CHAPTER XXXIX
MARIA CLARA IS MARRIED.
Captain Tiago was very happy. During all this terrible time nobody
had busied himself with him. They had not arrested him, nor had they
submitted him to excommunications, court trials, electrical machines,
continual hot foot baths in subterranean places, or to any of the
other punishments which are well known to certain people who call
themselves civilized. He had returned to his Manila house. Those who
had been the Captain's friends--for he had renounced all his Filipino
friends from the moment that they were suspected by the Government--had
also returned to their homes after some days of vacation spent in
the Government buildings. The Governor General had himself ordered
these people to leave their possessions, for he had not thought it
fitting that they should remain in them during the great danger.
Captain Tiago was overflowing with gratitude, but he did not know
exactly to whom he was indebted for such signal favors. Aunt Isabel
attributed the miracle to the Virgin of Antipolo, to the Virgin of the
Rosary, or at least to the Virgin of Carmen. The least that she would
concede was that it was due to Our Lady of Corea. According to the
Aunt, the miracle was certainly due to one of these Virgins. Captain
Tiago did not deny that it was a miracle, but he added:
"I do not believe, Isabel, that the Virgin of Antipolo could have
done it alone. My friends have aided in it; my future son-in-law,
Señor Linares has, as you know, joked with Señor Antonio Canovas
himself, whose portrait we saw in 'Illustracion.'"
And the good man could not suppress a smile every time that he heard
any important news about the event. And there was good reason for
it. It was whispered about that Ibarra was going to be hanged; that,
even if many proofs had been lacking, at last one had appeared which
could confirm the accusation; and that skilled workmen had declared
that, as a matter of fact, the work for the school-house could pass
for a fort or a fortification. Even if defective in some parts, that
was as much as could be expected from ignorant Indians. These rumors
quieted the Captain and made him smile.
Just as the Captain and his cousin, Aunt Isabel, were of different
opinions about the miracle, so, too, the other friends of the family
were divided into different parties--those who followed the miracle
monger, and those who followed the Government. The latter party,
however, was quite insignificant. The miracle mongers were sub-divided
