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he had grown into a sullen despair. But that night something new had come into his life. This little helpless creature, and he must arouse himself and become a man that he might protect her. And as the little fevered girl tossed and moaned in her sleep, sobbing, "Mamma, mamma," he reached up and laid his hand upon her.

CHAPTER II.

THE MOTHER OF GOD.

Meanwhile, there was great consterna tion down at the Plaza, when it was known that Mariana was missing. The terrified and conscience-stricken Lola re fused to return to her mistress. An officer took the boy and the sad tidings to the home. Through the night and through the following days, search was made ail over the city, while the mother lay in swoons and critical illness. But no little girl was found.

As soon as able to arise from her bed, she crawled to an inner chamber, where, prostrate before the shrine and painted image of the Virgin, she moaned:

"Oh, Holy Mother of God, Holy Virgin, bring to me my child!"

The boy, Frederico, who scarce had left his mother's side these days of grief, stood listening, and looking with those big, questioning eyes. The mother continued her pleading, the boy still watching, while the candles burned on and the image still looked down upon them.

"Mamacita," whispered the boy, draw

ing close to his mother. "Look, she heeds not! Thou hast told me of God who made us all. Isn't God the greatest? Why dost thou not ask of him?"

"Yes, true, little son," replied the mother, arousing herself. "Yet thou mayest not speak thus lightly of our holy blessed Virgin."

But continued supplications to the Holy Virgin brought no little girl, no consolation to the mother's breaking heart. In despair she sought her priest at the confessional.

"Oh, Father," she cried, "is it because of sin of mine that I am thus punished? Tell me, I beseech thee, what of penance I may do, or of offering I may bring that I may find my daughter!"

The priest looked a moment upon the broken woman. He saw his opportunity but he answered guardedly:

"No, daughter, thou hast committed no sin. This is not a punishment. It is indeed a strange dispensation, but methinks it is yet to be for good; for thine own sanctification and to be for the greater glory of our own blessed Virgin and Mother. Shall I make intercession to her for thee? Surely thou dost know her power, for 'many things are asked of God

and are not granted; they are asked from Mary and are obtained. And how is this? It is because God has thus decreed to honor his Mother.' (Glories of Mary, p. 113.)

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"Why!

Mary was made mediatress even or our salvation. It is true, that in dying Jesus wished to be alone; but when God saw the great desire of Mary to devote herself also to the salvation of men, he ordained that by the sacrifice and offering of the life of this same Jesus, she might co-operate with him in the work of our salvation, and thus become the Mother of our souls.' (Glories of Mary, p. 43.)

"All who are saved are saved only by means of this divine Mother' (p. 8). 'God has placed the whole price of redemption in the hands of Mary, that she may dispense it at will' (p. 85). 'Our salvation is in the hands of Mary. He who is protected by Mary will be saved; he who is not will be lost' (p. 144). 'At the command of Mary, all obey, even God' (p. 155).

"Then, daughter, if her power is thus equal with God's in the soul's salvation, she has power to bring again to thee thy lost. Shall I invoke her aid?"

"Oh, yes, do, Father!"

"But thou dost know that before anything can be done, money will be necessary?"

Dona Alicia raised her head. For the first time the words of her priest grated harshly on her ears. "Money, money! Why was it always money! For pity, for love of her and her child ought he to be willing to aid, and not for money! He was cruel!"

Her heart smote her for this thought of her priest, and she replied:

"Yes, Father, how much will be required?"

"Well," replied the man slowly, "a great many masses will be required, for our earnestness will be tested; six hundred dollars-say, five hundred, for thou hast ever been a faithful daughter of the Church!"

Dona Alicia did not reply. "My husband, what will he think and say?" flashed through her mind. The only thorn in the happy married life of Dona Alicia and Don Fernando Peralta had been her priest.

"Thou art allowing another man, thy priest, to come in between us! He it is, and not thy husband, who holds the secrets of thy heart. Many a home has thus been broken. Many lives have thus been

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