"Dr. Rizal has won, in his wife," replied the younger woman. "Ithink he must rejoice, together with all the thousands who throughthe centuries have given their lives for Filipino freedom. It mustbe a happy day in heaven as well as earth. Even the sun seems gladand all nature rejoices this morning."
"For the first time since my husband suffered so cruelly and unjustlyI am happy," responded the older woman. "You will wed Saguanaldo andyou will be happy with him. You will not have to see him shot indisgrace, Ambrosia, but instead will be hailed as the wife of theliberator. But think not that I envy you or grumble at my fate. Itis enough for me that I have realized the dream my husband dreamedand helped to do his work."
V.
"CURSED WITH A CURSE."
"Where is Ambrosia?"
Bishop Lonzello addressed the woman who had borne a daughter to himin the home he had provided for her. He was deeply agitated withpassion. The insurgents, who had elected a president and assembly,had already nationalized the friars' lands, and the heresy of Aglipaywas waxing formidable, having possession of most of the churchesthroughout Luzon. Lonzello had heard that his daughter Ambrosiahad been receiving attentions from Saguanaldo, the leader of theinsurgents, and the thought of it made him furious. It showed inhis face as he stood before the woman he had once loved and whom nowhe supported.
She was deeply religious. To her, submission to the embrace of FriarLonzello had been obedience to God's messenger, and to this day sheregarded him as a sinless representative of Deity rather than ashusband. It had been many weeks since Bishop Lonzello had deignedto visit her. There were other and younger women whom he met now;still, he made no attempt to conceal the parentage of the girl, andthe general knowledge that he was her father had no bearing on hisstanding either as a citizen or a priest.
"I do not know, Holy Father," replied the Filipino woman meekly.
"You ought to know. What do you suppose will become of your daughterif you let her wander about apart from your knowledge?"
"Nothing bad, I hope. I have great faith in Ambrosia."
"Nothing bad! Diablo! [9] Something has happened to her. Ambrosiahas disgraced us and blasphemed the God of her fathers."
"Holy Father, what do you mean?"
"I mean that the girl has gone astray, and you have not prevented her."
It apparently did not occur to him that both father and mother hadaforetime gone astray, and that it hardly behooved them to talkof lapses of their daughter while making religious professionsthemselves. But the mother only turned pale and gasped.
"I do not see how it can be. Tell me what you mean, Holy Father."
"Ambrosia has been meeting Saguanaldo, the enemy of his country andof religion--meeting him in secret and at night. I will not say thatshe has fallen from virtue, for that is not so bad as lapsing from herGod and her duty. Fornication might be forgiven, but the sin againstthe Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness. Woman, these meetings mustcease. You hear me; they must cease."
The woman trembled and mumbled. Her eyes fell as she replied:
"I will do my best, Holy Father."
"Do your best! Damnation! Am I to be told that you will do your best? Itell you your daughter is the enemy of God, and you will only do yourbest to stop her. Do your best, Diablo! Forbid her leaving the house;keep her in prison; put her in a convent. This thing must stop. Woman,do you hear me?"
The mother faltered, and crossed herself. Apparently she was willing,but had not the strength of character to enforce her will.
"You speak to her, Holy Father," she spoke hardly above a whisper. Butthe irate priest turned away with an imperious gesture. As he turnedAmbrosia herself entered from a side door and now confronted him.
"Sin-verguenza! [10]" he hissed.
The girl straightened in dignity. "I do not permit even my father tosay that to me," she said.
"And I do not permit a daughter of mine to consort with a hereticand rebel."
The priest faced her with a sneer, and anger that shook his frame,while his fingers clasped and unclasped themselves. He looked readyto clutch her by the throat.
"I owe you nothing as a father," the young girl replied quietlybut bravely, "since you did not give me even a name when you gave melife. I owe you nothing as a mediator between God and man, because yourlife and words have not convinced me that you have the ear of God. ButI am as much above your accusations as I am above your habits."
The bishop lifted his hand and struck at her. She was young and lithe,and avoided the blow. He picked up a stone and threw at her, yet againshe slipped away. Then he remembered himself, and, raising his hand,began the formal curse of the church. The girl listened with formerect and with a smile of defiance on her lips; but the mother fellon her knees and as the anathemas poured in anger from the lips ofthe father upon the child, she who believed they would come to pass,fell on the ground, and, writhing in agony before him, begged him todesist. But it was all in vain.
"The eye that mocketh at her father, and despiseth to obey her mother,the ravens of the valley shall pluck it out, and the young vulturesshall eat it," the priest hissed; the mother groaned.
The priest straightened, and, pointing his finger at his daughter,continued:
"Cursed shall thou be in the city and cursed shall thou be in thefield. Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store. Cursed shall be thefruit of thy body and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine,and the flocks of thy sheep. Cursed shall thou be when thou comestin and cursed shall thou be when thou goest out. The Lord shall sendupon thee cursing, vexation and rebuke in all that thou settest thyhand for to do, until thou be destroyed and until thou perish quickly,because of the wickedness of thy doing whereby thou hast forsaken me."
The mother lay with her face on the ground in a swoon as heconcluded. The priest walked away, and the eyes of the girl, hisdaughter, followed him with fearless look.
"You have cursed me with life," she said. "You have cursed me beforethis, so that I can not even love as others do. That is the end ofyour power."
VI.
FILIPINO INDEPENDENCE.
"Foolish, foolish, foolish!" Mrs. Rizal was expressing her opinionof General Saguanaldo's action to the insurgent general himself.
"Caspita! Why is it foolish?" asked the general.
"Because you may offend America, without the friendship of which youcan not win. It will be natural for the United States, after havingcaptured the Philippines in the prosecution of a foreign war, to wantto hold on to them. And if America chooses to hold the islands and makethem part of the United States in declaring the independence of thePhilippines you will only turn America from your side to oppose you."
"Do you suppose I want to fight side by side with America for freedomfrom Spain and then be subjected to that country? Did you not tellme that Admiral Rainey promised us independence?"
"No. He could not promise us independence, because he is not thesovereign of America. The most he did, the most he could do, was topromise to aid us in our fight with the Spaniards, and he could dothat only because his country, too, is at war with Spain."
"Then what advantage will it be to us to win, seeing that, though wemay win from Spain, we will lose to America? Por Dios, Se?ora! whatdo you expect of us?"
"You may not win independence, but you may win freedom and justice. Youcan not win independence, anyhow. It is doubtful if foreign countrieswould recognize the Filipino republic, even if America should departand leave us to work out our own salvation. It is also doubtful if wecould win without America's help. Our hope is in securing the aid ofthe republic that is giving Cuba her liberty, and repay the freedomthat is possible of attainment at this time and at no other."
"Independence is all that will suit me. I have not such a lowconception of good for the Filipinos as you seem to have."
The Filipino impatiently and angrily entered his headquarters.
Mrs. Rizal went away, sad at heart.
After Saguanaldo had secured the city of Manila he had occupied the
public buildings, and a provisional government had been organized. TheFilipino assembly at Malalos had adopted a constitution for theFilipino republic fondly hoping that the Americans would ratifyit. Admiral Rainey had offered no objection; but it can not besaid that he had advised the move. Indeed, he was merely awaitinginstruction from America; and yet the presence of his fleet wasthe wholesome reminder that gave the provisional government powerto maintain itself. Saguanaldo had been elected president and dulyinstalled in office. The provisional government, among its firstacts, had declared the friar lands confiscated and nationalized;and, while nothing had been done to enforce the new law, yet it wasa fact that native priests, representing the schismatic FilipinoCatholic church, had secured possession of the larger number of thechurches and religious buildings throughout Luzon. This was not tobe wondered at, because there were nearly three million who were inrebellion against the foreign priests, and less than half that numberwho were yet loyal to them. It was in Manila alone that the friarswere in undisputed control.
Perhaps power may have turned the head of Saguanaldo. Mrs. Rizalhad told him that desire for honors had tempted him beyond thepale of discretion. It might have been better had he organized aprovisional government and made it subject to the United States,since, then, it might have been recognized and maintained by the newinvading power. But Saguanaldo denied personal ambition, and with sometruth. He had planned to make the day of the declaration of nationalindependence, which he had proclaimed, as the occasion of his marriagewith Ambrosia Lonzello, and had craved, as a young bridegroom, toshow her the honor, on that occasion, of having her hailed as thepresident's wife, so that it was for her sake more than his own hesought the honor. So often this is true. Men seek wealth and place,not so much for themselves as that they may please and impress a woman.
But things did not seem to be going right. Not only was Mrs. Rizaloffended at his action, but when he, with a lover's ardor andenthusiasm, had laid the matter before Ambrosia Lonzello, she hadresponded with tears.
"You do not love me," he began.
"Better than life, Camillo," responded the girl. "But my heart tells methat all is not well. You may declare independence, but you will nothave it until you first fight for it. I understand you are eager togive me honors, and I appreciate the motive, but I can not marry youand become a burden to you until the bitter battle and hard struggleare past."
"That proves you do not love me," iterated the youth, sulkily.
"I shall prove to you I do love you by waiting for you until yourwork is done, and then I shall marry you just as freely and just asproudly, though you are defeated and without honor, as if you aresuccessful and undisputedly president of the Filipino republic. Itis the desire to do great and right things, the effort to do them,that makes the soul great, whether the deeds be really done or not."
"But what pleasure will there be for me in the ceremonies ofinauguration if you be not by my side?"
"If it was merely to give you pleasure, Camillo, if it was merelyto gratify my pride or my selfish desire, I would become your brideon the day set for the celebration of Filipino independence. ButI must decline to marry you now for your sake and for the sake ofFilipino independence. You shall need to be free from ties of homeand responsibility to me. Unless you are free I do not think youcan win. Therefore, I refuse to hang around your neck in the battle,lest in doing so I cause you to be defeated."
The insurgent general plead, but in vain. Then he left, hurt andblaming her.
The day for inauguration and celebration approached, and where hehad expected the triumph of his life he faced defeat; where he hadexpected exultation and bliss he was filled with disappointment andbitterness. Still, preparations for the ceremonial proceeded. The daydawned at last. General Saguanaldo was present as the central figure,and was received with cheers as the savior of his country. But neitherMrs. Rizal or Ambrosia Lonzello were present. The people were merrywith feasting and noise, and the enemies did not show themselves. Theceremonies of inauguration of the first Filipino president proceededwithout interruption, and Saguanaldo made an inaugural address thatwas favorably received. Yet to him it was a disappointment, becausethe One was not there amid the thousands. It is always the One we carefor. The applause we crave is as nothing except the One applaud. Theattainment we secure is mediocrity unless the One see us advanced andglories in our deed. And when, instead of the applause of the One, theapproval and sympathy of the One, the One turns away with disapproval,then we feel the deed were better not done, and the applause is amockery. So the day was not a triumph to Saguanaldo. Even when theshades of evening fell, and the people brought forth the fireworks,when Manila was noisy with explosives and when she was gay withrejoicing and sportive people, Saguanaldo's heart was like lead,and he was bitter against the two who were the most loyal to him ofall others.
Yet there seemed to be no reason for the heaviness of hisheart. Perfect weather, a program without a hitch, expressions of goodwill only, without a word or act of disapproval from the enemies of therepublic, it seemed that Saguanaldo ought to have been happy. He wasmaking history as his friends told him. He would hereafter be hailedas the liberator of the Filipinos. The day would be celebrated foryears as the day of rejoicing, the greatest in Filipino history. Whycould he not shake off the dread apprehension that lay like leadon his heart? Is there such a thing as premonition, which tells onethings to come, when he is too hard of hearing to receive the message?
But Saguanaldo got through the day. As night came he was wearied,exhausted from sorrow. But with the weariness peace came to him. Itis the ease that comes when nature would heal a wound. Saguanaldothought it meant success for him. He would triumph anyhow, andthen they would believe in him. It was the fate of the great to bemisunderstood and derided by their friends, and he must greatly bearif he would triumph greatly.
At last the last fireworks had been exploded, the last hurrahsexpressed, and in the deep silence and serenity of the night Saguanaldolay to rest, feeling that, after all, it was not a failure; and,being tired, he slept.
VII.
SUBJECTED BY WORDS.
It was late when Saguanaldo awakened the following morning. He had nomore than opened the casement blinds and stepped out on the verandathan he saw that the city was unusually stirred. He went into thestreets to make inquiry.
"The American army has arrived and is disembarking," was the wordhe received.
He walked into the heart of the city, and saw regiments of soldierswearing the new khaki uniform, marching through the streets. Hisheart sank within him at the sight, and the warning Mrs. Rizal hadgiven him recurred to his mind. Against these soldiers he knew hecould do nothing, and if he should seek to maintain the Filipinoindependence that had been proclaimed the day previous, with hostileSpaniards on the one side and hostile Americans on the other, he sawat once that the case was hopeless. Yet, to give up his ambition, toforego independence for the Filipinos, to abandon the hope of makingAmbrosia Lonzello his wife and the first lady of Luzon, to yieldhis new title and new honors without at least a show of resistance,was more than he felt like doing. He was perturbed, his mind flyingfrom one resolve to another and his heart filled with one emotionafter another. "And while he mused the fire burned."
"Camillo, the people are depending on their president to do somethingfor them in this crisis. Do you feel you can gather your troopstogether and successfully resist the Americans?"
It was Mrs. Rizal speaking. She was standing by his side. Therewas no trace of exultation in her voice, but she spoke in deeplysympathetic tones.
"What would you advise?" asked the insurgent general, meekly.
"Go as the accredited leader of the Filipino people and welcome atthe landing the general who comes from America. It will put Americaon your side, and that means against the Spaniards."
Saguanaldo considered. "I will do it," he said.
Indecision had left him. A few moments afterward, accompanied by hisstaff, and wearing his smartest uniform and accoutrement,
he wasdriven to the pier, where he asked to be conveyed to the Americangeneral. His rank was at once recognized and he was taken to thecommander in charge, being received by him with marked civility,and consulted relative to the placing of the American troops. Cordialrelations seemed to be established between the two leaders at once;and Saguanaldo was very much gratified, after the noon hour, to receivefrom Judge Benjamin Daft, the man who had been sent from America toserve as civil governor of the Philippines, an invitation to visithim on shipboard.
Judge Daft was found to be a large man with a happy smile, who wasvery cordial in his manner. Within a very few minutes after they metSaguanaldo was smoking with him and felt at perfect ease.
"I understand," said Judge Daft, "that it is somewhat embarrassing foryou, as well as for me, that I come with orders to supercede you asgovernor of the Philippines. But you understand that the war is notyet over, and the final termination of things is not yet determinedon. I want to assure you, however, that the United States desiresonly the welfare of the Filipinos. I believe it would be better forus to co-operate and make sure of victory than to quarrel and possiblydefeat the good that both desire."