The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-12-13

gain; though, as it usually took the
form of RENTED consideration in
which Bartolomeo was the medium.
no embarrassing recognition of the
latter service appeared. Hanging upon
the wallis We're arms with fostering
sores upon them, legs with slashes
which laid them open to the bone,
torsos rotting with leprosy, etc., each
with its appropriate saint ticketed
thereon. 1t didn't occur to me at the
time that l should have occasion to re-
member these things; so when Padre
Bartolomeo lifted an iron trap in the
floor, and descended a short flight of
steps, was more than willing to fol-
low him without further examination.
The steps led to series of vaults
which seemed to be directly under the
chancel, some of them being stored
with various church appurtenances
and others having the appearance OF
secret tribunals. 1 afterward learned
that in former days faint reflection
of the inquisition had given the island
a nameless horror to sundry travellers
between Acapulco and the Philippines
-gobernadors who had growntoo sud
denly rich, and the like. The vaults
were connected by narrow and foul
passages, after going through several
of which we came to a chamber that
apparently served as the church cata-
comb. There were number of inches
around the walls, and in each was the
mummified figure of a padre in a semi
reclining position, similar to those in
the Capuchin cemetery at Rome; the
cowls and gray robes indicated their
connection with the Franciscan order,
so was not surprised at this; though,
from Halstead's story, had expected
to find the bodies inclosed in sar-
cophagi.
While we were looking about the
place, Padre Bartolomeo gave me a
general introduction to the figures in
the inches, as brothers who had held
his position in. former years. ltwas an
easy matter to appear interested
was really afraid of seeming too much
so-and / asked the name of a venera-
BILE mummy with an iron-bound chest.
rusted and blistered with age, resting
upon his attenuatedstomac
''That is the blessed Fray Ignacio,
senor," he said, 'the most worthy of
all the brothers who have lived in the
islands. Because of his great goodness
and his labors among the natives, it
was ordered by the lord bishop at Ma
: Mia that he should forever be the
guardian of our sacerdotal records,
We do not make history very rapidly
here; so that box which he holds is suf
ficient to contain them all. Possibly.
hundred years from now, we shall
construct for him larger chest upon
which he may recline."
"But have you no fear that your doc
uments may some day be stolen, under
the impression that the chest contains
| valuables? These islands were named,
| as you know, with some reason"
Very true, senior; but he would be a
rash man who would brave the. VEN
geance of Holy Mother church by such
sacrilege. There are none in the
archipelago who would attempt such
thing; besides, the records would be
! of no value to un heretico; they are
i but our secret history"
"And that, ] presume, your orders
would forbid your showing to even so
! profound student and churchman as
the Padre sebastiano, unless you were
SO directed by the bishop?'
"Well, one would scarcely say SC
much as that. To layman, or ur
heretico, no-under no circumstances
But Ell Padre Sebastiano-that. yor
see, is different. 1t is la gran honra
that he does visit US"
| II see, see. had forgotten for the
moment how near he stood to the
bishop" This was chance. shot, bu
l could see by the PADRES deferentia
manner that it had gone home.
We presently retraced our steps t.
the upper world, and when we saun