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Rainbow's End by Rex Ellingwood Beach
page 7 of 467 (01%)
crucifix, all of diamonds that quivered in the sunlight like drops
of purest water? Had he not knelt and prayed for his wife's safe
delivery and then hung his gifts upon the sacred image, as Loyola
had hung up his weapons before that other counterpart of Our Lady?
Don Esteban scowled at the memory, for those gems were of the
finest, and certainly of a value sufficient to recompense the
Virgin for any ordinary miracle. They were worth five thousand
pesos at least, he told himself; they represented the price of
five slaves--five of his finest girls, schooled in housekeeping
and of an age suitable for breeding. An extravagance, truly! Don
Esteban knew the value of money as well as anybody, and he swore
now that he would give no more to the Church.

He looked up from his unhappy musings to find a gigantic,
barefooted negro standing before him. The slave was middle-aged;
his kinky hair was growing gray; but he was of superb proportions,
and the muscles which showed through the rents in his cotton
garments were as smooth and supple as those of a stripling. His
black face was puckered with grief, as he began:

"Master, is it true that Dona Rosa--" The fellow choked.

"Yes," Esteban nodded, wearily, "she is dead, Sebastian."

Tears came to Sebastian's eyes and overflowed his cheeks; he stood
motionless, striving to voice his sympathy. At length he said:

"She was too good for this world. God was jealous and took her to
Paradise."

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