon Mercury, the baby
planet.
[END OF "OVERTURE."]
THE PRELUDE.
FIELD OF THE SHEPHERDS.
[Courtesy of The Pictorial Ai
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 85
THE PRELUDE.
TEMA.
There had been war in heaven. The rebellion quelled, the
insurgents driven backward almost to the uttermost limit of the
Universe, stood in solid phalanx awaiting upon this last-contested
battlefield, the final verdict, with their leader, Le Ileithe, she
who had thrice rebelled against the laws of Heaven, and had
thrice refusing to submit herself and her virgin warriors to male
authority, standing, proudly still at their head.
Thrice, even now, had messengers been sent from the grand
council, held apart, offering pardon in return for willing sub-
mission, and thrice had this unconquerable spirit, the most beau-
tiful, the purest and haughtiest of all created beings, angrily re-
jected the overture.
"I will never submit! I will rule!! I will not obey," she
said, yet each time had generously turned to her followers, grant-
ing to them leave to abandon her, if they wished so to earn the
promised pardon for themselves, and smiled proudly that none
obeyed.
The fiat had gone forth.
The decree was "Banishment from the courts of heaven."
A shudder ran through the forms of all who heard the ter-
rible verdict; for if eternal, this banishment was the heaviest
penalty that could be imposed upon the heaven-born. But this
beautiful creature had been found thrice guilty of that cardinal
sin, disobedience.
Pity filled the hearts of the judges as well. "Who would
be so greatly missed from before the throne of God as Le Ileithe,
the most admired and the most radiant of all who were admitted
to the presence of the Deity?"
Once again, in defiance of all precedent, a messenger was
sent, granting pardon upon condition of the utter submission of
Le Ileithe and her band. Again her answer was :
11 1 will rule! I will not obey ! !"
Then the voice of the Deity was heard :
86 LA GRAN QU1BIRA
' ' Let her have her wish. Let her rule. Let her have domin-
ion over that portion of the Universe upon which she stands."
Le Ileithe bowed her proud head in mock humility before
the Divine Decree; then cast her eyes upon the barren waste
about her, made yet more desolate by her own continued resis-
tance to the established authority.
Then she turned quietly and once more harangued her fol-
lowers, urging them to leave her to bear the penalty of their of-
fense alone, and to accept for themselves the terms of the
promised pardon. She placed before them plainly all the terrible
consequences of their further disobedience, picturing to
them faithfully the horrors of this threatened cutting-off from
heavenly grace, left to work their own way back again with God's
unsparing anger upon them. She employed every argument of
which she was the mistress, entreating them to return to their
wonted submission to the old-time authority, showing how the
sacrifice of her own person alone, upon the altar of their belief,
would be accepted as an expiation of all offenses, yet prove the
victory of their cause as well.
Her entreaties which, at the last seemed to be a command,
were listened to in respectful silence by all ; but at the close of
her earnest invocation, their decision came as if with one voice :
"We will not submit! The fate of our leader will be shared
by all, has been deserved by all ! We still rebel ! ! !"
Le Ileithe thanked them as only she could do, then once
again placed herself at the head of her army of virgin warriors
with proud yet sorrowful mien, and faced toward the council
who had come forth to hear for themselves that she was ready to
submit to their will.
The movement and look were misinterpreted by all those
who yet hoped that this beautiful rebel, favored by the Deity
above all others, would submit and consent to the union proposed
to her with one of the three suitors who longed to call their own,
this impersonation of all things grand, beautiful and courageous.
Mars, the first rejected ; and Jupiter, the last ; stepped hope-
fully forward, then Saturn, who viewed Le Ileithe (most beauti-
ful of all created beings who, to preserve her personal purity had
braved the wrath of God Himself) with covetous eyes, joined
them and in their wake stood the myriads of suitors of the thous-
ands of lovely virgins who called her Leader.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 87
The voice which broke the stillness was gentle and tremul-
ous as it said :
' ' Le Ileithe, advance. It requires but perfect obedience upon
thy part to the will divine to regain thy place as the first of thy
sex and best beloved of all who bow before the throne of God."
Le Ileithe 's proud crest lifted itself in haughty surprise.
"Who dares again to name submission like that proposed,
to Le Ileithe and her virgin warriors ! Le Ileithe, a Queen by
right, will rule. She will never obey great Jupiter or any other
of those who call themselves her peers."
' ' She aspires to mate with Deity itself. She would be Queen
of Heaven ! ' ' sneered Saturn audibly.
The smile froze upon Le Ileithe 's face. Her eyes dilated
and darkened into midnight blackness. Her form seemed to ex-
pand and grow in stature. Her face whitened and grew rigid.
"Who knows?" she questioned, in tones of mocking sweet-
ness.
All who heard were awed into terrified silence by the temer-
ity of this dauntless being.
The stern pitiless voice of the Supreme Judge broke the sil-
ence, by demanding if Le Ileithe had aught to say why sentence
should not be passed upon herself and her followers, who had
been found guilty of rebellion, having for the third time incited
insurrection in Heaven.
"Naught!" she answered curtly.
The decree was then read, which doomed the insurgents to
eternal banishment from the Sun, wherein was the throne of
God, wherein His court was held. To Le Ileithe was given ex-
clusive dominion over that portion of the great Universe ren-
dered desolate and barren by her own continuous warfare against
the fixed laws of Heaven.
The female rebels heard their doom pronounced, in scornful
silence.
No so, the lookers-on.
Mars grumbled audibly. ' ' She was to have been mine, ' ' he
said, and gathered his warriors close about his person.
"She should be mine," thundered great Jupiter, and his
angry scowl darkened the entire scene, while he called his own
servitors round him by his lightning shafts.
88 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
"She shall yet be mine," muttered Saturn, his evil scowl
adding to the blackness which hung like a pall over all.
The darkness was swept aside by a sudden light, which shed
a halo over the forms of Le Ileithe and her band. The hand of
the Deity cleft the thick darkness, not, as many there hoped, to
draw Le Ileithe to himself, but to summon his hosts to drive the
murmurers back; and to hesitatingly, as they thought, sign the
decree.
The hand was withdrawn. A hush fell over all. Yet a
tremor ran through the retreating throng as they beheld the work
begin, of the cutting off of Le Ileithe 's dominion from the re-
mainder of the Universe.
The doomed female host stood silent and motionless as stat-
ues, watching the work as it progressed, not yet realizing the
full significance of that doom.
Layer after layer of vaporous clouds were woven and bound
about with electric cords round the immense stretch of ground
known as "Le Ileithe 's Land."
It was only when their sight refused to penetrate beyond
these clouds and they could no longer hear the work going on,
that the condemned host began to understand, that never again
would their eyes behold the loved companions of former days,
nor their beloved homes in the Sun.
They looked about them; then into each others' eyes, in
dread consternation. For what had they given up their birth-
right?
Le Ileithe, to whom they turned, smiled back bravely upon
them although her own heart sank under the added weight of the
consciousness that it was to her they owed their terrible fate.
Then she viewed the battlefield once again, the scene of her
signal defeat, strewn as it was with the bodies of her countless
dead.
"We of the Sun are immortals," she said, "but these our sis-
ter-warriors, who were born upon other planets, were but mor-
tals. Their souls, it is true, will take on immortality, but of
their bodies, we must dispose. Let us then bury them beneath the
ground upon which they were slain in our defence, that their
decaying bodies may enrich the soil, that thus they may still aid
us in redeeming that of which we are accused of having blighted
and which our warfare has, indeed, denuded."
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 89
In this she was over-ruled, and graciously acquiesced in
the wishes of the many. Certain beautiful white caves which
were known to them, were swept and garnished, and the dead
prepared for burial. Then at the command of Queen Le Ileithe,
who was their high priestess as well, they purified themselves and
interred their dead with all due pomp and splendor, uniting in
the ceremonies, the best features of the burial rites of all of the
planets to which these mortal sisters belonged, and from which
death was not excluded, as from the Sun.
This sacred duty performed, they set to work under Le
Ileithe 's direction to make themselves acquainted with the re-
sources of their new possessions, that they might cultivate them.
Glad, now, was Le Ileithe, that hers was a winged host, and
soon she detailed parties who scoured the whole dominion and
brought to her faithful reports of all that was in the land.
Le Ileithe, amazed at what was told her, herself made the
tour round the earth before deciding upon their permanent hab-
itation.
This portion of the Universe had been well known to her,
but devastated as it now was by her own continual wars, and cut
off from the Sun, bound about by electric clouds all seemed des-
olate and unreal to her. She seemed to see but dimly through
their vapors, yet knew that a strong guard had been placed over
her and her female hosts. Angry and wellnigh disheartened at
the prospect of an eternity of this, she made her first complaint.
She raised her arms and eyes to the Sun, which, shining
dimly, as it seemed to her, through a vapory mist, appeared to
be a separate body which had become round in shape as was also
her own portion of the Universe, and cried in accents of bitter
reproach :
"It is unjust ! ! Thy decrees are unjust ! ! For when, oh
God, did Le Ileithe ever fail in worship or in obedience to Thee ?
When thou createdst us male and female, Thou gavest to the
female portion of Thy creatures, a jewel to hold in trust; that
pearl of great price, to be surrendered only upon the demand of
love, innate purity. Because I and my maidens, not loving those
chosen to mate with us, in our effort to preserve this gift of our
God, refused to surrender our personal prerogative, perfect pur-
ity, we are said to have been guilty of disobedience to the Divine
behest. My heart, my soul, my every act has ever been my God's.
90 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
My body (purity's casket) is my own, and I alone have the right
to dispose of it. I will, and have, maintained that heaven-
born right by force of arms. That I was forced to do this is God's
injustice. Thy injustice, oh God ! ! Thine ! ! ! Thou sayest ; 'My
laws are immutable ; my decrees unchangeable. ' Say then, when
was this law of Nature (signed by nature's God) which bound
me to the sacred trust of my own purity and that of my sex,
repealed? And why were we who possess the supposed inalien-
able right to know all of the decrees of God and His heavenly
court, left in ignorance of this repeal. Oh, God, my God. To
whose authority I have ever willingly submitted, Thou hast been
unjust to me."
A voice cried sternly: "Darest thou, then, oh turbulent
spirit, to question the justice of my decrees?"
' ' I dare, and do, ' ' was the defiant answer.
"Oh thou just God(?), if this indeed be Thy will, that I
and the flower of the heavenly court, be banished because of sus-
tained virtue, by right of which alone, we were entitled to a place
before Thy footstool ; if this decree be Thine, then art Thou an
unjust God. Still Thou art the One, the only God I know; so
'Let Thy will be done.' '
Le Ileithe bowed low in mock humility, then raised her majes-
tic form to its full height and stood there the very impersona-
tion of insubordination.
The very atmosphere about her trembled, then was hushed
in awe and fear at this first openly expressed defiance of the
Deity that had ever been heard from a subject of the Sun.
The hand of God stirred it into movement again, as it cleft
the vaporous clouds and raised itself as if to smite the daring
rebel where she stood, proudly awaiting an answer, the most
beautiful of all created beings sublimely beautiful in her right-
eous anger.
God 's hand did not deal the expected blow ; instead, sudden
glory fell upon all. A golden haze shrouded Le Ileithe 's form
and there were those who thought that the hand rested for a
moment, as if in loving caress, upon the head of this fair rebel.
Be that as it may, Le Ileithe turned agrily aside and her
voice trembled with passion as she demanded in accents of bit-
ter reproach: "And why has it been found necessary to place
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 91
a secret guard of her inferiors, upon Le Ileithe, who has ever
submitted to and ever will obey the decrees of her God, whether
they be just or unjust 1 ' '
She was answered only by an ominous silence. The light
was withdrawn, but not so the guard, whom she could still see
indistinctly through the vaporous clouds which floated between,
standing at their posts.
This was the only time that Le Ileithe made complaint. In
proud silence she bore her doom and strove to lighten the hor-
rors of their fate to the sharers of her destiny.
She did as her descendant, woman, does today, she made
"the best of things."
Le Ileithe re-organized her band and gave to them their
individual and collective duties.
With supple hands which were strong beyond the strength
of giants, they set to work to clear and beautify the earth ; and
to build a temple for the worship of their offended Diety, whose
worship they strictly maintained, and habitations for themselves.
And all these were of white stone and of burnished gold, for so
it pleased their Queen.
Their many implements of war were wrought and used to
fell the great trees of resinous wood of the forests; to quarry,
cut and polish the beautiful snow-white rocks; and to mine and
burnish the abundant gold, and precious stones in which their
new dominion abounded; and to till the ground which, although
shorn of its verdure, was but the richer for the rest their wars
had given it, and for the blood that had been spilled upon it,
which was later deemed but a portion of its lawful inheritance.
In this they were aided by the inhabitants of all other por-
tions of the universe, and their lost companions of the Sun. It
was an understood fact that no direct communication with these
would be permitted to them. But many were the presents of
fruit and flowers and food, and seeds and sprigs and rootlets,
of sun-grown things that Le Ileithe had been known to love,
which were lowered to the earth in pretended secrecy, and much
of which found a temporary resting place beneath its soil, later to
spring into life upon its surface, gladdening the hearts of the
exiles, and keeping green the memory of the home they had
lost, and of the loved ones left behind.
92 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
As for Queen Le Ileithe, she seemed not to heed; and she
never spoke, nor encouraged her followers to do so, of these
things which, however, she utilized as, a matter of course. Their
wants were few and simple and were well supplied. Le Ileithe
accepted and used all the gifts in silence, without comment or
speculation, for the benefit of the earth, which, under their care,
blossomed like a rose garden; and Le Ileithe, with a curious
smile, re-christened the land "Eden" the pleasure garden. And
so it was called for ages thereafter.
Years passed on; decades, cycles, centuries, under the un-
disputed rule of Le Ileithe, the fairest of the fair; the wisest
of the wise. They who were mortal and whose inheritance was
death, through death took on immortality, and were laid away
to rest in the city called beautiful, by the side of their warrior
sisters who had died in the struggle for their liberty. This em-
bodied a new element in their faith, giving to them the hope that
through death all might, in time, return to their home in the
sun.
The high priestess, Le Ileithe, combatted this, although she
felt that it was true.
"All that broadens our religion, weakens it," she said, "let
us preserve our faith in its original purity and simplicity, bid-
ing the Deity's own time and pleasure in ending our exile."
Then the tempter entered Eden for the first time. Jealous
love had been set as a guard over them. All of the other planets
kept close watch upon the Earth. Their rulers served in turn
as captain of the guard, and hedged Eden about with their most
trusty aids. Soon Le Ileithe knew what she had hitherto only
suspected, that Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars were her watchers,
and that their chosen guards were discontent, sin and shame,
disease and death, who dared now, to approach, to tempt the dis-
affected and to deceive.
Le Ileithe found herself powerless to prevent what followed.
She could only grieve and sorrow over the defection of her vir-
gin host, who, in spite of her wise and loving counsel, out of very
weariness of the monotonous life they were forced to lead, per-
haps, threw away that pearl for which they had so long and
bravely fought, and secretly embraced the tempter, voluntarily
becoming mortal in their strife for immortality; or rather de-
scending to this mortal state that they might, through the agency
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 83
of these their tempter guards, escape their endless captivity and
thus reach in time the boundless liberty of the sun.
Sorrow as she might over this liaison between good and evil ;
between virtue and perfect purity, and sin and sorrow, the
pure and the corrupt, yet did Le Ileithe take the offspring of this
unnatural union to her generous heart and calling this race of
giants her own children, reared them as such. She built for
them cities and temples and habitations, and schools suited to
their needs, and it was noted that the worship of the Deity whose
throne was in the sun, and who was the creator of the universe
and of all that it contained, was made the foundation of all
knowledge, that God, whose anger at the disobedience of their
parents, might yet be appeased by their own unquestioning obed-
ience to the divine laws as entrusted to her and her priestesses.
Years, decades, cycles, centuries passed away, and at length
all of Le Ileithe 's warrior host had embraced death through sin,
and their commander, Queen and Chief Priestess alone of them
all was left upon the Earth alone with her foster-children.
The tempter, send by Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Neptune and
the rest who had combined to coerce her to their will, crept ever
at her side, in the form of the wise, the golden, serpent. Its
silent hiss was unheeded by Le Ileithe, who, unmindful of its
threatened sting, placed her hand fearlessly upon its reared crest,
saying: "Behind me," and held the serpent backward.
To herself she whispered: "God's pardon will yet be mine.
But it must be a voluntary gift. I will never prostitute myself
to gain it. If perfect purity of soul and body does not suffice
to gain it, then will I endure forever and ever and ever."
Perhaps it was her loving care of the offspring of her err-
ing sisters that gave color to the tale that many of these were
her own. At any rate, God, who was relenting toward this fal-
len favorite, hardened His heart once more against her, turning
a deaf ear to her prayers, and refused to recognize her unceasing
devotions ; and, giving credence to the false reports of her watch-
ers, believed her to be the angel fallen they represented her.
Le Ileithe knew and understood, but gave no sign; endur-
ing all as she had ever done, in haughty silence. "What was
there," they wondered, "that this wise princess and queen of a
new-born race did not know?" "Where did her knowledge
cease?"
94 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
Le Ileithe's face was ever turned toward the sun, like that
of a flower, and by its changeful expression they believed that
she had schooled her eyes to penetrate the vapors of the fleecy
clouds that enveloped Eden, her hearing, to pierce the dense
atmosphere in which it was shrouded, and that she both saw
and heard what had been forbidden to her as a part of her pun-
ishmentall that passed in the sun-sphere beyond.
If so, she kept her own counsel and gave no sign that she
was secretly partaking of this forbidden fruit. Her voice was
raised to it only in her religious rites and then addressed only
to* the Deity Himself, as was her birthright, scorning all media-
tion.
At all of these scandalous tales she only laughed, believing
that her purity and innocence would assert itself. And she
was right.
Years, decades, cycles, centuries passed away, yet that Le
Ileithe still dwelt alone of her species, in Eden, was proof of her
purity, because of which she could not die.
Upon being told that Le Ileithe was still Queen of the planet
which had been as it were created for her, God's own curiosity
was excited and He said : " I will visit in person this my rebel-
lious subject, who worships, yet defies me; who submits to my
divine will, obeying without question my behests, in all save this
one item, at which she draws the line; yet in her disobedience
sets up for herself and her sex a code of morality above that
which I have hitherto sanctioned. ' '
Enveloping Himself closely in an impenetrable mantle of
secrecy and invisibility, God visited the Earth in person for the
first time.
Once upon the Earth, God looked about Him in amazement
upon Le Ileithe's land, from the sight of which He had steadily
turned away His eyes since the day upon which He had beheld
this arch-rebel bound by invisible chains to its barren surface,
to expiate her crime of disobedience to that special edict' of the
heavenly council. The then naked plains were covered with
fragrant grasses and flowering trees and shrubs; the naked
hills and mountains were clothed in verdure from their base to
their summit; yet Le Ileithe had taken the greatest pains to
preserve every natural beauty both of form and feature, and the
Deity recognized the different spots upon which His eyes now
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 95
rested, in His search for she who had, as it were, re-created it out
of chaos. Nestling in the valleys and upon the sides of the moun-
tains and cresting the tops of the hills, were thousands of vil-
lages of the herders of the flocks and the tillers of the fields
and vineyards by which they were surrounded, and the temple
and palaces of the cities which crowned the mountain tops and
were the homes of all known industries, were mimic copies of
those belonging to the greater spheres.
God gazed in wonder upon all this, and smiled, well
pleased.
"What has she not guessed of all our mysteries," He
thought. "How much is still hidden from her? In time, with-
out instruction, in spite of our prohibition, she will have solved
them all. ' ' He sought, and it would almost seem^ in vain, for the
ruling spirit of this land which she had rightly christened
"Eden," and was about to turn away in sorrow, believing that
at the last, wearied with long waiting for the smile of pardon He
so far had withheld, she, too, had succumbed to the fate marked
out for her; when He beheld her emerging from a pool upon a
mountain-top ; and, approaching more closely, He saw through
the mist in which she had enshrouded herself, that she was fresh
from bathing in this sequestered spot wherein she dwelt alone,
far from the sight and sound of those who dwelt in the cities and
villages scattered over all the surface of the Earth. This was
the Sacred Mountain which the foot of mortal had never been
permitted to ascend. Its summit was crowned by the great tem-
ple, seen by mortals only from afar ; whereon dwelt and wherein
worshipped alone, since the defection of her comrade subjects,
she to whom all the inhabitants of the Earth rendered homage,
and through whom they could alone approach the Deity whom
they worshipped in their own temples, constructed after its
fashion, according to the same religious rites and observances
taught by her.
In the center of the flowering forest in which the great tem-
ple stood was the limpid sacred pool, where many of the religious
rites of the immortals had been celebrated, and it was from the
depths of this that Le Ileithe now emerged, her garments still
dripping, acknowledged by that God who had so long held aloof
from her, to be by far the most glorious of all His own creations
96 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
The radiant Le Ileithe slowly mounted the steps of her
bath, which was surrounded by steps cut in the solid rock, form-
ing a circular basin, which gleamed like pearl in the starlight,
and paused before seating herself upon the great stone chair
canopied by the same white rock upheld by beautiful carved pil-
lars, which filled a segment of the circle, then lifting her eyes
and arms toward the heavens as was her wont, she chanted softly
an anthem of praise to the Deity whose hand had smitten her.
As the pean progressed a puzzled look swept over the face
of Le Ileithe. There seemed to be a vacuum in that part of the
heavens toward which she turned. In turn, she scanned each
portion of the universe, then seemed to recognize the Presence.
She bowed her head and mounting the dais upon which the throne-
like chair was placed, she questioned: "What is Thy will with
me, oh God?"
Out from the folds of the mantle of invisibility the hand
of God was thrust and rested gently upon the waves of golden
hair, to which the water yet clung in drops and sparkled like
jewels as if loath to quit their perfumed meshes, while the voice of
Le Ileithe 's God questioned softly : ' ' Wilt thou share thy throne
with me?"
And Le Ileithe 's answer was : ' ' With Thee alone, my Lord. ' '
The interview was long which marked the reconciliation be-
tween Le Ileithe and Le Ileithe 's God, and often, as she told
Him the story of her wrongs and confessed for the first time
her errors, was the hand laid caressingly upon her head, bowed in
proud humility before Him.
This feminine soul, with all its beautiful (incomprehens-
ible) vagaries, so admirable when thus revealed, whose innate
purity preserved and strengthened, cast a halo about its posses-
sor, was a delight, a new revelation even to its Creator.
^ It was in the very midst of this interview that the Deity,
glancing downward, beheld the golden serpent rearing its hooded
, crest close by Le Ileithe 's side and whispering its softly-spoken
,, e ^lies into her offended ear.
,.f Le Ileithe 's hand restrained it, but the heel of God crushed
..it to the earth. "Crawl thou ever there, at the feet of her whom
'thou hast maligned and made to suffer injustice and wrong at my
P. hand."
Dei
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 97
This secret interview was but one of many. God seemed
never to weary of hearing of Le Ileithe 's works and teachings.
She pointed out to Him the temple and the grove-enshrouded pool
at the foot of the sacred mountain, the exact counterpart of
those upon its summit, where they sat. This was where she gave
her instructions, issued her commands to the queens and priest-
esses and rulers of the new-born race to which she had been the
foster mother.
She confessed as to how she obtained her knowledge, by se-
cretely watching and listening as it were, at the doorways of the
other planets, and by noting the results of this stolen half-
knowledge as applied to this new planet under the new and novel
regime of woman.
As for Le Ileithe, she laughed and laughed again because of
her unbounded happiness and appeared to grow in stature and
in beauty as it seemed to Him with the light of love shedding an
added radiance upon her.
And from this union of love divine and love human two
children were born. These were Adam and Eve, whose history
tradition gives to us but imperfectly.
Le Ileithe reared her children secretly and separately, per-
mitting them to hold no communication with each other or with
the inhabitants of the earth, who were kept in ignorance of
their existence.
These children were the cause of many dissensions between
Le Ileithe and her God. God willed that Adam, the first born,
should inherit and rule the Earth. Le Ileithe would not give up
her belief in female supremacy and declared that Eve should be
first in authority.
Le Ileithe set aside to Adam one of the most beautiful spots
upon the face of the Earth for his dwelling place. This portion
of her dominion was the only one known thereafter as "Eden."
Here she reared him in ignorance of his true origin, encourag-
ing him in his mistaken belief that he had been formed by the
hand of the Deity whose creation he was, from the dust and rock
of the Earth.
As time passed on, Adam, leaving the age of childhood be-
hind him, made demands upon Le Ileithe which it was impossible
for her to gratify, and she was forced to satisfy his craving for
companionship by bringing to Eden, which she had meant to be
98 LA GRAN QUIBIEA
the scene of a life-long but pleasureable captivity to him, his
sister Eve, and to join them together in wedlock.
This settled one question at least, for they were declared
joint rulers of the whole Earth, but made to dwell within the
boundaries of Eden, holding no direct communication with their
subjects, but ruling them after the manner that was Le Ileithe's
own, who still advised and held supreme control. There was but one
thing exacted from them and that was strict and unquestioning
obedience, to this decree, declared to be that of the Divinity
Himself.
We possess an incomplete account of their disobedience and
of the punishment they endured and entailed upon their descend-
ants because of this act, which sprang from the contention for
the precedence in authority which went on constantly between
Adam, who claimed it because he declared himself first-born of
the earth and chosen lord-of-all-creation, and Eve, who, keener
of wit or better instructed, perhaps, claimed it as her own right
as a daughter of the Sun who ruled the Earth. But who has told
the story of the mother's sorrow at this defection of her off-
spring, or her passionate anger and discontent at the penalty
set for their disobedience, and for the sins it entailed upon their
children and their childrens' children to the end of time?
God wearied of her tears and complaints and turned unsee-
ing eyes and deaf ears to them.
She declared that Death was punishment sufficient for any
crime they might commit, and this undergone, the offspring of
the Deity and His most powerful subject should have the in-
contestible right to enter at once into their ultimate inheritance,
and taking their place at their Father's foot-stool, rank first
among the princes of the sun.
God said: "The laws of Heaven are immutable; they are
unchangeable, and by them it is declared that all who are born
upon the Earth are subject to the penalties affixed for the sins
committed upon its surface. Had our children abstained from
that of blood-guiltiness, I might have asserted my right to re-
peal this, as thou askest of me ; or to grant unconditional pardon.
As it is I refuse to interfere. Let them suffer the death penalty
of body and soul."
A MUSICAL, MYSTEEY 99
"Le Ileithe, Le Ileithe," He cried in stern remonstrance and
reproach at her passionate anger, and, as he thought, unreason-
ing grief, and anger and insubordination against the will of
Heaven.
"Call me not 'Le Ileithe,' " she cried in a passion of tears
and lamentations, "call me rather, 'Marah,' for am I not 'The
Mother of SOITOW'?" Then questioned, as she looked down upon
her erring offspring: "Is there no hope? Is there no means of
averting this awful destiny, of escaping this terrible doom?"
"But one," was his reluctant answer. "When one is found
who is willing to take the sins of all upon himself by enduring
eternal death of body and of soul, then will the children of Earth
regain their right to work their way to Heaven. Truly art thou
'Marah' 'the mother of sorrow;' for where is this redeemer of
thy erring children to be found ? ' '
"Would I be accepted as the sacrifice?" she eagerly ques-
tioned.
There was no reply. The Presence had vanished. God had
fled in terror at her daring.
She needed no other answer, and at once she commenced
her preparations. She retired to her "Holy of Holies," of the
most holy temple, where, after performing the most sacred of the
religious rites of her priestly office, she set to work to chisel upon
the snowy surface of the great altar stone a new code of moral
laws and of physical laws as well, founded upon the old, but
modified to suit the present and future needs of the loved ones
whom she was soon to leave forever.
This work of love accomplished, she sped forth upon her
mission. In turn she visited every portion of the earth, reveal-
ing herself for the first time to all alike. She winged her way
from point to point, instructing, admonishing, explaining the
doctrine of original sin and how it was their natural inheritance,
teaching the plan of salvation which would permit them to be-
come the arbiters of their own destinies, as it were, when once
she had made the grand atonement.
When questioned as to who she was, if she were not Le
Ileithe, to whom their rulers and priestesses paid homage, she
always made answer: "I am 'The Mother of Sorrow.' Call me
Marah."
100 LA GRAN QUIBIEA
Her mission on the Earth accomplished, that of bearing to
every living soul thereon warning, and the glad tidings of hope
of this future salvation, Le Ileithe winged her way back to the
sacred mountain, where, after purifying herself, she visited the
city called "Beautiful," which was reared in the center of a
high valley among its peaks and wherein were the tombs of those
of her sisterhood whose vows of eternal celibacy kept, had
brought down upon themselves the vengeance of Almighty God ;
and which broken, had entailed upon their offspring so terrible
a punishment. Long she wandered here, visiting the tombs of
each of her dead sisters in turn, reviewing their lives, their temp-
tations and sufferings. More than once she cried in bitterness
of spirit and in sorrow: "Oh, thou unjust Judge, who forgol
that Thou wast father and lover as well ! Yet, ' Let Thy will be
done'."
Here she renewed her religious vows, then wended her way
back to the great temple where she purified herself anew. Then
she set to work to build her funeral pyre. About the throne-like
chair above the sacred pool, she piled the logs of resinous woods,
as she prepared them. She covered each layer with spices,
thickly strewn, the gifts of her children, and indeed of all the
Earth, and covered all with flowers and the grains and fruits
which her own care had fostered. Then she purified herself for
the third time, and coming up out of the waters made her way
to the temple, where she robed herself in the pure vestment of her
priestly office; and all rancor cast aside, she performed in sol-
itude, the sacred rites of that office, for the last time upon the
Earth. The Earth, which called her "Mother,' and which, if
she had not created, she had reconstructed, and which she was
about to redeem from sorrow and from sin.
Then she came forth in all the glory of her perfect beauty
and grace, this most perfect of all created beings, the best be-
loved of the Creator Himself, and sweeping away the mists
with which she had encircled the sacred mountain and screened
her devotions from the sight of the entire Earth, whose inhabit-
ants awaited in awed silence, the expected sacrifice, calmly lighted
the funeral pyre at its base and as calmly seated herself upon
her flower-bedecked throne.
Her movements were sublime in their stately grace. She
raised her eyes and her arms to Heaven as was her wont and
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 101
cried in a voice sonorous, yet fraught with sweetness: "It is
finished. Oh, my God, let this, the last act of a willful spirit,
atone for all!"
And now for the first time the inhabitants of all the greater
planets began to understand the scene that was being enacted
upon the top of the sacred mountain of the Earth. Their rulers
took fright at once at this scene of the atonement, and resolved to
rescue this self-appointed victim from the sacrificial altar.
The flames rose high and yet more high. The whole of the
resinous pile had seemed to ignite at once, but the smoke swept
ever aside, leaving Le Ileithe's form and face exposed to view.
All of the Earth's inhabitants knelt as if theirs were but
one body and cried as if with one voice: "Marah! Marah! Ma-
rah!"
Mars flew swiftly over the intervening space, crying : ' ' I will
save her. She shall yet be mine," and his archers and warriors
strove in vain to extinguish the flames, that seemed about to
swallow up that beautiful form at one gulp.
Le Ileithe motioned them back and after casting that one
cold glance upon them, turned her steadfast gaze toward Heaven
and commenced her own death-song.
Saturn said: "She shall yet be mine," and sent his servant,
Death, to claim her.
But Jupiter muttered in thunderous accents: "She shall yet
be mine I ' ' and sped shaft after shaft of swiftest lightning which
each time struck and paralyzed the arm of Death outstretched to
claim her.
Throughout all this din and uproar, of which she was the
cause, Le Iletihe's voice rose clear and distinct in its pean of
praise to that God who had smitten her so sorely, for well she
knew that she was the most powerful spirit of the Universe;
ranking second only to the Most Holy Himself, who alone could
claim her against her own will.
Ignoring all of the strife around her, her voice arose clear
and yet more clear until it reached the throne of the Deity Him-
self, and broke in glad accents upon the ear of her offended God.
Aroused from sad and angry meditation of which she her-
self was the subject, and by the smoke of the incense from the
102 LA GRAN QUEBIRA
altar of sacrifice, God saw and heard and understood and inter-
posed.
He made His way speedily to the Earth. His hand was out-
stretched and almost too late grasped the form of Le Ileithe,
while that voice which was so seldom heard by His subjects said
tremulously: ''She is MINE!"
What became of her whose death-song was thus stilled,
none knew with certainty, but guessed that the newly-created
light which illumined the Earth by night, and before which the
stars paled and did homage, was the home of her who had offered
herself up as a burnt-oft'ering that the future salvation of her
children might be assured.
And this was true. And thus, in a manner, was created two
new planets for the arch-rebel, Le Ileithe, who for her brave de-
votion to her offspring was translated, and the banished princess
of the Sun raised from her station as Queen of the Earth
to become the Queen of Heaven, and from her throne in the heav-
ens, she watches over and fructifys the Earth, making light its
dark places, and forms the connecting link between it and its
sterner parent, the Sun.
This is the true story of the creation of the Earth, and this
is likewise the true story of Le Ileithe, whom the Israelites be-
lieved to be Adam's spirit wife, that they might better establish
the ascendancy of man over woman, who later appeared in the
earth-born form of Eve.
Slanders against her sex never quite die out, and Le Ileithe,
identified with her dwelling-place, is called by many, "The
Strumpet of the Planets. " But she, deaf as ever to all calumnies
of herself or her sex, moves calmly on her way, deigning no de-
fence, permitting the cold radiance which emanates from her
presence alone to assert her purity to the pure in heart, who
never fail to worship her as their most holy priestess.
When man abrogated to himself the holy office of priest-
hood, for ages denying it to woman, he purposely misinterpreted
this story, yet among men Le Ileithe has, during all the past ages,
of the Earth, had her devoted worshippers.
The ancient Egyptians worshipped her under the name of
Isis and gave her in honest wedlock to Osiris, (The Sun). The
Greeks adored her as Ceres, and knew her again as Vesta. The
Taltecs worshipped her as "The Serpent Woman," and pictured
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 103
her with her right hand borne heavily downward upon the head
of the golden serpent, which reared itself to its full height to
whisper its temptations, yet failed to reach the ear of the woman,
wise beyond the serpent's wisdom. She was the Goddess Hytan-
na of the Aztecs, to whom they prayed for peace and plenty.
And by many other names has she been known and worshipped
in every portion of the Earth throughout all the past ages.
THE ROMANZA
THE PLACE WHERE JESUS WAS BORN.
[Courtesy of The Pictorial American.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 107
ACT I.
INTRODUCTORY.
CANTO THE FIRST.
A FANTASIA "THE GIFTS OF THE GODS."
The veil of golden mist was lifted from before the face of
the Sun. The gates of pearl were thrown wide open, and the
drawbridge lowered across that sea of seething flame in which
doomed humanity writhed and shrieked and groaned, under the
infliction of that most terrible of all physical torture, joined to
that greatest of all mental suffering that can be endured by the
jealous soul of mortal, to be forced to look ever upon the perfect
bliss of those whom they wronged in other worlds.
Then out from the keep within, through the gates of pearl,
there issued an angel host, winged, with garments charged to
their utmost capacity with the burden of electricity required to
bear them safely upon the long journey before them through
the air.
Across the lowered drawbridge they swiftly speeded, blind
to the sight of the writhing, tortured souls beneath them, burn-
ing, ever burning ; deaf to their cries, which indeed were hushed
as they caught sight of that which was borne in the midst of the
angel host, and which they so carefully guarded the soul of a
mortal who, having gained heaven by that slow and tortuous
route marked out for all, had lost it again by some act of insub-
ordination and was being returned to one or other of the planets
to begin anew the strife for heaven.
At the far end of the drawbridge the host took flight, guard-
ing most carefully the golden car in whose depths reposed,
gleaming brightly through its fleecy wrappings, that formless,
shapeless, yet beautiful thing an immortal soul.
There was some slight stir among the host as the leader di-
rected their flight toward Jupiter, and not to Saturn, as were
their orders ; but all obeyed the signal and sped quickly and yet
more quickly as was their need if they performed their mission
within the allotted time.
108 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
The accustomed sounds of the upper air were hushed at
their approach. No lute or harp or cymbal sounded. But the
leader of the angel host shuddered when she noted that the swift
movement of the guardian band drew from the silenced instru-
ments weird melody, sweet, but oh, how sad.
Great Jupiter himself came forth to meet his unwonted
guests, accompanied by Queen Juno.
The leader took them aside and hastily told the story, be-
seeching them to bestow upon this unfortunate soul the best of
all their gifts, and to see the host safely upon their journey at
least so far as Mars.
"Is this the soul of a male or of a female?" asked Jupiter
curiously.
"Who knows?" was the reply, "but it seems significant to me
that we of the convoy are all female. ' '
"Perhaps it is 'She,' my rebellious Queen, who escaped me,
who thought to quell her turbulent spirit and unbending pride,
and who by that one grand act eluded me and gained the Sun at
a single stride, as it were;" and his brow clouded. "Well, of
whatever sex this soul be, I will help it on its weary way, by be-
stowing upon it the very best gift that mortal may possess ; and
that is 'moral courage.' " And he dropped into the golden car
a diamond of wonderful size and brilliancy.
"And I," said Juno, "will give to it rare and unequalled
beauty." "And," she added, a little spitefully, "beauty un-
conscious of itself." Then she placed a great pearl beside the
diamond.
"A dangerous gift," muttered the leader, "yet I, the guard-
ian spirit of this soul which had been degraded from the Sun to
the Earth, thank thee both most heartily, and accept thy
proffered escort so far as Mars. Let us hasten onward to Saturn,
for there we are to be joined by the evil spirit who is to share
my guardianship."
The guardian host sped swiftly on, as before, expecting no
trouble, until Saturn was left behind.
The winged steeds were quickly harnessed to the golden
chariot, and Jupiter and Juno mounted the thunder-laden car,
and surrounded by the suites of both, and many Herculean forms
beside, followed in their wake.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 109
They needed not to halt at Saturn, for the errand of the an-
gel host was already done, and from Saturn a giant form equip-
ped and clad from head to foot in mail, had come forth to meet
the host.
"Thou wert expected;" was the curt greeting. "I am the
evil genius of the soul thou hast in thy keeping. This is the gift
that Saturn sends." Then he unrolled a great electric stone, and
started in surprise that the spirit in the bottom of the car shot
forth at once the rainbow hues of all of its gifts in turn.
"What glorious spirit is this," he inquired, "who has fallen
from grace?"
Again the answer was: "Who knows?"
' ' Humph, ' ' muttered the mail-clad figure as he noted for the
first time that his was the only male figure among the host, and
caught sight of Jupiter following in their wake. "I think it
must be 'she' herself, and if so, Saturn will be disappointed that
he was not there to obey the summons in person." And he sent
back a courier with orders to bring the greatest possible force
that the planet could muster, that he might in Saturn's name
take forcible possession of this carefully- guarded prize.
Soon the dark host appeared, and well it was that Jupiter
had allied himself to the guardian angels. For, without the
protection and the aid of his clouds and shafts and thunderbolts
which held back the reinforcements of evil spirits, they must have
lost their prize. As it was, each step of the journey to Mars
was hotly contested. Battle after battle was fought by them
in mid-air for its possession, an unusual occurrence upon the new
birth of a soul, but customary upon its self-sustained flight after
death.
With the aid of Jupiter and the warlike Juno, who took
great pride in upholding the power of her own sex, the good kept
the ascendancy over the evil and held safely their sacred trust,
until Mars, beholding the contest from afar, came forth with all
his warrior host to do battle for the right, and to present his own
birth- gift to the expected soul, known to be that of some great
sprit whose identity was shrouded in mystery, the better perhaps
for its safe escort to the Earth, for had it been certainly known,
every planet would have claimed it as their own and waged war
for its possession.
110 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
"Can it be 'she'?" mused Mars, as he listened attentively
to the story and to the prayers of the commander of the heavenly
host, then aswered: "Be it whom it may, I will give to it what
the rest have done, the best of my possessions. This is the em-
blem of my calling," continued he, as he threw into the golden
chariot an enormous ruby that had adorned his helmet, which
was also his crown. "Its name is 'physical courage.' Does it
not glow like the flames of War 1 ' '
' ' Or like the flow of life-blood, ' ' thought the guardian spirit,
though she spake not the thought, but thanked the eagle-beaked
warrior and thankfully accepted his safe escort on their further
way, thanking Jupiter, whom she no longer needed.
But Jupiter, interested in the novel scene, and curious, as
was Juno, to know whose was the soul so jealously disputed, de-
clared his intention of accompanying the escort to its destina-
tion, and of seeing this great soul, which he guessed to be that
of no stranger spirit, to its new sphere, the Earth. "For," said
he, "It has been ages since I last visited that far-off planet."
then his brow clouded and he reviewed in thoughtful silence the
scene of his last visit to the Earth. The face and form of Le
Ileithe, surrounded but not hidden by the smoke and flames of
her funeral pyre. The smoke of its incense was in his nostrils
and once more he seemed to hear the voice of that glorious spirit
in its death-song. Again he reviewed the contest between his
own forces and those of his rivals, Mars and Saturn, for her
rescue and possession. Again he saw the hand of God as it
snatched her from their grasp. "If I were certain that it were
'she,' " he soliloquized, "I would be tempted to steal her from
their midst. But were I to be mistaken," he added, "I should
court the same punishment as ' she ' for no good purpose. No ! I
will wait for her coming, for if indeed it be ' she, ' she will rise to
my sphere in time."
They found the good old Neptune in tears, awaiting their
approach, of which he had been warned. His tears were for the
unfortunate soul who had been reduced from the court of
heaven to the very lowest sphere. But his birth-gift was ready.
This was an immense emerald, "the signet of the sea," he said,
"which will unlock all the secrets of the sea. This is my own
birthright, the insignia of my rank and office. But it is also a
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 111
talisman and should this prove to be 'she, ' as I fear, it may shield
her from evil."
"Old Nep. is in his dotage," commented Mars, as, after
dropping his gift and a few tears into the car of the soul, which
V Arrowed an added radiance from the scintillating splendor of
its gifts, Neptune, in his dolphin-drawn car began to plough his
way toward the seagirt island which formed the center of his
dominions and Mars laughingly added as he took in the passing
scene: "All green and watery alike."
In silence the convoy approached the mysterious Uranus,
whose ruler none knew in person. Some said that the Sub-Deity
who presided here was a female, whose identity was hidden by a
thick mantle in which it was always veiled; and others that the
Goddess was blind, she having had her eyes removed because she
had dared to pry into the secrets of the Almighty. Be this as it
may, all thought it was the voice of a female which answered their
hail, and the request made by the guardian spirit for a boon and a
blessing upon an erring soul about to begin a new life. The
voice was sweet, solemn and earnest as it pronounced the asked-
for blessing, adding words of advice and warning aside to the
guardian, fraught with the weight of sad experience.
A band of lovely seraphim making wierd and mournful mel-
ody as they floated toward them, brought the gift of this strange
Deity to the expectant host. This too was a talisman. A thread-
like chain of finest gold, woven in letters which formed some
mystic phrase, and from it was suspended three tiny charms, a
heart of gold delicately wrought and frosted over; a cross of fin-
est jet tipped with pearls; and a crown formed of a single sap-
phire, which seemed to have caught and held fast the golden
rays of the sun. Then the mysterious Uranus stepped forth with
slow and faltering steps to bestow the gift with her own hand,
as was required of each of the gods and goddesses in person. There
was something awesome in the stern majesty of her form and
bearing, as Uranus advanced with slow, hesitating grace. She
ran her fingers lightly over, first the car and then its occupant,
touching each in turn as she dropped her own offering among
the rest. As she touched the latter she started suddenly and
demanded: "Who is this? Is it 'She?' '
Many were the speculations regarding the mysterious
Uranus, among the hosts as the great armies of the planets moved
rapidly toward Venus.
112 LA GRAN QUffiIRA
Venus, peremptorily summoned from her toilet, came half
laughing, half scolding, in graceful dishabile, and poured the
contents of a well-filled jewel casket pell-mell into the car. There
were all sorts of gems, set and unset, but pearls, and turquoises,
and amethysts predominated. Then she ran hastily back saying :
" There's love, and beauty and truth and if this soul should
prove to be of the sex we suspect and especially should it prove
to be indeed ' She ; ' then will she need all these good gifts to en-
able her to steer safely through the life to come." She left be-
hind her Cupid, who refused to follow her and who joined the
guardian hosts, amusing all with his graceful antics. Climbing
the side of the golden car, he began an incipient flirtation with
the disembodied soul which scintillated and sparkled in its
depths.
From this time forth the company forgot all fear and ran-
cor, and with music, mirth and dancing they hurried on to the
planet Mercury.
Mercury himself, needing no bidding, sailed forth to meet
them, trusting to no other hands, the magnificent opal which was
his own gift, and whose changeful hues bore a just likeness to
the sunny- tempered god who came to meet them with dancing
feet, and floating curls. His volatile spirits seemed to infect them
all, driving out all suspicion and dread. "Sans Souci," he cried,
"This is my foster child, and I give to it the capability of cast-
ing sorrow to the winds; of finding enjoyment in little things;
a thoroughly happy nature. ' '
"May it not be drowned in Neptune's tears," cried the
laughing Mars.
Mercury, likewise, joined the company, and admonished by
the guardian spirit they hastened their movement toward the
earth. Enshrouding themselves in darkness after leaving their
friends, they whose mission this was, hurried to their ultimate
destination, as was their need. For it was now long past the ap-
pointed hour and the young wife of Emil Zorlange was well-nigh
exhausted by the pangs of labor.
The rival spirits of good and evil made their way to the
bedside of the dying woman and were silent and stealthily fol-
lowed by Jupiter, Juno, Mars, Mercury, and Cupid, who had re-
fused to be left behind, so curious were they all as to the identity
of the great soul who had been cast down from Heaven to Earth.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 113
The two guardian spirits who were to hold this unknown
soul in trust, and to become the sponsors of its every act, and
who had eyed each other curiously throughout the whole of the
perilous journey they had just accomplished, each wondering
who was the other, now hastily unmasked and unhelmeted.
"Thou?" and "Thou," as in each other they recognized
the most powerful of opponent spirits. Then as they as hurriedly
unwrapped their joint charge, they cried out in wondering
chorus : ' ' She, ' ' although they had been half certain of this fact
before.
But there was time for naught but the hasty completion of
the work they had on hand. The great soul was crowded without
more ado into the tiny body for which it was destined, and con-
fined within its narrow prison-house with difficulty. And just in
time, for the young mother lay as it seemed, at her very last gasp.
Another moment and they would have had to contend for the
possession of a homeless spirit, hand to hand, to determine
whether or no it would be forced to fight its way backward to the
sun, or become at once the victim of evil who would then also
hold its good angel captive.
The soul bound within the narrow compass, the good spirit
hastened to bestow the gifts she had secured for her protege
and found to her dismay that the evil Genius had by his touch
dimmed the beauty of all, and impaired their lustre by casting
over them the glance of sly suspicion.
The last act of this restless spirit in the world from which
it had been banished had been one of rebellion. Its first act in
its new sphere was one of rebellion also. This glorious spirit,
finding itself confined within so small a casket, looked out in
anger and resentment from starry eyes, and fighting the air with
tiny, clinched fists, gave forth a shrill war cry and held in close
captivity the fore-finger of the delighted Mars.
The cry was so unexpected and so belligerent, coming from
so small a specimen of humanity, that all were convulsed with
laughter. The tiny babe lying beside its unconscious earth-
mother, seemed startled at its own vehemence and smiled as it
closed its eyes in sleep.
The guardian angel smiled too, yet shook her head in mis-
giving that the insubordinate spirit could not be conquered, and
leaning over the child to shield it from the further touch of evil,
she breathed a few words into the mother's ear.
114 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
Again the feeble war cry broke defiantly upon the air, and
this time the visiting host who had presided at the scene fled lest
their irrepressible laughter might be heard. The evil genius went
with them, smarting under the taunts of the good spirit, leav-
ing Emil Zorlange 's little daughter to the charge of her guardian
angel during her infancy, but leaving every infantile disease to
prey upon the tiny form in turn.
This was the vision which the young mother saw as she lay
hovering between life and death, called back to life by the war
cry of her babe, and by the summons of the guardian spirit, who
had whispered "Come back. Thy child hath need of thee."
The war cry of the child brought into the room forms more
realistic than those who had vanished as the mother awoke to
consciousness.
Emil Zorlange 's amused yet anxious face appeared at the
door of the adjoining room; while the doctor and nurse came
closer to the bedside laughing outright.
"Zorlange," said the old doctor, "this is certainly the tiniest,
daintiest and most spirited bit of humanity that it has ever been
my good fortune to assist to take its first step into this world.
Just look at her. She has more of the fairy about her than of the
nineteenth century child of the period. Was ever anything so
perfect?" He asked, turning back the blanket in which it was en-
veloped, and disclosing the tiny babe, naked except for its swad-
dling band. "She looks like a toy perfectly sculptured in pearly
wax. And oh, what glorious eyes. And what spunk," as the
tiny object of his admiration gazed back at him defiantly, and
fighting the air with feet and doubled fists, emitted a third war
whoop, then smiled again as if at its own vehemence. "I will
watch that girl's career with interest, and venture to predict
that she will make a stir in the world "
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 115
CANTO THE SECOND.
Emil Zorlange was born in Philadelphia of Quaker parents.
His father, as his name indicates, was a native of France. Or-
phaned at an early age, he had been sent abroad to school. He
had intended to live abroad as well. Settling for a time in Lon-
don, the young poet met and carried off the prize par-excellence,
the beauty of the season, a German Countess without domain.
About this time "the Quaker poet" as he was called, fell
under suspicion as being the leader of a dangerous seditious fac-
tion. The suspicion, absurd as it was, gained ground somehow,
and Emil Zorlange was requested to leave the kingdom.
If a jealous desire to separate the lovers was, as some sus-
pected, the cause of the young poet, who knew as much about
politics as the babe unborn, becoming a political suspect, the
scheme failed, for the dazed, yet wrathful dreamer carried the
beauty of the London season with him to America as his bride.
That was two years ago, and this was their first born. This
little waif from fairy land, as the happy father called her ; this
tiny radiant being, was formally christened "Marguerite."
The voyage across the ocean had seemed to tax the strength
of the beautiful young bride too greatly, and her health, which
had failed at that time grew no better after the birth of her
child.
The tiny Marguerite grew like a slender flower, fragile and
lovely. Heir to all the ills of childhood, she outlived them all, but
twice was she snatched from the hands of death who had laid
hold upon her by the fond mother who breathed her own life
breath into her child.
They called her "Pearl," but oftenest, "Daisy," she was
such a wee blossom of babyhood.
Daisy never forgot the scene of her mother's death bed.
The child was but five years of age. The mother had, two years
before, given birth to a beautiful strong-limbed boy, who was the
delight of all. But always the gentle mother's eyes rested with
more wistful tenderness upon her first born. The child, with
116 LA GRAN QUIBIEA
her slender stalk of a body which looked as if the first adverse
wind might break it, with her April day temperament all smiles
and tears, her firm, decisive will and defiant air was a
source of never-ending wonder to her, and she could not help but
feel that some unwonted fate would be her portion.
The little Ernest sickened with one of the ailments peculiar
to childhood and the delicate mother watching her darling, sick-
ened too. In spite of all her care the beautiful boy died, and
with this stroke the mother's life was ended too. She strove hard
to rally from the blow, but it was too great a strain upon fcr
strength. Clasping her little one to her breast she said : ' ' Emil,
I am going with Ernest. I leave you Daisy for your consolation
and companionship. Watch over her and care for her tenderly,
remembering that she is not like others."
The promise was given; the last "good-bye" spoken and
Marguerite Zorlange slept the sleep that is said to "know no
wakening. ' '
Daisy had been brought to bid farewell to the fair young
mother. ' One hand she rested upon the marble brow of the little
brother whom she had so fondly loved, while the other was held
by the dying mother, but Daisy's eyes were fixed with strange in-
tensity upon seeming space.
"Didst see them, fayther," she asked, as Emil Zorlange
strained his last remaining treasure to his bosom: "Didst thou
also see the beautiful angels as they reached down and took my
mother and brother Ernest in their arms?" There were two
mothers and two Ernests, the ones who lie asleep here, and those
who left, laughing and throwing back kisses to use when the
angels bore them away and said : ' Come, come to us very soon.' "
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 117
CANTO THE THIRD.
"PASSION FLO WEES/'
It had been a day or two previous to this that the little
daughter of the hired nurse had begged that she might be per-
mitted to take wee Daisy with her to the public school. Thinking
that this change might distract the attention of the child from
what was passing in her home, permission was granted, and the
two set off in high glee. Upon the route to the school, the child-
ren passed by a beautiful garden, whose luxuriant growth over-
run its boundary fence. A lovely white rose nodded its per-
fumed head just above them and Daisy, notwithstanding the
frightened warning of her companion, sprang upward, and at
the third bound secured the prize. A heavy blow from a stout
cudgel caused the child to utter a shriek of dismay and pain. But
it was a noticeable feature of Daisy's character that she never
gave up anything that she undertook, so she held fast to her rose
in spite of the pain, and turned angrily upon the old man whose
hard face appeared above the palings: "How dared thee?"
"And how dare thee," shouted the irate old man; "How
dared thee to steal my rose?"
"It is mine:" said Daisy stoutly.
"Why," said the old man, "The young one can lie as well
as steal."
' ' The rose nodded to me and said, ' Come and get me, little
Daisy. I am thine. Come and get me.' '
"Oh," groaned Cyrus Brooks: "What is the world coming
to when a midget like that can tell such falsehoods? But what
is the matter with your hand, sissy," he asked with some fear in
his voice?
Great tears were in Daisy's eyes as she said reproachfully:
"That is where thou struck me, thou bad, bad man."
The old man scrambled hastily to the top of the fence, and
reaching over, raised the child gently and set her down upon the
other side in the very midst of the forbidden garden.
" I am old and cranky, ' ' he said, and added, apologetically :
"I spend all of my time in the cultivation of the beautiful, and
118 LA GEAN QUIBIRA
am plagued by the boys and girls of the school who steal my
choicest blossoms; but I would not willingly have hurt any one
like that, and certainly not so lovely a little mite as you. Why,
now that I look upon you, you are as sweet as my peerless white
rose," and caressing the bruised and bleeding hand of the child,
he carried her to his wife that she might dress the wound, telling
her the story and berating himself soundly for his own cruelty.
Mrs. Brooks bathed and dressed not only the bleeding hand
but the tear-stained face as well, delighted to serve so dainty a
morsel of humanity, exclaiming over the beauty of the child, her
grace and sweetness, but a little sorrowful that Daisy persistently
held fast to her flower, crying passionately: "It is mine. It is
mine. ' '
Cleansed and soothed and petted, Grandpa Brooks, as she
already learned to call him, carried the child into the garden and
loaded her with flowery treasures, especially the blossoms from
the rose tree from which the theft had been committed, the chef
de auvre of his own hybridizing, and which, having no name as
yet, he delighted the child by christening after herself, the "Mar-
guerite Zorlange" rose.
The old man was not sparing of his floral offerings, but cut
for the child a great bundle of his choicest flowers and when she
finally fell asleep upon the mossy grasses under the great rose
tree, it smote him to the very heart to see that she still held close
the rose that had been the cause of their dispute, while his
choicests blossoms were dropped carelessly at her side.
This wee bit of stubborn humanity who was not to be turned
from the desire of her heart, was a revelation to him and sug-
gested thoughts which placed the actions of the others in a new
light and he could not but wonder if there had been another ob-
ject in their theft of his flow r ers, as he had always considered it,
than the mere wish to annoy him. The school children were
amazed next morning to hear the voice of the surly old gardener
call out to them, as they passed by : "I say boys. You are quite
welcome to all of the flowers that bloom upon the outside of my
fence." And great was his own amazement that the answer
was: "Thank you, sir. We would like a few to present to our
teacher, and will not disturb the rest, they look so pretty grow-
ing where they do." It had never once occurred to him that they
had taken them because they really loved the flowers, and not, as
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 119
he had supposed, out of that mischievous desire to tease him
that they might hear him scold and swear.
You may be certain that after this the teacher's desk was
never without a fresh bouquet, not taken from the outside of the
fence, but cut from the stalks by Grandpa Brooks' own hand,
and presented by the boys and girls in regular routine. It was
wonderful how rapidly the passion for the cultivation of flowers
grew in them all. Each must have his or her own garden filled
with growth from seeds or cuttings from Grandpa Brooks' nur-
sery, and many were the solemn consultations held in which their
curly locks were brought into close proximity to the grizzly locks
of the counselor.
120 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
CANTO THE FOUETH.
"EQUAL EIGHTS."
"Daisy," said Emil Zorlange, leading his little daughter
into the house: "I will not permit thee to play with such dis-
reputable company. Remember, I forbade. thee to seek the com-
pany of this little black again."
"Fayther," said Daisy, with an inimitable drawl, the little
mimic insisted upon using the ' ' plain language, " " Fayther, Thu-
cydides is a very nice boy."
"Thucydides," echoed the father, "And is that the ap-
pellation of the little black?"
"Thucydides," repeated Daisy in stout defense of her play-
mate, "is a very nice boy and is so pretty and shiny that I call
him 'a sooty little angel' and kiss him and ask him why he
came down the chimney and soiled his pretty white wings and
dress instead of coming straight down into the yard? and he
said that it was because he was in such a hurry to see me. ' '
"And such is feminine vanity," said her father in disgust,
then turning to Daisy's nurse he said: "Janet, see that thy
young mistress does not leave thy sight. I do not like that she
should be left to seek such companionship. Ugh ! And she owns
to having kissed the negro boy. ' '
' ( Fayther. I have heard thee say that there should be no dis-
tinction between men. because of difference of race or color. I
love Thucydides. And I will play with him when I choose. ' '
For the first time in her life, Emil Zorlange shook his daugh-
ter and spoke harshly to her. ' ' Thou wilt keep from all such low
associates, ' ' he said. ' ' No negro is a fit companion for the daugh-
ter of a gentleman. I forbid thee to have him here again. Dost
understand? Thou must obey me in this."
"No," said Daisy quietly, "I will not obey. And," she added
with true Quakerish simplicity of argument, "all men are born
free and equal. Thucydides is my brother. I love the Black. ' '
Emil Zorlange was non-plussed. He looked at the child for
a few minutes and arrived at the sensible conclusion that the only
way to prevent her from getting into further mischief, was to
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 121
occupy her thoughts and time with something which would show
her the difference of station without offending her sense of jus-
tice; for despite his Quaker belief and origin, he was a firm be-
liever in "Caste."
At length he said : ' ' Daisy, thou wilt ever be the mistress of
thy father's house. Suppose that thou beginnest at once. From
this moment thou canst take charge. Give Janet her orders for
the day."
Nothing loth, the delighted child issued her orders in a
domineering manner most distasteful to Emil Zorlange's gentle-
manly instincts, and for which he promptly reproved her. '
Then Daisy coaxed. But this she was told was equally out
of place.
The child thought awhile, then saying: "I understand per-
fectly what thou meanest by the relation and duties of the mas-
ter or the mistress to their servants, ' ' she gave her order for the
third time in a manner that delighted her father, and Janet as
well, the mother's nurse, who had succeeded to the care of the
children as they came and was looked upon as housekeeper par
excellence since the death of Mrs. Zorlange.
Daisy never forgot her first lesson in housekeeping^ and thus
at six years of age, she was installed as mistress of the establish-
ment. And never was house ruled after better fashion. It was
the wonder and admiration of all who visited it, and it accom-
plished what Emil Zorlange had hoped that it would ; it kept his
little daughter out of mischief by occupying her time and at-
tention, and gave her beyond every thing else, the true idea of
the rights and privileges of the different classes, which were to
be used, but never by the superior, to be abused.
122 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
CANTO THE FIFTH.
"COWING THE BULL."
Daisy was about eight years old. Left to her own devices,
but over looked with tenderest care by her father, whose sole
companion she was, and by the good nurse Janet whose idol she
was, she developed many little originalities of character and
habits which delighted both, and which were fostered rather than
corrected. She governed the house, ordered all its equipments,
ordered the dinners and bought all the household necessities,
selected her own clothing and above all she insisted upon attend-
ing the public school.
It was upon her way to school after her mid day lunch that
Daisy, who had taken the shortest cut from the rear gateway of
her home down an alley which led to the street beyond, espied a
great black bull upon the opposite side of the way. Daisy was
much terrified at the very particular notice taken of her by the
bull which she was obliged to pass. But she was a brave little
creature and would not turn back. She fixed her eyes steadily
upon those of the bull and backed away. The bull regarded her
as steadily in turn, then seeming to take sudden umbrage at the
child 's gaze, he put down his head and gave forth an angry roar,
stood for a moment as if reflecting, then lunged forward to at-
tack her.
"Run. Run for your life, my child. This way quick, quick
and quicker."
Daisy needed not the bidding, for at the first angry bellow
of the infuriated animal, she had turned and sped like a lapwing
toward the carpenter shop from which the warning voices had
come. Fleet of foot, she outstripped the bull and stood panting
and breathless beside the group of men who, alarmed at the as-
pect of the enraged beast, hastily closed and barred the door.
This was well. For, a moment later the brute threw his full
weight against it and prodded the stout wood with his horns and
hoofs, time and time again, then walked surlily away, in dignified
disgust.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 123
It was not until he had given up the attempt to force the
barrier that even the stout-hearted men breathed freely, and
throwing open the door began to question the child.
"It was the color of your coat, my little ' Bed Eiding
Hood,' that threw him into such a passion," said one. "But
why did not you run at first ? " he asked curiously.
"I thought that I could cow him," answered Daisy simply.
"I have read that if one fixes their eyes steadily upon those of
an angry wild beast, they can be cowed by the steadfast gaze."
Such a shout of laughter as went from those hardy men is
seldom heard.
"Were you not afraid, my little maid?"
"Oh, yes," said Daisy, "I was very much afraid, but I
wanted to know for myself if the story were really true."
The men looked in amazement at this slender little "Will
o'-the-wisp" form standing so quietly there, which seemed as
if the first strong wind might blow away; at the delicate face in
which the color came and went in fitful waves ; the great starry
eyes that dilated and contracted with wonder and terror at the
thought of the intractable brute, at the firmly compressed lips,
and at the attitude of quiet self control, and said: "This child
is a truly wonderful creature. There is something in her."
The story followed her, and for years Daisy heard very often
of her futile attempt to "cow the bull." Strangers frequently
left the group of idlers who thronged about the hotels along the
principal streets of the place through which she passed upon her
way to school, and turning upward to their gaze the delicate
flowerlike face of the child, and looking down into the shy fright-
ened eyes, would roar with laughter as they accosted her, crying
in wonder: "So this is the little girl who thought that she could
'cow the bull,' " much to the wrath of that small experimentalist.
124 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
CANTO THE SIXTH.
"HAYCYON DAYS."
It was the first day of the school year. Teachers and scholars
had separated and gone to their respective rooms, and had taken
the seats allotted to them. Miss Prentice herself, busily talking
to a pupil from another room, called out in the midst of her ex-
planations: "Miss Zorlange," then as no one responded to the
call, she repeated in a tone of impatience, "Miss Zorlange."
Daisy Zorlange looked around her in great surprise. Then,
as no one else answered to the summons, and the other occupants
of the room were motioning toward herself, she arose and slowly
came to the front.
Daisy was twelve years old now and as she stood there she
made a pretty picture. The September breezes which swept in
at the open windows swayed the light draperies which encased
her slight form, and in gentle caress tossed the light curls play-
fully about. Her skin was of that strange pearly tint which looks
somehow as if the soul were lighting up the countenance from
within. Her star-like eyes were fixed for the most part upon Miss
Prentice's scowling face, but turned at times toward her school
mates as if in search of sympathy.
All the time she was thinking of her new teacher: "How
very beautiful she is. I wonder, oh I wonder why she hates me
so, ' ' for the child met only scowling frowns, instead of the smiling
loving glances her own sweet and dainty prettiness should have
inspired. Then she repeated: "I wonder why they all hate me
so?"
At length Miss Prentice turned to her and asked crossly:
"Why did you not come when I called you?"
Daisy made a little deprecating gesture and smiled as she
said: "No one ever addressed me as 'Miss Zorlange' before.
I did not understand that it was I whom thou wanted."
"Humph," said Miss Prentice, "And what do they call
you?"
"Daisy," replied the child simply.
A MUSICAL MYSTEBY 125
" 'Daisy,' indeed," snarled the teacher as if personally ag-
grieved, ' ' I wonder why people cannot give their children a name
and not some silly nonsensical name of a flower or bird or gem ? ' '
''Thou might call me 'Marguerite,' " suggested Daisy
sweetly with so exaggerated an effort to please, as to set the school
girls to tittering.
"Is your name Marguerite?" inquired Miss Prentice with
some asperity.
"It is a ah synonym, is it not?" inquired Daisy, a mis-
chievous sparkle in her downcast eyes.
"The child's a fool," muttered the irate spinster, to the de-
light of Daisy who then looked at her pitifully and repeated to
herself once more : ' ' How very beautiful she is. But I wonder
why she hates me so. ' ' And frightened at her asperity cast her
eyes about her again in search of the sympathy she did not re-
ceive. Every where she encountered only sour faces.
"Miss Zorlange," repeated the teacher in a tone that might
have meant that she felt personally aggrieved in the matter, ' ' I,
myself do not approve of making such distinctions among pupils
of the same classes, but I have been requested by the superinten-
dent to say that Miss Zorlange, the youngest by two years, of the
school, has passed the most successful examination of any pupil
of this, or indeed of any previous year and that from the second
class of the grammer school, she standing 9.99 the highest per-
cent as it is said, ever attained by any pupil who entered the
high school." This was said with such a degree of acrimony as
to effectually veil the real object of this public compliment. And
Miss Prentice added spitefully: "I do not believe in prodigies.
There is generally something to offset all their remarkable talents.
I dare say now that this young lady's former schoolmates know
of something to her discredit. ' '
"She steals flowers," said Juliet Delmar, despite the numer-
ous cries of "For shame, Juliet Delmar. For shame." For it
was to Daisy's theft of the "Marguerite Zorlange" rose in her
infancy that Juliet referred.
"I thought as much," said Miss Prentice, coolly ignoring
all explanations. "Miss Zorlange, you may go to your seat. No.
Not there," as Daisy would have resumed the seat she had left.
"You will share Miss Carson's desk."
This was pointed out to Daisy, to whom Miss Carson was a
stranger and she found to her dismay that the seatmate whom
126 LA GRAN QUmiBA
she was to have for the future was the oldest and grimmest look-
ing girl in the school room. She obeyed however, without com-
ment and seated herself beside the object of her terror, casting
such timid, frightened glances into the hard set face that it sud-
denly relaxed into an encouraging smile, at which Daisy flung
her arms about Miss Carson's neck and sobbed as if her heart
would break.
"Miss Carson," called out the teacher sharply, "remove
Miss Zorlange from the room and remain with her until she can
remember the duties required of a young lady of this Grade."
"She is but a little child, and has been too hardly dealt
with," said Virginia Carson, as she led the sobbing Daisy from
the school room into the dressing room outside.
A few minutes later, Howard Gould, another new pupil,
found them, and forgetting for the time the errand upon which
he was bound, stopped before the twain and cried: "Oh, what
a lovely child. Where did you come from, Titania?"
"From Fairy Land, of course," sobbed Daisy, "Where
else?"
Thereupon, Howard, forgetting the errand that he had
been sent upon, took the little girl in his arms and soothed and
petted her and with kisses and caresses soon changed her tears to
smiles.
The trio lingered in the hallway until sharply summoned to
the school room. And there was cemented a friendship which
lasted throughout their lives, and this day marked an era in
their three lives as well.
It was through many a pang of jealousy that the love of
Virginia Carson was given to Daisy, but it was all the stronger
for that, and the injustice done the child awakened a sort of
motherly instinct of defence in the heart of the elder girl.
Virginia was twenty now, yet this little girl of twelve far
outstripped her in their studies. Virginia, it is true, had not
possessed the advantage of steadily attending school and was ex-
tremely slow of progress, yet it was her intention to fit herself
to become a teacher. It seemed to her little short of marvelous
how, when with throbbing head and knitted brow she vainly
strove to solve some knotty problem in mathematics, Daisy, with
a merry laugh would ask her a pertinent question or two and
lo, the clouds of doubt were swept away and all was made clear
as crystal to her.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 127
Daisy's tact as a teacher was beyond question. She never
did her pupil's work, but by a few well worded questions, made
the crooked path straight that she might travel it by herself, and
so remember the route, the better to make good her way the next
time.
The two were descending the stairway together upon the sec-
ond day of the school term, when they were halted by no less a
person than superintendent Kingsley, himself.
"Now, my little Minerva," he said, placing his hand gently
upon Daisy's curly head, "Tell me why you did not finish the
solution of that Arithmetical problem upon examination day ? Do
you know that had you done so your per cent, must have been 10,
as your papers would then have been perfect?"
"It was long past lunch time and I was very hungry," was
the reply. "So I began it correctly and put down the result, I
supposed that it would do as well as if the work were all written
out. How dost thou think I got the correct answer without work-
ing the thing, I should like to know?"
' ' Sure enough, my dear. Well, if you will come into my room
here and write out what you omitted then. I will place it upon
the records as the only really perfect work ever accomplished
since the founding of the school. And this, by one of the three
scholars who have passed our rigid examinations and entered the
high school at the age of twelve. I can tell you my little miss
that most of your elders passed in by the skin of their teeth, as it
were, this year. There were lots of 'posers' among the ques-
tions. ' '
Daisy did as she was requested, then ran away from all quer-
ies and compliments, muttering something not altogether respect-
ful concerning "Old Cent-per- cent. "
Upon the demand of the superintendent, Virginia related
the occurrence of the first day of the term in Miss Prentice's
room.
' ' A mean-spirited jealousy. I will set that right. The child
shall have her dues. It is but a just reward for her bright wit,
and she is as lovely and lovable as she is intelligent. Miss Car-
son, I bespeak for her your protection and care, ' ' and he laughed
heartily at Daisy's ready wit in christening himself, "Old Cent-
per cent."
Poor Daisy! Superintendent Kingsley fulfilled his promise
and to the horror of the shy child, she was called upon next
128 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
morning to face the united school, and to endure the complimen-
tary remarks of the superintendent, given at full length before
the audience of both sexes, which out-numbered five to one the
first which had heard the first announcement so grudgingly
given.
It was hard to tell whether this, openly spoken, did Daisy
harm or good. The girls who shared the same study-room were
indignant that the youngest of the class should be given the
precedence over them, no matter how justly, for feminine respect
for justice is but slight. And it was long before Miss Prentice
forgave the child for the public rebuke which she, herself ^ had
received upon her account.
With the boys it was altogether different. They were filled
with wonder and delight at the lovely prodigy whose lessons
seemed to come to her by some sqrt of instinct instead of having
to be courted with the long and assiduous attentions which they
were all obliged, without exception, to bestow upon their own.
The inevitable ball club organized that day, was chris-
tened without a single dissenting vote ' ' The Daisies, ' ' and Daisy
Zorlange was chosen Umpire of all their games.
The rival club, formed later, who had chosen the handsome
dark-eyed Juliet Delmar for its toast, applying to Daisy for a
suitable name, she suggested, with a teasing glance at the sallow
skin of her bete noir, "Buttercups."
And in spite of Juliet's angry protest they were charmed
with the name as approximately opposed to the name of the rival
club and from the time of their first organization these rival
clubs were known as ' ' The Buttercups ' ' and ' ' The Daisies. ' '
Daisy's school life must have tried the soul of any save
Daisy's unconscious self. The child was like a butterfly or bee
finding sweetness in every flower. She had no suspicion of the
jealousy of which she was the object, but believed that she her-
self was always in some inexplicable manner to blame.
Though she sometimes was wounded to the quick by the poison
tipped arrows aimed at her devoted head, this very unconscious-
ness proved her surest shield from harm, for it was simply im-
possible to hold out for any length of time against this sweet un-
consciousness. Yet the child had a very hasty temper, which
found ready vent in saucy taunts, and never waged a war of
words, but that Daisy won the battle.
A MUSICAL, MYSTERY 129
CANTO THE SEVENTH.
"A WAVE OP HER FAIRY GOD-MOTHER WAND."
It was nearly three months after the opening of the school
year when Daisy Zorfange coming hastily into the school room
found her seatmate, Virginia Carson, of whom she had grown ex-
tremely fond, alone at their desk and weeping bitterly. Upon her
peremptory demand for an explanation Virginia told her story.
The eldest daughter of a poor, hard working, country
Clergyman, who had died two years before, she had become the
mainstay of the entire family. Her mother who had long been
an invalid had written to her but now that she must return home
at Christmas as she could not longer afford to keep her in school,
her younger sisters and brothers making demands upon her that
could not longer be ignored.
Virginia, who had hoped to educate herself for the position
of teacher in the city schools, and so, not only to raise herself
above the drudgery of manual labor, but to be able thereby to
earn a more liberal support for her family, was in despair at thus
having to give up all her hopes for the future. She had hoped,
she said, to find some employment for her unoccupied hours that
would enable her to pay her own way at school, but every effort
to secure this had signally failed, and she sobbed anew at the
certainty of having to give up her plans for the future.
"Never fear, my child," cried Daisy, gleefully. "I will be
thy Fairy Godmother, and smooth away all obstacles. Thou shalt
remain at school, and degenerate into an old maid school marm,
if that is the height of thy ambition. So dry thine eyes. Thou
shalt yet oust Miss Prentice if thou lik 'st. Thou art much more
agreeable, although thou canst never hope to be so handsome as
she. But all this has been sprung upon me so suddenly and un-
expectedly that I must have a little time to think over the situa-
tion. It as now three days to Thanksgiving Day. In three days
therefore I will come again and tell thee that which will make thy
sorrowful heart rejoice. As a Fairy Godmother I am always an
immense success. So ' dry up ' now, and if I fail I will give thee
leave to cry from Thanksgiving to Christmas."
130 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
Virginia did not give much credence to the promises of
Daisy, but felt cheered at the prospect of dining out, for Daisy
had just invited her to eat her Thanksgiving dinner at her own
home, and was especially pleased at the prospect of visiting
Daisy.
How it came about no one could tell, but it had ever been
the habit of the whole school to look upon and treat Daisy Zor-
lange with that patronage which is usually bestowed, and es-
pecially by youth, upon the very poor in purse. The child's
simple dress and yet more simple manners seemed to confirm the
impression that hers was a state of the direst poverty, although
a shade of suspicion often rested upon Miss Prentice's scowling
brow as she noted that the material of the simple dresses seemed
of the finest texture, and more than once she thought that the
yards upon yards of lace used so abundantly upon them looked
as if it might be "real." But the child skillfully eluded every
question about herself, and their patronage was often offensively
intruded upon her. Daisy seemed to enjoy the situation and
took every occasion to encourage it. When questioned she an-
swered only by a laugh. It was Daisy's habit and often an ir-
ritating one, to laugh at all things.
"I will call for thee myself at four," said Daisy, and
promptly at that hour she knocked at the door of the little attic
room occupied by Miss Virginia Carson in a squalid looking
down town boarding house.
"I hope that thou art not going to wear that brown thing,"
was her unceremonious greeting. ' 'Why, thou art all of a color
and will set my fayther's teeth on edge. There, never mind,"
she added as Virginia, in consternation, confessed that it was her
"Sunday best" and that she had no bright ribbons with which
to relieve the sombre effect. "I was only teasing thee. The
plainer the setting the more brightly the finest gems shine.
Fayther will be in raptures with the one I present to him as a
Thank-offering, or I am much mistaken."
Virginia's eyes opened wide with wonder as Daisy uncere-
moniously bundled her into a waiting carriage and gave her or-
ders to the coachman. They alighted at a plain, unfashionable
up-town mansion and were ushered at once into Mr. Zorlange's
study, where Daisy, with the liberty of the mistress of the house,
introduced her schoolmate, without delay to her "fayther," and
after removing Virginia's wraps, hastened away, leaving the two
A MUSICAL MYSTERY J31
to make aquaintance as best they might. Nor did she return un-
til dinner was announced; then her eyes shone with gratified
triumph as they fell upon the twain for she knew that her mis-
sion was fulfilled and that Virginia's Fairy Godmother had gam-
ed her point.
The dinner was a grand success. Emil Zorlange was more
pleased than he had been for many a day with the plans which
his daughter had made for the future of them all. For she had
proposed that Virginia become an inmate of the house as com-
panion to herself, and so relieved of the burden of providing
for herself, be enabled to complete her schooling. He was
charmed with Virginia's staid, old-fashioned manners, which
somehow suited her plain and homely features, but more than all
was he delighted with the good sense of his mad-cap little daugh-
ter, in choosing this uncompromisingly stiff blossom from all the
beauties of the " rosebud garden of girls" for her own particular
friend and companion.
If Daisy and her "fayther" were pleased at the turn that
events had taken, who shall estimate the pleasure of Virginia
herself when she was consulted as to the arrangements made for
her future.
"Thou art to live here as my elder sister and companion,
free of cost to thy mother and to share all educational privileges
with me. Neither schooling nor board nor clothing will cost thee
anything whatever. Thou wilt have the benefit of my instruc-
tions in music, and dancing, and painting, and will be present at
my lessons in all. But should thou develop a decided talent for
either or all, thou art to have as I have, the lessons first hand
from the very best masters, that thou may'st in every way be
fitted to fill the post of the principal of a school or that of gov-
erness in some private family, of good standing, where," added
Daisy, "thou may'st marry the son and heir of the house, with
the promised fatherly blessing of my fayther; and all this in re-
turn for taking an elderly sister's care of me, which, I warn thee,
is not so easy an occupation as it would appear to be on the sur-
face. Thou dost well to cry, my dear, the official position offered
thee will prove no sinecure, I assure thee."
Virginia's happiness knew no bounds. With but a single
wave of her wand her fairy godmother had smoothed the thorny
path of life for her and made it possible for her to realize all
of her beautiful dreams for the future.
132 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
If she had loved Daisy before, that love now deepened into
absolute idolatry, and not even the fact that Howard Gould's
dark eyes held that lovelight which she jealousy coveted for her-
self, when they rested upon Daisy, could dim or cloud that wor-
ship of her young and heedless benefactress.
All of the arrangements were made as far as could be done
without the sanction of Virginia's mother. It had been decided
not to tell that good lady until Christmas time aught save that if
she would permit her daughter to go on with her schooling, she
would be able to do so without any cost to herself.
Daisy only stipulated that the secrets of fairy land be re-
spected, upon pain of banishment therefrom; and Virginia read-
ily promised that never a hint would she give at school, of the
manner in which their home life was conducted. For none of
her schoolmates had as yet penetrated farther than the little re-
ception room which was known among them as Daisy's par-
lor.
Virginia never returned to the dingy boardinghouse she
had left. Daisy declaring that having once been made a guest of
fairy land, none were permitted to defile its hallowed precincts
by bringing even the dust of such a place into it.
Then at once commenced the grand preparations for what
Daisy always thereafter termed "the Carson's Christmas/'
Guided by the confessions which she extorted from Virginia,
Daisy seemed to understand every need of the family. The en-
tire family were invited to the house of a friend for the fort-
night preceding Christmas, and the two girls superintended the
remodeling of the cottage during their absence. As Daisy put
it: "First we will raise that mortgage; then we will raise a dust
and settle things all around."
The house was painted, inside and out; the windows were
remodeled and newly glazed; the parlor, that sacred precinct
of all village cottages, which is seldom or never used, was abol-
ished altogether here, and under Daisy's direction converted into
a bed-chamber and sitting room for Mrs. Carson, who was a hope-
less invalid by reason of acute rheumatism. From this a hall had
given entrance to the cottage. The front door closed, and turned
into a window, made of this hallway a snug little room for Nan-
nie, to be shared upon the occasions of her home Sittings, by
Virginia. A grand entrance was made instead into the large
central apartment, in which a beautiful parlor cooking stove, the
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 133
gift of Mr. Zorlange, was placed. The old-time kitchen was con-
verted into a boys' snuggery and sleeping room for Harry and
Robert Carson; and the dining room into a guest chamber, for
the family, during the winter months, at least, would take their
meals in the large sitting and cooking room; and in the summer
time upon the side, vine-shaded porch.
Daisy was in her element. She was "born to command,"
she said, and she engineered things to suit herself, evry one
giving to her willing obedience, and upon Christmas Eve the
wonder-stricken family were introduced to their fairy godmother,
who had changed the rusty, inconvenient little old cottage, into
what appeared, from the changes wrought by her magic wand, a
spacious mansion, newly furnished with every beauty and modern
convenience. Its pantries, closets, cupboards and even bureaus,
were stored with Christmas cheer, houselinen and pretty clothes
for all.
' ' How little it takes after all, fayther dear, to make so many
people happy," quoth Daisy, as she placed the bills in Emil
Zorlange 's hands, who declared, as in duty bound, that he him-
self had had twice the worth of the amount as indeed he had
had in the pride he felt in this little daughter who delighted in
such wholesome pleasures as those of making others happy; in-
stead, as would have been the case of nine out of ten reared in
the same manner, of selfishly absorbing all the good gifts of life.
134 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
CANTO THE EIGHTH.
It was strange how that petty jealousy jmrsued the care-
less, fun-loving child, whose only crime was that of having, as
it were, stepped across a whole year's study, thus entering high
school, far in advance of her class, and so had been at the early
age of twelve years transformed into a young lady, by school
courtesy, at least. Yet with all, Daisy Zorlange was a prime
favorite; with all except her black-browed teacher, Miss Pren-
tice; for she was a veritable imp of mischief, ringleader in every
escapade so dear to the heart of every school girl, and school boy
as well, generously taking the blame upon herself when detected.
Yet it was noticed that Miss Prentice, herself, appealed to Daisy
when she had occasion to question the truth of any matter, for
it was an established fact that Daisy Zorlange never attempted
to screen herself from blame behind even the whitest kind of a
lie. Daisy's truth- telling propensity became proverbial.
The class in ancient history recited in this room. Howard
Gould was reciting that portion relating to the Eegira of Ma-
homet, and when asked to spell the word declined to attempt it,
frankly admitting his own inability to do so. One after another
signally failed in the correct spelling of the word. Howard final-
ly decided that Juliet Delmar had the correct orthography of the
word when she spelled it ' ' H-e-j-i-r-a. " Daisy, when asked,
spelled it " H-e-g-i-r-a, f ' and Howard then declared himself as
follows: "Yes, of course, if she says so," and defended his posi-
tion from the laugh that ensued by saying that he had noticed
that Daisy Zorlange never expressed an opinion without being
certain that she was correct, and that he was on that account
willing to accept her as the best authority upon the question
under discussion.
Miss Prentice admitted that she herself, had observed this
also. And it grew to be the fashion to end any debate in which
Daisy took part with: "Yes, of course, if 'she' says so."
On the first day of June, it was whispered about among the
pupils in Miss Prentice's room, that a beautiful floral offering
A MUSICAL. MYSTERY 135
was on its way to the school-room to be presented to the most
beautiful girl in the room, and that this question was to be de-
cided by ballot. And sure enough, directly after the noon re-
cess, there appeared a large basket of lovely pearl-white roses,
whose perfume filled the air. The voting commenced prior to the
regular school routine. Even Miss Prentice herself, showed great
interest in the counting of the ballot. The choice was apparently
between Juliet Delmar and Daisy Zorlange, and Juliet won.
' ' Oh, ' ' cried Daisy, ' ' please let me present it. I will make
such a pretty speech. ' '
"You do not seem to be in the least degree disappointed in
the result," said Miss Prentice, curiously.
"I," laughed Daisy, "why, I cast my vote for Juliet. It
was awfully good of some of the girls to vote for me. but I do
not think that any of them meant it, except to tease Juliet, for all
must know that neither they nor I can be compared to Juliet, in
beauty, at least," she added, archly.
More than one of her schoolmates hung their heads, re-
buked by Daisy's generosity, ashamed that that strange spirit of
jealousy had led them to deprive her of her just dues. For in
their hearts they acknowledged Daisy's face to be the very pret-
tiest that the sun ever shone upon, and the very unconsciousness
of the child gave an added beauty to her fair face.
"Wait just one moment," said Virginia Carson, staying
Daisy's hand, outstretched for the floral prize, "perhaps the
donor may have something to say in this matter. Here is a
card among the roses and upon it is written: 'To Marguerite
Zorlange from Grandpa Brooks. ' '
"Why," said Daisy, "I thought they looked like the 'Mar-
guerite Zorlange' roses. But it is odd that Grandpa Brooks
should have sent them to the school-room and not to the house as
usual. There is always some token of remembrance of the day
from him and from Grandma Brooks, too." And diving down
into the basket Daisy fished up a small casket of equisite work-
manship, within which reposed a jewelled comb and a beautiful
bracelet of coral.
"I cannot give thee these, Juliet. I always keep sacred a
present. Nor can I give thee my basket of roses, for fayther
always expects to see them upon the dinner table upon this an-
niversary of the day when I ' stole flowers. ' But I will give thee
two of the prettiest, and make Miss Prentice a present of two
136 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
others, if she will promise me to wear them to the Governor's
reception tonight. ' ' Then she coaxed of the latter in a whisper :
"Let me come and dress thee, wilt thou not?"
Miss Prentice looked the graceful figure before her over
from head to foot. Daisy Zorlange was the best dressed girl in
the school. Her belongings always seemed as a part of herself
and the whole effect was exquisite.
"W-e-U, I think you may, for once," she said, hesitatingly.
Juliet was not so quiescent, but deliberately plucked to
pieces the roses which Daisy offered her, notwithstanding the
openly expressed protests of the others, who cried: "Oh, do not
destroy the roses, Juliet." And, "Give them to me, Juliet, if
you do not want them," and, "Daisy, do not let her pull those
beautiful flowers to pieces. Give them to us instead. ' '
But Daisy, looking sorrowfully at her precious roses, re-
plied : " I gave them to Juliet, and she has the right to do as she
likes with them. I presented them to the prettiest girl in the
school," she added teasingly, " but the ugliest one has torn
them to pieces. It requires smiles to make thee even good-look-
ing, Juliet Delmar. Don't thee think so thyself, friend?" and
ignoring Miss Prentice's sharp call: "To order, young la-
dies," she snatched a hand mirror from Juliet's desk and thrust
it before her face.
Juliet looked amazed at the dark and scowling countenance
which met her sullen gaze, then laughed and nodded assent, as
Daisy asked: "Is not that the very ugliest creature you ever
saw?" as her own smile was reflected in the glass, Juliet was
even more startled at the transformation, and to Daisy's query,
' ' And is this not the very handsomest ? ' ' replied : ' ' No. For you
are not only the prettiest girl in school, but the best and sweetest,
too." And with the smile still upon her lips, but a tear in her
eye, she stooped and picked carefully from off the floor every
leaf of the discarded roses, placing them between the leaves of a
favorite book, and signified by a gesture, her intention of keep-
ing them always, as a token that she would never forget the les-
son of this hour, tossed a kiss to Daisy as a peace-offering, then
subsided into her usual calm as if she had just heard the oft-
repeated command to do so.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 137
CANTO THE NINTH.
"THE ENCHANTED PALACE."
When Daisy arrived at the rooms of Miss Prentice, that even-
ing, for the purpose, as she declared, of making her teacher the
best dressed and consequently the most admired guest at the Gov-
ernor's ball, she found that lady in a very pefulant mood, hav-
ing just come from under the hands of her hair-dresser.
"I told him to do it in a Grecian knot," she explained, "but
this is rather too much of a good thing."
"There are Grecian knots, and Grecian 'note,' " laughed
Daisy, as she viewed the tightly twisted coils, "and this must be
one of the 'nots.' No, do not undo it. Let me improve upon thy
handiwork, and give to it the classic turn, ' ' and, with a few dex-
trous turns of her own deft fingers she shook and loosened the
heavy waves, and held the loosened knot in place by rubber
bands that were invisible, giving a careless, negligent effect to
the heavy mass of magnificent ebony hair that was most beautiful.
And when she had placed the comb of glimmering pearls among
the rich masses, so that it seemed to form its sole fastening, the
disconsolate hair-dresser was thrown into raptures, declaring
that the little girl was nothing short of a witch, and acknow-
ledging that he had learned from her a new and most valuable
lesson in his art.
"I really do not know what to wear," said Miss Prentice.
' ' I know what thou wilt wear, ' ' declared Daisy, taking down
a heavy, cream-colored satin, from its peg in the wardrobe,
which she had been ransacking without leave, then tossed over it
a shawl of filmy white lace.
Under her supervision and with her help, Miss Prentice's
maid robed her in these. Her mistress grumbled loudly at the
total absence of color. Daisy heeded not, but tabooed everything
that was not white or cream in the toilette, and forbidding all
jewelry except the comb and a rope of large pearls about the
smooth throat, fastened the drapery of snowy lace with the Mor-
guerite Zorlange roses, and producing a bouquet of the same, sur-
rounding a sprig of scarlet geranium subdued by a mass of feath-
ery green, she pronounced the toilette complete and perfect.
138 LA GRAN QUIBIBA
Miss Prentice was still dubious in spite of her maid's rhap-
sodies, and her brow contracted in a heavy frown. She was a
color-worshipper, and the absence of all color was displeasing to
her. However, she had promised to permit Daisy to dress her
as she pleased, and she could not retract her promise at this, the
eleventh hour. She was somewhat reassured by the very out-
spoken admiration of Tontine, her hair-dresser, who, having
begged leave to see her when her toilette was complete, was pa-
tiently waiting her appearance in the lower hall, and in admir-
ing wonder greeted her with: "You will be the belle of the ball-
room, madame. That child has transformed you into a Greek
goddess. ' '
"Let the eyes of the other guests be thy mirror, tonight,"
said Daisy, ' ' and thou wilt be better pleased with thy dress than
thou hast ever been before. I pronounce it a chef de auvre,
and I am an authority in matters of dress. Thou art so bright
and rich in color thyself, that thou canst not bear illuminating,
but must be toned down instead. But go on. Thou art late, very
late. And I will hear the rest of thy grumbling tomorrow. I
invite myself to breakfast with thee what dost thou say to ten
o'clock? It will be Saturday, and thou canst lie abed as late as
thou lik'st."
And promptly at ten next morning Daisy presented herself,
at Miss Prentice's bedside, followed by a maid with a breakfast
tray laden with coffee and rolls for two.
Miss Prentice drew the young girl's face down to her own
and for the first time, kissed her.
"So the despised toilette was a success?" asked Daisy,
laughing.
"A most decided success. I never had so much admiration
in my life, and ," but here she broke down and Daisy cried in
triumph: "Oh. It is a love story. Tell me do tell me all about
it."
"You are very young," said Miss Prentice, doubtfully, "but
as it was all due to your exquisite taste in the selection of my
ball dress, I think you have the first right to know. ' '
"Engaged." Daisy clasped her hands and rolled her eyes
in ecstacy. "It was the dress that did it," laughed Miss Pren-
tice. ' ' He confessed that he would have spoken long ago, but that
my loud taste for colors in dress daunted him. He is an artist,
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 139
but says that he prefers the cardinal tints upon canvas, and not
in a lady's dress."
"But thou hast not told me who is the happy man. I know
all the rest. Thou wast doubtful of thy toilette, and looked wist-
fully into every face for signs of disapproval, and instead thou
found thyself the most admired of all. In short, by the aid of thy
perfect toilette, thou hast achieved a grand social triumph."
"Now you have guessed it," was the reply. "I never had
so many compliments in so short a space of time before, nor un-
derstood what was meant by the term being ' well dressed. ' My
fiance is Paul Selwyn, the artist. We will be married soon and he
has stipulated that I shall not have an article in my trousseau
which has not been inspected and approved either by himself
or Daisy Zorlange, whose taste in dress he declares to be beyond
question, 'perfect!' And I am too happy to disobey," she added
laughingly.
"I congratulate thee," and Daisy stooped over and kissed
her.
"I know Paul Selwyn quite well. He gives me lessons in
painting. ' '
Miss Prentice looked amazed. "Why, Paul Selwyn is a
wealthy man, surely he has no need to teach. ' '
"He is a friend of fayther's, and at his request, teaches me."
"Oh," said Miss Prentice, doubtfully, "you are being fitted
for a teacher, perhaps. And your father goes to the extravagance
of procuring the best instruction for you. ' '
' ' Perhaps, ' ' echoed Daisy, with an amused smile. Then she
said: "Thou must come and spend the day with us tomorrow.
Thou and he. Fayther will be delighted to meet the fiancee of
Paul Selwyn, and will send him word."
"I suppose," said Miss Prentice, that evening, to Paul Sel-
wyn, "that it will not be in good taste to wear anything but my
shabbiest gown to poor Daisy's dinner?"
"Why?" he asked, in amazement.
"Oh," she answered, "the little darling belongs to the 'poor
and proud' class, and they are so very easily offended, you
know. ' '
The artist threw back his head and laughed, but only said:
"Please me by wearing your best gown tomorrow, your hand-
somest dinner dress and your most precious gems," then added,
quizzingly, "I want my friends to see what a 'stunner' I have
140 LA GRAN QUmiRA
won." Then he laughed again as she acquiesced, saying: "If
you are certain that it will not offend. ' '
'What Miss Prentice found at the Zorlange's no one knew,
but it was observed upon Monday and for many days thereafter,
that she cast many a side glance of seeming wonder and amaze-
ment at Daisy's demure little figure, and raised her eyebrows
significantly when her glance met that of the prim and circum-
spect Virginia Carson, who to the disgust of the remainder of the
girls, was as close as an oyster concerning what went on at her
new home.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 141
CANTO THE TENTH.
"TRmBOLITZ."
Two years had passed since Daisy Zorlange had entered the
high school with such dubious eclat. All the trials and tribula-
tions incidental to school life had been passed through by her
as successfully as childhood's ills. Daisy and her class had been
promoted to Miss Torrendycke 's room. The trials which Daisy
had been called upon to endure before she had made her peace
with Miss Prentice were as naught compared with what she was
compelled to submit to at the hands of her new teacher, who
hated her and took no pains to conceal the fact. "Trilobitz,"
Daisy called her, to her face, to the infinite amusement of the
school girls, with so perfect an intonation that the maligned
spinster could not be certain that it was not the orthodox ' ' Tor-
rendycke."
It was Miss Torrendycke 's pleasing habit to assert her own
authority by making her pupils do those particular things that
were most distasteful to them. Two pupils shared the same seat,
and desk. Daisy Zorlange wished to sit with either Virginia
Carson, or Ella Howell, one of her particular cronies. But no;
seated in the customary alphabetical order as Miss Torrendycke
had said would be the case, Ella and Daisy must have come
together; but Miss Torrendycke said that Miss Zorlange must
occupy one of the front row of seats, so that she would directly
under her own eye.
Daisy smiled. For long practice and experience had taught
her that there was more real fun to be had out of mischief prac-
ticed directly under Miss Torrendycke 's own eye and nose as
well than in any obscure corner of the school-room, and she
was congratulating herself upon this, when, to her dismay, Miss
Torrendycke appointed Lotta Moore to a seat at the same desk.
Now Lotta Moore was one of the few girls in the school with
whom it was impossible for Daisy to get along. To keep in favor
with Miss Torrendycke, Lotta spied upon and betrayed her com-
panions, upon every occasion.
142 LA GRAN QUIB1RA
Daisy, whose mischief was always open and above board,
hated treachery of any description, and grumbled openly; but
hoped that Lotta would herself object to the arrangement, as
the dislike, she knew, was mutual. Not so. Miss Moore declared
herself pleased with any arrangement that her dear teacher chose
to make. There was only one thing for it. Daisy determined to
rid herself of her obnoxious seatmate, and set to work to make
the place too hot to hold her. Trick after trick she played upon
her, but Lotta bravely stood her ground, revenging herself by
betraying all of Daisy's escapades to Miss Torrendycke, for that
incarnation of mischief had been right in her calculations when
she counted her chances of detection to be less, the closer she was
under the eye of her teacher ; and her daring was the admiration
and envy of the other scholars in the room.
Mrs. Governor St. Aubyn and her two youngest daughters
deigned to pay a visit to the school one afternoon. Daisy Zor-
lange had been indefatigable in her efforts to make that seat so
uncomfortable that Lotta Moore would ask to have another. This
particular day her pranks had been continuous, and the rest of
the girls were watching the result with unfeigned interest, for
many a wager had been laid among them as to how long the
"goody-good" Lotta would hold out. Three times upon this
selfsame day had she slyly (no one could truthfully say that they
had seen Daisy commit an error of deportment) piled up the
books in Lotta 's compartment of their desk in such a manner that
a noisy downfall of books and slates would be the inevitable re-
sult of the slightest touch of their owner. Thrice had the falling
books scattered innumerable bits of torn paper all about. Thrice
had Miss Moore been sharply reprimanded for her carelessness,
and made to pick up each separate bit of the torn papers, and the
girl was simply furious. Behind her open book she made
most hideous grimaces at her tormentor.
Daisy watched her opportunity, and when she had, without
seeming to do so, drawn the attention of visitors, teachers and
scholars by staring with wide-open, startled, eyes set upon Lotta,
she, in the very midst of one of Lotta 's grimaces, (and they
were most hideous, for the girl was extremely ugly, as I think
most 'goody-good' people are) reached across the aisle, Miss
Torrendycke having bidden them both to take the post of digrace
upon the front seats used for recitation, and snatching the book
A MUSICAL MYSTEEY 143
from before her face, disclosed it to the view of all, in all its
hideousness.
Poor Lotta. The laughter that greeted this display, fol-
lowed by hisses, was too much for her. And when Miss Torren-
dycke asked the pardon of the sweetly-innocent Miss Zorlange
for having reproved he.r for the fault of another, she capitulated
an! begged most earnestly that she be permitted to change her
seat.
"If you both wish," acquiesced Miss Torrendycke.
Daisy declared herself charmed with Miss Moore's company,
but added as a double intendre: "If Lotta is not satisfied
144 LA GRAN QUffilRA
CANTO THE ELEVENTH.
It was the habit of Daisy's teachers to permit Miss Zorlange
to leave the schoolroom once or twice each day, for a run around
the square on which the school building was situated. So when
Daisy felt one of the nervous headaches to which she was sub-
ject, coming on, she rose and quietly left the schoolroom without
the ceremony of each time asking permission. She never abused
this privilege. Her pallor testified to her need of fresh air, and
a few minutes' walk would restore her to herself. From one of
these hurried walks she sprang into the schoolroom with a
bound, slamming the door behind her in her haste, with flying
curls and dancing eyes and feet. But upon Miss Torrendycke 's
"Why, Miss Zorlange," she raised an admonitory finger and
stayed her dancing feet, cast a last reproving glance upon them.
then straightened herself stiffly and stood with folded arms, and
solemn countenance, facing her accusatory judge, as it were,
for Daisy knew what to expect.
"Miss Zorlange," said Miss Torrendycke, "are you aware
that such unseemly haste in entering a room is very unladylike
indeed."
"Yes'm. Yes Miss ' Trilobitz ', " replied that young lady,
shaking her head and upraised finger at her rebellious little feet,
as if they alone were to blame in the matter, "Yes'm. But thou
seest that I could not help it. It was all the fault of the 'New
Boy'." Daisy was delighted to have aroused the spinster's cur-
iosity. From the very outset, she had in defiance of Miss Tor-
rendycke 's will, exerted a strong magnetic influence over her, and
nothing pleased the mischeivous elf so much as an opportunity to
lead her on to some ridiculous conclusion.
"This is how it was, mum. I was coming along the upper
landing, keeping the 'Rules and Regulations' in my mind (this
statement caused the whole school to snicker) "when," continued
Daisy, sublimely unconscious, as it would seem, of the sensation
which her unblushing effrontery had created, "when I heard some
one coming up the stairway. I looked over the balustrade and
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 145
thought that it was Howard Gould, ' ' casting a look of reproach
at that young man, who was one of the class upon whose recita-
tion she had broken in, "and then," (this sorrowfully, for the
benefit of the sniggerers), "I quite forgot the 'Rules' and drop-
ped a pebble on his head. He looked up, and it was not Howard
at all, but a 'New Boy' a brand new boy," she repeated, with
emphasis. _^Vell, the 'New Boy' started up the stairs in pur-
suit of me, jfer I ran away, terribly frightened, and we had a
lively race, I can tell thee, 'up stairs, and down stairs and in my
lady's chamber.' I ran finally to Mr. Kingsley's room for his
protection. Mr. Kingsley always does protect me, you know,"
she added, maliciously. "Well, Mr. Kingsley's door was locked,
so the new boy caught me, and then he introduced himself to me
by name, and told me all about himself, and then he asked me
my name, and, ' ' said Daisy with the most exaggerated air of con-
scious rectitude, "right then I remembered that it was against
the rules to. talk in the halls, and I ran away again, just as fast
as I could and the new boy after me. Now, I should not
wonder if he were there yet. ' ' And with a swift, backward move-
ment she flung open the door, and there, indeed, stood a crest-
fallen youth who beat a hasty retreat, upon his exposure, amid
the jeers and laughter of the scholars.
' ' This must have been Mr. Kenyon, who comes late, but there
have been several additions to the school during your week's
absence, Miss Zorlange. The term 'New Boy' is most objection-
able."
"Yes," said Daisy, "he said that his name was George Ken-
yon. But if I were he I would rather be a 'New Boy' than a an
' Addition. ' Would not thou ? "
This question was not put in words, but by the uplifting of
her eyebrows, and a queer little pucker of her lips, and was ad-
dressed to Willis St. Aubyn, whom she had just espied in the
class and who was also a newcomer in the school.
Willis assented with a bow and smile, his eyes resting in un-
feigned admiration upon Daisy's bewitching face.
This pantomine was interrupted by Miss Torrendycke, who
was becoming suddenly conscious that she had been betrayed for
the twentieth time into committing an indiscretion by the fun-
loving Daisy. She said sharply: "Miss Zorlange, you will stop
in the superintendent's room as you leave school this afternoon,
and report to him that you have once again broken the rules. ' '
146 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
"Yes'm," said Daisy meekly. "Yes, Miss Trilobitz," adding
under her breath, "and my little romance counts for naught."
"And for insubordination,' (she had caught the sound but
not the sense of the aside) "you will take your stand upon the
platform here."
"Oh, Miss Torrendycke, " protested Daisy, "Oh, Miss Tor-
rendycke, ' ' but to no purpose, then made her way slowly to the
appointed place.
Poor Daisy! She was paying dearly for her fun. In five
minutes she looked ready to drop from weariness. She could
run or walk or dance all day, but to stand in one position tried
her beyond her strength.
Willis St. Aubyn, noting the girl's weariness, deliberately
rose and placed for her a chair. ' ' The young lady appears ready
to faint, ' ' he explained, and Miss Torrendycke, noticing her pal-
lor, was for once ashamed of her own harshness, and said: "Go
to your seat, Miss Zorlange. I quite forgot your recent illness
and did not mean to tax you beyond your strength. ' '
"I have always said that I would never fall in love until I
was past twenty-one, ' ' said "Willis, when they left the room, quite
ignoring the fact that it was against the rules of the school tc
talk in the halls, "and now here I have 'been and gone and done
it.' I am over head and ears in love with that dazzling bit of
sunshine you call, 'Daisy Zorlange.' '
"Willis St. Aubyn," was Howard Gould's reply. "I love
you better than any friend that I have ever had. But I warn you
not to trifle in any manner with Daisy Zorlange. I love her too,
and that better than life or friends. But I would not even for
the sake of possessing her love in return, awaken her suddenly
from her childish ignorance and innocence. Until the time
comes for her to awaken of her own accord, I am content to act
the part of an elder brother, and I warn you that you shall feel
that brother's vengeance, should you wrong her in any way."
Willis was indignant, but laughed lightly. "Good elder
brother," he said, "I have no intentions regarding your sister
which are not, in the highest degree, honorable. I mean to have
your bewitching sister for my wife, and that as soon as I can win
her consent, and win it I will," he added, confidently, "in de-
fiance of all opposition, even her own. ' ' Then he said, more ser-
iously: "Of course, we are all of us but children yet, and mar-
riage is quite out of the question. And you are right, Howard,
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 14?
she is much too charming as a child, to be transformed into a
young lady, yet. But be generous, my friend. Let ours be a
friendly rivalry. It is agreed, is it not, that each shall wop this
fair maid after his own fashion, not in any manner prejudicing
the interest of the other?"
Howard looked searchingly into the frank, blue eyes of his
friend, then with a sigh and a deepening pallor upon his pale
face, and a fear at his heart that Willis would indeed win her
from him, he took the outstretched hand and kissed the proffered
lips of his boy friend, and so was sealed the compact which made
them amicable rivals for the love of Daisy Zorlange.
Later in the day, the boys, crowding about Daisy and Juliet
Delmar in consultation about a public game to try the skill of
the rival ball clubs, "The Daisies" and "The Buttercups," Wil-
lis said laughingly, "Miss Daisy, let me present to your ac-
quaintance another new boy, who is the happy possessor of a
very romantic name. Miss Zorlange, Mr. Orville Roumaine."
' ' Awful Remains 1 ' ' quoth Daisy, with her mischievous habit
of making sport of every person and everything; "Mr. Awful
Remains, I am pleased, yet terrified, to make thy frightful ac-
quaintance ; " and with her unerring instinct in character-read-
ing, Daisy thought to herself : ' ' That boy has the most beautiful,
yet the most evil countenance, that there is in all the world, I do
believe. ' '
The darkly handsome face of Orville Roumaine glowed with
anger for a moment, but he forgave the mischief-loving girl.
Orville Roumaine had a Aveakness for pretty girls and Daisy
Zorlange was too beautiful to be blamed and not courted. Yet
this absurd soubriquet clung to him until, upon the same author-
ity, it was changed to "The Traveler," because of his fondness
for "romancing," as Daisy put it, about his experiences in the
many countries and places he had been.
Orville Roumaine was the son of the English general of that
name, who had lost his health in India, in which country the
boy was born. After the death of his wife the General sold his
commission and taking the boy with him had traveled in every
country and every land. He had lately come to America and by
some chance or perhaps mischance, Orville Junior had drifted
into the high school at the capital of this thriving State, and into
the lives of those whom he would one day harm, as was the will
of Daisy's Evil Genius. At least this was what she thought, for
148 LA GRAN QUIBIEA
Daisy had been told the fantastic vision which had come to her
fair young mother at her own birth, and she said: "Surely this
is the male child over whose birth, upon the opposite side of the
globe, Saturn was called upon to preside in person, leaving his
'sub' to appear at the scene of my own birth. Well, Mr. 'Aw-
ful Remains, ' forewarned is forearmed, and I will have as little
to do with thee as possible."
This is, of course, but a digression, for after the laugh raised
by Daisy 's play upon the name of the other ' ' New Boy ' ' had sub-
sided, Willis St. Aubyn continued: "Mr. Roumaine has been
chosen the new leader of ' The Buttercups, ' and just in time for
the Carnival, too."
It was the custom of the school to make the experiments of
the class in chemistry public, at least so far as admitting the
whole school, if they wished to attend them. Daisy Zorlange al-
ways attended these more for some place to go, as she frankly
confessed, than for any benefit she hoped to derive from the ex-
hibition, for those beautiful starry eyes of hers were what is
termed "near" of sight. Nothing, however, would induce her to
touch the electric dynamo, to receive that electric shock which
threw the others into spasms of painful delight, as she dubbed
it.
Upon the particular day of which I write, notwithstanding
her open protests, Mr. Twirl, the principal of the school, under
whose supervision all chemical experiments were made, gave a
sign to Orville Roumaine, and he drew the refractory Daisy sud-
denly into the magic ring.
Mr. Twirl threw on a double force of electricity. All the
members of the circle writhed and shrieked, and laughed, with
the one exception of Daisy Zorlange, whose falling body broke the
magic ring as it dropped apparently lifeless upon the floor, to
the consternation of teacher and pupils alike.
The boys, whose idol Daisy was, sprang forward and raised
her prostrate form, then turned angrily upon the delinquent
Twirl, and Willis St. Aubyn demanded without that show of re-
spect he was accustomed to yield to the principal of the school :
"How dare you sir, to inflict this upon any one against their
will?"
In answer to this protest, Mr. Twirl declared that he believed
it to have been but a pretense upon the part of the young lady,
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 149
that she could not bear the application of the electric force thus
applied.
"And you chose to murder her, rather than give up your
own point."
It would seem that this indignant accusation of the lad was
just, for they worked in vain to restore Daisy to consciousness;
and midst sorrowing faces for in spite of their jealousy and
their propensity to domineer over her, Daisy was the prime
favorite of all her schoolmates Willis St. Aubyn and Howard
Gould bore her unconscious form to a carriage, and took poor
Daisy's seemingly lifeless form home to her father's house.
It was many hours before she could be restored to conscious-
ness. She experienced no serious injury from this electric
shock, but instead reaped the benefit of always having her own
sweet will afterwards at school, and reawakened the jealousy of
her schoolmates when it was remarked that when Daisy Zorlange
planted her little foot firmly upon the floor and said: " I will
not," she was permitted to "not" without question.
150 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
CANTO THE TWELFTH.
"THE SONG OF THE WELD BIRD."
The Commencement exercises of the high school were largely
attended. The public schools of C . were at this time so good
and thorough in their instructions their superintendent, Mr.
Kingsley, having the reputation of being one of the most pol-
ished literateurs of the State, that the schools under his control
were patronized by all of the first and wealthiest families of the
place.
The exercises for that year were held in one of the most
spacious churches of the city, the accomodations of the school
building not being sufficient, and the new high school building,
with its grand chapel and hall, not yet being completed.
Gertrude Grey, the valedictorian, grumbled audibly when
she found that one of the features of the evening's exercises was
to be a quartette rendered by Willis, Howard, Virginia and
Daisy.
"If Daisy Zorlange is to sing," she said, "the whole evening
will be spoiled for anything else. Who will listen to the speeches
and essays after that ? ' '
Daisy's hot temper had been already aroused. The dresses
of the girl graduates were, of course, to be of the customary
white, and to make things more effective, Miss Torrendycke had
requested that none of the other members of the school should
wear white, but dress themselves in as bright colors as possible.
Daisy had provided for her own wear a lovely rose-colored tissue ;
but at the eleventh hour Lotta Moore had told her that she had
mistaken the request, which was, that all, without exception,
should wear white, unrelieved by any color. Daisy, with a sigh, re-
nounced her new gown and donned her white, but with her usual
desire to be found fault with for a cause, she relieved the mon-
otony of the effect by wearing a shoulder sash of blue ribbon.
This she caught up on the shoulder and again at the waist, by a
full-blown, crimson rose. In this toilette she made a very pretty
picture of girlishness loveliness, but brought down the wrath,
as Lotta had anticipated, of Miss Torrendycke, upon her de-
A MUSICAL MYSTEEY 151
voted head. This was during the first intermission, and Daisy
explained the situation, adding wrathfully that Lotta Moore's
chief aim in life seemed to be to make mischief between her and
someone else. Her bright face and the ribbons and roses, and her
gleaming pearly neck and arms, so relieved the monotony of her
dress that Miss Torrendycke quite overlooked her act of diso-
bedience. But she went on finding fault until the girl felt in-
clined to all manner of acts of insubordination.
Daisy was seated next to Lotta Moore, and directly behind
them were the seats of her two boy lovers, 'Willis and Howard.
No hint of love had been given to Daisy by either, but they
watched over her as devoted brothers might, and were fearful
of awakening her from childhood's dream. Daisy loved them
with all her heart, but no suspicion of the truth of their re-
gard for her, ever crossed her mind. Now, each, in turn, en-
gaged her attention, while Miss Torrendycke questioned the
other.
The quartette was called, and the four singers were greeted
not only with applause, but with rather broad smiles. The piece
selected was a very difficult one, and especially the soprano was
full of run, and trills, and quavers.
""What are they all grinning at," demanded Daisy, sotto
voce, as she lagged behind the rest, unwilling to take part in
this public exhibition.
"They think that you cannot sing the part," said Willis, "I
heard some of them laughing at the idea that a little girl could
sing the prima donna part. ' '
This had the desired effect of putting Daisy upon her mettle.
"Oh!!" she ejaculated, and at once gave her customary
preliminary twitter, and plunged into the song.
Glances of wonder were exchanged all over the house, and
then a dead silence reigned. The audience seemed turned to
stone. Daisy, losing sight of everything but the music, forgot
her own shyness, and with her head poised upon one side she
listened as does a bird, charmed with its own sweet notes.
It was a trick of Daisy's three worshippers, to subside into
a voice accompaniment to Daisy's songs.
The young voice rose higher and higher, until it seemed
to reach the heavens, and to descend from thence, and 'lie first
verse ended in a perfect cascade of rippling trills, which were
152 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
all Daisy's own. Only a few softly candenced notes were struck
by the orchestra, whose leader had risen and was gazing at the
child with adoring wonder. But during that time, the entire
audience, arose en masse, as silently as if moved by one impulse.
Daisy saw not and heeded not, and the whole mass of people
stood motionless and silent while she literally flooded the room
with song.
The song ended. The silence which followed was first
broken by Daisy, who said aggressively : "So thou thoughtst we
kids could not sing the number, eh!" And she would have
shaken her little fist at the assembled multitude, but that Willis,
whose eyes were ever upon her, caught, and smiling, held it fast.
The silence once broken, such a thunder of applause arose
that Daisy, who had started to her seat, was very much fright-
ened, and it was with great difficulty that she could be induced
to sing another song. Finally she gave an arch and successful
rendering of the "auld Scotch ballad," " 'Twas within
a mile o' Edinboro' Town."
As Daisy finished, the leader of the orchestra came forward
and kissed the hem of her gown, saying, with reverent air : ' ' It
is the divine spirit of music herself, of whom I have dreamed,
but for whom I long have sought in vain."
Then they crowded about the child, and kissed, and car-
ressed, and complimented her, without stint.
"Your singing is like that of the wild birds," exclaimed a
noted musician. "Like them, you have only Nature's training.
With cultivation, your voice would become the wonder of the
age. ' '
But Daisy declined to ' ' cultivate, ' ' saying, that when people
got tired of the " caged-birds ' songs," she would give them the
wild birds' song, and make them feel that they breathed the
fresh woodland air, laden with the perfume of the wild flowers
and of the new-mown hay.
' ' Perhaps you are right, my dear. Still you should have the
advantage of a really good teacher, and I will myself overlook
your voice culture if you will permit me to do so."
Daisy thanked him, but said : ' ' Signer Yorkestan is my in-
structor. He thinks with my fayther, that my voice should
have all its natural beauties preserved and that it must not be
forced in any manner while I am so young. So he forbids me to
sing except when I feel so inclined."
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 153
There were stares of amazement, for Signer Yorkestan re-
ceived but two or three pupils and asked an almost fabulous
price for their instruction.
The furore subsided and the exercises were continued. Next
intermission most of the scholars kept their seats and chatted
together.
Governor St. Aubyn came to the group about Daisy and
began teasing her with: "So my sweet singing-bird and Queen
of Fairy Land is the little girl who lives upon 'our street,' and
who objects to saying that she lives upon 'my' street."-
"My street,' said Daisy, emphatically.
"I believe that upon the occasion of our last dispute upon
the subject we compromised by agreeing to call it 'our' street,"
said the Governor, laughing. "I hope," he added in the orth-
odox manner, but with fun gleaming in his eyes, "that you
are as ' good as you are beautiful. ' '
' ' No, ' ' said Daisy, ' ' I am nothing so tame and commonplace
as 'good.' I am," and she shook her index finger instruc-
tively at him, "I am a 'something' in five syllables less or more.
Mostly, I am a participle, I think. But I know that I am 'un-
ruly,' ' intractible, ' irresponsible,' 'incorrigible,' 'the very in-
carnation of disobedience and insubordination,' for Miss Tor-
rendycke says so, and 'Trilobitz' has been so long upon the earth
that she ought to know all about everything, and she thinks
she does. Ask her to name the other awful things I am. Here
she is; coming to 'nag' me a little for a change. Nothing invig-
orates her so much as to make me the recipient of her surplus
spleen. But do not ask me to subside into a mere 'goody-good.'
there are too many of that sort now," and she pointed mis-
chievously to the prim, precise figures of those of her school-
mates, who, anxious to please, sat rigidly upright, looking with
shocked surprise at Daisy Zorlange's lolling and careless at-
titude.
The Governor laughed heartily and was turning to <-peak
1o Miss Torrendycke, when the adoration in Howard G:uld's
dark eyes, as they rested upon Daisy's face, caught his atten-
tion. "Ah!" he exclaimed, "So that is the way the land Hes,
is it, my lad?"
Howard's face flushed hotly, but he replied honestly:
"That's the way the land lies in this quarter, Governor."
"What's the 'way the land lies'?" demanded Daisy, squirm-
154 LA GEAN QUIBIRA
ing under the touch of the hand of Miss Torrendycke, who turned
to the Governor and said: "I hope that that you are administer-
ing salutary reproof to this, the most refractory of all my pn-
pils. ' '
To which the Governor answered coolly, while Willis and
Howard, always ready to shield the sensitive chill from all
knowledge of the unfair treatment to vlrh she was subjected
upon every occasion by her teacher, oc^upi'H! her attention, while
the Governor did not attempt to restrain his laughter as Daisy
deliberately told off upon her fingers, each syllable of the long
word used by the fault-finding "Trilobitz," "I find the
child very charming," and deliberately turned to chaff
her anew. But Miss Torrendycke was not to be so
easily ignored and began at once to say the most disagreeable
things possible to the girl.
Willis stooped over and pressed his lips to one of Daisy's
curls. "Ah! And that is the 'way the land lies with you,' a^o,
is it, my boy?"
Willis raised his blue eyes frankly to his father's face and
replied earnestly: "And that is the 'way the land lies' with me
also, daddy."
"What is the 'way the land lies'?" demanded Daisy once
more, and receiving no answer she grumbled: "I think that if I
were the Governor, I could afford to talk plain 'United States.'
What dost thou think is to become of the youth of this great
and glorious State if its Governor sets the bad example of talk-
ing in riddles ? ' ' inquired she, mischievously mimicing Miss Tor-
rendycke 's dictatorial manner to a nicety.
But the Governor was greatly interested in this love affair,
of which the girl herself was apparently the only one who was
ignorant of "how the land lay."
"And you sometimes fight and pull hair, etc.?"
' ' Never, ' ' replied the .boys. ' ' This is a case of amicable riv-
alry," and the two lads clasped hands warmly.
The Governor turned away laughing. "Wait awhile," he
said.
"It will be no different," said Willis, "we settled all that
long ago. Each is to do his best to win, and that without preju-
dicing the cause of the other. It is to be a fair contest from first
to last."
Miss Torrendycke, still further irritated at the abrupt de-
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 155
parture of the Governor, and willing, as usual, to vent her spleen
upon Daisy, said severely: "Miss Moore has just given me a
very different account of the matter of your dressing yourself
in the color I forbade you to wear."
"Miss Moore is a liar," was the calm reply. "I never take
the trouble to lie, as thou knowest."
"Your language and behavior are altogether unsuited to
a young lady."
' ' I am not a ' young lady ; ' I do not want to be a ' young lady '
and I won't be a 'young lady,' that's flat, at least, not yet,"
cried Daisy, defiantly, throwing herself back in her chair.
Neither had noted the fact that the house had been called to
order and that they were becoming the center of the observation
of the entire assembly.
Miss Torrendycke was furious when she found this to be the
case, making most unfavorable comments upon Daisy's conduct.
"The old 'cat'," said Willis, spitefully.
Daisy was restored to good humor at once and turned to him
with a beaming smile. "That is what I call her," she whispered.
"How didst thou know?"
"What will you give me to repeat it so that she will hear?"
asked he, coaxingly.
' ' What dost thou want ? ' '
"That rose upon your bosom and a kiss," said Willis,
boldly.
"Very well. The price is high, but I will give it." And
she took the red rose from its fastenings and pinned it upon
the lapel of Willis' coat, then put up her lips and was much
surprised that he did not take the proffered kiss for which he
had bargained. This, in the face of the attentive multitude,
was a little too much, even for the cheeky Willis, and Howard
and the rest were in ecstacies at his discomfiture.
' ' Not now. The pay is more than I deserve, ' ' he whispered
to the pouting Daisy. "Keep the kiss for me until I ask for it.
And mind that you do not give it away in the meantime."
The mollified maiden nodded assent.
The speeches 'and music went on. But during the remain-
ing exercises the eyes of more than one mother turned from their
own daughters, sitting there so stiff and decorously proper, to
156 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
the form of the beautiful, graceful girl who "would not be a
young lady not yet," and wished their own were a trifle less
stiff.
Even Gertrude Grey was mollified, for by the time the val-
edictory address was reached, all were attentive and apprecia-
tive.
And Daisy, leaning her head backward upon Willis St.
Aubyn's shoulder, fell fast asleep.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 157
CANTO THE THIRTEENTH.
"THE REFRACTORY SONG BIRD/'
The high school was to hold a grand carnival of song, and
dance, and games. Everywhere busy preparations were being
made for the great event. Practice was going on, both indoors
and out.
Among other features of the entertainment was a cantata.
This was to be rehearsed in the chapel of the school. A call had
been made by Mr. Fyfe, the new singing master, for all who
were to take part in this cantata to present themselves at re-
hearsal.
The soprano, par excellence, Gertrude Grey, failed to make
her appearance upon this occasion. Mr. Fyfe fumed and fretted
until some one amused him by saying: "Why do you not let
Daisy Zorlange take Gerturde's place?"
Mr. Fyfe laughed.
"Miss Zorlange is not here either," he said. "Nor do I be-
lieve the child would be able to fill the place of our first so-
prano. Her voice, if she has one," a little spitefully, for he
was much chagrined at the defection of Miss Grey, since he
wished to insure perfection in one particular duet.
"She sings like an angel," cried more than one indignant
voice, "but she scarcely ever sings at all when Gerty Grey is
here. Gerty is so jealous of her, and so mean to her always."
' ' And oh, ' ' coaxed Juliet Delmar, " if we can get Daisy Zor-
lange to sing, I want to play the accompaniment myself." Then
she added: "That is the only thing I am not jealous of Daisy
Zorlange in. I cannot sing at all, and if I could, I could never
hope to sing like Daisy. No other human being can. But I am
the best accompaniest in the school and if Daisy can be per-
suaded to sing I claim the privilege of playing for her." And
Daisy, coming into the room at this juncture, she made the re-
quest of her in person. ' ' Old Fyfe thinks that you cannot sing
that duet in Gerty Grey's place. Just look at that unbelieving
sneer upon his divine countenance, will you?"
This had the desired effect, firing Daisy's quick temper,
158 LA GRAN QUEBIBA
and she accepted the chair which Willis St. Aubyn offered,
next his own, with a shy blush and smile, and shared his proffered
singing book as well.
Juliet placed herself at the piano, and after an elaborate
prelude, and in the midst of an expectant silence of the other
occupants of the room, the duet commenced.
As the young girl's voice rose clear and yet more clear in
unison with the rich tones of Willis' baritone, all held their
very breath to listen, as if they feared to lose a single intona-
tion. As to the singing master, his amazed countenance would
at any other time have raised a hearty laugh, but it was a rare
treat to hear Daisy sing, and they did not at that moment, care
one straw for what was in the mind of old Fyfe. That worthy
forgot, after the first few bars, to beat time to the music, and
stood, the very impersonation of rapturous awe.
It was Daisy, herself, who broke the profound silence in
which the song concluded, for Juliet was too true a musician to
destroy the effect by supplying any superfluous chords.
"Why, Willis," she exclaimed, "What a grand voice thou
hast. It is a treat to sing with thee ; and so easy that one could
not help singing, thou knowest."
This was Willis' opportunity. "I would be glad if I might
be permitted sometimes to practice with you."
"Why not?" said Daisy, "Howard and Virginia and I
practice every evening when our lessons are done, for my fayth-
er's edification, and thou canst join us tonight if thou lik'st."
Willis was triumphant, and turned to Howard, who had
steadily refused to introduce him to the home of Daisy upon
his own responsibility.
But Howard only smiled, well pleased at the turn affairs
had taken, and replied: "I told you that it would come about
in time, of its own accord. Everything rights itself in time to
the patient waiter."
And so began that series of evenings spent at the Zorlange's,
which lasted throughout their entire course of study at the high
school. The two boys brought their books there regularly each
evening and studied with the two girls until their lessons were
mastered, under the careful eye of Janet, with Emil Zorlange
himself to untie all knotty points for them. Then one or other
of them read aloud while others occupied their hands with
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 159
some light work, and the evening of every day in the year was
ended with music, and wit-sharpening games and chats upon the
leading topics of the day.
Emil Zorlange never tired of the youthful, out-spoken com-
ments, whether to the purpose or wide of the mark, as they were
apt to be, especially upon the political questions of the hour.
Meantime, Daisy was receiving the congratulations, and
compliments of the school girls, and her astonished music
teacher, who declared that she should not only sing first soprano
at the Carnival, but in the regular class practice.
Daisy refused. "I am not permitted to use my voice at
any set time," she said. "I can only sing when I feel inclined
to do so."
" 'Little birds who can sing and won't sing, must be made
to sing'," he quoted, oracularly. "If I say that you must take
Miss Grey's place, both at this rehearsal and in class, you must
obey, must you not ? ' '
' ' No, ' ' said Daisy, ' ' I will not obey. ' ' Then she said, as if
in defense of her position: "My fayther will take me out of
school if thou shouldst attempt to coerce me in the matter of
singing. He will not permit me to strain my voice in the least
while I am so young. ' '
You may be certain of the delight of the school girls in the
discomfiture of old Fyfe.
160 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
CANTO THE FOURTEENTH.
"THE POETRY OP MOTION."
The day of the Carnival arrived. The school, in carriages,
were escorted to the beautiful grove at Marble Cliff, by what
would appear to have been the entire musical force of the city.
The test game between the two ball clubs, "The Butter-
cups" and "The Daisies," was first on the programme for the
day.
The umpire of the winning club was to be crowned Queen
of the Carnival, by a wreath of that flower from which the club
took its name.
The floral crowns rested upon a moss-covered table, side by
side, and were much admired by all. It was impossible to say
which was the prettier, the crown of gorgeous buttercups, or the
chaplet of simple white daisies.
"Why, Juliet! How perfectly gorgeous thou art, to be
sure," exclaimed Daisy, stopping directly in front of Juliet
Delmar, whom she had not before seen.
Juliet looked up and an angry retort was upon her lips, but
Daisy's wide-eyed admiration was too genuine to be mistaken,
and she was instantly mollified.
"I am glad some one has the sense to appreciate my dress,"
she said. "Miss Torrendycke has just been lecturing me upon
it. She declares that my vanity has led me into an error of
extravagance, and that my dress is unsuitable in the highest
degree."
"Oh bother 'Trilobitz'," said Daisy, consolingly: "why,
that old fossil would give the half of her scant remaining years
to be as young and as beautiful as thou art at this moment. My
taste in dress is, I should imagine, quite as good as that of 'Tril-
obitz,' and I say that the orange-colored satin and black lace
drapery that thou hast on is the most becoming thing that thou
couldst wear. What matter about the material. It is the effect one
looks at in dress, and I declare that to be perfectly 'gorgeous,'
as I said."
Daisy's own costume was, as usual upon such occasions, of
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 161
simplest white, of some gauzy fabric, with yards upon yards of
filmy lace arranged in the prettiest apparent disorder upon it.
No one was ever quite certain whether Daisy Zorlange's toilettes
were the simple inexpensive things they seemed, that certainly
was the effect aimed at, or were of elaborate richness; but Daisy's
poverty was usually acknowledged to be beyond doubt, and
weighed down the balance in favor of the former. Most people
settled the disputed point by declaring that the girl, or those who
chose her gowns, had matchless taste in dress.
The ball game was well contested. But "The Daisies"
won, as usual, and crowned their Queen with much eclat, who,
in turn, insited upon crowning the disappointed Juliet with the
crown of buttercups, and upon honoring her by detaining her at
her own side, calling her her captive queen, and in sharing ev-
ery honor of the day with her.
The grounds were crowded with guests. At lunch, Governor
St. Aubyn and his guards appeared upon the scene. The boys
had laid a wager that Daisy Zorlange could not catch a ball
nine times out of ten, tossed from a certain point. The wager
was to be paid in kisses. The Governor, listening to this by-play,
courteously offered to "hold the stakes." "Come, Falconer,"
said he to his aid in a low ' ' aside, " "we are about to have a dis-
play of ankles, and if the ankles are as perfect as the face above
them, the display will be well worth seeing."
"You will not see much of Daisy's ankles, I promise you,
daddy," whispered Willis in his ear. "You had better keep
your eyes uplifted to her lovely face."
The Governor had the grace to blush at having been over-
heard by his younger son. "But, I say, daddy," laughed Wil-
lis, "you are a poet, you know, and if you really want to know
what is meant by 'the poetry of motion,' just watch Daisy Zor-
lange's tout ensemble, face, ankles and all, and you will tinder-
stand what the phrase means in all its perfection. ' '
The Governor muttered something about "impudent young
rascal," but, to Willis' delight, stood his ground.
Howard Gould, as the best "pitcher" of the school, tossed
the ball, and purposely, although unfairly, a few feet above her
head. But Daisy, with the lithe, and active grace of a fairy,
bounded lightly from the earth with movement so swift that
it scarcely ruffled her plumage, or lifted the curls upon her
162 LA GRAN QUBBIBA
forehead. That dainty figure, poised in midair, was like the
movement of some exquisite toy that rose and fell with grace-
ful regularity, for Daisy was chary of her kisses, and never
failed to catch the flying ball, although two other skillful pitch-
ers succeeded Howard, whom they accused of not having done
his best.
"The very 'poetry of motion' indeed!" cried Governor St.
Aubyn, in raptures. "I would have liked Bert Sy den-
ham to have seen that, and tried to put that flying fairy upon
canvas for me. I would not grudge half my fortune for such
a picture."
Daisy, overhearing this, became, for the first time, conscious
that she had been making a public display of her graces, and
nettled, she declared that the Governor, having offered to "hold
the stakes," should receive and hold, subject to her demand, the
ten kisses each, that she had won from the three "pitchers,"
Howard Gould, Orville Roumaine and George Sutton.
The boys, entering into the spirit of the thing, proceeded to
promptly pay their debt to her trustee, with scowls, and protesta-
tions, and grimaces, which threw the bystanders into ecstacies
of mirth.
Daisy's feat had proven such an unbounded success, that
Juliet Delmar must needs try her hand, or, to speak more to the
point, her two feet at the same game ; and the boys, nothing
loath, tossed the ball anew.
The effect was most pronounced. Most of the school-girls,
and lady visitors, slipped away, giggling and blushing.
"My stars!" cried the Governor, "What a display."
Juliet Delmar was beyond question a very beautiful girl
of eighteen. But her tall and elegant form was scarcely sylph-
like in its boundings from the earth, and she could not, some-
how, manage her skirts, which caught the wind and allowed
rather too much of her lower extremities to be seen. She seldom
caught the flying ball and had to stoop to find it; a most unbe-
coming attitude for one so tall and so well corseted.
Poor Daisy crept close up to her and said gently, "Oh,
Juliet, do quit. Why, you show your ankles and things. ' '
But Juliet only cast a spiteful glance at her and went on,
not heeding her, or the remonstrances of the others near at hand.
Finally the Reverend Mr. Sinclair, a bachelor of the olden
A MUSICAL. MYSTERY 163
school, climaxed the display by taking Miss Torrendycke by the
arm, and, dragging her near, he pointed to Juliet's bouncing
figure and said sternly: "Madam, as that young lady's teacher,
you are bound to check that unseemly display, and to reprimand
her for her very unbecoming actions."
"Why," was the angry reply of Miss Torrendycke, as she
struggled to free herself and to turn her horrified gaze away, ' ' I
saw you watching the same performance by Daisy Zorlange with
the greatest pleasure but a few moments since. Why should
you find fault with Miss Delmar for the same thing? For my
part, I see no difference."
' ' The difference is that the one was the graceful and modest
movements of an innocent child, while this is the indecent dis-
play of the mature charms of a young woman. Madam!" he
yelled excitedly, grasping her tightly with one hand, and waving
the other tragically toward Juliet, "Madam! Do you see those
legs?"
The shrieks of laughter which followed this, and Miss Tor-
rendycke 's apostrophe, of : " Oh. You brute, you ! ' '
"Which, being interpreted into Latin," shouted Willis, to
his daddy's pride and delight, "would be/ et tu, brute/'
aroused even the obtuse Juliet to the consciousness that she was
making herself the laughing stock of all.
"I cannot see why they should laugh at me any more than
at Daisy Zorlange, ' ' she complained to Lotta Moore, as the two
walked away.
"Your capers can scarcely be compared to Daisy Zorlange 's
poetic grace of movement," was the answer. "As the Reverend
Sinclair put it, you indecently showed your legs."
164 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
CANTO THE FIFTEENTH.
"THE RIVAL QUEENS/'
The cantata was received with the wildest applause, al-
though Willis St. Aubyn grumbled loudly at having to sing the
favorite duet with the black-eyed, elderly, Miss Grey. (Gertrude
was nearly twenty.) Daisy took part only in the chorus.
The day 's entertainment closed with its grandest feature, an
original ballet. Both music and steps had been composed for
the occasion. It was called "The Rival Queens." Indeed, each
performance of the day was but a part of a whole, and Daisy
Zorlange and Juliet Delmar, the queens of "The Buttercups"
and ' ' The Daisies, ' ' represented the rival queens of the ballet.
Supper was over, and the spectators fought amicably for
the best places. The stage was cleared and lightd with a soft
radiance from some hidden source. The orchestra was in its
place, and so were the dancers. But the dancing master, who
was the leader as well, and who had arranged the whole ballet,
was very late. So late, in fact, that the musicians, anxious for
the display of the new melodies, began to play softly, one after
another, snatches of the most beautiful of these, and the perform-
ers stepped impatiently to the music, although they knew that
this was a sort of betrayal of the secrets of the play. Friends
mounted the stage to chat with the pretty girls.
The Governor said to Daisy: "Do you know, my little
friend, that I am just wild to spin that waltz the orchestra has
only hinted at, with you 1 ' '
Daisy coaxed the musicians to strike up. It was a most in-
spiring air, and Daisy and the Governor, who was a most ac-
complished dancer, in spite of his age and corpulence, spun
thrice around the platform before their sport was brought to a
sudden end by the appearance of the tardy master of ceremonies,
who soundly berated the musicians and the Governor, too, for
tiring out the principal performer.
The two principal parts of the ballet had been taught to
both Juliet and Daisy, and the ball game was to decide which
part each was to take in the ballet.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 165
The theme could not have been better chosen had the history
of the principal actors been its foundation.
The fairies are patterned after human prototypes.
A queen had been born in fairyland, but after the king, her
father, had been laid away to sleep, for the century it would re-
quire (according to fairy creed), to renew his youth and come
among them again, to rule, for only youth and beauty were per-
mitted to hold sway in fairyland.
The daisy was chosen as her emblematic flower, and, as was
the custom of fairyland, the young queen bore its name. (Had the
ball game terminated differently the name of the queen must
have been Buttercup instead, and Juliet Delmar must have
taken the precedence.)
The queen mother died in giving birth to the child, and so
great was the grief and consternation of all at her premature
death, (it was the custom in fairyland for the mother of a new-
born sovereign to linger until her offspring was of an age and
strength to take the reigns of government into their own hands),
that little attention was for the moment paid to the wee blossom
itself. And while the attention of all was centered upon the
mother, this wee queen was stolen from her cradle by a malign-
ant fairy who had not been bidden to the birth feast nor asked
to bestow a gift upon the newly fledged flower, and carried away
to her lonely habitation, where she was placed under the jail-
orship of a great black beetle, with orders to make away with
her as soon as possible ; and in her stead was placed another, a
child of her own, but whose size and darkly beautiful face
seemed not to the taste of all.
The first offense committed by this false queen was to cast
aside the modest crown of daisies, and to assume one of gorgeous,
golden buttercups, as being more becoming to her style of beauty.
This so angered her godmother, who had her doubts and sus-
picions aroused, that she at once guessed the truth, and then and
there she began what seemed to be a hopeless search for the
missing fay.
The stolen queen, herself, grew and thrived in spite of the
close confinement under the stern guardianship of the black-
browed beetle. And that sense of superiority, which is inborn,
made her desire to rule, but there were none to govern here ex-
cept her stern jailor, and he tried in every way that he dared to
166 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
shorten her existence, and so leave the coast clear to her rival, who
inherited beetle blood, and beetle instincts.
Many times this wee spirit in her endeavor to escape from
her prison house was tempted to slay the great black beetle with
her own hand, and many were her opportunities for doing this,
but a something, not to be explained, an inborn fear of staining
her hands with evil blood, restrained her. So she resolved to
bide her time and embrace the first opportunity to escape into
the outside world from which there seemed to come to her,
whispering counsels to guide and to comfort her.
The truth was that her identity had been suspected, and that
which she herself believed to be instinct, or the whisperings of
fancy, were, in reality, the voices of friendly followers, who but
waited for her wings to strengthen, to offer her their submis-
sion. But the secret was bravely kept. For ignorance of her
state was the only security for her personal safety. So that not
even her own godmother knew her whereabouts, and only sus-
pected that she lived without knowing with any certainty. She
suspected, from the evil disposition of her bogus god-daughter,
that some fraud had been perpetrated, without knowing it to be
so, and some of the scenes between the furious old fairy and her
domineering god-daughter, who could brook no control, were
both amusing and effective.
The true queen, born to rule, as she felt, and to conquer all
the obstacles placed in her path, performed her first great feat,
in outwitting, and, in a manner, conquering, the huge beetle
who was her arch-enemy, and once outside his dominions she
was instantly joined by an army of fairies, which delighted her
greatly, for she had before this believed herself to be alone of
her species.
It would be impossible, here, to describe the intricate wind-
ing's of the story upon which the ballet was founded, or to por-
tray the scenes of the play.
Two thrones had been erected upon opposite sides of the
stage, and each, together with the dais upon which it stood, was
entirely covered with rich, velvety moss, studded thickly, the
one with pure white daisies, the other with golden buttercups.
Each beautiful queen had her devoted followers, and many
were the vicissitude of the war for precedence. Sometimes
the true queen, who, however, was known as the insurgent,
gained her throne in triumph, and, at the last, almost alone ; her
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 167
armies either deserting her for a time or being almost extermin-
ated. And then came the test of the true and false. This was
the beautiful winged waltz, (the one which Daisy had taught to
Governor St. Aubyn). The true queen floated about, apparently
above the ground, light as a tuft of thistledown, while it was
discovered, for the first time, by the rival courtiers, that, while
the movements of the grandly beautiful Queen Buttercup were
elegance and grace combined, she was yet unable to poise her-
self above the earth. Great indeed was the discomfiture of her
allies at this; but they themselves, as in duty bound, delivered
their false queen up to justice.
She was, of course, forced to abdicate her throne in favor
of the true queen, by whom she was uncrowned and bound in
daisy chains; while her throne was torn in pieces and the moss
and knots of buttercups, into the center of each of which a single
spotless daisy was inserted, were distributed among the spectat-
ors as souvenirs of this grand Carnival Day.
The ballet, which introduced every new step, and supplied
some newer ones, proved to be the grand event of the grand Car-
nival, and the new airs and new steps became the rage for a
long time to come. The delighted dancing master was declared
to be a wizard, for it would seem that he had forseen even the
most trifling event of this eventful day, and set it to music and .
motion.
The Daisy throne was preserved in all its beauty, and was
awarded to the victorious queen; and kept its verdure and its
sweetness and freshness for many a day thereafter in the Zor-
lange home.
168 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
CANTO THE SIXTEENTH.
"THE DEDICATION."
The new high school building was not ready for occupancy
until after the middle of the next term. There was to be no
sort of celebration of the great event of taking formal posses-
sion of their new quarters, as the scholars had hoped. The stud-
ents gathered up their books and were to march, in quiet state,
so Miss Torrendycke and the other teachers had said, and take
silent possession of their respective departments.
Everybody was disappointed, of course, for the average
school girl and boy is greatly addicted to display. There came
near being a mutiny. Daisy Zorlange tipped the wink, as it were,
and gave a few commands, in a whispered aside, to some of
her allies in mischief.
"Daisy Zorlange to the rescue," was the muffled warcry, as
they watched and followed her every movement.
Now, it so happened that Miss Torrendycke 's room was the
first ready for the flitting, and the girls, bonnetted and caped,
following Daisy's example, shouldered their school-satchels like
knapsacks, caught up their umbrellas (it chanced to be a rainy
day) and prepared to march.
"Now, young ladies, observe the greatest possible silence,
and decorum," quoth Miss Torrendycke, sharply.
"Yes'm," said Daisy, and at once slipped from the rear
rank to the front, giving rapid orders as she went.
Then, before Miss Torrendycke could interfere, Daisy called
quickly: " 'The Soldier's Chorus.' Forward! March!" And the
umbrellas came down in a well-timed chorus: "Thump, Thump,
Thumpety, Thump. Thump, Thump, Thumpety Thump,
Thump."
Expostulation was of no use. Nothing could be heard but
the measured tread of the insurgents, and the "Thumpety,
Thump ' ' of the umbrella band.
Down the stairs, and out into the street, marched the troop.
As they left the building, at a signal from their dauntless
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 169
leader, they joined their voices to the umbrella accompaniment,
and the other rooms, filing into their places, took it up and the
air resounded with the grand chorus from "Faust:" "Glory and
love to the men of old. Etc., etc., etc."
The effect was grand. The school, numbering two hundred
pupils, and the teachers, laughing and scolding, joined in. Peo-
ple rushed out of their houses, and bare-headed, joined in the
procession. Passing carriages joined the train, while their oc-
cupants joined in the chorus. They marched by the hall in
which the brass band was practicing and they instantly took up
the air and headed the procession. Orville Roumaine, who
climbed like a monkey, had at the beginning, mounted the flag-
staff and secured the colors, then took his place as color-bearer
to the army. And Daisy, tying her fur muff upon her curly
head, kept her own place as drum major, using her umbrella
most skillfully as a baton.
The enthusiasm grew. Houses were left tenantless and un-
protected, while every man, woman and child of that quarter of
the city joined in this triumphal march, and not a single voice
in all that vast throng was silent.
Governor St. Aubyn had been up to see the newly com-
pleted building, and was chatting with the superintendent of
the schools, when from down the street there came a sound as of
the return of a victorious army. Looking out of an upper win-
dow they soon commanded a view of the whole procession.
It was not difficult to tell who was the leading spirit of the
whole proceeding.
' ' By George, ' ' said the Governor, ' ' That girl was born to be
a general."
Daisy's quick eye, catching sight of the two figures at the
upper window, her quick wit introduced a new and striking fea-
ture into the impromptu parade. At her command, the whole
procession filed in review before the Governor and his staff of
one, and saluted him as in duty bound ; then, making the circuit
of the square, turned and mounted the staircase, four abreast.
The cheers that arose both from within and without the build-
ing were literally stunning. Daisy and her allies broke rank
and acted as ushers to the crowd, the half of whom could not
find seats in the immense hall.
Then Daisy gravely said that no true American assembly
170 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
was ever held without speeches from the notables present. So
in turn she introduced in a few mischievous words, first the Gov-
ernor, then the Mayor of the city, who, bare-headed, had joined
the procession, and then the Superintendent of the Public
Schools; who, each in turn, said a few pithy words appropriate
to the occasion. Daisy then called loudly upon Miss Torren-
dycke, who refused to respond, and all called loudly for a
speech from the ringleader herself. And Daisy, the shyest
of mortals, but drawn completely out of herself by her love of
mischief, mounted the rostrum and in a most ludicrous manner
recited :
"There was a little girl
And she had a little curl,
A-hanging down over her forehead,
And when she was good, she was very good indeed,
But when she was bad she was ' horrid. ' '
After this the school formed in line again and accompanied
by the admiring crowd they took formal possession of their
various study and recitation rooms, while the upper hall was
cleared and impromptu tables constructed, for the Governor had
ordered luncheon to be served for the whole number of students
and such as cared to be their guests.
Near the close of this repast, Daisy gravely presented to the
superintendent, a frame containing a printed placard, with a
pretense of needing an explanation. Entering into the spirit of
the thing, Mr. Kingsley read aloud: "The Rules and Regulations
of the School. ' ' This was received amid shouts of laughter, for
it was found that each and every one of these rules and regula-
tions had been already broken by officers, teachers and scholars,
alike, upon that memorable dedication day.
The day was well nigh ended, and Governor St. Aubyn ten-
dered the use of his own carriage to the tired general and her
aids. The Governor and Mr. Kingsley stood at the window,
watching the pretty scene below. Daisy's particular cronies,
Ella Howell, Virginia Carson, and Howard Gould, had taken
their places in the carriage, and only waited for Willis to tie
Daisy's bonnet strings, to be off. But those bonnet strings seem-
ed to be as refractory as their owner and refused to be tied. Just
as Willis thought he had them secure, Daisy would bend her
head and take a bite from a luscious peach which had been given
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 171
her, and the work had to be done all over again. Finally, Willis
took courage to tell her that if she wouldn't stop eating, the
bonnet could never be tied.
"Oh," cried Daisy, with well assumed innocence. "Why!
why didst not thou tell me before ? ' ' And she threw away the pit
of the peach, perked up her pretty chin, and, the knot safely tied,
nimbly eluded Willis in his attempt to take "toll" in the shape
of a kiss, and sprang into the carriage, leaving him to follow as
best he might, amid the laughing taunts of the lookers-on.
"A pretty picture, truly," said Mr. Kingsley, adding: "I
wonder which of those two lads will win the prize?"
"Mine, I hope," replied the Governor.
His friend, remembering a certain little conference he had
held with Willis St. Aubyn, said "I hope so too."
Neither of the two boys had ever hinted to Daisy of love,
remaining true to their original compact that Daisy was to be
left to awaken from childhood's dream after her own fashion.
But a few days after this Willis, meeting her alone upon
the landing of one of the staircases of the new school building,
was seized with a isudden longing and reminded her that she
owed him that kiss she had promised him at the school exhibi-
tion.
Daisy was about to comply by prompt payment of the de-
mand, but something in Willis' face made her flush a little and
gaze at him with startled eyes, then she turned suddenly and ran
away.
Willis felt that he had committed a blunder, and it was a
long time before he could, by using the greatest tact, gain her
confidence again.
172 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
CANTO THE SEVENTEENTH.
"ACCUSING SPIRITS."
If, for once, Daisy Zorlange had been given her dues,
she was made to pay dearly for it at school. Juliet Delmar
never forgave her the victory she had won on that memorable
Carnival day, and Miss Torrendycke made her own hatred of the
girl more pronounced than ever before.
Poor Daisy. "Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown."
And the weight of that wreath of daisies was made an almost
insupportable burden to her. She was corrected so sharply and
so severely for every slight offense, condoned in another, that
she was irritated into committing innumerable other offenses.
Even her firm allies, Virginia, Howard, and Willis smarted under
the sense of the injustice done to Daisy. Many, however, were the
pranks with which she tried the patience of her teachers.
The class in geometry had recited in Miss Prentice's room.
Daisy taking a most decided dislike to the study beforehand, from
hearing it there, tried to take advantage of the permission usually
granted to avoid the study by taking another instead. This per-
mission, accorded to others, was refused to her. She took no
interest, however, in the study and by some strange combina-
tion of circumstances, she had never been called upon in the
class to draw a figure.
One day when the class was fully three-fourths through
what she was pleased to call "Loomis' Patent Brain-Muddler,"
she was nonplussed by having the teacher, say suddenly, "Miss
Zorlange, please draw the figure upon the blackboard for the
class."
"Can't, "drawled Daisy.
"Please go to the blackboard and draw the circle," com-
manded Mr. Tuckham, sternly.
"Can't," replied Daisy.
The reproof upon Mr. Tuckham 's lips was stayed vy a viol-
ent knocking from no one could say what precise quarter.
"Thump, thump, thump." And very noisy "thumps" they were,
too ; so noisy that recitation was impossible while they continued.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 173
''What is the meaning of this," demanded Mr. Tuckham.
No one answered. But most of the class turned to Daisy
Zorlange, as if she, being at the bottom of all mischief, could
solve the riddle.
"Miss Zorlange," questioned the bewildered Mr. Tuckham,
"What is the meaning of all this racket?"
Daisy stared in wide-eyed amazement. "Somebody's knock-
ing," she suggested, in an "I guess" sort of way, which threw
the class into convulsions of laughter. "I wonder I really do
wonder if there were any of them there," she soliloquized in a
meditative manner.
This gave the clue to the mystery. And one of the girls
said: "I saw some of the girls go down into the basement just
before school was called at noon. ' '
Ignoring Miss Zorlange 's suggestion, made in a ludicrously
deprecating manner, that it might be "spirit rappings," one of
the boys, whose steps were hurried by the continued "thumpety,
thump, thump, thump," ran to Mr. Twirl's room and getting
the key to the door of the cellar stairway, promptly set at liberty
a half-dozen of about as angry spirits as could well be found, all
of whom were accusing Daisy Zorlange.
"Oh!" said Daisy with the most exaggerated gesture of
astonishment, "Oh! And were they really there? You see," she
added in explanation, "Mr. Twirl let me have the key only upon
the condition that I return it just as soon as the bell rang. I had
no more than got to the bottom of the staircase when the second
bell did ring, then I called to the girls and hurried as fast as
possible up the stairs. Then I called again, and, no one answer-
ing back, of course I locked the door and carried the key back
to Mr. Twirl, as I had promised."
Daisy's innocence of all intent was too plainly written upon
her face to be questioned by Mr. Tuckham who, we may as well
confess, was the only one there in the least deceived by her ab-
ject apologies. And he sharply reprimanded them for their
unfair accusations, as well as for their unseemly and noisy be-
havior, which had disturbed the recitations of the geometry
class.
"Miss Zorlange. You will now draw that circle upon the
blackboard."
' ' Can 't, ' ' reiterated Daisy. ' ' Don 't know how. ' '
174 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
"Do you mean that you have studied geometry for more
than a year and yet do not know how to draw a ' circle ? ' '
"I remember trying my hand at it a long time ago, but,"
and she gave vent to a doleful sigh which convulsed the class
again, and with a sort of sniveling whine: "I need encourage-
ment, that's what I need. And finding none, for thou never called
upon me to draw a single figure in recitation, I failed. ' '
"Miss Zorlange," said Mr. Tuckham, in real alarm, "I am
very sorry if I have in any means been remiss. Go to the black-
board, and I will teach you not only how to draw the preliminary
'circle,' but also the entire figure of the lesson of today."
Well, Miss Zorlange went to the blackboard and received, to
her pretended astonishment, a bit of crayon with a string at-
tached. She evidently tried very hard to manipulate this tool
successfully. But the thing she drew upon the blackboard could
never have been mistaken for a "circle" even by the lenient
Mr. Tuckham, who at length lost patience, not at the delinquent,
be it remarked, but at the ridiculing class which was in a con-
tinual uproar at the sight of the monstrosities which continued
to creep from under that bit of crayon, and at Daisy's innocent
and anxious inquiry after each futile effort, "Will that do,
Mr. Tuckham?" At length he said: "You will now go to
your own study room, Miss Zorlange, and learn how to draw a
"circle," so that you will be able to place one upon the black-
board at tomorrow's recitation."
And five minutes later Daisy was absorbing the attention
of the occupants of Miss Torrendycke 's room in her efforts to
learn how to draw a "circle." It was most wonderful what
magnetic power this girl possessed. When she chose, she had
a faculty of leading every one on to their own discomfiture.
Next day when called upon, Daisy hastened with graceful
alacrity to the blackboard, and with a grand flourish she drew
a circle that was the very perfection of circles. There she
stopped, acknowledging with the greatest frankness, that this
was all that she had been told to learn of the figure and that,
consequently, was all she knew about it.
Mr. Tuckham was very angry. "Miss Zorlange, you will
return to this room at noon and I will teach you how to draw
the figure."
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 175
Brimming over with mischief, Daisy made her way thither
at the appointed time.
When reprimanded by Mr. Tuckham for her apparent
stubbornness, she took on such an air of injured innocence, that
it quite deceived the unwary bachelor, and he patiently drew
(by installments) every portion of the intricate figure, himself,
and each time let it stand at her request.
"Ah," said he, admiring the completed work. "That is
well done, Miss Zorlange. The figure you have drawn would
do credit to the very best pupil in my class."
"The figure th-ou hast drawn," echoed Daisy softly, but
with so much significance in her tone that the teacher, exam-
ining the figure more closely, found that every line (barring
the circle itself), was his own handiwork. He then turned to
his refractory pupil in great wrath: "Miss Zorlange," he
exclaimed, ignoring her softly spoken, "It is so much better
than I could do, thou knowest," "Miss Zorlange, I will not
have you in my class again. You shall be reduced to the algebra
class, and begin at the beginning in geometry next year."
But Daisy took her stand, and maintained her ground as
usual. "She would not leave the geometry class. It had not
been her fault she had been for so long a time overlooked that
she had lost all interest in the study, from which she had begged
so hard to be excused."
The question was referred to the School Board, and com-
promised after this fashion: "Miss Zorlange was to recite in
both the algebra and the geometry classes, and not lose her
grade," and Mr. Tuckham was obliged to submit to this decision.
176 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
CANTO THE EIGHTEENTH.
"THE HAUNTED SCHOOL- ROOM. "
The new high school building had not been occupied long
before something which seemed inexplicable happened. The
afternoon session had been called. The young ladies in Miss
Torrendycke 's room were taking their seats somewhat noisily,
and it was observed that Juliet Delmar stooped forward to make
some urgent request, as it would seem, of Daisy Zorlange, whose
desk was directly in front of her own.
Daisy appeared to hesitate. Then she snatched up a Bible,
used in chapel by the devout Juliet, and said : ' ' Swear ! Swear
upon thy solemn oath never, never to tell, and I will do it."
Juliet placed her lips to the sacred volume and said: "I
swear. ' '
Then the entire room became quiet, for this was one of the
hours devoted to study, there being no recitations in the room
at that time. The silence was broken by the sound of a voice,
singing softly.
Every one looked up in astonishment, Miss Torrendycke as
well, who sharply commanded: " Silence!" But the music
continued without a break.
Miss Torrendycke said: "Young ladies, this will not do.
Whoever that is who is singing, come forward at once."
No one stirred, and after several ineffectual remonstrances,
Miss Torrendycke slowly left her seat .and made the tour of
the schoolroom to determine if possible whence the mysterious
music came. She halted from time to time near some suspected
delinquent. You may be certain that Daisy Zorlange was one
of these. She spoke to Daisy, and Daisy answered. Yet, but
for the instant of her reply which drowned the sound, the
music sounded clear and distinct, and after her reply not a
muscle of the girl's face moved.
Every one was interested and mystified. The tunes, which
changed from time to time, could be plainly distinguished and
followed, but it was as if the air was hummed by some sweet
voice without the words.
A MUSICAL, MYSTERY 177
There was such an undercurrent of excitement at last over
this mystery that it was impossible to control it. Miss Torren-
dycke softly trod up and down the aisles, but every effort to
trace the music to its source proved abortive.
Then Daisy Zorlange commenced a sort of double panto-
mime. I have said that Daisy possessed rare magnetic powers,
and now, having succeeded in fixing the eyes of the company
upon herself, as it were, she inclined her curly head as if in-
tently listening, raised her finger to her lips as if to insure
profound silence, then proceeded to trace with it the location of
the mysterious singer, whose song went on in tireless tones.
Thrice the accusing finger was pointed and shaken at one
or other of the girls, who stoutly denied the soft impeachment,
and at length was so positive in its accusation of Lotta Moore,
that it was thought to be unquestionably she who was creating
all this disturbance.
Lotta simply howled with indignant protest. "It is she,
herself," she cried. "Who but Daisy Zorlange, I should like
to know, could execute those trills?"
There was something in this. Miss Torrendycke made her
way once more to Daisy's desk, and questioned her, but with
the same result.
Daisy looked at her with such innocent, reproachful eyes,
asking her how it was possible for her to suspect her, and with-
out a single muscle of her face relaxing as the song went on,
that it was impossible to longer doubt her.
Then she said that it must be some one outside the school-
room, and the windows were raised and heads thrust out, all
to no purpose. The room was upon the second floor, and high
above the ground. Other and lower rooms were visited, and
questions asked. But no one as yet could determine the origin
of the music, which still continued with unabated sweetness and
force. The excitement ran higher and higher, and spread
throughout the entire building. Teachers and scholars from
the other rooms flocked in to listen with bated breath to the
mysterious music. Many crowded close around Daisy Zorlange,
suspecting, as usual, that well-known spirit of mischief was at
the bottom of the whole affair. But her innocence became so
apparent to all, that they were ashamed of their unjust sus-
picions, and Daisy kept up her detective by-play with the utmost
178 LA GRAN QUIBIKA
success until she had fully half a dozen of the girls she liked
the least in tears. Then she said in an awe-stricken voice: "It
is the voice of an angej." And after she had seen, to her
delight that some of the girls who were Catholics, crossed them-
selves, and muttered an "Ave," she corrected the impression
and raised a laugh by saying: "But an angel would hardly be
singing 'Shoo Fly,' you know."
Well, the mystery deepened, and was left unsolved. The
school was wild with excitement. Some were laughing and some
crying, and some praying, while Juliet Delmar was carried
home in a violent fit of hysterics. The school was broken up
for the afternoon.
The story got out, and the newspapers were full of the
tale of the haunted schoolroom. Reporters and others visited
the school daily in the hope of hearing the "spirit music," but
all in vain.
The sweet singing having wound up after the successful
rendering of "Shoo Fly," in true orthodox fashion with the
"Long Meter Doxology, " refused to be encored.
It was fully ten days after this that Daisy, coming into
the schoolroom from one of her "runs around," stopped just
within the door in profound astonishment, for there upon the
front seat, that of disgrace when not in use for recitation, sat
that pink of propriety, Juliet Delmar, weeping bitterly.
"Why, Miss Torrendycke, " she demanded with her cus-
tomary abrupt disregard of all rules and proprieties, "What-
ever has Juliet done?"
And Miss Torrendycke replied, as in duty bound, "Miss
Delmar knows who did the singing the other day, but refuses
to disclose the name of the singer."
' ' But Juliet, why don 't thee tell, and not sit there sniveling
like that?"
"You made me swear that I would never tell," whined
Juliet, "and I cannot break my oath."
"Oh," said Daisy, "I give thee leave to tell." Then as
Juliet shook her head, sorrowfully murmuring something about
her sacred oath, Daisy turned to Miss Torrendycke and said,
"It was I who did it."
"Impossible," was the reply, "why, I stood close beside
you and the sound seemed to be just as far away as before."
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 179
Daisy raised a warning finger to insure silence, tucked her
head upon one side, and began some twitters and trills, which
as Lotta had truthfully said were only possible to herself, and
this with her lips parted in a saucy smile without moving a
muscle of her face.
"Wonderful." "Beautiful." "How very odd," were the
exclamations from the other girls and Miss Torrendycke herself
laughed heartily for once at this, the very worst of Daisy's
escapades, remembering perhaps the number of others who had
been taken in by the trick.
"Now," said Daisy, "Juliet may go to her own seat, may
she not?"
"Miss Delmar must remain where she now is."
Juliet set up such a doleful howl at this, that the whole
school was convulsed with laughter.
But Daisy's tender little heart was touched, and she
pleaded. "Now, please, Miss Torrendycke. Thou seest, Miss
Torrendycke," she added pathetically, "she is not used to it,
and I am. Please let me take her place."
But Miss Torrendycke said, "No," and Juliet set up another
laughable howl, and accusing Daisy as the author of all her
troubles, she sobbed piteously, while Daisy went slowly and
sadly to her own seat.
At recess the girls nocked about Daisy who became the
wonder and pride of the hour. All took sides against the spite-
ful, unforgiving Juliet, who had practically betrayed the con-
fidence of her schoolmate, a capital offense in school-girl code
of honor, and shamed her for being so selfish and hateful to
the generous Daisy.
But Juliet never forgave Daisy for escaping the reprimand
she had been called upon to receive herself.
"But why did you not confess it to us, Daisy? You need
not have kept us in the dark. We would never have told on
you," protested Howard and Willis.
' ' I would only have got thee into a scrape, as I did Juliet -,
besides I never told Virginia. Only Juliet and I knew that 1
am something of a ventriloquist."
180 LA GRAN QUIBIBA
CANTO NINETEENTH.
"VASHTI."
Shortly after this the high school held its fall picnic. This
they called an "October walk." A long walk to some neighbor-
ing wood through which a stream ran, and where fishing, danc-
ing, both dinner and supper beside a huge camp-fire, and a stroll
home in the moonlight were the order of the day.
A few hundred yards above the present picnic grounds,
the banks of the rapidly running river were very steep and
high, and across them the river was spanned by an open trestle-
work railway bridge. It was well known that Daisy Zorlange
(in school-boy parlance) would never "take a dare." Once
today Juliet Delmar had dared her to pluck a flower which grew
upon the steep and unstable bank half way down to the water's
edge, and Daisy, in spite of remonstrance from wiser heads
had brought up the flower, her fleetness and lightness of foot
carrying her safely through the dangerous enterprise, where a
heavier person must inevitably have been hurled into the raging
stream, the foothold being so uncertain, every shrub being up-
rooted, in the attempt to hold by it.
Yet a little later Daisy's and Juliet's heads were seen in
close proximity, and soon to the horror of all, there stood Daisy
Zorlange 's slender figure clearly outlined against the sky upon
the bridge, springing from tie to tie, above the stream which
was very deep and dangerous at this point.
A groan went up from all except Juliet Delmar, whose
black eyes glittered in triumph.
"Quick! Quick, Howard. Get the boat," cried Willis,
bounding forward with all the speed of a trained runner.
Howard needed no further explanation. These two always
understood and worked together when Daisy Zorlange required
protection. He sprang into a canoe, cut it adrift, and was pad-
dling toward the bridge in less time than it has taken to relate
the circumstance.
The wind had risen suddenly to a perfect gale, and it was
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 181
clear to the horrified spectators that Daisy was becoming dizzy
and frightened as well.
Willis simply flew, leaving the others to shout encourage-
ment, saving his own wind for the terrible effort before him.
When he reached the height he discovered a danger threatening
the girl that was not dreamed of by the others. The afternoon
express train was nearing the curve at the farthest end of the
bridge at full speed, and just as he sprang upon the first tie
of the bridge the whistle sounded. Shrieks and groans resounded
from all sides. The doom of the two seemed inevitable.
"Throw yourselves into the water," called out the rowers,
for all the boats had followed in Howard's wake. "Throw
yourselves into the water and we will save you." But they
either did not hear or paid no heed to the warning.
Daisy had caught sight of Willis, and felt instinctively
that she was saved, but the wind was so strong that she dared
not move.
Happily she had not heard the whistle or the rumbling of
the approaching train.
"Now may God help us both," was the prayer of Willis,
as he bounded forward right into the teeth, as it seemed, of
approaching death.
And God did help, for Willis reached the daring girl and
snatching her aside, stood with her upon a narrow ledge con-
structed for the bridge tender's benefit, holding her skirts tightly
around her, just as the train swept past them, its whistle shriek-
ing again and again upon the air, for the engineer had just
spied them. It stopped upon the other side of the bridge, too
late to have saved them but for Willis St. Aubyn's presence
of mind. It was long after this ere Daisy realized the full
extent of that day's peril, for all there tried mercifully to
make her forget it, and somehow there were many who suspected
that the envious Juliet Delmar had had a hand in the mishap.
Soon Daisy, forgetting her fright, was deep in a game
of Grace Hoops. She was running at full speed when Juliet
Delmar, sitting sullenly beneath a neighboring tree, put out her
foot and tripped Daisy up. Daisy fell heavily, but bounded up
and snatching a thorny stick, she began in a fury to belabor
Juliet over the head and face.
Miss Torrendycke interferred, and the angry Daisy turned
182 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
upon her. "It is all thy fault," she said. "Thou encouragest
her to do these things to me. Oh, thou wanst her to kill me,
I do believe. She dared me to go upon that bridge only that
I might be killed, and failing there, she has now made me
break my ankle." And then Daisy fainted.
All was confusion. Juliet, smarting under the blows, none
of which had been dealt amiss, declared that it was only one
of Daisy's dodges. But time passed on and the young girl lay
as if dead, and it was thought best to hurry her into town to
a doctor. So the Governor's carriage was called into requisition
for a second time and Virginia, Howard and Willis accompanied
her home.
Daisy did not rally, and the three discussed the situation
mournfully.
"Daisy is so generous," they said, "and so tender-hearted
that it could only be a mean spirited jealousy that would hold
spite against one of so sweet a temper."
"We seem to be the only true friends she has," said Vir-
ginia.
"And we will stand by her to the last," they all declared.
It was many weeks ere Daisy was able to walk about. In
the meantime her birthday occurred, and her classmates sur-
prised her by bringing many little offerings. Daisy, always
grateful for any little attention from her mates, was delighted
with her gifts. That which was meant by all to be merely a
call of congratulation was prolonged and converted into a reg-
ular birthday fete at her own and her father's request, and
notes were sent out to tell the parents of all Daisy's classmates
that they were to spend both afternoon and evening with their
invalid friend.
Each had brought some trifling present, a book, a bouquet,
a new song or piece of instrumental music, and there was a
handsome piece or two of jewelry, the gifts of Howard and
Willis, who, as the rest declared, "Could well afford it." Then
there was a new piano, the gift of Emil Zorlange, himself.
Daisy received her guests, bolstered up in a large easy
chair, her broken foot resting upon another chair. All were
warned not jolt or jar this, lest permanent injury might be
the result, and Virginia, Howard and Willis surrounded her,
as in duty bound lest further mischief should befall their idol.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 183
Juliet Delmar came very late, and tossing a bunch of
scarlet cypress flowers into Daisy's lap she muttered some com-
monplace congratulations and moved toward one of the windows.
Here she stood for some time watching enviously the group
around the invalid.
"How glad you must be, Juliet," said one, "that Daisy
was not lamed for life by that fall you gave her. Only think,
the doctor says that she will be able to dance as beautifully as
ever, that is, if she is very careful not to move her foot. And, ' '
they added in a lowered tone: "Isn't it just dreadful? He
says that any sudden jar may undo all his work, and Daisy
become a cripple."
Perhaps he caught the malicious gleam in Juliet's eyes or
it may have been instinctive, but Howard Gould, unseen by
the others, raised Daisy's injured foot from its resting-place
and placed it gently upon his knees, several inches above the
chair upon which it had before rested.
Virginia had been called away, and Willis had turned to
speak to some one in his rear, at which juncture he caught a
look of terror in Daisy's eyes as they rested as if charmed
upon Juliet's face. Willis turned swiftly but not in time to
prevent Juliet Delmar from deliberately kicking the chair ap-
parently from beneath Daisy's foot.
Daisy, with a piteous little cry, fainted, while Willis St.
Aubyn, with white, set face, placed his hands upon Juliet's
shoulders and forced her before him from the room and out
of the house.
' ' The She-Devil ! I suppose that she has finished her work
and that Daisy is crippled for life."
"Not so bad as that," was the reply of Howard, and he
asked Willis to replace the chair, and together they replaced
the injured foot upon it.
When Daisy recovered consciousness her first words were:
"Where is Juliet Delmar?" and when told that she was safe
from that young lady's hands, she fell to blaming herself bit-
terly for her own unjust suspicions, and begged that Juliet be
recalled. Then she penned a pathetic little note, and Willis
was sent to deliver it. He returned to say that Juliet was out,
but that the note would be delivered to her as soon as she
returned. But Daisy fretted and fretted to such an extent
184 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
that a second messenger was dispatched to Juliet's home. This
messenger was told that Juliet had sent home word that she
would not return until very late, having had an invitation to
spend the evening with a friend. There was no help for it,
still Daisy fretted, seeming to miss Juliet more and more from
the school-circle, and when the new songs were practiced in
the evening, she declared that they would have been perfect
had Juliet been there to play the accompaniments.
Every one wondered, when the truth was known, and said
that Daisy must have had a prescience of what was befalling
her schoolmate. As for Juliet Delmar, when the door of the Zor-
lange house had been closed upon her, she was seen no more by
her friends and companions. She had, as it were, disappeared
from off the face of the earth. Yet despite this untoward cir-
cumstance they spent a delightful evening, with music and
song and story-telling, in which they were joined by Emil Zor-
lange, whose love for his little daughter made him interested
in her young associates, and all were surprised when Janet
appeared and bore her young mistress off to bed.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 185
CANTO TWENTIETH.
"WHEN ROBERT WENT A 'WOOING."
Daisy Zorlange's schoolmates were not her only intimates.
There was not only her school set, but the neighborhood set,
among which she was most popular.
Next beyond the Zorlanges, across an alley way, lived the
Sedgewicks. Nell Sedgewick was one of Daisy's particular
cronies. Running in one day, Daisy found her in tears.
"Why, what is the matter, Nell?" she asked, "Is it because
Willie Brown has gone away? Take heart, my dear, I will see
that thou hast another sweetheart. Thou mayst have thy choice
among mine own."
"It is about Willie. Ma says that we ought to be ashamed
of ourselves to kiss a boy. And oh, she did say so many nasty
things. Now, you know you did, Ma."
"Oh," said Daisy, reflectively, "so it was wrong to kiss
Willie Brown good bye, was it? Now I would just like to know
why?" Thereupon Mrs. Sedgewick began a long tirade, ending
with the statement that she had never kissed one of the other
sex when she was a girl.
"Why," questioned Daisy with eager curiosity, "how did
Mr. Sedgewick court thee?"
"I never permitted him to come nearer to me than across
the room," declared the lady unwarily.
This was enough for the mischievous girls. Daisy tipped
the wink to Nell and the two stationed themselves upon opposite
sides of the room. They then began a scene that beggars descrip-
tion.
"Good evening, Miss Nancy," was the greeting of Nell, as
Robert Sedgewick.
"Good evening, Robert."
Then Daisy, with an absurd assumption of dignity in her
part of Miss Nancy, waved the impetuous Robert backward,
saying coldly: "No nearer, I beg of thee," and the two ex-
changed a ceremonious hand-shake with the width of the room
186 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
between them, to the unbounded delight of Anna and Charlie
Sedgewick and the unbounded discomfiture of Miss Nancy her-
self, now Mrs. Sedgewick.
Then across the room there followed a most commonplace
conversation, or at least it would have been most commonplace,
but for the ludicrous pantomime with which it was interspersed.
Daisy was a born actress, and under her lead, Nell was
scarcely her inferior.
When Daisy caught on to the very earliest opportunity, and
said with a comical mingling of the sentimental, love-sick maiden
with the brisk, business-like air of the spinster-in-search-of-a-hus-
band: "Robert, I am too old a bird to be caught with chaff.
Have thy words a meaning?" she literally "brought down the
house."
As soon as the ci-devant Robert could recover her own
breath she replied: "Miss Nancy, they have. I would thee
wed."
Miss Nancy simpered, at which the house was again
' ' floored. ' '
The manner in which this scene was conducted to a success-
ful issue by the two mischievous girls was highly entertaining
and was received with repeated and rapturous applause from the
small but select audience. And when Daisy, combining shrewd
business ability and elderly spinster dignity, veiled under a thin
coating of maidenly modesty, permitted the impetuous Robert
to call her his "Own," with unnecessary vehemence, and re-
sponded to his: "I thee embrace," by clawing the empty air
with extreme tenderness and bestowing upon it resounding
smacks, the audience was "floored" for the third time.
"Oh! oh!" shrieked Anna, sinking into a chair and rock-
ing herself from side to side.
"Oh! oh! oh!" yelled Charlie, rolling upon the floor in a
paroxysm of laughter.
' ' Oh-oh ! Oh-oh ! ' ' howled Mrs. Sedgewick in chorus and in
a perfect frenzy of tearful wrath.
And "Oh!" sounded a deep bass voice, and there upon the
threshold appeared the real Robert, who demanded an explana-
tion of this screaming farce. Daisy and Nell never flinched, but
continued their amorous pantomime with renewed zest, choosing
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 187
to consider the repeated exclamations as an encore. The audience
was simply incapable of speech, so the explanation demanded
by Mr. Sedgewick had perforce to be given by Mrs. Sedgewick,
who was literally beside herself with anger, between her snivels
and sobs and snarls, mingled with loud complaints of the out-
rages to which she had been subjected by her disrespectful off-
spring under the lead of that miscreant, Daisy Zorlange.
Robert Sedgewick was a grave and reserved man who was
seldom seen to smile, but when he understood the true meaning
of the ridiculous scene and its cause, he added his mite to the
good lady's discomfiture by laughter loud and long and by say-
ing: "Served you right, Mrs. Sedgewick. How absurd of you
to put such nonsense into these little girls' heads! What poss-
ible harm could there be in their kissing their playmate 'good
bye?' " and this was all the consolation Miss Nancy received
from him.
"But Willie is a boy," exclaimed the girls in pretended
horror, at which Mr. Sedgewick laughed again.
"And," broke in Charlie, pertly, "even you, Pa, must ac-
knowledge there is some slight difference between a girl and a
boy."
"That's just what Mrs. Sedgewick said," and Daisy nodded
approval.
"Daisy," said Anna in a stage aside, "Daisy, I congratulate
you upon your unparalleled success as an actress. I never be-
fore in all my life, heard Pa laugh aloud. ' '
"Now, Robert," coaxed Daisy, "confess. Didst not woo
and win the proper Miss Nancy after the same improper fashion
that is in vogue at the present time, and when she made thee
happy by saying 'yes," didst not seal thy engagement with the
orthodox, altho' highly improper kiss and embrace?"
"Sure," said Mr. Sedgewick, entering into the spirit of the
play. "It was something after this manner," and he threw his
arms around the form of his scolding spouse and imprinted a
resounding kiss upon her reluctant lips.
"Ye-o-u-w," was the response.
Every one laughed except Daisy, who said flatly: "That's
another. Not content with thy prevaracation which betrayed thy
innocent daughter Nell and me into ' actin ' up ' in that shameless
manner, of which thou hast good reason to complain, thou must
188 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
now needs make believe thou received thy loving Robert's tender
embraces like a squalling, spiteful old cat, such as must have
made even the most doting love run away. No, Miss Nancy, even
thy 'betrotted' would have taken to his heels, dooming thee to
everlasting spinsterhood. Then" this with a pathetic wail,
"there would have been no Anna, no Nell, no Charlie, no fun no
NOTHIN'! Now Ma-a-o-u," began Daisy, severely, by a
queer little twist of her mouth making the long-drawn-out ap-
pellation such a successful cross between the rather broad title of
"Ma" by which the Sedgewick children were wont to address
their mother, and the mew of a spiteful kitten, that the remain-
der of her reproof was drowned amid the shouts of laughter with
which it was received, none so loud as that of the sober Mr.
Sedgewick.
' ' Te-he ! ' ' From Mrs. Sedgewick, who at last was waking up
to the fun of the situation.
If that were a laugh, the look Daisy gave her compelled her
to strangle it at its birth, it said so plainly: "This is a serious
matter for thee. There's no fun in it for thee, Miss Nancy, not
one bit!"
"Now Pa-o-u-w " began Daisy, and with the same con-
tortion of her saucy lips she blended the title bestowed upon
him by his young hopefuls with a clever imitation of Miss
Nancy's cat-like squall. The remainder of her remonstrance was
again lost in the laughter this excited.
"Te-he." from Mrs. Sedgewick.
Again that laugh was nipped in the bud by a glare from
Daisy, which said plainly : "I repeat, this is no laughing mat-
ter. Thou hast chosen the role of Injured Innocence, now is the
time for thee to cry/'
There was such alacrity displayed in her obedience to
Daisy's unspoken command to weep, and such a howl set up by
their badgered parent that the undutiful Sedgewicks laughed
again and the undutiful husband joined his voice to theirs. Only
Daisy 's face was without a smile. She mused aloud to their fur-
ther mystification : "Now I wonder, was that going to be a laugh,
or was it going to be a sneeze?"
This by-play was interrupted by Anna who called out:
"Why, there goes Willie Brown now. Girls ."
"0, then we must have those kisses back, it will never do
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 189
to let him carry them away with him. Why who knows to what
awful use he may put them? He may in his ignorance even
give them to another BOY. Come Nell, if thou hast any sense
of shame at the distress which our disgraceful conduct has in-
flicted upon thy 'Ma-a-u-w' thou wilt take back those kisses by
force if need be. Come Kits !" and away Daisy flew, with Nell,
Anna, and Charlie at her heels, while Mr. Sedgewick hastened
to join them and Mrs. Sedgewick followed slowly, sniveling as
she went, in fear lest that awful look upon Daisy's face might
forbid her presence among the fun-loving crew. The troup
pounced down upon the unsuspecting Willie, just as he was about
to enter the carriage in which his mother awaited him, and,
overwhelming him with a perfect torrent of invective and abuse,
proceeded to take back the kisses of farewell they had given him.
That unhappy youth was so dazed and bewildered by the sudden
onslaught that he offered no resistance either by word or ac-
tion.
''Girls, girls!" expostulated his laughing mother, "remem-
ber that he is the only son of his mother who is a widow, and
spare him to me alive at least."
Daisy's only response was: "I remember now that I gave
him two kisses," and she proceeded to wrench the second kiss
from the lips of the boy with the vim she would have used in
extracting a refractory tooth, while Nell, in duty bound, followed
suit.
"I've had no chance yet to kiss Willie goodbye, so I'll kiss
him now," and this Anna did.
"I never kissed him at all, 'cause he's a BOY," Charlie
simpered, "but I want to, oh I want to so bad!" whereupon he
hugged and kissed the limp and nerveless youth with such lov-
ing zest that it drew forth a round of applause from the gather-
ing crowd.
"T-he," from Mrs. Sedgewick.
Daisy turned upon her a glance of sharp reproof. The look
repeated the warning threat : "Do not dare to laugh. This is no
laughing matter for thee," and once more Mrs. Sedgewick 's
laugh died "a bornin', " and was buried away under an aval-
anche of sobs and tears.
"What's the matter with that woman?" questioned some
one among the crowd.
190 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
"She is trying to be funny," said Daisy with a tone of
severest reproof, which was interpreted into a threat by Mrs.
Sedgewick, whose tears flowed afresh.
"And Daisy won't let her," added Nell.
But Daisy paid no further heed. She was looking upon the
forlorn and crestfallen Willie Brown.
"Yes," she said reflectively, "I certainly did give him
three kisses," and she prepared for a fresh attack.
"No you don't," yelled the youth, his terror at length giv-
ing to him both voice and action. "No you don't!" and he fled
toward the waiting carriage, into which he sprang, and slunk
into a seat beside his laughing mother, who congratulated him
upon the fact that he had escaped with his life. The coachman
promptly slammed the door, mounted his box and drove rapidly
away with Daisy's intended prey.
"Why, he's run away!" said Daisy, with an air of innocent
surprise.
"He was in a hurry to catch the train," drawled Anna.
"I don't think that boy will ever let any more girls kiss
him ' good bye, ' if he does, he '11 wish he hadn 't, ' ' Daisy added.
"I guess," commented farmer Tucker, as he remounted his
load of "spuds," "I rayther guess he wishes he hedn't neouw."
" 'Neouw,' and 'Ma-o-u-w,' and 'Pa-a-u-w,' and
'ye-o-u-w, ' " mimiced Charlie.
"First you know, we'll all be talking Cat."
"TE-HE!" from Mrs. Sedgewick, who turned in terror to-
ward Daisy. Now this was clearly a laugh, but Daisy chose to
hear only a sneeze, and instead of rebuking Miss Nancy for find-
ing any fun in the affair, she literally "beamed" upon the of-
fender, and quoted with the most absurd impressement : "I
thought I'd die a laughin' to hear the cat sneeze!" and turning
she looked straight into the grave eyes of Emili Zorlange, who
was regarding her with a satirical smile as he passed the laugh-
ing group of which she formed the center, with his customary
slow and dignified tread, his head bent in thought, and, as was
his wont, his hands clasped behind his back under the flaps of
his coat.
Nothing daunted, his mad-cap daughter joined him at once,
imitating him as nearly as possible by timing her dancing feet
A MUSICAL MYSTEBY 191
to his staid gait, tilting up her skirts at the back that they might
fall over her clasped hands, and puckering her brow into a
thoughtful frown as she, too, bent her head. Then she glanced
up sideways into his grave face, and said with an air of contri-
tion: "Fayther, I fear me I have been very indiscreet. I've
kissed a BOY!"
The gravity of Emil Zorlange was completely upset by the
relishing smack with which she climaxed her confession, and he
laughed heartily. It brought before him as in a flash the whole
of the laughable scene, the hapless youth, standing rooted to the
spot, the picture of abject terror, his hands hanging by his sides,
his knees knocking together, his jaw dropped the central figure
of the group ; the teazing youngsters ; the hilarious Mr. Sedge-
wick and his doleful spouse; the appreciative crowd of onlook-
ers ; the broken spell , the ignominious retreat.
The two were entering their own doorway now, when Emil
Zorlange, mirthful still, released his right hand from beneath his
coat-tails and laid it gently upon the young girl's head as he
said : "My daughter, thou art a veritable imp of mischief. I
must have thee pictured as 'Pandora.' '
And Daisy, not to be out-done, released her own left hand
from beneath her tilted skirts and, tip-toing, laid it upon her
father's head with a gravity that rebuked the levity of her sire,
and, with an expression of angelic sweetness upon her face that
would have ruined her picture as Pandora, said: "Fayther,
thy will, not mine, be done."
When the door closed upon Emil Zorlange and the fun-lov-
ing Daisy, the Sedgewicks trooped noisily back into their own
domicile. Mrs. Sedgewick sniveled a sort of apology to Nell,
but that young lady checked her, saying: "Be comforted, Ma.
I never had so much fun in all my life. As it is due to that
nasty speech of yours, I'd thank you to make another one."
"Isn't Daisy Zorlange a perfect witch?" questioned Anna.
"She has bewitched me. I feel fully twenty years younger,
than I did an hour ago. Why, Nancy, you must have forgot-
ten " and as if to make amends for the pranks played upon
her, and for his own laughter that had been excited by her woe-
begone countenance, Mr. Sedgewick encircled his wife's waist
with his arm and kissed her full upon the lips.
192 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
"Neo-u-w-!"
"Pa-o-u-w!"
' ' Ma-a-o-u-w ! ' '
' ' Yeo-u-w ! ' ' chorused her expectant kittens, but Mrs. Sedge-
wick neither squalled nor spat nor scratched; she only blushed
and simpered just as Miss Nancy did in that "good old sum-
mer time" when "Robert went a 'wooing."
' ' Purr-r-r-r-r-r ! ' '
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 193
CANTO THE TWENTY-FIRST.
"TA, TA, TRILOBITZ."
Daisy's ankle was healed, and she was at school again more
full of fun and frolic than ever if that were possible, because
of her long rest and her loneliness.
Virginia was gone. She had been offered a good position
as governess to the two sons of a wealthy widower, and had gone,
as Daisy put it : "To marry the widower. ' ' For Daisy was
an inveterate match-maker and scented matrimony for others
in the most trivial circumstances, never suspecting that the time
was near approaching for herself. Then she missed and fretted
over Juliet Delmar, blaming herself for Juliet's disappearance
from their midst. "I think she read my unkind thoughts of
her written in my face," she said. And there were none but
thought better of Daisy Zorlange because of her grief over
Juliet's loss, although they could not understand it, for Juliet
had always betrayed such unreasonable jealousy of her. Daisy
had not cared for that and had been accustomed to her com-
panionship at school for years, and with that true love of the
beautiful which knows no jealousy, she loved and admired
Juliet above all the others, and missed her sorely.
Everything possible had been done to discover Juliet's
present whereabouts, but in vain. No trace of her could ever
be found after her abrupt expulsion from the Zorlange house,
upon that memorable birthday.
As for Miss Torrendycke, she and Daisy were upon even
worse terms than ever. The scholars themselves could not fail
to notice the unfair treatment which Daisy Zorlange received.
As for that personage herself, she was certainly most aggra-
vating. She evidently meant to have the best of it in this war
of words, and declared in self-defense that ' ' Trilobitz always be-
gan it."
Miss Torrendycke told her once again to report to the
Superintendent.
194 LA GRAN QUIBIEA
' ' I do not know why thou needst bother him with our fusses.
It does no good," grumbled Daisy.
"Does he not reprimand you?"
"Not often," was the reply. "We generally have a little
social chat. And sometimes, not often, he says: "Now, my
little maid, whatever it is that you have been doing that is very
naughty, I hope that you will not do it again."
"You will carry a note from me to Mr. Kings! ey, this
afternoon at the close of school," snapped Miss Torrendycke.
"Yes'm," replied Daisy obediently.
This dialogue occurred in the presence of the assembled
class.
That afternoon Willis St. Aubyn waited on the Superin-
tendent with whom he also was a favorite, and pleaded with
him in Daisy's behalf, explaining the many things with which
she had to contend because of the unfair prejudice against her
of Miss Torrendycke. They had a long talk during which the
lad's secret leaked out. The elder man encouraged him: "She
is but a child. Wait patiently until she becomes a woman, and
success may attend your efforts to win her."
While they were yet talking Mr. Hampton, the principal
of one of the grammar schools, entered and was immediately
followed by Daisy who presented a note with the comment:
"Some of Trilobitz nastiness, Mr. Kingsley."
Mr. Kingsley read the note while Daisy exchanged greetings
with her old master.
' ' Daisy, ' ' coaxed Mr. Hampton : ' ' Sing something for me.
I see that you are in a temper, and that will soothe you into
a fit state to bear the reproof I see upon Mr. Kingsley 's lips."
Nothing loath, Daisy complied, sitting herself down beside
him saying: "I am awfully tired. I really begin to believe
that Trilobitz is going to be too much for me."
Then she sang a low, sweet refrain, which grew sadder
and sadder as it rose higher and higher, until it seemed to
pierce the skies upon which the girl's eyes were fixed.
And there was an expression upon her wistful, longing
face that fascinated yet frightened her listeners. Willis choked
back a rising sob, while Mr. Hampton finally roused her to a
sense of her surroundings by gently shaking her by the arm.
Then he questioned her curiously.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 195
"Ah," she answered, "when I sing like that I seem to rise
above the earth and float about in space. Then I hear answering
voices. And they lead me on higher and higher, until I seem
to be at the gates of Paradise, and looking tErough I see my
angel mother's face, and I hear my angel mother's voice calling
to me in answering song. Then I feel that I have but to let
go my hold upon tliis earth (and it seems to be such an easy
thing to do) to join her there."
Willis sobbed aloud, and there was a strange tremor in Mr.
Kingsley's voice as he called the girl to him, and proceeded to
question her as to her relations to Miss Torrendycke, whose
written accusation could not as she said, be ignored.
Daisy was herself again. "Well," she said, "it is just
this way. Trilobitz is always telling me to be 'good.' And
each morning I start to school with the full determination to
be 'good.' But Miss Trilobitz (w T hisper it low) acts as a sort
of counter-irritant upon me, and her very first word (thou
canst not imagine how aggravating that 'Pink of Propriety'
can be) sends all my resolutions to the winds and we are at it
again full tilt."
"But, Miss Zorlange, Miss Torrendycke makes very serious
charges against you, in regard to your deportment," said Mr.
Kingsley, turning aside to hide a smile. "Charges which I
cannot ignore. Do you not think now that you really could be
good if you were to try very hard?"
"Can the leopard change his spots?" demanded Daisy
pathetically. Then answering her own conundrum she said:
"Why of course he can. For when he gets tired of one spot he
can go to another. And about my being 'good'? Well, that
depends. Now, judge, dost thou wish me to be simply 'good,'
or dost thou wish me to be 'very good indeed'?"
Willis St. Aubyn smiled as the "judge" fell into the trap
set for him, and said: "Very, very good indeed."
"Then I promise," said Daisy with a cheerful nod.
"Then, Miss Zorlange," said the Superintendent, "I put
you upon a month's probation. If I find at the end of that
time that you have not attempted to better your behaviour
while in the schoolroom, I tell you frankly that your case must
come before the School Board, and that the result will inevitably
be disgraceful expulsion from the school. I am sorry, but I
196 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
cannot help it. The matter is left in your own hands for that
length of time. But, Miss Zorlange, " he continued, "I have a
very unfavorable report from Miss Torrendycke concerning you.
Pray tell me now what is your opinion of her?"
Daisy threw herself into an attitude, and for answer quoted
an old story: "Wa'al," she drawled with nasal twang, "set
her alongside of Judas Iscariot, Jedge, and she looms up mid-
dlin' fa'r, but place her along de side of sich men as you an'
me is, Jedge, and she do dwindle amazin'. She do for a fac'."
Then she reiterated her promise to be " Very, very good, indeed, ' '
but with a serio-comic expression which made both Willis and
her quondam teacher, Mr. Hampton, who knew some of her
tricks of old, smile, and excited some curiosity in the mind of
Mr." Kingsley who could not well understand why she should
consider it so much easier to be 'very, very good indeed' than to
be simply "good." But before he could question her farther,
the voice of Miss Torrendycke was heard in the hall, and Daisy,
after thanking him, swept a demure curtsey to all and left the
room, readily assuming the abject mien of one who had just re-
ceived a merited chastisement.
The door of the superintendent's room stood open. The oc-
cupants could see the entire length of the long, broad ha'J.
The look of exultation upon Miss Torrendycke 's face at the
sight of Daisy's woe-begone countenance was so unmistakable
that Willis cried: "The spiteful old cat;" and Mr. Kingsley
echoed his sentiments with a most emphatic : ' ' Humph ! ' '
"So, Miss Zorlange," cried Miss Torrendycke, in spite-
ful triumph, "so you found that your teacher's written report
of your disgraceful conduct has had more weight than your own
misrepresentaions. You have been expelled from the school to
which you have become a disgrace."
"Not so," was the cheerful response. "My sadness is due to
the workings of my contrite heart. Mr. Kingsley always favors
me in these little differences of ours, as thou knowest," she said
in a most exasperating tone. ' ' He has left it all to me. I can go or
stay as I like. I felt sure that he would defend me against thy
unjust actions towards me. Ta-ta, Trilobitz," and Daisy waltzed
down the hallway and finished with a ' ' whisk. ' '
"Astride the balustrade, I'll wager my year's unpaid sal-
ary," ejaculated Mr. Kingsley.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 197
The horror and disgust expressed upon Miss Torrendycke 's
countenance was more than human nature could bear unmoved
and the three spectators were convulsed with laughter, that had
to be suppressed even at the risk of choking. The owl-like gravity
that sat upon their countenances would have enlightened a less
obtuse person than Miss Torrendycke, and warned them that
something was amiss. That irate female, as soon as she could
recover breath, so to speak, bore down upon them with a demand
for an explanation from the superintendent.
"What has the girl done now?" inquired Mr. Kingsley, for
he was possesed of a mischievous desire to make the proper Miss
Torrendycke speak "right out."
And forgetting that modesty forbade the mention of the
deed, Miss Torrendycke reported: "Straddled the balustrade
like the hoyden that she is, and to my face called me 'Trilo-
bitz'."
There was a smothered laugh, which Miss Torrendycke was
too angry to heed.
"I demand that this girl be expelled from the school. I
cannot endure her impudence longer."
' ' Not so fast, Miss Torrendycke, ' ' said Mr. Kingsley, serious-
ly. "It exceeds my power, as you know, to expell a refractory
pupil from the school. That authority is vested in the assembled
school board alone. I do not find this, as yet, at least, a matter
to be brought before them. I have put Miss Zorlange upon pro-
bation for one month. She has promised to be "very, very good
indeed,' " he said, rather doubtfully, as he caught sight of the
amused smiles upon the faces of Mr. Hampton and Willis St.
Aubyn. Then he added sternly: "Miss Torrendycke, I cannot
but think that you are somewhat to blame in this matter. Do
not forget that this is a motherless child, and that you are en-
trusted with the development of her character. I think that if
you are unable to deal with her or others of your pupils and
control their actions at least in the schoolroom, you are unfitted
for the responsible position you now hold. I request that you
put no stumbling block in the way of Miss Zorlange 's fulfillment
of her promise of good behavior during the next month under
penalty of your own dismissal from the school."
This was putting things upon a new business basis, and Miss
Torrendycke felt that she was treading upon unsafe ground..
198 LA GRAN QUIBIKA
It was extremely aggravating to the old maid to be called
upon to play mother to an unconquerable imp of mischief like
Daisy Zorlange, but she was not at heart illy disposed, and the
appeal touched her in spite of herself. So with ladylike alacrity
she acquiesced, and thus the matter was settled pro tern.
Willis arose with a heavy sigh to follow Miss Torrendycke
from the room.
"Never fear, my lad," said the superintendent, encourag-
ingly. "She is but a child as yet, a butterfly, a singing bird, but
if I mistake not there will one day awaken in her bosom as true
and womanly a heart as has ever beaten. Take couarge, and be
on hand when the awakening occurs, and you will win it or I am
much mistaken. ' '
Willis bowed his thanks and left the room, not altogether
hopeless, although Daisy had not vouchsafed him a single glance
during the entire interview.
"But why that boy?" demanded Mr. Hampton, "why not
give me your helping hand in the winning of Daisy Zorlange?
I too have fallen in love with the witch ? ' '
' ' See here, Hampton, she is not for you, but for one of her
boy lovers; this one, I hope, for he is good and true and noble.
Remember this. If I hear of your attempting to pay court to
this innocent child, I will have you ousted from your position,
which you must have forfeited in that scrape with Bella Vaughn
but for my interference. Do not neglect my warning, for I shall
keep strict watch over the daughter of my old friend, Emil Zor-
lange, for whom I have a very great regard."
And Mr. Hampton retired, discomfited.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 199
CANTO THE TWENTY-SECOND.
"THE TURTLE-DOVES."
The two, Mr. Hampton and Willis St. Aubyn, had rightly
surmised that the efforts of Daisy Zorlange to be "very, very
good, indeed" would try the patience of her teacher to a far
greater extent than would her careless disregard of the proprie-
ties of schoolroom etiquette.
At the end of the first week of the probationary month, Miss
Torrendycke had quite forgotten her own pledges in the affair,
and took every possible opportunity to correct the girl for trifling
offenses which would have been overlooked in others.
Daisy was made to sit upon the platform for all these. Re-
ports were sent to the other teachers, and upon some pretense
or other Daisy was in each recitation room made to take her seat
upon their respective platforms. This went on for two days.
Upon the third day, Daisy deliberately ascended the rostrum
of the chapel at the morning exercises, and plumped herself down
between Mr. Twirl and his own particular chair, to the infinite
amusement of the spectators. Only a quick movement of the
astonished principal prevented him from plunking himself into
her lap.
Miss Zorlange was ordered to take her own seat.
"Oh," she said, in great apparent surprise, "I thought
that I was to sit upon the platform for the remainder of the
term. ' '
Explanations ensued, and Mr. Twirl, with a lenient smile,
which was, as Daisy afterwards described it, "Just too killing,"
told her once more to go to her own seat.
Now Daisy's place in chapel was upon the extreme row of
seats, she being now a member of the senior class, and, as I have
said, the hall was very large and long. As she sauntered leisurely
toward this, her movements were very deliberate, and Mr. Twirl,
who was one of those nervous, hurrying sort of people, became im-
patient and said: "Sit down where you are, Miss Zorlange."
200 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
Daisy pretended to take the request in a literal sense, made
a deprecatory gesture, then hurried on a little faster.
"Sit down just where you are, Miss Zorlange," repeated
Mr. Twirl.
The pantomine was repeated also.
"Miss Zorlange," thundered the irascible Twirl. "Do you
not hear me ? Sit down. Sit down just where you are, ' ' and Daisy
did as she was bidden, and sat herself down with another dep-
recatory gesture, upon the floor in the middle of the aisle. This
was done amid great applause from the students.
"Miss Zorlange," said Mr. Twirl, laughing in spite of him-
self, "Miss Zorlange, I did not mean my command to be taken
so literally. Please take the nearest unoccupied chair that you
find," he added, discreetly.
Daisy, doubtless confused by all this, did as she was told,
and perhaps mistaking her whereabouts, veered to the boys' side
and seated herself upon a vacant chair next to Moses 'Welton, the
most bashful youth in the school, who blushed, and cringed and
squirmed and tittered, while a second round of applause greet-
ed the action. And Daisy, with the air of one who at length
had found the proper place, folded her hands in meek attention
to the long delayed Bible reading, in pretended innocence of her
laughable mistake.
Miss Torrendycke was furious. For she well knew that this
would lead to an inquiry as to what offense Miss Zorlange had
committed to merit the punishment she had received, of being
obliged to sit upon the platform, and the exposure of the fact
that the punishment was greater than the offense.
"Miss Zorlange," she commanded, as soon as the study room
was reached, "please stand upon the platform."
Now this was the punishment above all others which Daisy
most disliked. She was like a bird, a butterfly, which could wing
its way from flower to flower the whole day long without weary-
ing, but when doomed to stand in one place even for a short
time, the effort was beyond her strength. At the request and
interference of her father, this mode of punishment had long
been discontinued, but Miss Torrendycke, in her anger, quite
forgot this prohibition.
Daisy's face grew wan and white, but the spirit of mischief
was still alive in her, and never for one moment did she lose
sight of her promise to be "Very, very good, indeed."
A MUSICAL. MYSTERY 201
Miss Torrendycke accidentally dropped her book and Daisy,
intent upon returning good for evil, stooped to pick it up, bring-
ing her own head and that of her teacher in contact with a rous-
ing thump, but capturing the volume from under the very hand of
Miss Torrendycke, she presented it with such an air of devoted
sweetness that it was impossible to find fault with her alacrity
and evident desire to please. She only reprimanded the laughing
girls instead, for one of the greatest features of Daisy's fun was
that gravity with which she played her greatest pranks, leaving
the others always in the wrong.
Daisy was about to sink with fatigue, however, when the
door of the schoolroom was opened and Willis St. Aubyn ap-
peared. Taking in the situation at a glance, he paused upon
the threshold.
When Daisy was ill or tired she was like a little child ; and
now she put out her arms, wistfully, to him. And Willis, with-
out the slightest hesitation, folded her close to his breast, and
said to Miss Torrendycke: "I just looked in to ask myself to tea
with you this evening, fearing that I might forget it later."
Daisy was shaking her fist as much as to say: "Now thou
wilt catch it. ' ' But Miss Torrendycke wasi so pleased with the com-
pliment that she failed to notice the action. To entertain the
son of the Governor at tea was an honor for which she was will-
ing to pay a handsome price. So when Willis said: "I think
you will permit me to speak aside with Miss Zorlange. I may be
able to persuade her to obey the rules, more readily," she said
they might have the use of the dressing room, but, reconsidering,
she sent the most objectionable person she could think of to play
propriety, Lotta Moore.
Willis supported the half-fainting Daisy to the dressing
room and they were followed by Lotta, who took her stand at the
open window, while Willis sat down and tried to soothe the now
sobbing Daisy into quiet.
There was something so pathetic in Daisy 's tired face that
Willis ' heart yearned over her, and something in the expression
of her eyes gave him courage to say softly: "Daisy, have you
forgotten that kiss you promised me long ago?"
"Why," said Daisy, "I must have kissed thee a dozen times
at least since then."
"Ah, yes. But there were none of them that particular
kiss that you owed me, you know. And I want that one. ' '
202 IA GRAN QUIBIRA
Daisy smiled and put up her rosy lips.
"No," said Willis. "I want you to kiss me."
' ' Oh ! Why, is it not all the same ? ' '
' ' By no means. ' '
"Well then," said the young girl then she hesitated.
"Why, I declare I believe that I do not know how to kiss. I do
not know that I ever kissed any one of my own accord unless it
may have been a baby. Thou wilt have to teach me how. ' '
Nothing loath, Willis bent his head over her and imprinted
a lingering kiss upon her lips. Then Daisy, half raising herself
from his arms, imitated the action to perfection, but drew back
in pleased surprise : ' ' Why Willis, ' ' she exclaimed, as one awak-
ening from a pleasing dream. "What makes me so very very "
"Happy," suggested Willis softly, as if afraid of frighten-
ing her.
"So very, very happy," she repeated, gazing brightly into
his eyes.
"Is it that you love me, Daisy? Oh, can it be possible that
your woman's heart has come to life at last? Daisy, darling, I
have waited so long and so patiently. Am I to win you at last?
Say that it is true that you really love me."
"I love thee. " The tones were so fraught with sweetness
that they touched even the heart of the callous Lotta, who turned
and looked at the two in curiosity and envy. It was very beauti-
ful, this innocent love of two young hearts that knew not how to
dissemble. There was no affectation of shrinking. There were
no blushes, only sweetest confidence and trust that knew no fear
or shame. And Lotta knew that this was the one love of a life-
time, and nothing, nor no one, could come between.
They talked a little, in snatches. After a time Daisy said
mischievously, "But what wouldst thou have done had I not
loved thee, Willis?"
' ' I cannot bear even to think what my life would be without
you, Daisy. It would be but a barren waste to me. But," he
asked in return, "Now that you have learned to love me, what
would you do were you to lose me?"
" I ? I should die, ' ' replied Daisy. And long after this Wil-
lis remembered the tone of anguish, and the terrible look of pain
in her eyes.
"I think," said a voice, "that you had better be thinking
about wedding and not about dying, yet awhile."
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 203
"Why Lotta, how good of thee to be so patient with us, and
so still." And she held out her hand to Lotta without moving.
And Willis thanked her in his turn.
"Oh," she answered cheerfully, "the next best thing to be
being engaged one's self, is to know that one's friends are about
to be married. Do not imagine that I have undergone all this
for nothing, I expect to be one of the bridesmaids, of coui-se. ' '
Then Daisy blushed for the first time and questioned Wi- : .;is
by a look, and he, nodding and smiling assent, she hid her face
upon his breast, but put out a slender hand to Lotta as if to ratiiy
the promise.
Then after a while, she said: "Willis, I do not feel at a!!
like myself. I seem to have changed somehow. What has hap-
pened to me, anyhow?"
"You have blossomed into womanhood, my Daisy. And oh,
thank God," he added reverently, "That it was I to whom you
turned in this hour."
Daisy, wondering still, got up and viewed herself in the
small looking glass, before which the school girls were wont to
smoothe their tumbled tresses, and tie their bonnet strings, and
cried out in unfeigned astonishment: "Why, I am a 'young
lady' now."
The others laughed. Then Lotta questioned: "Well, now
that you realize that fact, which Miss Torrendycke has been try-
ing to convince you of for the past few years, tell us what are
you going to do about it?"
"The very first thing that I shall do," was the unexpected
reply, "will be, "and Daisy raised and shook an admonitory fin-
ger at the tiny protruding feet, "to lengthen my skirts. I seem
to be pretty much all feet and I adore a train."
"Lotta, you will keep our secret for awhile at least," pleaded
Willis.
Lotta gave a reluctant promise, for the thing that is dearest
to a schoolgirl's heart is to be mixed up in a love affair. "But,"
she said, ' ' Daisy 's face gives it dead away. ' ' And this was true.
There was a certain indefinable something in the young girl's
face, a new dignity in her bearing, that marked the change that
had been wrought in her in these last few moments. And there
were none who did not remark it when the three made their ap-
pearance, not without being summoned, in Miss Torrendycke 's
room.
204 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
"Engaged?" was the oft-repeated question put with eyes
and lips to Lotta Moore, whose own face was radiant And she
made answer by pointing to Daisy, herself, and saying : " I prom-
ised not to tell," so keeping to the letter of her pledge, at least.
The girls were all sympathy, scenting a wedding in the near
future. And as everything was settled, all jealous rivalry
ceased, and many were the sly kisses and congratulatory nods
bestowed upon Daisy during that silent study hour.
The young girl looked so lovely in her new character, that
even the cold heart of the "fossil," was thawed, and Miss Tor-
rendycke made up her mind to "pose" as the chosen confidante
of the boy and girl lovers.
But alas, and yet alas! Willis quite forgot the engagement
he had made to drink tea with his teacher that evening, and
spent the time as any one but a "fossil" might have expected,
with his betrothed, and so roused up additional enmity in the
breast of that much-abused spinster, against Daisy, which bore
bitter fruit for her in the near future; for, of course, Miss Tor-
rendycke blamed Daisy for Willis' defection and determined to
do everything in her power to break off the match.
She waited in person upon Mrs. St. Aubyn, a proud, vain,
and haughty woman, and prejudiced her against the unfortunate
Daisy to good purpose, as will be seen. And after this you may
be certain that Daisy 's school life was made a burden to her.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 205
CANTO THE TWENTY-THIRD.
"A LAGGARD IN LOVE."
Howard Gould had not been present at school upon that
particular day, but strolling up town, he chanced to see Daisy
and Willis upon their homeward walk. There was no need of
words to disclose their secret. It was too plainly written upon
their faces ; and, while people turned to smile upon them as they
passed, Howard turned sick and faint at sight of them and reeled
into a drug store near by to avoid meeting the pair. Unconscious
of his presence, and, if the truth were told, forgetful at that
moment of his very existence, they passed him by.
Willis, having been turned adrift by his fiance after dinner,
first bethought himself of his friend, and yearned for his con-
gratulations and sympathy. But when he would have gone to
Howard's chamber with the liberty usually accorded to him, he
was told that Howard wished to be alone. And Willis went
grumbling home to dream of his newly found happiness, and to
abuse his friend for his selfish jealousy.
"For he must have heard," soliloquized Willis, "and it is
awfully mean of him not to off er me his congratulations. ' '
But sitting alone in his room, the question of Daisy : ' ' Hav-
ing found me, what would you do without me?" came up to
him and in weighing out the life that would be as nothing with-
out her, he, remembering that Howard loved her with the same
adoration as himself, began to pity him for the loss which must
make the life of his friend barren of all joy for the future. And
he blamed himself for his selfish desire to have the good wishes of
one bereft of this love.
"What a brute I have been," he exclaimed, "I will go at
once and console him. ' '
But before he could rise to carry his intention into effect,
the door opened and Howard himself came in. His pale face
lit up with interest. "I could not give you my best wishes be-
fore," he said. "We are all of us a trifle selfish, you know, and
knowing how I loved Daisy you may well understand the battle
206 LA. GRAN QUD3IBA
I had to fight before I could honestly say that I am glad for her
sake that you have won her."
"Dear, good, unselfish old boy. I knew that I could count
upon your good wishes. You are a thousand times more worthy,
and more fitted to make her life happy, than I."
The two youths talked long and earnestly that night, then
slept side by side, the room upon the other side of Willis' sitting
room had been fitted up for Howard 's occupation when he cared
to remain with his friend at night, but this night the tried friends
chose to spend together, and together they spoke of the sweet
young life that they believed was now to be saved from all future
annoyance, under the protection of husband and friend.
At school Daisy strove diligently to fulfill her promise to
Mr. Kingsley of being ''very, very good indeed, " and she was to
intrusively, so aggravatingly "goody-good," that Miss Torren-
dycke wa? wellnigh distracted. But whatever she did, Daisy suc-
ceeded in scoring one against her.
Some time previous to that memorable interview in Mr.
Kingsley 's room, there had b-en a new rule adopted regarding
the deportment of the students of the school. Whisper no; had
been forbidden. It was not easy, at first, for them to "not, "as
Daisy expressed it. But a frame enclosing a number of cards of
sprtless white which corresponded with the number of scholars
in each room was hung above the platform in full view of all.
Then it was stated that when any transgressed the rules in this
respect, the white card would be replaced by one of blue, with
the name of the transgressor written upon it. Of course,
Daisy Zorlange got the first blue card, and equally "of course,"
many others followed her bad example, until the board in the
frame was well bespeckled. Then Daisy for the second offense
received the first pink card. The others followed suit as before.
Then Daisy shocked and frightened even them by claiming the
green card for her own. Mr. Kingsley chanced to come into the
room, and was invited by Miss Torrendycke to remain through-
out the recitation, and he accordingly seated himself under the
aforesaid frame. Daisy well knew that it was Miss Torrendycke 's
intention ere long to acquaint the superintendent with her dere-
liction, and, taking "time by the forelock," as it were, she suc-
ceeded in attracting his attention to herself, then with an assump-
tion of great pride in her achievement, drew his notice to the
fact that the only green card in the frame was her very own.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 207
Mr. Kingsley laughed in spite of himself at her impertin-
ence; then murmuring a hasty excuse, left the room. And so
the daring girl escaped the look-for reprimand. Next day Daisy
''dared" again and broke the rules all to smash by whispering
again and purposely getting caught in the act. The penalty
for this was said to be the replacing the card of brilliant green
by one of black and suspension from the school. Every one was
in great alarm, for Daisy Zorlange, in defiance of every display
of petty jealousy, was by all odds the most popular girl in Miss
Torrendycke 's room, or indeed, the whole school.
In the meantime, that scene in the superintendent's room
had occurred. And Miss Torrendycke, remembering it, resolved
to bear with her for once, and instead of insisting upon Daisy's
being sent home in disgrace, contented herself with detaining
her a few moments after school, and drawling reprovingly:
' ' Why, Miss Zorlange ! Why, Miss Zorlange ! ' in tones of the
gentlest remonstrance.
208 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
CANTO THE TWENTY-FOURTH.
"A NARROW ESCAPE."
For some reason a review and examination had been deter-
mined upon in the middle of the school term. The time was at
hand and with it the end of Daisy Zorlange 's probation. More
than one uneasy glance was cast upon her as the time approached.
She kept up the role of "goody-good girl" to perfection. Mr.
Kingsley watched the performance of the little drama from afar,
and understood now the difference between being simply ' ' good, ' '
and being "very, very good indeed." He laughed heartily at
some of her escapades, and questioned the other young ladies of
Miss Torrendycke 's room, whose rancor and envy of the culprit
was too apparent to be ignored, why they hated her, pointing
out the fact that she was motherless and the youngest by at
least two years among them all and was in danger of being ex-
pelled from the school.
' ' But she is so terribly trying, ' ' they said in excuse. ' ' She
is always getting us into some scrape or other. But school with-
out Daisy Zorlange would not be school at all to us," was their
unanimous verdict and they all united in begging for clemency.
Well, there had been another row between the two. It
was difficult, as Lotta Moore had said, "To tell which was to
blame," but Daisy made it appear that it was all Miss Torren-
dycke 's fault. Daisy had of late been able to make everything
everybody else's fault, which was why "everybody else" was
grumbling.
Miss Torrendycke had detained Daisy Zorlange unnecessarily
and she was very angry as I have said, Daisy when not aroused
by anger until she forgot her surroundings, was extremely shy and
diffident for now she knew that she must, because of this deten-
tion, enter Mr. Twirl's room alone, and not only run the gaunt-
let of the eyes of all the male students of his room and her class
in recitation, but of the school board as well. When released by
Miss Torrendycke, she made her way rapidly through the inter-
vening hall, and, with a grimace, opened the door and passed in
to recitation.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 209
Obeying the impatient signal from Mr. Twirl, and meekly
submitting to his unmerited rebuke for her tardiness, although
she smarted under it, Daisy seated herself near the door, feeling
strangely out of place.
Mr. Twirl had finished with the remainder of the class and
now pointed out to Daisy a certain passage in Cicero, which he
wished her in her turn to translate, this being the class in Latin.
The remainder of the class had been given time in which to
look over their appointed task, but with the customary perversity
of fate, he began at that end of the class at which Daisy sat, and
consequently she had no time to review her own. She went
through it with credit, however, and when Mr. Twirl declared
that this was not the passage he had selected for her, Daisy dis-
puted him. It was of no use. Mr. Twirl was a very stubborn
man and insisted that she read off-hand the last mentioned.
Daisy protested. She had been absent from school when this
particular portion of the book had been translated, and it was
entirely new to her, but Mr. Twirl was firm in his determination,
and Daisy blundered through the exercise, giving an original
rendering of the passage, which astonished and delighted her aud-
ience. Mr. Twirl, who was an authority on the dead language,
contested several points, but Daisy, now put upon her mettle,
made good her side of the question, and was sustained in her
version by the three members of the school board present.
"Well," said Mr. Twirl, "I am bound to admit that you
have given a more pleasing interpretation of the passage than
has heretofore been given. And now, Miss Zorlange, be pleased
to tell us what gesture Cicero made at such and such a juncture ? ' '
"Can't say. I wasn't there."
"But what gesture do you think he must have made when
giving utterance to that grand sentence?"
"Haven't the slightest idea."
"But, Miss Zorlange," insisted Mr. Twirl, "What gesture
would you, yourself, have made had you been in Cicero's
place?"
"I," said Daisy, then repeating in a tone of mock horror,
"I? Why, Mr. Twirl, I should not have made any gesture what-
ever."
' ' But why, Miss Zorlange ? Why ? " he questioned, persistent-
At this precise juncture, Miss Torrendycke opened the
14
210 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
schoolroom door and was about to enter when Daisy, espying her,
brought down the house by drawling in a most conscientious
manner, "Because Miss Torrendycke says 'it isn't lady-like'."
That irate female stopped to hear no more, but beat a hasty
retreat, banging the door as she went, in a manner that was,
to say the least, not altogether lady-like, and to which Daisy
drew the attention of the laughing assembly by staring in pre-
tended surprise and consternation, very hard indeed at the of-
fending door as if to say: "Come now, confess. Thou didst it
thyself, didst thou not? 'Trilobitz,' thou knowest, could never
have been guilty of an action so extremely ' unlady-like ? ' '
Here Mr. Twirl recovered his presence of mind, which, ac-
cording to Daisy's interpretation, meant that he was about to
pour out his wrath upon her devoted head. But Daisy won the
victory again, for all the members of the board interfered in turn,
declaring that her ebulition of temper was quite excusable, on
the ground that it had arisen from a sense of injustice done her
in forcing her to render a difficult passage without preparation,
while the remainder of the class were given time in which to look
over the portions allotted to them; and every one of them sus-
tained her in her statement that the first which she had rendered
perfectly was the one given to her to translate.
There was much laughter over this event as the members of
the school board talked it over in the superintendent's room a
short time later. Mr. Kingsley took the opportunity now offered
to state Daisy Zorlange's case in plain terms. He told of her
innumerable escapades, but declared that she was irritated into
committing most of her follies by the spiteful naggings of the
scholars and teachers.
The stories delighted the august body addressed. All de-
clared that the young lady should be rewarded for her ready
wit and not punished.
There were two ministers, two lawyers and a physician now
present, and all expressed the wish that they could witness one
of these sparring matches between Miss Torrendycke and her re-
fractory pupil.
"Well," said Mr. Kingsley, hesitatingly, "I am willing to
confess that during this month of probation, as I may call it, I
have spent some time in the observation of what passes contin-
uously in Miss Torrendycke 's room, from the closet adjoining
the schoolroom, where Stinson keeps her brooms and dustpans,
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 211
and from which a small window looks into the study room. Now,
if you can be utterly noiseless in your movements I can promise
you a rare treat, for this warfare goes on unceasingly, with no
rest whatever for the tired instructress."
Shoes and boots were immediately discarded, and each, with
his own in hand, the procession started in grave but expectant
silence for the dust-room in question.
There was, as I have said, a small window between this and
the schoolroom and this was screened upon the schoolroom side
by a lace curtain through the meshes of which every occupant
could be plainly seen.
The class in ancient history was reciting. Daisy was a mem-
ber of this class. There seemed to be an undercurrent of some
sort disturbing the calm of the room. That Daisy Zorlange was
this disturbing element was plainly to be seen from the glances
of anger cast upon her seemingly unconscious face. What it was
that she had done did not transpire.
Miss Torrendycke, who seemed greatly perturbed, dropped
a book at this precise moment and Daisy, with ready alacrity,
stooped to pick it up, her head, in her haste, coming into violent
contact with that of Miss Torrendycke with a thud which upset
the risibles of the whole school.
Of course, it was an accident, for Daisy apologized, and pre-
sented the book which she had literally snatched from out Miss
Torrendycke 's hand with such a show of graceful service that it
was impossible not to thank her for her attention. And the
sweetly reproachful look she cast upon those who could thus up-
set the decorous calm of the schoolroom by openly laughing at
the accident, was simply "killing."
' ' Te-he-he ' ' next laughed Daisy, and immediately explained :
"Miss Smith says that 'Caesar's temperature was mild and
pleasant,' " adding in an aside, "I wonder she did not say 'sal-
ubrious' as well."
"Miss Smith," exclaimed Miss Torrendycke, in remon-
strance.
' ' That is what the book says, ' ' declared Miss Smith, looking
"daggers" at Daisy. No one else had noticed the blunder.
"It says that Caesar's temperature was mild and salubri-
ous," prompted Daisy, and Miss Smith repeated obediently,
"mild and salubrious;" then burst into angry tears at the merri-
ment the w r ords excited. For Miss Smith was another of the
212 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
"goody-good" sort, and could not bear correction; but she was
stubborn, too, and produced her book, from which she read the
very same in triumph, amid the laughter of the class, Daisy say-
ing, pityingly: "Poor thing. She cannot even read correctly."
And it had to be pointed out to the obtuse Miss Smith that the
word used in the book was not "temperature," but "tempera-
ment. ' '
"It was all Daisy Zorlange's fault," she declared. And in
answer to Daisy's mute appeal, Miss Torrendycke was forced, as
it were, to defend her, and to reprove both Miss Smith in particu-
lar, and the school in general, for laying false charges against
that unoffending person, who was, as she could see, bravely try-
ing to redeem her past record and to hold her place in the school.
Daisy wept at this touching tribute to her integrity, and to
their discredit, be it said, the other girls and the hidden spies in
the little dust-room giggled at this.
"It is growing late," said Miss Torrendycke, "And while
I detain the class, I will call the deportment roll. Some of the
young ladies are to be excused early.." And then began the
pantomime.
"Imperfect," answered the owner of the first name called
as she flushed scarlet and looked as if she could have throttled
Daisy Zorlange for that look of sorrowful reproach with which
she regarded this erring sister.
"Imperfect," "Imperfect." "Imperfect," "And it's all
Daisy Zorlange's fault," whined more than one. "She made me
whisper to her."
Daisy's air of stern propriety, and conscious rectitude was
not to be questioned. And upon a second rebuke from the now
almost distracted Miss Torrendycke, the laments were loud and
long.
Daisy sat unmoved except to sorrow for their injustice,
the very 'Moral,' as she would have termed it in another, of pa-
tient suffering, and with Christian Forbearance and Forgiveness
written upon every feature, and when at length her own name
was reached, at the very bottom of the list, the angelic sweetness,
and sublime consciousness with which she, after an eloquent and
effective pause, answered with aggravating distinctness: "Per-
fect, ' ' was beyond all else exasperating to her aggravated room-
mates.
Miss Torrendycke had great difficulty in suppressing the
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 213
threatened riot; and to the disgust of all and the amusement of
the young gentleman in the reciting class, she warmly defended
the culprit, declaring that she noticed with suprise and sorrow
that Miss Zorlange was and had doubtless been throughout,
' ' More sinned against than sinning, ' ' and she was unable to con-
demn her.
For be it known that Daisy had already made her peace with
the "Trilobitz" for her former offense against her of that day.
"Miss Torrendycke, " she had said, "I know that thou ad-
mirest the enamelled locket I wear. There are two of the same de-
sign still at Flotsman's, one in black enamel and one in blue like
mine. If thou wilt say which of the two thou wouldst prefer, I
will call there upon my way home from school this evening and
have the one thou choosest suitably engraved ; that is if thou wilt
deign to accept it as a peace-offering."
Miss Torrendycke "deigned," but asked a little dubiously if
it were not too expensive a present to be made without her
father's consent?
Daisy smiled. ' ' Oh, my f ayther lets me do pretty much as
I like in such matters. And I believe that I have never before
made thee a present."
The locket decorated with the black enamel was chosen, and
the out-come of it all was the stout defense of Daisy that we have
seen. But Miss Torrendycke watched the girl curiously, not
more than half believing in her own good fortune, and resolved
to call in person upon the jeweler and settle her doubts upon the
subject.
214 LA GRAN QU1BIBA
CANTO THE TWENTY-FIFTH.
"ABSOLUTION."
The "Grave and Reverent Seigneurs" beat a hasty and sil-
ent retreat from their point of ambush, their faces purple with
suppressed laughter, with boots and shoes in hand why they
should have carried these with them is not clear and passing
along the lengthy hall and through the ante-chamber into the
Superintendent's private office, they locked the door against
all intruders and then, throwing themselves into all preposterous
attitudes they yelled and shrieked with laughter.
"By Thunder," screamed the Judge from his lowly station
upon the front edge of the platform, "Was there ever such an
actress? That little witch would make her fortune upon the
stage. 'Perfect,' I should remark that the whole scene was
'perfect.' '
"But," said Mr. Kingsley after their mirth had somewhat
subsided, "What is to be done with this young lady. Everything
and everybody seems to demand her expulsion from the school."
"Expelled from the school? And for being the very pret-
tiest and smartest feature in it ? " shouted the Eeverend Sextant.
"Not if this slab of a Board knows itself." .
"No" chimed in the Doctor. "I vote her a Chromo. Turn
the Old Cat out if necessary, but this school can not be run with-
out that girl."
"Oh, keep them both in, for fun's sake," said the Judge.
"I am bound to visit the school at least once a week while this
state of things lasts. I would not miss it for the world. ' '
"Ha! Ha! Ha!," they laughed in chorus. And each in turn
tried in vain to mimic Daisy's: "Perfect."
A few moments later they trooped homeward with studious
gravity along with the throng of scholars.
"Oh, how I wish I knew whether Daisy is to be expelled,"
said Howard Gould, as he and Willis St. Aubyn walked to-
gether.
"I am going to ask," was the reply. "I cannot wait to hear
the result." And he turned back a little and boldly confronted
the School Superintendent and members of the School Board.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 215
"Mr. Kingsley," questioned Willis of the former whom he
had taken a little aside, "You know how very dear Daisy Zor-
lange is to me. Will you not tell me what is to be her fate? Will
she be compelled to quit the school in disgrace because of her
love of fun ? ' '
There was an expression of owl-like gravity upon the face of
Mr. Kingsley, but a twinkle in his eye as he answered: "You
need not fear, my lad. The School Board refuses to see any-
thing worthy of reproof in the conduct of Miss Zorlange, which
in the Board's opinion is "perfect."
The "Board" fell behind, apparently to smother a laugh,
and Willis went forward musing.
' ' I am certain that I heard some one in the little dust-room, ' '
he said. "And, yes, that is it," he decided with an air of relief.
' ' They were all there spying, and heard the whole affair. ' ' Then
both he and Howard called to Daisy who was hurrying past:
"Daisy, Daisy, we have some good news for you. May we not
see you home?"
"Yes. If thou canst catch me," was her reply as she fled
with the speed of an antelope. But as she faced them for a
second they noticed that there were tears in her eyes, and that
her face was pale and wan.
"Poor Daisy. She believes her time has come," said
Howard. ' ' We must follow her and relieve her mind. ' '
This they did, but were met at the door not by Daisy but by
Janet, who refused to permit them to see her young mistress
whom she declared that they had already worried to death.
Howard pleaded in vain for an interview saying that they were
the bearers of good news which would give Daisy great pleasure.
Janet was obdurate and refused even to permit them to see
Mr. Zorlange himself.
Then Willis took matters promptly into his own hands and
stepping to the front, encircled maiden Janet in his arms and
imprinted a rousing smack upon her lips, threatening that if she
did not allow them not only to enter, but to remain to tea with
Daisy, that he would repeat the offense until she would be glad
to consent. And an hour later Daisy, pale and languid indeed,
but recovered from her fright, and brimming over with mischief,
was presiding over the repast.
216 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
"Well," said the Reverend Sextant, as Willis left them to
join Howard Gould upon their homeward walk, "Well, I cannot
but think that young girl the most beautiful and the sprightliest
I have seen. I mean to introduce my son Otto to her and order
him to win her for his wife. ' '
"Humph," was the emphatic comment of Mr. Kingsley, as
he brought to his mind a picture of the red-headed, freckle-faced
Otto, the most disagreeable as well as the ugliest boy in the city,
"Humph! There is small chance for Otto there. Both of those
handsome boys, who belong to the best and wealthiest families
in the town are her suitors. "And," he added sotto voce, "I
would marry her myself before I would consent to such a sacri-
fice."
The idea was new to him. But thinking it over at his lonely
dinner table an hour or so later, the idea became a fixed purpose.
"For," said he, "If I can win the love of the pretty whimsical
child, her father is certain to consent to her union to so old a
friend as I am."
Mr. Kingsley 's favorite axiom was: "Strike while the iron's
hot," and he made his way to the Zorlange habitation that very
evening to commence his wooing. Outside the door, he was greet-
ed with shouts of laughter and song, and stopped to admire the
scene which was taking place in "Daisy's Parlor." The school-
mates were singing a mirthful Trio in which Daisy and Willis
had exchanged parts, she singing the Baritone while Willis was
pouring forth triumphant shrieks and making impossible runs
and trills in the high-pitched Soprano. He changed his mind. It
was too apparent that the girl must be won by one or other of her
boy lovers. So he made a sober call upon his friend Emil Zor-
lange and to his dying day the latter never suspected how near
he was to becoming the father-in-law of the Superintendent of
the public schools.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 217
CANTO THE TWENTY-SIXTH.
"SHE WON'T, AN' THERE'S AN END ON 'T."
There had been a row in the Rhetoric Class. There had been
an awful row in the Rhetoric Class. Miss Torrendycke had ac-
cused Daisy Zorlange of plagiarism, had been proven in the
wrong, retracted, but so ungraciously that Daisy in her anger
declared that she would upon no account read another essay
while in the school.
A war of words had ensued and the question was referred
to the Superintendent, who sided with Daisy as usual and upheld
her in her determination, saying that she had but resented an
unwarrantable insult, and that she was to be excused from all
rhetorical exercises until such a time as it should be her pleas-
ure to resume them. But Daisy was not of an obdurate nature,
and after a few weeks she was coaxed into writing an essay for
the rhetorical exercises of the next Friday.
It had been the habit of most of the scholars to dodge these
exercises, especially since they had occupied the new high school
building, where it took real courage to mount the Rostrum some
five or six steps high and attempt to make themselves heard in
the great Chapel, which was the largest hall in the city, and hold
forth to an audience composed of the whole school of five rooms
assembled. It proved to be such a trying ordeal that one and
all the scholars fell into the habit of absenting themselves from
school upon that particular afternoon. And it was found neces-
sary to enforce a rule forbidding absence unless caused by sick-
ness or absence from the city. Disobedience of this rule would
meet with severe penalty and the delinquents be compelled to
read or recite, before the assmbled school, upon the first morning
of their return at the conclusion of the regular Chapel Exercises.
Now it happened that the relenting Daisy, upon her way
to school upon that particular Friday afternoon was seized with
vertigo and forced to return home, where she was confined to her
bed for the next two days. She had written for herself an "ex-
cuse" and begged Lotta Moore who was walking with her to
carry the same to Miss Torrendycke. Whether or not she did so,
218 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
Daisy never knew. But Miss Torrendycke asked her for her
essay the very first thing upon Monday morning.
Daisy declared that she had been excused from the duty of
reading this by her illness, and knowing this she had left her
composition at home.
She was told to bring it the next day which she did not do,
declaring that she did not intend to read it having been ill at the
proper time.
Miss Torrendycke pointed out to her the fact that Laura
Bertis who had been absent from town upon the previous Friday
would be obliged to read hers.
Daisy had always a keen sense of justice and yielded at once
so far as to say, that if Laura Bertis read her essay she would
at the same time read her own.
Then Miss Torrendycke triumphant, reminded her that the
essay had not been seen and had consequently not been corrected
by her, and told her that she must go at once to her home and
bring it. It was of no use to expostulate, and Daisy was com-
pelled to take the remainder of the forenoon and get her composi-
tion, and in consequence of this, needlessly failed in all her after-
noon 's lessons. Then indeed her temper was roused, and upon
being charged by her teacher to present herself promptly at the
Chapel Exercises next morning, she replied: "Please remember
Miss Trilobitz that I am not compelled to do this unless I like.
But since I promised it I repeat that ' ' If Laura Bertis reads hers
I will mine. But," she added emphatically, "If she does not,
then I refuse to do so, for nothing would induce me to go up
there alone."
Miss Torrendycke nodded as much as to say: "We'll see
about that," and Daisy sent the listeners into a smothered fit of
laughter by mimicing her nod and offensive smile to a nicety.
Scenting mischief as only school-boys and girls can, every-
body was present at the Chapel Exercises next morning (that is
to say, everybody except Laura Bertis. )
Daisy, who now belonged to the First Class, sat at the ex-
treme end of the great Hall upon the very last row of chairs; and
it seemed a very long way indeed from her seat to the high and
dreadfully obstrusive Rostrum ; for be it remembered Daisy was
very shy indeed.
"Miss Zorlange," demanded the ever-present Miss Torren-
A MUSICAL MYSTEEY 219
dycke: "Are you ready to respond when called upon to read
your essay?"
"Where is Laura Bertis?" asked Daisy.
"Well a-ah-ahem. Miss Bertis is not present this morning.
But be pleased to remember Miss Zorlange that will not excuse
you. You will be required to read your essay without her
presence. ' '
"Never," was Daisy's decisive answer.
"Miss Zorlange," cried Miss Torren dycke sternly, "You had
better comply with the rules of the school."
"Fudge," said Daisy contemptuously, and repeated her de-
mand of "Where is Laura Bertis?"
During the Bible-reading and Prayer that followed, more
than one of Daisy's classmates whisperingly pleaded with her to
do as she was bidden. But Daisy was upon her "war-horse," as
Lotta Moore declared and shook her obstinate little head in re-
fusal.
The Prayer concluded, Mr. Twirl arose and said: "The
School will remain seated while Miss Zorlange reads her essay of
last Friday afternoon. Now Miss Zorlange."
Three times Mr. Twirl repeated this invitation without re-
sponse from Daisy, and meantime many anxious and terrified
glances were cast upon her by both boys and girls of her class.
But she did not stir.
Miss Torrendycke, alarmed at the storm that was of her
own brewing, and which now threatened to break, went to her
and expostulated with her most seriously.
Daisy turned a deaf ear to all.
At length Mr. Twirl who was a most irascible little man,
sprang to his feet and gesticulating violently demanded in thun-
derous tones: "Miss Zorlange. Miss Zorlange. Will you come
forward and read your essay, or will you not?"
And Daisy breaking from the hands that would have de-
tained her, sprang up and in an exaggerated imitation both of his
gestures and voice, shaking her fist after his precise manner,
yelled back: "Mr. Twirl. I will not."
There was much smothered laughter throughout the Chapel
and a soft clapping of many hands, although they somehow felt
that Daisy Zorlange was deliberately putting the proverbial
4 ' Last straw upon the camel 's back. ' '
Mr. Twirl stood for a moment as if petrified by amazement
220 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
at the girl's audacity. Then he said in a passion-choked voice:
"Miss Zorlange. You will be prepared to read me a handsome
public apology. Otherwise it will be my duty to expel you from
the school."
"I will make it now," said Daisy sweetly, but there was a
dangerous light in her flashing eyes which showed to those who
knew her best that she was determined to have the best of the
argument.
And Mr. Twirl, possibly in order to gain time to think how
best to deal with this rebellious pupil said: ''You will be good
enough, Miss Zorlange, to stop at my room when you go down
stairs. The school may go to their rooms."
Daisy was some time in reaching the room designated, halted
as she was upon the way by under-teachers and school-mates
who all were badly frightened at the tempest which had been
raised and begged her to do Mr. Twirl's bidding.
But the irate Daisy paid no heed, and strode in stormy sil-
ence to Mr. Twirl's apartment.
Once there, in spite of the whispered pleadings of her allies
and good comrades, she steadily refused to read any apology writ-
ten by Mr. Twirl, or indeed any apology whatever now, declar-
ing that she had been in the right throughout.
"Then," said Mr. Twirl losing all control over his temper
under the taunts of his pupil, "You may pack your books, Miss
Zorlange, and go home."
Daisy with a mocking curtsey complied.
Miss Torrendycke, well knowing that the rules had been
over-stepped by others as well as Daisy, tried hard to prevent the
carrying away of Daisy's books, but all to no purpose. The girl
was firm in her determination to quit the school.
As might have been expected, Mr. Kingsley was furious
when he learned that his favorite had been expelled from school.
Mr. Twirl had indeed exceeded his authority in the matter,
the power to expel any student being vested in the school board
alone.
Mr. Twirl called upon Daisy at her home and apologized,
begging her to return to the school, and Miss Torrendycke did the
same, but the girl was not to be persuaded, and remained at
home.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 221
The pleadings of Mr. Kingsley were especially ineffective,
and the result was that the school board, in special session, gave
both Mr. Twirl and Miss Torrendycke their "conge," telling
them that their resignations were expected to be handed in, be-
fore the close of the term.
And so it came about that Daisy Zorlange quitted the High
School in apparent disgrace and did not graduate with the re-
mainder of her class.
222 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
CANTO THE TWENTY-SEVENTH.
"THE MAIDEN is NOT DEAD BUT SLEEPETH."
Daisy and Willis felt themselves so to speak, alone. Virginia
and Howard were both gone, and it required all the comfort to
be derived from the new tie that bound them to each other, to
enable Daisy to bear the unaccustomed absence of those dear
friends whom she had been in the habit of seeing daily for the
past three years. Willis and she, however, were almost constantly
together.
And when Willis left her after a long happy evening spent
in her company and did not return, Daisy could only wonder
and wait. At length she plucked up sufficient courage to call at
the St. Aubyn mansion.
The family, she was told were all absent from the city. But
Saunders, Willis's groom showed her through the house, and
told her that Willis had been sent for some unknown reason to
the house of a distant relative, and this without warning, and
that from thence he was to go direct to college without first re-
turning home.
It was not Daisy's habit to confide in servants except in the
case of her old nurse, Janet; but Saunders, she knew stood in
much the same place to Willis that Janet did to herself; and
while they were in Willis's own particular room which spoke so
plainly not only of its occupant but of herself as well, she told
the faithful fellow all her sorrow.
Saunders was puzzled. It was so utterly foreign to his
young master's nature to do a cruel act that he felt and com-
forted Daisy with the assurance that there was a mistake some-
where, saying that he himself would secure Willis's address and
write to him for an explanation.
Time passed on, and Daisy, always delicate and frail in
body, pined and grew thin and pale.
The summer had passed and with the Autumn the summer
wanderers returned. Then Daisy once more ventured to seek
comfort for her sinking heart by calling again at the St. Aubyn 's.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 223
Some instinct told her that Willis was innocent of all de-
ception toward her, and that the misunderstanding was one of
his mother's creating. So she sent in her card to that lady and
requested a personal interview.
Nothing loath, Mrs. St. Aubyn descended to the reception
room to at once put an end to this silly little romance of her
favorite son, with one whom she chose to believe an Intrigante.
"The girl is certainly very lovely," was her thought as
Daisy's sweet, sorrowful gaze met her own. And the girl ad-
vanced with slow, unsteady grace to meet her.
Daisy made known her errand in a few words.
"I am Willis St. Aubyn 's betrothed," she said: "He left me
without bidding me 'adieux.' I have called here to request
his present address that I may write and ask an explanation from
him. ' '
Mrs. St. Aubyn refused. She abused Daisy in no measured
terms.
Daisy's only answer to all was: "But we love each other.
We cannot live without each other."
But Mrs. St. Aubyn was inexorable. She grew more and
more unreasonably bitter toward the offender, as she chose to
consider Daisy.
Both were standing where they had exchanged greetings,
Daisy with downcast eyes and Mrs. St. Aubyn gesticulating
violently. Neither had noticed the entrance of the Governor who
was about to interfere saying: "Why my dear, what possible
objection can you have to my friend, Emil Zorlange's pretty
daughter?" When in answer to Mrs. St. Aubyn 's cruel and
final denial Daisy raised her beautiful eyes so full of agony that
the lady herself started forward as if to undo her work.
All too late ! Daisy without a single cry or moan, but with
that terrible look in her eyes threw up her hands with the palms
outward, and fell backward upon the floor.
At this moment before either of the terror-stricken occupants
of the room could move or speak, the door was thrown suddenly
open and Willis and Saunders stood upon the threshhold.
"So" The question was hissed rather than spoken, "So you
have killed her at last, my tender little Blossom? I knew that
you would between you." Then followed a volley of bitter re-
proachful words which stung his listeners to the quick. His
224 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
mother literally quailed beneath the lash of his furious words.
''Remember Willis, that it is your mother to whom you are
speaking," expostulated Governor St. Aubyn.
"My mother," repeated Willis scornfully. "There lies all
that is best within me, stricken down by the ruthless hand of my
mother. A mother's action truly. "No" he cried passionately,
' ' I have no mother. I repudiate her. And you ? What have you
to say to your own cowardly conduct toward this unoffending
child whom you knew to be dearer to me than my own soul 's wel-
fare. A trust betrayed, a life blighted, and a beautiful spirit
done to death. No. I am one bereaved of all that is dear to me.
Father, mother and home I have none, from the moment I leave
this house with my murdered bride."
"No," he said sternly in answer to tears and protestations.
"When my dead is restored to life, I may forgive, but not until
then."
As Willis raised the prostrate form of his idol from the floor
and placed it upon a sofa, Governor St. Aubyn led or rather
carried, his wife from the room in violent hysterics.
"Saunders, lend a hand, will you," he called.
But Saunders simply rang the bell for Mrs. St. Aubyn 's
maid, and said with cutting emphasis: "My master needs me
most."
The doctor was hastily summoned. Willis halted him in the
hallway saying: "Let Mrs. St. Aubyn and her hysterics wait
for once, doctor. Here is one who needs your services more."
And Mrs. St. Aubyn did wait. Doctor Winthrop after a long
examination of Daisy said: "She is dead. There is no hope."
Then he left the house where Mrs. St. Aubyn waited in vain for
his coming, and rode forward in his gig to break the sorrowful
news to Emil Zorlange, that his beautiful young daughter, his
only hope and joy in life had been suddenly stricken dead by
heart disease, while Willis and Saunders followed more slowly
in the carriage with the body of the young girl.
The grief of Emil Zorlange for the loss of the one who was
all that was dear to him in life was something fearful to witness,
and at times> it aroused Willis from the stupor into which it had
plunged him. Then he would go to the bereaved father and em-
brace him tenderly telling him all that Daisy had been to him.
This done he would again return to his seat to fight out his own
A MUSICAL M.YSTERY 225
battle in silence, seeming to take note of nothing that was pass-
ing around him.
So the day passed and twilight was deepening about them,
when Willis was aroused. Daisy had been robed for burial and
lay as if sleeping upon a snowy couch at the upper end of the
long suite of rooms. The candles were lighted about her, for al-
though Emil Zorlange belonged to no Sect that made this the
custom, yet somehow it seemed appropriate to the occasion.
Throughout the live-long day Willis had sat, as I said, in a
strange bewilderment trying to realize the terrible fate that had
befallen him, and to gain courage with which to meet it bravely.
There was no false sentiment in the lad, tender and true as was
his heart. He did not say: "I will die. I cannot live without
her. ' ' He knew that he was young and strong and would in all
probability live to that good old age that most of his family
attained. But how to face these long years of loneliness without
the companionship of the gentle, loving Daisy, with whom all of
his hopes of future happiness were inter-twined was the question
which puzzled and bewildered him. * ' Life without Daisy. ' ' The
thought appalled him.
No one disturbed him except at first. They left him to fight
out his battle alone and gain courage to face his desolate future.
They said: "Never mind him, he sees nothing."
And went on with their mournful duties as if he were ncl,
present. As in a dream he saw them prepare his loved one for
the grave. Physicians came and went. And he somehow reaUzed
that their verdict was always against him. Among them he
noticed as in a dream a stranger a tall, thin angular young man
who seemed to differ always from the rest, and in a vague sort of
a way Willis came to regard him as his one friend among them
all.
The twilight deepened. All went their way with the one ex-
cepucn of this raw-boned stranger who bent almost constantly
over the lifeless form of the young girl, who lay like Beauty
asleep upon a bed of roses.
Suddenly the stranger raised himself, cast a hurried look
around, then came slowly toward the crouchine, grief -stricken
form at the end of the long apartment and said impressively:
"The damsel is not dead but sleepeth."
This he repeated thrice before the full significance of the
226 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
words penetrated with any meaning to the dulled senses of the
lad. Then the stranger, taking both his hands into his own, spoke
to him earnestly for a time ; and to the purpose, for Willis sprang
up alive as it seemed to him for the first time since lie hail beheld
Dais.v lying stricken to death by his own mother's hand; and
questioned the stranger eagerly.
"Remember that I cannot say with absolute certainty," said
the Ltr&nger. "But it is my belief that I can restore her to you.
But remember too that I cannot promise this unless 1 can be aided
by strong and firm Lands."
Willis took a hasty turn about the apartment and as he
jia&sed he stooped and for the first time since they had parted,
kissed her lips. For all day he had said: "This is not Daisy.
Daisy has gone."
Then he came back to the side of the stranger and with a
smile held out his hand saying: "I am of iron, of tempered
steel. Try me."
"Take a walk in the open air for a block or two, and tnke
some refreshment as well. ' '
' ' And you ? ' '
The stranger's face flushed a little, and Willis eyeing him
keenly seemed to understand. The young man all alive now to
the situation stepped into another apartment and gave some hur-
ried orders.
That portion of the house was then cleared of all save their
own two selves, Janet, and Saunders whose assistance they re-
quired, and upon whose secrecy they could rely in case of failure.
Then Janet served strong coffee, bread and meats.
"I have not broken my fast before this for forty-eight
hours," said the stranger with another flush.
Willis laughed a little, then drawing the gaunt face down to
his own, kissed the stranger after that boyish fashion of his, and
whispered : ' ' All that sort of thing is over now, my brother. ' '
When all was made ready, the doors were carefully barred
against intrusion and everything arranged.
Daisy's body was removed to an easy chair, a dressing gown
thrown over the habilaments of the grave, and the curtains drop-
ped over that portion of the suite of rooms which suggested
aught of death. Saunders stood guard over the bolted doors lest
any sound from without should reach those ears which were about
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 227
to be awakened from deafness of death, and Janet stood
near at hand with all necessary appliances, while Dr. Van Val-
kenburg, having bared the arms of both to the shoulders, opened
the veins of each and infused into those of Daisy the healthy
blood of her devoted lover.
Then he and Janet drew back out of sight and awaited the
issue with bated breath. This was marvelous. They had scarcely
gained their places when Daisy's eyes slowly opened, and rested
in astonishment upon those of her smiling fiance. But so terrible
was the anguish of this look which had been caught and held, as
it were, by that death-stroke, that it was with difficulty Willis re-
pressed a cry of horror, and answered with an encouraging smile.
"A pretty way to receive me, is it not, Little Sleepy-Head?
And that after not writing to me once during all these months
absence. I felt compelled to run away in the middle of my
school-term to find out what was the matter with you."
And Daisy never knew that the letter of explanation of
Willis's hurried flight which he had entrusted to his father to
be delivered to her, but which Mrs. St. Aubyn had persuaded him
to give to her to destroy instead, declaring that Willis's lady-
love was an impossible person for their son to wed, had not sim-
ply been lost. And Willis thought "What if that terrible look
had been indelibly impressed upon that sweet face as a testimony
against his mother upon the Judgment Day," but he only smiled
into the questioning eyes and answered teasingly all that her
questioning lips asked of him.
Daisy did not then nor ever after know of the many hours
which had been a blank to her.
Willis said : "I found you in a dead faint, a pretty way in
which to greet my return and the nearest physician was sum-
moned to bring you to a proper regard for yourself and your
betrothed. He is a total stranger to you, but you must bid him
welcome for he is the very best fellow alive and is my brother."
' ' And mine, ' ' said Daisy, and she put up her lips, and taking
the Doctor's face between her hands, kissed him after the
foreign fashion, saying in acknowledgment of Willis's intro-
duction of Dr. Herman Van Valkenburg: "Mein Herman,
Mein."
' ' Truly, ' ' said the young doctor : ' ' Truly my lines have fal-
len in pleasant places. We reach Paradise only through patient
228 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
suffering, but it is worth more of this than I have undergone to
have been brought to you, my children."
Then Daisy's eyes closed in sleep, and the Doctor nodded
approvingly to the young man saying: "That is well. She is
now out of all danger."
' ' And now, ' ' said 'Willis, ' ' If you will dress my arm, I will
send you to finish your day's good work by going to make my
peace with my mother."
"Your arm," cried the Doctor in horror: "Why surely I
could not have left it uncared for for so long a time. ' '
"No matter," was the answer. "I am young and strong
and a little blood-letting will not hurt me. Besides I wound my
handkerchief tightly about it at the first. ' '
But Dr. Van Valkenburg looked very grave. "I trust that
you may not suffer through my neglect. In watching over the
one precious life, I forgot the second so indispensable to it. ' '
The wound carefully dressed, Willis begged him to go to
his parents at once, telling him frankly all that had passed at his
home upon that terrible morning.
The doctor just as frankly confessed his own impoverished
condition, as an objection to his presenting himself at the St.
Aubyn House at that late hour.
Willis was wise beyond his years. Grasping the situation at
once he called to Saunders and bade him accompany Dr. Van
Valkenburg to his own tailor, and have him duly equipped for
the mission.
All objections were over-ruled and an hour later Dr. Van
Valkenburg was closeted with Governor St. Aubyn, and later in-
troduced into Mrs. St. Aubyn 's chamber; and, oddly enough, he
and that proud lady took a mutual liking each to the other, and
that liking deepened and found strength and lasted throughout
their future lives.
After he had presented Willis's apology to his humbled
mother, telling her that he would spend the night watching over
his betrothed, and would return home in the morning to make
his peace with her in person, the doctor sat down near her bed-
side to note the effects of the opiate which he had just ad-
ministered to her. The door opened to admit the two eldest
Misses St. Aubyn, who had been absent throughout the entire
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 229
day, and in returning had come to bid their mother "Good
night. ' '
' ' The delay was unavoidable, Mammy. We had driven out
to the Hills, and when we returned the telegram had been sent
after us, and in consequence it was hours before we could ascer-
tain its contents. As soon as we found that it was a summons
home, we took the first train, and here we are."
This breezy girl of the period, Caroline St. Aubyn, with her
satins and jewels, and dashing, half-masculine manners was a
revelation and a pleasing revelation at that, to the German doc-
tor with his stiff old-fashioned, courtly manners, which, mixed
with professional brusquerie, were widely different from those
of this nineteenth century American young lady.
It was evident that Caroline St. Aubyn was aware of the
somewhat wondering admiration that she excited.
When Mrs. St. Aubyn fretfully demanded that one of her
daughters should read her to sleep, the doctor awoke from his
astonishment and ordered the two girls from the room with true
professional abruptness, declaring that he himself would have
the honor to read aloud to Mrs. St. Aubyn that night, and Caro-
line and Grace, who listened for a time outside the door, averred
that they had never heard so musical a rendering of Goethe and
Schiller as was given by this raw-boned German doctor.
230 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
CANTO THE TWENTY-EIGHTH.
"SWEET SPIRIT, HEAR MY PRAYER."
His new patient now asleep, the doctor was shown through
all the upper chambers of the house by the worshipping Saun-
ders, that he might choose from among them the apartment which
suited him best. The belief was firmly fixed in the mind of Wil-
lis 's valet that this German, with his strongly marked and rugged
features, was nothing short of a Prophet who had wrought a mir-
acle in his very presence. But of all the rooms in the house,
all of which the Governor had declared were at his service, Dr.
Van Valkenburg chose to sleep in Willis's own chamber at least
for that night. His taste was gratified more by its simple fur-
nishings than by the elegance of the rest of the house.
The doctor prowled about, delighted with what he saw. In
everything were indications of the boy's purity of thought and
habit, and the source of their inspiration.
Searching for a book, that he might read a quiet chapter be-
fore retiring, the doctor found upon the book shelves only the
good and true and beautiful, while heaped upon the floor of the
closet in which he had found a pair of gorgeously embroidered
slippers that fitted even his long extremities, (there were slip-
pers here of all sizes and patterns, for, as Saunders explained, the
sisters bestowed each a pair at Christmas upon their brothers
without regard to anything but the decorations) he found
"Camille" and like literature cast aside with most of the leaves
still uncut. Upon retiring he found, looking down upon him
from the wall, at the foot of the snowy bed, a beautiful full-
length portrait of Daisy Zorlange, whose presence seemed to per-
vade everything in the apartment like some sweet holy spirit
whose presence is felt without being seen; and by its side, the
frames intertwined by a wreath of flowers and joined by a true
lover's knot, was one of Willis himself.
Saunders served the doctor with a hot brandy sling, and as
he regaled himself, told anecdotes of the young lovers. Saunders
rejoiced greatly that his young master had found this friend and
ally, and when watching later he saw the gaunt, long-limbed
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 231
German kneel beside his bed and pray like a little child, he
thanked God once more that He had raised up for the children
to whom he was so devoted, this new friend.
Next morning the doctor accompanied Willis upon a sort of
state call upon his mother. This over, the two visited the Gover-
nor in his private office.
Willis, as in duty bound, offered a suitable apology for the
hard words he had used the previous day. But his father knew
that had not Daisy Zorlange been restored to life by a miracle, as
it were a miracle wrought by this stranger in spite of the opposi-
tion of the other physicians, he would have lost his son as well.
' ' My son, ' ' he said, ' ' I very much regret the breach of trust
of which you accused me. I admit my guilt. But these you know
are troublous times and matters of state press heavily upon me.
I had quite forgotten your predeliction for the lovely little Daisy,
and did not even look at the name upon your letter of explana-
tion, so that when your mother represented you as the victim of
some designing damsel, I supposed she knew whereof she spoke,
and after some urging I gave the letter to her. But now I most
earnestly entreat you to pardon me for this and all other acts of
mine that have made you unhappy."
Peace and good- will once more established, Willis said: "I
am under age, and have come to ask your consent to my im-
mediate marriage with Daisy Zorlange."
The Governor demurred, and used every argument he could
think of to dissuade him from his purpose ; but Willis was firm
and would not be turned aside. ' ' I will not risk another separa-
tion. Another misunderstanding might prove her death. "
And when appeal was made to him, Dr. Van Valkenburg
sided with the younger man. ' ' There is danger to the maiden in
even the dread of another separation. They are very young it is
true, but their affections are so firmly fixed upon each other that
it seems to me it would be an unnecessary cruelty to deny the
demand."
The Governor with a heavy sigh gave a reluctant consent
under condition that the children make their home with him.
To this Willis objected. But he was overruled in turn, and
under the promise that the portion of the house which might re-
mind Daisy of what she had been with difficulty persuaded was
232 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
a mere nightmare, should be altered, that she might not recognize
it, and that they be permitted to take for their domicile that part
of the mansion in which his own apartments were now situated
that is to say the upper floor and be cut off by a second door-
way from the remainder of the house, the matter was settled.
[END OF ACT i.]
A CELEBRATED TREE IN BIBLE HISTORY.
[Courtesy of The Pictoria
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 233
ACT II.
CANTO THE FIRST.
"SO MERRILY CHIME THE WEDDING BELLS/'
There was a quiet noonday wedding. After the services at
the church, Willis took his young bride home. The upper floor
of the St. Aubyn mansion had been fitted up in luxurious style
for her reception, and even the Governor, who objected to the
plan, confessed that this was the handsomest portion of the
house.
Daisy was extremely shy and childish in many ways. The
morning after the wedding she and Willis came down to the
breakfast room to find the remainder of the family already at
table. Daisy looked about her rather frightened at meeting quiz-
zical smiles upon every side, she turned and shyly hid her face
upon Willis's breast. But a whispered word from him caused
her to raise herself with an assumption of matronly dignity that
was very pretty to see. Then seating herself at the table she
plied her knife and fork with such dainty grace as to attract the
approving attention of Mrs. St. Aubyn, who could never teach
her two youngest daughters to be anything but angular and
awkard in wielding their table implements. She questioned Wil-
lis as to where his young wife could have acquired her dainty
skill?
Willis stared a little, then smiled and said: "That sort of
thing comes naturally to some people you know," and Mrs. St.
Aubyn glanced with a sigh toward her own daughters, wondering
why this gift had not been bestowed upon them as well.
Daisy heeded none of this by-play but went on with her
breakfast delighting Pounds, the butler, who always presided
over each meal, by innocently asking for the table-sauces to
which she had been accustomed, never suspecting the absence
from the table of what she considered necessary adjuncts to the
salad she was deftly compounding.
All the time Daisy was casting shy and wondering glances
234 LA GRAN QUIBIBA
from beneath her curling eyelashes at Herbert and Caroline St.
Aubyn whom she had not before met, they having been detained
from the wedding ceremony by a railway accident that befell the
train upon which they were making their way home from a visit
to some relatives in the far East, and who were now improving
their acquaintance with their young sister-in-law by making
'Moues' at her from the opposite side of the breakfast table, at
the farther end where sat the Governor and Doctor Van Valken-
burg deep in some political discussion of the day. All at once
it dawned upon Daisy's mind that these unusual demonstrations
were merely meant as friendly overtures and she flashed back at
them one of those rarely beautiful smiles which were wont to
dazzle all, and which had the effect of making the two who were
teasing her cast a hasty look of wonder into each other 's eyes and
cause Herbert to hastily shade his eyes, as from the intolerable
glare of a dazzling sunbeam. Then seeing that the young girl
was frightened by their actions, both hastened to reassure her by
encouraging smiles and kisses thrown from their places which
were too remote to admit of conversation without interrupting
the discussion between the Governor and his new-found friend,
who however lost nothing of this pretty pantomime and rejoiced
much that Daisy had found friends among the St. Aubyn family.
After breakfast Herbert and Caroline laid in wait for Willis
and his bride in the corridor and drew them into a pretty parlor
near by, for the purpose, as they declared, of "Getting ac-
quainted with their new sister."
Caroline folded the young wife close to her heart, saying:
' ' Oh, Willis, how I thank you for bringing so sweet and lovely a
creature to us. She is like a fresh mountain breeze or a dazzling
bit of sunshine. I was just at that stage of "ennui" where if
some change in the monotony of my existence had not been made,
I dare say I should have committed another impropriety. Oh,
you need not fear," she added seeing Willis's anxious look. "I
only required a new sensation to quell my propensity for evil and
you have given this to me in Daisy. Who could think of evil
deeds with those sweet eyes upon them ? Not I, at least. ' ' And
she kissed the happy young bride again and yet again, until Her-
bert expostulated, saying that she was very selfish to absorb all
their new sister's attention and demanded his own right to salute
the fair bride.
Daisy drew back startled from his kiss, gazing at him with
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 235
wide reproachful eyes as she said, "Thou hast been drinking,
brother," then flushed deeply as she hesitatingly added: "But
of course thou must be ill."
"Yes," replied Herbert. "I have been ill. Very ill indeed.
But I am cured now. You shall never shrink from me again,
Little Sunbeam, because you scent liquor on my breath. From
this time I eschew the habit."
"Do you mean it brother?" questioned Willis anxiously, as
Daisy with a pretty apology turned again to Caroline whom with
her customary tendency to rechristen everything and everybody,
she called "Carlie."
"But Herbert," repeated Willis. "Did you really and truly
mean to promise what you said just now 1 ' '
"I did indeed," he said again. "If the smell of liquor is
distasteful to my lovely little sister, I will not so offend her again,
for I hope to kiss those rosy lips many times that is, if you do
not jealously object. By Jove ! That was the pithiest temper-
ance lecture I ever received. But Willis, to what heights did you
climb from which to pluck that bit of ' ' Idelweiss 1 ' '
"I found it upon my own level," was the smiling reply.
"Daisy and I are too firmly knitted together for me to have any
room for jealousy. So you may kiss her as much as you like, and
she permits. I am very pleased that she should have found
friends in you and Caroline. She will need them here I fear.
Mammy is so unreasonably prejudiced against her, and Grace and
Dell are so tied to Mammy's apronstrings that I am afraid they
will make life unpleasant to her here."
"Never fear, old boy. Mammy is a sensible woman in spite
of her many foibles, and take my word for it, she cannot hold out
against Daisy's winning ways for long. Believe me, things will
right themselves in time. You have been such a good and just
brother to me throughout all this period of disgrace that I can-
not but prophesy good to you in return."
"Thank you, Herbert," said Willis, grasping and warmly
pressing his brother's hand. "I felt that it ill became your
younger brother to reproach you for what I could well perceive
was but the sowing of your legitimate crop of ' ' Wild Oats, ' ' and
not the establishing of a lifelong evil habit." And he raised his
lips for the kiss which it was the quaint, odd habit of the male
236 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
members of the St. Aubyn family to exchange a custom which
sat well upon them where it would have seemed ridiculous in
others.
Caroline sent for garden hats and cushions and the four
spent the greater part of the day in the grounds, having their
lunch served in the arbor and cemented the life-long love that
sprang up between the brother and sister and Willis's bride.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 237
CANTO THE SECOND.
"A MARRIED ' DEBUTANTE.' "
It was the habit of Governor St. Aubyn, besides the custom-
ary levees, to give a grand ball each year. This was usually at
the close of the Season. But this year Mrs. St. Aubyn declared
that it should occur at the commencement of the Winter's festivi-
ties, combining with the ball the expected wedding reception,
for Daisy's health had made quiet necessary and the customary
reception had been long delayed.
"What will you wear?" asked Mrs. St. Aubyn of Daisy,
who answered mischievously: "My wedding dress, to be sure,
veil, orange-blossoms and all."
"The veil! How absurd," said Mrs. St. Aubyn.
But Daisy persisted; nor would she permit her mother-in-
law to see the alterations she was making in the costume. And
when she found that the good lady was much exercised over the
matter, she swore Mrs. St. Aubyn 's maid, whom she had im-
pressed into service to secrecy.
"Do not worry about Daisy's toilette, Mammy. Daisy is
proverbial for her good taste in dress," comforted Willis. "She
is certain to be the best dressed lady in the rooms."
Mrs. St. Aubyn heaved a sigh of relief and of pleased ad-
miration, when Daisy made her appearance upon the night of the
grand ball, and in answer to Daisy's roguish question of: "Will
my dress do, Mrs. St. Aubyn?" She stooped and for the first
time kissed the forehead of the lovely "Debutante," saying:
"Both you and your dress are faultlessly beautiful, my dear."
Daisy had indeed, as she had threatened, donned all of her
wedding paraphernalia, but had not, as Mrs. St. Aubyn dreaded,
had the bad taste to wear the obnoxious veil as a veil, but had
converted it into a most stylish over-skirt looped up and held in
place by the proverbial orange-blossoms, while her hair, upon
which she had intimated that she would wear the wreath of the
same blossoms, was adorned only by a pin or two of pearl, while
upon her throat and wrists were twisted innumerable strands of
the same costly gems.
238 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
Mrs. St. Aubyn, noting for the first time the extreme rich-
ness of the costume and ornaments, thought that the whole costly
dress must have been the present of the Governor himself, and no
one took the trouble to enlighten her upon this point.
When Mrs. St. Aubyn offered to drill Daisy in the part she
was expected to take in this, her first society ball, Willis had
promptly interfered, saying: "Daisy's simple manners are per-
fect. I will not have them spoiled by that self -consciousness
which would be the inevitable result of your proposed drill."
So Daisy took her station by the side of Mrs. St. Aubyn, in
unschooled innocence of the requirements of "Polite Society."
Daisy only committed two serious blunders during the even-
ing, although Mrs. St. Aubyn had more than once looked horri-
fied during the state reception, and introductions to the bride,
which Daisy acknowledged in her own original way.
When Howard Gould was announced, Daisy stepped for-
ward to meet her old friend and put up her lips for the accus-
tomed kiss, for Howard had been absent for many months and
Daisy had not seen him since his return ; and Howard, who would
rather have offended the sensibilities of the whole fashionable
world, than to have caused Daisy one single pang of mortifica-
tion, kissed her in a matter-of-fact manner and stepped forward
to where Willis stood to offer him his congratulations.
Mrs. St. Aubyn drew back greatly horrified at this direlic-
tion from good manners and good taste, and to screen her from
that tell-tale look upon her mother's face, Caroline stepped into
her place at Daisy's side.
Lady Blanksmere, the lioness par-excellence of the evening,
who had fallen in love with the young bride, whom she declared
to be "The loveliest creature the sun ever shone upon," and who
had begged the privilege of stationing herself near the family
that she might the better watch the ever-changing expression
upon the sweet face, laughed outright, saying to Mrs. St. Aubyn,
with an indulgent smile; "A relative of our Little Beauty, I
presume," and Mrs. St. Aubyn assented.
Daisy glanced hastily around, feeling that she must have
committed an impropriety; but every one smiled encouragingly
and she heaved a self-satisfied little sigh, as she turned to re-
spond to the greeting of another new comer.
This was too much for Caroline's self-control, and she drew
hastily back lest Daisy should be mortified by her evident amuse-
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 239
ment. Dr. Herman met her, smiling too, as he said : " I am glad
that our frail little blossom of a bride has found a friend in you,
Miss St. Aubyn. You are fond of her I see. ' '
' ' I love Daisy with all my heart, ' ' replied Caroline heartily.
"She is like a breath of warm Sunshine to me. I was in a sad
state of rebellion when she came to us, and would probably have
committed some indiscretion as I am wont to do. But now I
never tire. I find plenty of occupation in watching and study-
ing her sweet character. And," she added with a blush, "I am
wondering what that indiscretion would have been, had I been
left to commit it. ' '
All went on smoothly enough until Mrs. Cavendish and her
niece, Lillian, were announced. Then Daisy after a state courtsey
to the elder lady put out both hands to Lillian, exclaiming: "Oh,
how beautiful thou art. Thou art certainly the most beautiful
woman in all the world."
Lillian Cavendish acknowledged this rather openly expressed
compliment, leaving Daisy with the crestfallen impression upon
her, of "having put her foot in it" for the second time.
The ball was an immense success. How it came about that
the dashing Captain Frazer, with whose name that of Caroline
St. Aubyn had been somewhat scandalously associated, came to
be present did not transpire. He had not been invited to the
reception ball; yet there he was. Possibly he had thought it a
public levee, and now he had the audacity to pay open court to
Miss St. Aubyn, and through her to ask an introduction to the
younger Mrs. St. Aubyn. This could not of course be refused,
but the hot blood mantled her face at the lustful glances he cast
upon her young sister, and Caroline understood for the first time
what a narrow escape she had had from his wooing.
Catching the grave and reverent expression in the eyes of
Dr. Van Valkenburg Caroline crossed over to him wondering how
the dashing Captain could ever have gained the influence over her
he had possessed in former days, which had well-nigh worked her
social ruin.
"The brute," she said aside. "How dare he cast such a look
upon our sweet Daisy ? ' '
The ball was a grand success. Emil Zorlange was at his
daughter's wedding ball, and all there were charmed with his
erudition and old-fashioned Court manners. Lady Blanksmere
240 LA GEAN QUIBIBA
discovered in him an old friend of her youthful days, and kept
him as much as possible by her side with loud praises of his
daughter's grace and beauty.
Mrs. St. Aubyn was in a maze of wonder at the unqualified
admiration excited by her daughter-in-law, whom she really
hated, and with whom she still thought her favorite son had con-
tracted a "mesalliance." Yet she had tried hard not to show
this aversion to Daisy herself; having been warned of the harm
it would do her should Daisy suspect that the tragedy in which
she had taken so prominent a part, had been a reality, instead of
the dream she had been convinced that it was. This had worked
a vast improvement in the elder Mrs. St. Aubyn 's temper.
Daisy proved herself a model hostess. She was seen every-
where and I think there was no one in these crowded rooms that
she could not call by name, for that was one of the subtle flatter-
ies used by her that she never forgot the personality of others.
She laughed and chatted with all ; winning golden laurels for her-
self; and best of all she was indefatigable in providing part-
ners in the dance for the wall-flowers. There was one young
lady, however, who resisted all her cajoleries and sat in sullen
discontent bolt upright against the wall. Daisy had gone to her
several times, and had watched her from a distance. At length
the problem seemed to solve itself, and the puzzled cloud cleared
from her face; then to their amazement, Willis and Howard
Gould, who stood together watching as usual every movement of
the one whom they loved so devotedly, saw Daisy deliberately
cross the room and stealing softly up behind Georgia Sheldon,
the sullen young lady, pull out the comb that held her mass of
tawny hair in place ; then whispering to her the two left the ball-
room together, Georgia looking as if she would like the floor to
open and swallow her, so great was her confusion and chagrin at
the mishap.
Willis said angrily: "I never knew Daisy to do a really un-
kind act before. ' '
"Nor I," echoed Howard; but added, seeing the angry
frown upon Willis's brow. "Do not be unkind to her because of
it, Willis. Remember that she has been ill and cannot bear cor-
rection, from you at least. Besides," with a sort of inspiration,
"Who knows that she did not mean in some way to be kind to
poor Georgia?"
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 241
But the scowl only deepened upon Willis's face; he could
find no excuse for the action.
More than one smiled at the contrast as the two girls left
the ball-room in company Daisy was so fair and sweet a creature
to look upon, so full of graceful unconsciousness ; while Georgia
seemed by contrast so awkward, and so gawky and ill at ease.
When they quitted the ball-room, the two made their way up
to Mrs. St. Aubyn's dressing-room, for Daisy wanted the assis-
tance of Hortense in her scheme to 'make over' this gawky young
woman into something attractive and pretty. Daisy had always
an eye for possibilities, and she recognized those she saw in
Georgia Sheldon, who if not really handsome, was yet of ex-
tremely good form and carriage.
"Thou couldst not have chosen a more unbecoming color
than that gray satin, which is, however, wonderfully rich in tex-
ture and handsomely made."
"It was Grandma's fault. She calls me her 'Ugly Duckling'
and says that it does not matter what I wear. I thought I should
die of shame when I found that I was the only dowdy in the room.
It is my first ball. I am just out of school, you know, and am
not up to these things yet. I had anticipated great pleasure, but
it was all spoiled by my consciousness of being unbecomingly
dressed. I would not for the world have gone upon the floor,
and I am so found of dancing. ' '
' ' And I '11 wager that thou art the best dancer in the rooms, ' '
replied Daisy, as she tucked up the offending gray satin to short
dancing length. "And thou only wantest a little livening up
to make thee the best dressed girl there as well. I promise thee
that when thou comest out from under my hands thou wilt be as
eager to display thyself, as thou wert to hide before." She
draped a black lace scarf loosely over the shining grey with al-
most magic effect, while she said: "Hortense, what a wealth of
hair. Do it up very high, a la Pompadour, with one loose ringlet
at the left side and it will be superb. And now for the flowers.
What will be the most becoming to her mixed with those scarlet
geraniums which are too gaudy by themselves? Ah, I have it.
Cut me some sprigs of purple heliotrope, Hortense."
But at this Hortense rebelled. "Ze purple and ze red," she
argued, "Zat is ze taste abominable."
"Do as thou art bidden, Hortense, and keep still. I should
like to see that person who has the audacity to question my good
242 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
taste in dress, and I say that nothing will relieve the sallowness
of Miss Sheldon's complexion but the blending of these two
colors. ' '
And Hortense obeyed with a suggestive shrug of the should-
ers, while Georgia looked alarmed, and instead of noting the effect
of her adornment in the mirror she stared at that anomaly of
those times, "The French Maid" to note the effect upon that
brown and wizened face. But she was none the wiser for that,
for Hortense stood in a highly dramatic posture, her eyes half
shut, her head on one side, and her lips puckered up in an incred-
ulous smile, while she hissed through her teeth without unclosing
them: "Ze red and ze purple. It is abominable."
At this Daisy only laughed while she knotted several bunches
of the flowers together, and as she expressed it: "Just
'tossed' them carelessly over Georgia," catching them here and
there over the completed toilette. Then she said: "Now thou
wilt be just perfect when thou hast lighted up ; but that thou
must do thyself. Look into the mirror. Thou wilt never accom-
plish the purpose by staring at that fright of a Hortense, who is
simply green with jealousy at my superior taste which is purely
Yankee and not French. ' '
Hortence murmured through her clinched teeth : " It is what
you call it. It is marvelous. It is ze fairy fingers zat you have.
No mortal could so combine ze colors. Ze purple and ze red,
bah."
Georgia looked into the mirror as she was bidden and "lit
up." A smile of real pleasure gave alP that was lacking to the
tout ensemble. The two then made their way back to the ball-
room, Georgia looking as little like the dowdyish young lady who
had left it a short half-hour before, in a fit of the sulks, as could
well be imagined.
The cloud lifted suddenly from Willis St. Aubyn's brow as
the two re-entered the ball-room, and he and Howard exchanged
smiles of mingled amusement and relief.
' ' I might have known, ' ' said Willis, ' ' that Daisy was incap-
able of an unkind act. I suppose that it was a 'Dernier resort.'
Howard you are more worthy of her than I, evil-minded wretch
that I am. But come. It is easy to interpret that beseeching
look. Daisy wishs now to show off her protege. Come ! ' ' and the
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 243
two hastened forward. Inspecting Georgia's tablet Willis said:
"Ah! The next number is a waltz. I am very sorry, but Dr.
Van Valkenburg has forbidden me the round dances for the
night, so I must be contented with the next quadrille," and he
wrote his name against that number.
"Which happily leaves the waltz free for me. And I feel
myself equal to innumerable whirls," said Howard, and the two
spun away together.
"They are by all odds the two best dancers in the room,"
admitted Willis. "What a miracle you worked in that girl's be-
half, Daisy. How did you manage it?"
But Daisy flatly refused to reveal any of the secrets of the
feminine toilet, and said: "How beautifully they step together.
She is such a charming girl that I do hope Howard will fall
in love with her. ' '
' ' See here Daisy. I know you are an inveterate match-maker
but I beg that you will not offend our old friend by selecting any-
one for him. At least not just yet. You see, ' ' he added, noting her
air of resolution, "Howard has just had a disappointment in
love, and is extremely sore upon that question at present. ' '
"I do not believe it," was Daisy's response, "Why Howard
never has looked at any girl but me, and of course ' ' She stop-
ped and gazed into the face of Willis in sudden alarm. And the
expression she met there answered her plainer than words could
have done.
"Yes," said Willis at length. "I would not have told you
but I feared that you might wound him further by urging some
sweetheart upon him."
Daisy laughed, "Thou art too absurd, Willis. Howard
never in his life made love to me. Thou art too vain by half.
But I will not say one word to him of Georgia Sheldon or any
other girl if thou dost not wish me to, for fear ," and she
laughed again archly.
The ball was a grand success. The young married
couple, "The Debutantes" as Daisy christened herself and
Willis, were the successes of the evening. Everywhere one heard
them praised for their beauty, grace and brightness.
When Daisy had been relieved from the duty of receiving
her guests, she had searched the rooms until she found Lillian
Cavendish, and finding her seated alone she had gone to her re-
244 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
peating : ' ' Thou art certainly the most beautiful of created be-
ings. But I did not catch thy name. Please tell it me." And
when told, she said: "I think I should have called thee my
graceful stately 'Calla Lily' without knowing it. I do hope that
thou wilt like me and be my friend." And the stately frozen
Lillian thawed at once, and promised, saying that Daisy's name
suited her rather better than did her own.
Then there were the discussions with certain diplomats with
whom the two bright children, as they were called, held their
own in the arguments, and it was deemed a triumph indeed when
Daisy completely routed the irascible authority, Colonel Ferris,
who was as delighted with his own defeat as were the rest, and
declared that he had never known so bright an intelligence com-
bined with so youthful and so beautiful a face.
The ball was a grand success.
Late in the evening Daisy was persuaded by Caroline to
improvise a theme, and she readily acquired. "My First
Ball," she announced. Then gave a so perfectly rendered de-
scription of the hours that has been passed, that less fortunate
musicians were filled with envy and amazement, for Daisy was
perfect mistress of the Piano Forte and her powers of imitation
were truly wonderful. She made the greatest hit when, fixing
her eyes laughingly full upon the hired pianist who had fur-
nished some of the music of the evening, to point her meaning,
she began to bang and thump and to make inconceivable runs.
She excited the applause of all by the manner in which she copied
his exact mannerisms and literally ' Out Heroded Herod. ' Great
was the laughter when the pianist himself innocently com-
plimented her and said that he would be the happiest man on
earth if he could acquire such skill as was hers in making swift
runs.
Daisy was growing sleepy and ill-tempered over the long-
drawn-out congratulations and adieux, and when the admiring
Lady Blanksmere said to Willis : ' ' The lovely little blossom
seems frail and delicate. You must take the very best of care of
her lest you lose her yet. ' ' Daisy answered crossly, to the horror
of the elder Mrs. St. Aubyn, who stood near; "Why don't thee
bid him take care of himself. Willis is not well although no one
seems to see it but me. He needs care more than I do." But
Lady Blanksmere only laughed indulgently and patted her with
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 245
her fan as she kissed the pouting lips "good night," repeating
for the twentieth time that she was the loveliest thing she had
seen since her own girlhood.
There was a hot flush upon Daisy's face, and her eyes were
wide and bright with excitement. After she had retired, Willis
hearing her uneasy movements, went to her bedside and tried
without avail to quiet her ; when in came Saunders who watched
over the two as a fond nurse over her charges, bearing a glass of
steaming hot punch which he insisted upon her drinking. This
soon quieted her and the faithful fellow made Willis drink the
second one, then took his station where he could hear every move-
ment in the chamber, prepared to watch over his dear ones
throughout the remainder of the night.
Yes, the ball was a grand success.
246 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
CANTO THE THIRD.
"BIRDS IN THEIR LITTLE NESTS AGREE."
Next morning Daisy was up betimes, and descended to the
small sitting-room near the breakfast-parlor where she sat toast-
ing her feet before the fire in the open grate, deep in meditation.
She was ignorant of the fact that the admiring gaze of the Gov-
ernor himself was noting every change of expression that swept
over her lovely features, from behind the curtains of the great
bay window. Indeed the greatest charm of Daisy's beauty was
her perfect unconsciousness that she possessed it.
Here Willis found her a quarter of an hour later.
"A penny for your thoughts, Daisy. But why did you run
off from me?"
"Willis," questioned Daisy abruptly, "have we that is
have you any money of your own? Or are we entirely depend-
ent upon your family for our support?"
Willis started at her. "Why you mercenary little wretch,"
he teased. "I thought that birds and blossoms were exempt
from all monied considerations. A penny for your thoughts
upon this subject, Daisy."
"But my thoughts are not to be bought for so paltry a sum.
I will make thee a present of them instead. But Willis, tell me
please first whether we are dependent for our support upon your
Daddy? I want so much to have a home of our own."
"'Why Daisy," questioned Willis anxiously: "Are you not
happy here? Are they is my father not kind to you?"
The Governor leaned forward in his ambuscade, and
anxiously awaited her reply.
"Thou art a regular Yankee, Willis. Thou answerest one
question merely by asking another. ' Our ' Daddy is all kindness
to me and I am very happy indeed, but I am tired to death or
expect to be before the end of the season, of this unceasing toil-
ing after pleasure. Thou and I, Willis, are but half educated,
and I was thinking the thought really occurred to me while
thou wast conversing with that great Statesman, whose name
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 247
(now may I be pardoned the offense) I have quite forgotten
and I have just succeeded in working it out to a satisfactory con-
clusion. Thou must become a Statesman too, and follow in thy
Daddy's footsteeps. Thou looked like a Greek god, Willis, when
thy face lighted up with the thought to which thou wast giving
expression. Surely we need not be at an intellectual stand-still
because we have committed the pardonable sin of marrying
young. ' '
Willis was interested, but puzzled too.
"But Daisy, you surely would not have me enroll myself
among the other boys at school?"
"No," said Daisy. "It always did seem ridiculous to me
for a married man to attend a general school; and besides, I
wish to keep pace with thee in intellectual acquirements, and
could not then join thee in thy studies. But there must be many
highly educated professional men in this great city who would
gladly undertake the task of teaching us at our home, and it is
about the means of procuring that home that I have asked thee
now for the third time if thou hast any money of thy own with
which to secure the quiet and isolation required for serious
study."
' ' I believe, ' ' said Willis, ' ' That I am the lawful possessor in
my own right of ten thousand dollars. I am charmed with the
idea of pursuing our studies, Daisy. But why not remain here?
I think my parents will be much displeased if we do not do
so."
"They spoil us too much here, Willis. Thy mother would
entice us into all sorts of gaieties. We must not fritter away
our lives in this ceaseless round of frivolities. I feel that there
is something better for us in life than that. So we will remain
here to please them during all the remainder of this season, but
when it is ended we will take our 'ten thousand' and make for
ourselves an independent home, and fit ourselves the better to
adorn society in the future."
They were still discussing the momentous question when
summoned to the breakfast table.
The Governor followed them from the room saying: "God
bless the little darling. And we came very near depriving our
248 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
boy of this true and sensible helpmate. ' ' And as he entered the
breakfast room he greeted Daisy with a kiss, whispering: "My
best-beloved," a title which he bestowed upon her ever after.
But breakfast over, Dr. Herman promptly ordered Daisy
back to her own apartments, refusing to permit her to leave
them for that day at least.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 249
CANTO THE FOURTH.
"ECHOES FROM THE WEDDING BELLS."
The day after the grand ball, Daisy was confined to her
own apartments by order of Dr. Herman. In the afternoon
Lillian Cavendish called, and by mistake was shown into the
boudoir of Mrs. St. Aubyn Senior, to whom she apologized for
her early and unceremonious call, explaining that she had come
at the request of Mrs. Willis St. Aubyn because of her own
hurried departure for the sunny South.
Lillian, for whom Mrs. St. Aubyn had a great admiration
was so warm in her praises of the young bride and was in such
haste to improve her acquaintance with her that the elder Mrs.
St. Aubyn began to thaw toward Willis's wife, wondering if
she had not in some way been deceived in her estimate of one
who had won the love not only of the stately Lillian Cavendish,
for whose opinion she had the greatest reverence, but also of
Lady Blanksmere, who was most exclusive in the selection of her
friends, and of everybody else who had attended the ball and
consequently of everybody worth knowing. She resolved to pay
court herself to her son's wife and to study her well, with the
really generous motive of liking Daisy if she could. And while
she thus meditated, Lillian paid her visit of farewell to Daisy,
in whose boudoir she found not only Willis and Howard Gould,
but the Governor and Herbert St. Aubyn. The new comer had
been greeted by all, when Herbert came forward claiming old
acquaintanceship. Lillian drew back from the proffered hand,
then was covered with confusion as he said: "You need not fear
to take my hand. I am in sober earnest when I say that it is the
hand of a better man than you knew me to be." There was an
unqualified emphasis upon the word "sober" which caused her to
cast a swift glance of surprise into his face, and the stately Lil-
lian, whose manners were usually cold as polished steel, blushed
deeply and held out her hand timidly as a novice might, saying
in a faltering voice ; " I beg pardon. I am very pleased to meet
you again, Mr. St. Aubyn."
Not one item of this by-play was lost upon Daisy, who whis-
250 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
pered to Willis ; ' ' Oh, how nice. Herbert and Lillian must have
been lovers once. How happy I shall be if I have been the means
of reuniting them."
' ' Daisy, you are an investerate match-maker. ' ' said Howard,
who had caught the low-spoken words, unwittingly echoing Wil-
lis's words of the previous evening, but without adding the warn-
ing. "I at least have never heard of any tie between Herbert
St. Aubyn and Lillian Cavendish, although they must perforce,
belonging to the same society set, be old aquaintances. "
Daisy's keen eyes watched the two and her keener wit sup-
plied them with an opportunity for exchanging confidences. She
insisted that Lillian must have a bunch of those rare white blos-
soms for which they could find no name, and begged that she and
Herbert would get them as she herself was not permitted to
leave her own apartments. The blossoms of which she spoke
were in the upper conservatory as it was called, which adjoined
Daisy's own rooms. Those who were with her smiled as did she
when they heard the gruff old gardener refuse them the blossoms
until told by the wily Herbert that they were upon the order
of the "Young Missus" herself, upon which he declared that the
Young Missus was free to strip every plant in the conservatory
of all its bloom whenever she chose.
Lillian had made her adieux and she and Herbert passed
from the conservatory down through the grounds to the south
gate. Daisy's watchful eyes were upon them and as they paused
at the gate she saw Herbert in the gloaming bend his head and
touch his lips to those of stately Lillian, and she clapped her
hands in delight and cried: "I was certain of it. And Oh!
They have made up their quarrel and are engaged. How very
nice. ' '
"It looks very like it," admitted Willis, laughing, "I dare
say, Daisy, that it is all owing to your match-making propensi-
ties. 'Misery loves company' they say. And having been en-
trapped into matrimony yourself, you are anxious that others
should share your misery."
"I am so happy," was the reply, "that I can afford to wish
all others to share with me. I wonder how it came about 1 ' '
And this is how "it came about."
They, Herbert and Lillian, were speaking of Daisy. Herbert
was so loud in his praises of Willis's young wife, that for the
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 251
first time in her life the proud spirit of Lillian Cavendish ex-
perienced a twinge of jealousy, and she said a little spitefully:
"You love her so dearly that I wonder you did not marry her
yourself."
At any other time Herbert would have been amused. But
now he answered seriously: "I would as soon think of wedding
a fairy, a bright 'winged bird or a delicately perfumed flower.
The love any one must feel for Daisy is much like that they
would have for one of these." Then he added more seriously
still: "No, Lillian, there is but one woman in this world with
whom it is possible for me to marry, and she is the one whom
I lost through my own folly."
There had, as Daisy had suspected, been much between these
two no settled engagement, but Herbert St. Aubyn had wooed
yes and had won too, the beautiful Miss Cavendish, and as he
had said, had lost her through his own folly. For Herbert who
had got into that fast set which owned the dashing Captain
Frazer as its leader, began to sow that proverbial "crop of wild
oats, ' ' and to sow them all at once. He drank, gambled, had his
race horse and his mistress, after their fashion. Lillian said
nothing, as indeed she had no right, but when Herbert had the
audacity to present himself rather more than half tipsy to escort
her aunt and herself to the Opera, she rebelled and promptly
sent the young man to the right about; and refused longer to
receive him at the house. Soon after this quarrel she had gone
to Europe. She had but lately returned from the Continent,
and was about to start upon a second journey, for Lillian was
restless and ill at ease.
They walked for some minutes in silence. Then Lillian said
softly: "And that woman is me?"
"Yourself, Lillian. How I could have been so mad as to
deliberately throw away all chances of future happiness, I can-
not conceive. I am not the wild, dissipated fellow you think me,
Lillian. But I know that having once merited your contempt I
have forfeited all hope of ever winning your proud heart. You
will deign to give me your friendship, will you not, when I
assure you that in common parlance I have ' reformed. ' Or at
least you will forgive me for that last mad act of mine which
aroused your just anger against me."
252 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
Miss Cavendish looked searchingly at him for a time, then
the warm blood flushed to the very roots of her hair. She turned
and held out both hands to him: "Herbert," she said softly,
when he had confessed that after the conge she had given
him, he had at first plunged more deeply into dissipation, but,
wearying of it all the sooner for the excesses of which he was
guilty, had dropped it, too late to win back her respect and
liking.
Then it was that Lillian conquered her pride and said:
"Herbert, I too, have a confession to make. I had scarcely
driven you away when to my mortification I discovered that,
drunken reprobate as I thought you to be, I loved you, and that
whether or not you reformed your habits, you were the only one
on earth for whom I cared. I have fought long and stoutly
against this. But now that I have the opportunity of righting
matters it would be but false pride in me to withhold the truth.
I know that your heart is mine, and if you wish it I will marry
you, let what will happen in the future. But," she added, "tell
me. Was it not my part to aid in your reformation as you say
that Daisy did?"
' ' No, Lillian. That was her particular work. And I owe as
I said, my return to my senses to that little temperance lecture
she bestowed upon me the morning after her marriage
with my younger brother."
And so it was that Herbert St. Aubyn was made happy be-
yond his deserts, and sealed his vows by the betrothal kiss that
Daisy had witnessed from her windows and which threw her into
ecstasies.
Sending the carriage on before, Herbert walked home with
his betrothed in the early twilight; returning before the lamps
were lighted in Daisy's apartments, because he was, as he con-
fessed, in haste to share the secret of his new-found bliss with his
younger brother and sister to whom he believed that he owed
it.
"Lillian says delays have proven so dangerous in our case
that there is no reason we should not be married at once or
nearly so; but I tell her that having squandered all my sub-
stance in riotous living, I must have time in which to retrieve
my losses and so be able to furnish a living to my wife to whose
wealth I will not owe it,"
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 253
"But Daddy will set you up, old boy. He has enough and
to spare."
Herbert demurred, saying: "Daddy has never con-
descended to notice my good behavior. I will, of course, ask him
to give me some position within his control, but I insist upon
making my own way."
"There are the ten thousand that Grandmother Deiton
left to me. Accept the loan of them, my brother, until you right
yourself. Daisy and I can well spare it."
Daisy assented, giving up without a murmur the grand
scheme of having a house to themselves, for a time at least, that
Herbert and Lillian be able to marry at once.
254 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
CANTO THE FIFTH.
"THE GUBERNATORIAL BLESSING."
A few days later the Governor was detained until late at
home by a succession of family interviews. First Willis re-
quested an audience of him. This he stated was in behalf of his
elder brother. Governor St. Aubyn's face clouded. "Of what
new folly has Herbert been guilty," he asked.
"Of none, my dear Daddy. He only wishes to consult you
upon the subject of committing that of matrimony."
' ' Does Herbert believe for one moment that I will consent to
his union with that hussy?"
"Softly, softly, Daddy mine. If you refer to Mariette
Fingre, I can assure you that Herbert has no thought of her,
as a wife. He and Lillian Cavendish have made up their quarrel
and if Lillian can overlook his escapade, why surely you may
forgive it."
"Miss Cavendish," echoed the Governor in great surprise:
"Why surely she must be ignorant of Herbert's dissipated
habits. What! Does he expect to keep the divine Lillian upon
the proceeds of the gaming-stable or the winnings of the race
track?"
"Daddy, you are most unjust to my brother, and most blind
or you must long ago have seen that Herbert has for many
months given up all such sports and quit drinking as well. It
was for the purpose of asking you to permit me to loan him the
ten thousand my Grandmother left to me, and to prevent you
from saying anything discouraging to him, I insisted
that you see me before he was admitted to the interview I know
he has asked with you. You will treat him kindly will you
not, dear Daddy?"
Willis, having paved the way for him, gave place to his
elder brother.
Governor St. Aubyn's eyes lighted up with pleased surprise
as his elder son entered the room. There was now in Herbert's
face none of the pale and haggard look of the disappointed
gamester and debauche, from which the Governor had been wont
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 255
to turn away in sorrow, disgust, and shame, and he wondered
at his own blindness.
"'Well, Herbert," he said, assuming a gruffness of address
to hide his own confusion, "Willis tells me that you wish to
borrow his little pittance, with which to make a new start in
life. Why not sell 'Jasmine?' She cost such a pretty penny
that she ought to realize for you a very snug little sum ? ' '
"I sold Jasmine some time ago, sir."
"And squandered the money? I see."
"I purchased my liberty with the money I received for my
racer. I paid it to Mariette Fingre."
"Got rid of your mare and your mistress at one deal? Ah
well. Now that is not so bad as it might have been. I call that
a shrewd investment."
"You wrong the girl, Daddy. She had higher views than
to become my mistress. She meant to marry me, and in view of
becoming my wife she acted, and was so far as I know, the per-
fection of prudery."
"Whew," whistled the Governor. "That was an escape. I
congratulate you upon it. But tell me Herbert," he questioned
wistfully, "When did this revolution in your character begin?"
' ' Why Daddy, I really cannot say. These sort of things soon
palled upon my taste. I love my mother and my sisters, and I
think I soon ceased to betray to them the fact that I had become
a brute, although none of the family appeared to recognize that
fact, except Caroline and Willis, who aided me in seeming not
to notice any difference in me. But it was my brother's young
wife who completed my reformation."
"God bless her, my best-beloved," cried the Governor.
"What a precious, blind old fool I have been, to be sure. For-
give me, laddie. But you can never realize the sorrow that you
have caused me. You are my eldest born, and I had centered
many hopes in you, and in mourning over disappointed hopes I
never saw the good work that was going on. Forgive me laddie,
for wronging you as I did," and the Governor broke down and
wept.
And then there were embraces, and tears, and kisses and
confused murmurings in which could be heard the frequent re-
petition of the words, "Daddy" and "Laddie."
At length the Governor said: "Now go to your mother,
256 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
laddie. You know how delighted she will be at the turn events
have taken, for she loves and admires Lillian Cavendish more
than any other young lady who visits here. How could I have
been so blind, I wonder, to the change that has taken place in
you, my son. You are sure that you forgive me?" he questioned
for the twentieth time.
Herbert met Daisy in the passageway. But she only put
up her lips for a hasty kiss, saying: "I see that everything is
lovely. I will congratulate thee later. I am in haste to inter-
view the Governor before Carlie gets here."
"There, Daddy, dear, do not scold me for entering thy
august presence unannounced. I've come to smoothe the way
for Carlie."
The Governor frowned once more. "I might have known
that the good would all have to be taken out of Herbert's affair,
by an unaccountable freak of some other member of my
family," he grumbled. "Of what has my eldest daughter been
guilty now?"
And Daisy answered very much as Willis had done : ' ' She
wants to marry, that is all. ' '
"Has Caroline enlisted your sympathies in behalf of the
dashing Captain, my best-beloved? If so, I fear I must disap-
point your generous heart by repeating my refusal. ' '
"Oh, thou blind, thou suspicious Daddy," quoth Daisy.
"Thou really dost not deserve to have such splendid sons and
daughters. To punish thee, I refuse to tell thee one single word.
I beg thee not to be cruel to poor Carlie, but to win her con-
fidence by gentle words. Here she comes. Let me hide some-
where. I would not for the world miss the sight of thy discom-
fiture," and she whisked into a small inner room from which
she could, herself unseen, witness all that transpired.
Governor St. Aubyn could not but admire the free, dashing,
swinging gait of his handsome eldest daughter as she entered his
presence.
"Well, my dear, what can I do for you this morning?" he
asked kindly.
"Daddy, I stand in great need of your diplomatic assistance.
Now please do not laugh. I 've caught a new and really valuable
fish in my net, and want your assistance in landing him safely."
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 257
"And what has become of the Captain?" demanded her
father.
"Oh," said Caroline, "He is so old a story that I had quite
forgotten him."
"Hump!" quoth the Governor, "Why it has'nt been many
months since I assisted at that threatened elopement. Will you
give me the exact date upon which you were cured of your in-
fatuation for the rascal ? ' '
Caroline flushed scarlet, then laughed. But she answered
seriously, "It was upon the night of the ball that I found my-
self entirely cured. He presumed to cast a lustful eye upon our
sweet Daisy, and I found in that one glance, a cure such as not
all your commands could effect. The wretch! I could have
killed him for that look. And he really believes that I was
jealous."
"Then you love your brother's wife," questioned the Gov-
ernor, "My best-beloved?"
"I more than love her," replied Caroline warmly, "I adore
her. You can scarcely realize what Willis's wife has done for us
all. She is a gleam of sunshine that has made the dark places
light. But for her coming, both Herbert and myself must have
committed some act of folly out of pure desperation because of
the tedious monotony of our existence. Governor St. Aubyn, you
never did so wise a thing as when you sanctioned the marriage
of my brother Willis to Daisy Zorlange. She has been our salva-
tion. It is quite impossible to commit a real folly with those
innocent eyes upon one, at least for one who has not already
lost all self-respect."
"God bless her, my best-beloved," repeated the Governor.
"But why did you persist in your flirtation, if you cared so lit-
tle, as you claim, for the dashing captain?"
"Pure obstinacy, I suspect. I am a 'chip of the old block.'
'Dad's own daughter,' " was her saucy reply. "Forbidden
fruit is always the best. Besides how was I to know the true
character of the man 1 I was told, it is true, that he was * fast. '
The word has always something in it which fascinates a young
girl, who interprets it to mean simply that a 'fast' man is but
a male coquette who is irresistible to all but cares for none, and
that to win such an one is to secure a victory over many less for-
tunate rivals. If parents talked plain English to their daughters,
and called things by their right names, no matter how nasty
258 LA GRAN QUIBIRA. L
they were, there would not be so much mischief done by such
characters as Captain Frazer."
"Well," said the Governor, laughing, "perhaps you are
right. But what of the 'new fish* you wish me to land for you?
I am really curious to hear who has cut the captain out."
"Do not laugh, Dad. I am really in earnest this time. And
I am certain that you will agree with me in thinking that Dr.
Van Valkenburg is worth a little trouble to obtain for a son-in-
law."
"Dr. Van Valkenburg? But surely that fine fellow has
more sense than to pay serious court to such a mad-cap as you. ' '
"You underrate me, Daddy. But seriously, I am so much
afraid of losing this, the chance of my life-time, to win a thor-
oughly good and true-hearted husband. Now Daddy, you will
help me in this, will you not? The absurd fellow has taken it
into his head that he has been guilty of a serious breach of hospi-
tality in falling in love with me, and is about to leave the house.
Prevent that will you not, Daddy? I cannot afford to lose this
chance of happiness and I really need your help."
"But what am I to do, Caroline? You certainly do not ex-
pect me to throw a daughter of mine at any man's head."
"Now there, Daddy, is just where I expect you to display
your skill in diplomacy. Do not permit him to leave the house,
and I will manage the rest. But if 'diplomacy' fails, then by
all means throw me at his head. In desperate cases, desperate
remedies must be employed." Then hearing some one enter the
ante-room she hurried into the inner room in which Daisy had
already taken refuge. She shook her head reprovingly at that
young lady, then folded her close in her arms.
' ' Oh ; ' ' cried Daisy breathlessly, " Is it true, is it really true,
Carlie, that I have had the very least little bit of a share in
bringing about thy happiness?"
"It is certainly true that but for your coming I would
never have known the hopes of the present moment. You are
the good genius to whom I owe all my blessings."
Daisy was wild with joy and admiration of Caroline. "How
brave thou wert, Carlie, in confessing thy love for 'Mein Her-
man.' I am very proud of thee. But hush. Here comes 'Mein
Herman.' Shall we play the part of eaves dropper, or shall we
beat a hasty retreat?"
"It is too late for that now," replied Caroline, "Even if we
A MUSICAL MYSTERY
259
wished it, which I do not, for if Daddy fails in this I am de-
termined to assert my leap-year prerogative and throw myself
at Dr. Van Valkenburg's head, rather than lose him now. For
I am certain that he loves me."
' ' Dr. Van Valkenburg, ' ' announced a servant, and the Gov-
ernor rose to greet his visitor, saying to himself: "As true and
polished a gentleman as I have ever known. And to think that
my madcap Caroline has won this noble heart it seems incredi-
ble."
The greetings over, the Governor said: "You wish to speak
with me you say, upon important business? Be pleased to state
it, my dear fellow. I am at your service."
' ' The truth is, Governor St. Aubyn, ' ' said Dr. Van Valken-
burg, his pallor deepening, "I sought this opportunity to ask
your permission to quit your house."
"Who of all my household has presumed to make you feel
unwelcome here?"
"No one. All have been most kind to me. But I still re-
quest the privilege of withdrawing from the house."
"But I insist upon knowing why you are dissatisfied here."
The doctor's rugged face flushed, then paled again, but he
answered bravely: "I had hoped to keep my secret. But since
you insist know then that I have had the presumption I have
committed the impropriety Miss St. Aubyn your daughter,
sir."
' ' Do you mean that you have had the audacity to seduce one
of my daughters," thundered the Governor, who never per-
mitted a sense of modesty to spoil a joke.
The look of unfeigned horror upon the face of the doctor
came near upsetting his gravity however. And when Herman
replied with sober gravity: "The Misses St. Aubyn are above
reproach," the Governor turned aside to hide the smile upon his
jovial face, saying to himself: "God bless the man. And to
think that one of the wildest of my wild brood has won for
herself this heart of gold. I respect my daughter Caroline.
There is something in her after all."
"God forbid that I should harm any woman. I have a
sister and a mother of my own. No, I have but committed a
260 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
gross breach of hospitality. I have presumed to fall in love with
Miss St. Aubyn."
"Oh," said the Governor, "is that all? And she jilted you,
I suppose. Well let me give you a piece of good advice: 'Stay
and try your luck again.' You are but a novice in the business
of love-making, I perceive, and do not understand the 'Yes-
ness' of a girl's 'No.' Stay by all means, and I will do my very
best to further your suit."
"But, sir, do you mean that you find nothing objectionable
in me as a suitor for the hand of your daughter, my 'poverty,'
my ' obscurity 1 ' I have never approached Miss St. Aubyn upon
this subject. But if I have your permission to address her I will
try to deserve the honor in time."
"There is no man upon this earth to whom I would entrust
the happiness of any daughter of mine with greater confidence
than to yourself, Dr. Van Valkenburg," replied the Governor
heartily. "Your poverty cuts no figure in my eyes. I have
money enough and to spare. Besides with your talents and your
ability you are certain to stand at the head of your profession.
Here is the first stepping stone to fame," and he handed the doc-
tor an open letter in which Dr. Winthrop,thefirstphysicianof the
city, proposed to associate the young German physician with
himself, and turn over to him his own many appointments wish-
ing while practically retiring from the business himself to keep
it up in name at least.
Dr. Herman's eyes lighted up with pleasure as he read the
generous compliments bestowed upon himself without stint by
the old doctor.
' ' Truly, ' ' he said again, ' ' My lines have fallen in pleasant
places," and he thanked the Governor warmly.
"But," said the Governor jocularly, remembering for the
first time that the two girls were listening, "I must discourage
your hopes of winning my eldest daughter, somewhat. My ex-
perience with that young woman tells me that if she favored
your suit she would have told you so whether you asked her or
not."
"Oh, thou 'awful Dad,' " and "now, Daddy, that is really
too bad of you, ' ' cried the eavesdroppers simultaneously, as they
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 261
made their appearance before the astonished doctor. Then Caro-
line, half laughing, half crying, turned to him and said: "Oh,
Herman ! What a stupid you are to be sure, not to have seen. ' '
Dr. Herman Van Valkenburg stood as one dazed for a
moment, then his face grew radiant with a new-born hope. He
advanced toward her with hands out-stretched, saying timidly:
"Miss St. Aubyn, Caroline. *Can you will you do you
mean ?"
And as Daisy put it later, "Carlie both 'could' and 'would,'
and meant it."
"Is he not beautiful, Dad," asked Daisy, gazing into Her-
man's homely face transfigured by love.
"Love is, indeed, a great beautifier," assented Daddy. "But
my best-beloved, let us take our departure. We are de trop here.
262 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
CANTO THE SIXTH.
"THE WINGED FAIRY WALTZ."
As the Governor and Daisy made their way up stairs, their
arms encircling each other like a couple of school girls, the Gov-
ernor said: "I have never in all my life been so very happy,
my best-beloved. Do you know I feel just like having another
turn at that 'Winged Fairy Waltz.' The air seems to be hum-
ming in my ears at this moment."
"Let's," replied Daisy, laconically, as they reached the
head of the grand staircase, and in a twinkle she had caught up
her loosely floating curls upon the top of her head, and pinned
up her trailing skirts. Then, while the Governor whistled the
tune, her sweet shrill treble took up the refrain with a ' ' Tra, la,
la, ' ' and then began the maddest waltz which that staid mansion
had beheld for many a day.
Up and down the length of the wide corridor they spun.
" Whist-a-whew, " puffed the Governor, and "Tra, la, la," sang
Daisy. The Governor wheezed and blowed, and there were
many little catches in Daisy's voice, but still the waltz went on
until the couple had twice gone the length of the corridor and
from pure exhaustion sunk laughing and breathless upon the
narrow seat in the niche at the head of the stairway, unmind-
ful that door after door had been opened along the great hall
and spectator been added to spectator, until there were in the
doorway of that lady's own boudoir, Mrs. St. Aubyn and
Herbert; in the door to the school room Grace and Dell St.
Aubyn with their governess and music master ; while at the end
of the hall stood Willis, his boyish face well lathered, and Saun-
ders looking over his young master's shoulder, razor and strop
in hand; while at the head of the back stairway stood a group
of some half a dozen of the servants of the house who were all
agape at the novel performance.
"Governor St. Aubyn," called a stern, reproving voice.
The Governor giggled. It was such a silly, senseless sort of
giggle, that Daisy shrieked with laughter and was joined therein
by the entire audience.
"Governor St. Aubyn!" the voice was truly awe-inspiring,
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 263
and the Governor answered obediently: "Yes'm," and rising
dutifully obeyed the summons, trying to smooth his ruffled
plumage as he went. But he cut such a ludicrous figure with his
air of humble deprecation added to his thoroughly disreputable
appearance, that when he set his tall hat with an air of reckless
bravado upon the side of his grizzled grey head, and strutted
toward Mrs. St. Aubyn, Daisy and the rest, with the one ex-
ception of that horrified lady hereself, were convulsed anew and
nearly strangled themselves in a vain effort to smother their
laughter by stuffing their pocket-handkerchiefs in their respec-
tive mouths.
When the Governor and Mrs. St. Aubyn had disappeared
within the apartments of the latter, Grace and Dell came for-
ward demanding: "Daisy St. Aubyn. Whatever is the row?"
And Daisy mounting the rostrum of the narrow ledge in the
niche, upon which she found it difficult to preserve her equili-
brium, declaimed with a grand flourish, after gaining the smil-
ing consent of Herbert, who was slowly sauntering down the
hallway toward her: "Fellow citizens, ladies and gentlemen I
have the honor to announce to thee all, the engagement and ap-
proaching marriage of the eldest son and heir to the house of
St. Aubyn," and she paused for the applause which she did not
receive. Instead, Grace questioned in a voice of contempt, full
of surprised anger: "Has Daddy been so unjust to the remain-
der of his family, as to sanction Herbert's engagement with that
wretched creature?"
"Whetched creature, thyself, Grace St. Aubyn. How dare
thee call the beautiful, the perfect Lillian Cavendish, my lovely
'Calla Lily' 'wretch' or a 'wretched creature' either?"
"Lillian Cavendish," echoed the sisters in chorus. Then
Grace turned with a sob to Herbert who had neared them.
"Forgive me, brother," she pleaded. "But even we had
heard of Mariette, you see, and but " she questioned in an
awed sort of manner. "Is it true? Have you, indeed, won that
grand creature for your wife?"
Herbert had been this young sister's idol, and no one had
guessed the depth of her sorrow and regret when she had been
forced to acknowledge her idol's defect. The young girl had
inherited all of the pride of birth and a stainless name, and
nothing in her eyes could be worse or more disgraceful than
264 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
the coupling of her brother's name with that of a "fast young
woman, " or to witness the silly freaks of his dissipated days. So
long had she been accustomed to turn coldly away from his ad-
vances that she had been as blind as the rest of the family to
his voluntary reformation; and now, realizing her own blind in-
justice, she begged most humbly that he would forgive her.
Herbert realized now for the first time the sorrow and
shame that the sowing of his own wild oats had caused this
favorite sister ; and clasping her close to his breast, he whispered :
"My dear little sister, Grace. Had I known that you cared
so much for your scape-grace brother, I would have told you
long ere this. It is indeed true that I am soon to give you an-
other new sister in Lillian Cavendish. And I am very happy
that you are pleased with the thought of the anticipated gift."
' ' But fellow citizens ; ladies and gentlemen, ' ' pursued Daisy,
poising herself skillfully upon her precarious perch, "This is
not all I have to tell. There is to be a grand 'double' wedding.
For not only art thou called upon to congratulate the son and
heir of the house of St. Aubyn, but the eldest daughter and
heiress is also about to be wedded. ' '
It was now Herbert's turn to interfere. "Does Daddy for
one moment suppose that I would consent to marry Lillian
Cavendish at the same time that Caroline is permitted to dis-
grace herself and the rest of us 1 by uniting herself with that
dissolute scamp?"
" 'Dissolute scamp' thyself, Herbert St. Aubyn. Who art
thou, I should like to know, that thou darest call 'Mein Herman'
a 'dissolute scamp,' " screamed Daisy in high dudgeon, her
wrath real, or assumed, very nearly causing her to lose her bal-
ance upon the narrow rostrum.
"Dr. Van Valkenburg," ejaculated the amazed Herbert.
"By Jove. But my sister Caroline is a most lucky girl."
"Thou dost not then look upon him as a reprobate?" quiz-
zed Daisy from her vantage ground.
"I think Dr. Herman Van Valkenburg the truest and most
noble-hearted gentleman I have ever known," replied
Herbert warmly. And then he repeated : "By Jove. What a
lucky girl is my sister Caroline. ' '
"Daisy, do you really mean to say," asked Del, "That sis-
ter Caroline is actually engaged to Dr. Van Valkenburg?" This
in almost breathless astonishment.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 265
"Well," answered Daisy, "my known respect for the truth,
forbids me to say in so many words that the two are really 'en-
gaged. ' But upon this I will take my solemn oath. When Daddy
and I left them together some ten minutes or so ago, after
(rather prematurely as I must admit) bestowing upon them our
paternal and gubernatorial blessing, we left them in the very act
of 'engaging.' '
"By Jove," reiterated Herbert, "what a lucky girl is my
sister Caroline," while the girls, Grace and Del, cried in chorus:
"Good, good, good. No wonder that you and Dad wanted to
dance for the very joy of the thing," and the two spun away
down the corridor, while Herbert whistled softly for their bene-
fit.
As they came back again Herbert said : "I have done Caro-
line great injustice. I have been so taken up with my own love
affairs that I never suspected that she was 'off with the old
love.' '
"We'll never tell her, so that you need not fear having
your ears boxed for calling our paragon of goodness a 'scamp'
and a 'rascal.' '
"I will confess it to her myself at the very first opportun-
ity. I feel that I ought to be well chastised for my offense. I'll
tell her. I believe that I will feel much better when I have
made the amende honorable. Caroline has always stood my
friend, and I think that I deserve to be kicked for doubting
her. ' '
Everybody stared at the Governor who came out of his
wife's apartment, as trim and neat and polished as if he had
just been unboxed, saying: "Come, laddie, you must at-
tend me to the office this morning. I expect you to take the
place of my first aide. Ta, ta, my dears," he called back as the
two started down the staircase arm in arm. "Good-bye till
luncheon." Adding: "Yours is the very happiest old Dad in
Christendom today. Be sure to kill the fatted calf."
"To celebrate the prodigal father's return to his senses?"
called Daisy after them with her propensity for always having
the "last word."
"Right, as you always are, my best-beloved," was the re-
sponse, as he tossed an airy kiss to her.
266 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
There were smiles upon the lips of his two daughters, but
tears in their eyes as they watched their father and brother pass
down the staircase, and, through the great entrance door, down
the street toward the office of the Governor, a sight they had not
beheld for many months. They laughed and wept by turns to
see the tender care with which Herbert addressed the father
from whom he had been so long estranged, and how the elder
man leaned heavily upon the younger in pretended need of his
support.
When the two were lost to view, Grace and Del, as if moved
by a common impulse, turned and pounced down upon the as-
tonished Daisy, hugging, kissing, and tenderly caressing her,
saying: "It is all your doings, you dear little witch. No won-
der that Daddy calls you his 'best-beloved.' You are the best-
beloved of us all," and, questioning, "Can you ever forgive us
for being so mean to you. ' '
Daisy said, "Thou hast always been kind to me. I thought
thou wast a little cold perhaps. But, dear Grace, I believed it to
be natural for thee to be so."
"Do not believe it. There is no warmer-hearted girl in
the world than I am. It was just downright nastiness upon my
part that I did not welcome my brother's wife as a sister should."
"I'll tell you, Grace," confessed Del, contritely, "I believe
it was only a mean-spirited jealousy that made us so hateful and
unkind. Daisy is so much prettier and smarter than either of
us can ever hope to be, that we were mean enough not only to
be downright jealous, but to show our spleen as well."
"That is all over now," said Grace. "And since Daisy for-
gives us, we will be as proud of her in the future as we have
been jealous of her in the past. Oh, it is of no use denying it,
Daisy, your coming into this family has proved its salvation. I
shudder to think of what might have happened to Herbert
and Caroline had you not come. Both of them would certainly
have disgraced us, but for your example. Del and I now propose
to benefit by it, if you will permit us to do so."
"Daisy!" The three girls looked up in astonishment. This
could not be the same voice which had spoken so harshly a short
time ago. Yet there stood Mrs. St. Aubyn in her doorway, and
she repeated the summons, beseechingly: "Daisy, my daughter,
will you not come to me for a little \vhile 1 ' '
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 267
Daisy arose and went to her, trying in her turn to smooth
her own ruffled plumage, as she went.
As the door closed upon them, Grace and Del looked at
each other in amazement. "Well, well," said Del at length, "I
am glad that we got the start of Mammy this time, and made
our peace with Daisy first." Then the two girls returned to
the school-room to say to the governess and to the professor, that
Daisy had requested that all celebrate the double engagement by
making themselves comfortable and idle for the remainder of
that day, but had particularly asked that "Mam'selle Fraulein"
and the "Herr Professor" be kept to luncheon.
"Mam'selle Fraulein," repeated the "Herr Professor."
"Now dat is goot. Dat is ferry goot, indeed," and he laughed
boistrously, but pledged himself that both should remain.
Willis sighed and went up stairs to find Janet. He had
waited impatiently to speak with Daisy, but realizing now that
his mother would not release her until summoned to luncheon,
he prowled about their own suite of apartments, missing Daisy
everywhere for there was nothing here but what spoke to him
of her; and smiled when he visited her dressing-room, at the
order that reigned throughout the seeming disarray. All here
was pretty confusion, yet he was certain that even in utter dark-
ness Daisy could select any article she wished. Finding Janet,
he astonished that spinster by waltzing her around the room
and with a rousing kiss sitting her down upon the sofa. Then
he told her all the news of the house, for Janet had but now
come in from the Zorlange house, between which and that of the
St. Aubyn's, she divided her time pretty evenly.
"I always believed that it would come out right some time.
I knew that no one could long withstand Daisy's winning ways.
I think that you will all be perfectly happy new. ' ' And so they
were for a time.
When Mrs. St. Aubyn presented herself at the luncheon
table with Daisy, lo, what a metamorphose was there. The two
had been closeted together until the bell rang. What passed
between them was never known, except that when Mrs. St. Aubyn
appeared, she had developed from a fashionably dressed (or
rather over-dressed) woman, who was striving to deceive old
Time himself as to her real age, into what she really was, an
extremely handsome elderly woman. Daisy's deft fingers had
worked miracles. She had deliberately removed every trace of
268 LA GRAN QUIBIRA
"rouge," taken off the suspiciously black false front and ar-
ranged the profusion of silvery tresses in soft ringlets and tossed
together somehow the thing that Mrs. St. Aubyn had always
abominated a black lace "cap" with which she had adorned
but not concealed her beautiful hair. And from her dress she
had removed every trace of "youth wooed back," and Mrs. St.
Aubyn now appeared for the first time since that youth had
departed, a really well-dressed woman.
Daisy's own curls were still in disarray, and her dress still
in disorder, but everyone there while praising her skill as shown
in Mrs. St. Aubyn 's appearance declared that Daisy always
looked lovelier in disarray. And she was then and there voted
the privilege of coming to the table just as she liked.
Among all the compliments she received that day those
which touched the heart of Mrs. St. Aubyn the most was the
one whispered by the doctor as he claimed for himself the love
and blessing of a mother for her son, and that of her husband
who stopped stock still in sheer admiration as he made his way
to the head of the table, and stooping over her kissed her saying :
"Why, 'My-Nerva,' I have not seen you look so beautiful since
our wedding-day." Adding as he eyed her critically, "Nor
then I think, for you are the very handsomest old lady I have
ever seen. What has worked the miracle? Daisy? Ah, what
do we not owe this day to my best- beloved?"
" 'Our best-beloved,' if you please, daddy," was chorused
by all, to the intense delight of the governor and his best-beloved.
A MUSICAL MYSTERY 269
CANTO THE SEVENTH.
"THE FEAST OF ROSES/'
After luncheon, preparations were begun for the celebration
of the double engagement, as it should be. Daisy with her wish to
always share her blessings with others, declared that this day
must be one to be remembered with pleasure by every inmate of
the St. Aubyn mansion, and Daisy had by common consent been
appointed "mistress of the ceremonies."
There was to be no regular dinner upon that day, but an
informal one. The servants were to have the evening to them-
selves and were to attend the play, after they had arranged the
supper for the family. The music master and the governess
were given their choice between the play and the opera. The
delight with which they both screamed in chorus: "Patti," left
no doubt of their choice.
Then Grace and Del undertook to fit the gentle "Ma'm-
selle Fraulien" for the opera. She and the burly "Herr Pro-
fessor" had strolled about the grounds until the luncheon hour,
talking softly of the great good luck which had come to their
employers, honestly sharing the general joy it had occasioned.
The two girls then sent the professor home for his own dress
suit with strict orders to return betimes that he might escort
"Ma'mselle Fraulein" to her own rooms, for a social tea with
the little crippled sister of whose existence the two girls re-
proached themselves for having been hitherto ignorant to show
the little one her new array. Del had insisted upon presenting
the "Mam'selle Fraulein" with a pretty mauve silk of her own.
"I wore it but once," she said, "and will never wear it
again. Mammy took an absurd notion at one time that Grace
and I should dress precisely alike, and that mauve silk is one of
her investments. I can never forget how Mammy looked when
we appeared late at that ' musicale ' at Clarendon Place. Grace 's
blonde beauty was heightened by the mauve tints and I think I
never saw her look so well, but the tint yellowed the brown of
my complexion and I looked for all the world like a mulatto.
It was too late for me to change my gown, so all I could do was
270 LA GRAN QUIBIBA
to strive to hide myself from the critical gaze of the public.
But I declare I felt myself ubiquitous. It cured Mammy of her
new f angled notion and I wore no blonde colors after this. You
are quite welcome to the gown which will be most becoming to
you. 'Ask Mammy?' why, it would be as much as my life is
worth to mention that gown to Mammy. It is the visible sign of
one of her greatest defeats, you see."
Mam'selle looked very pretty indeed, when her toilette was
completed under the personal supervision of her pupils. The
mauve silk had proven, as Del had prophesied, most becoming
to her fair face. Daisy had presented her with a white lace
mantle and Grace had finished her toilette by placing a bonnet
of white lace trimmed w r ith a wreath of pink and white daisies
upon her wealth of soft brown braids, and the costume was fin-
ished by a pearl-handled fan and a pearl-studded lorgnette, the
gifts of Caroline and Lillian. As she drew on her white kids,
sent her with the compliments of Mrs. St. Aubyn, the elder, a
soft color mounted to her cheeks and deepened, her eyes lit up
with gratit
