The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-01-05
Confessions
of a Bride
Copyrighted. 1919. by the News
paper Enterprise Association
WHAT WAS BEHIND THAT
MIRACULOUS PAINTING IN
THE HACIENDA CIiAPELy

cluster OF buildings erected In differ
ent centuries. They were connected
by arcades and tunnels. bridges and
galleries. Tho original structure be
longcd to the time Of the Spanish
conquorors. tradition said. The ex-
quisite chapter with Its miraculous
portrait, was the chief glory Of the
place. untii Ccrtcls had taken posses'
sion OF tho property. the chapel had
been n place Of pilgrimage for tour
lists In Mexico. Like l>ourdes and NJ.
Ammo Beauprc. u had It's history OF
miraculous cures.
Originally. II had been q small pri'
waite chapel designed exclusively for
the use e the owner and HIS family.
IL overlooked one corner OF the
church. and IL was elevated like a
mexxaninc floor.
What was below 1T ! had never
considered that point.
What was above ~ What was be
hind that miraculous painting7
Mystery. at least. Danger Who
could decide that without inyestigat'
ingf
IL was several days before I felt
strong enough TO undertake an In
vestisation on my own account j
preferred TO pick a time when
certein and Don Manuel wer. away
from home. Such n time came at
tn. dusk OF a December day.
I took Bob's fiashiight from the
desk In his room and followed the
corridor leading 20 the famous
chapel without yestigo Of fear In
my heart.
Tho chapel was Ms cold M cave
when l entered. was giad that
had put on a long warm coat Dim
lights burned Ia many corners os
IN. chapel. They did little to a.
illuminate tho place. but ! CARED on
them with great isterest Tho flame
which they carried had come down.
from taper TO taper. from candle 10
candle. for many hundred years.
| walked softly down the short
aisle TO the chapel ana dropped into
a front pew. Below the VyptIch or
three pancied altar piece. tho candles
flared softly.
had shown me the picture Of the
donor and had told inc that II had
been painted cen,urie. ago. and had
bad. the ~. that II was a p~rfrc,
iikncss of the present owner. Ham.
li,on cer,rss, Aun I had agreed with
her. had seen. WITH my own eyes.
that II was
Very ooldly I regarded the donors
portrait n second time. from my seat
In the front pew. II wasn's n pic.
turc OF Hamilton ccrtcls. II did no,
even suggest ccrteis, rubbed my
eyes and looked again. saw n blue.
eyed. curly shalrsd. stout old gentle.
man clad in an elegant costume. I
turned Boh's modern flash full in the
ancient persons face and ] felt de
cidesily dinrusted. Evidently. Donna
Camilla had made me s~~. on my
first visit TO the chapel. something
which was no, there At ALI The
likeness 60 cerf~is had been the
product Of my own Imagination. con.
,rolicd by tho old wisch's surrea.
ton,
That was lesson viii not have
to rcpss%" I said to myself Rather
than adding 10 my diarnay. tho dis
cov~ry gave me courage.
proceeded TO study my surround
inrs. Tn. chapel occupied one third
Of the heiFh, Of the church. II was
the middle third. one assembled n
stairway To enter II, VIVA, did 1;
rc~t UPON what was between It's
carved ceiling and the roof - the
church, settled hack In a corner
~ the pow and tried 10 work out this
problem in architecture. Suddenly.
softly. n panel Of carved wood near
like door pushed by an unseen
finger. As ! expected tho old witch
herself stepped from behind II. With.
out pausinr. without looking 60 tho
rirh, or left. she hurried out Of tho
church,
II war n most fascinating door. I
regarded u much m Bluebcari's wife
must have regarded tho door shc
had been ordered not 10 unlock 7
then I wen, IN To n and peercd into
the lighted space beyond II.
Never had I seen such an ex.
aulsitely decorated INTERIOR
Lured by It's rare beauty. stepped
beyond the panelrd door must
have stepp.d upon a spring. for In.
Htnntly and without warning. tho
panel swung behind me and snapped
with click n was locked. I could
tell without pressing upon n
had made myself n prisoner.
And not soul In the wide world
know whnt had become Of me-