"The Call of the Blood." Miguel de Cervantes.

Summary: Returning from a walk in the moonlit evening, a family, including a young woman, is beset by a group of young ruffians. The young woman is carried off by Rudolfo, who robs her of her honor. Eventually, she regains consciousness in a richly accoutered room and takes with her a crucifix she has found there. Released from captivity, she learns that she is with child.

Grown older, her young son is thrown from a horse, is rescued by a noble family, and helped to recover in the same room in which his mother, the young woman, had been ravished. When the ravished mother tells Rudolfo’s mother the details of her son’s disgraceful conduct, and produces the crucifix, Rudlolfo’s mother believes her and hatches a plan.

Rudolfo is summoned home from a trip to Italy, is confronted by the ravished young woman and her son, is smitten with her and, after learning that he has produced her son, agrees to marry her and they live happily ever after.

Comment: Innocence is revenged and rewarded. A just and happy ending. RayS.

Spanish Stories and Tales. Ed. By Harriet de Onís. The Pocket Library, 1956. Pp. 24-42.