Cristano,' he ejaculated again and again; and once in the night, when the others slept, he muttered, 'Niña, niña, forgive me! I am dying. You bade me protect the child! Ah, even in life it has not been possible! Is she not in the hands you bade me defend her from?'

"These sentences, murmured at intervals, kept me waking, while all others slept, hanging over him with entreaties to disburden his mind of the secret, which weighed so heavily upon him, that it seemed under it he could neither live nor die.

"Tell me at least,' I said, 'who is this man called Ramirez, whom I saw this evening wreak upon you so terrible a revenge? How comes it that you are so hated by the man for whom your foster daughter is plotting? Have you not been his follower in by-gone days? Surely it is not Chinita who has set such enmity between you!'

"No, no; it began before she was born,' he answered, shudderingly, his pale countenance becoming more ghastly still. Dios de mi alma!' he continued, as if forgetful of my presence. Was it not enough that the child should fall again into the power of Doña Isabel-she who tore it from its mother's breast to cast it among the leperos who with the dogs feed at her gates—but that her father's murderer, her mother's destroyer, should wield this devil's witchcraft over her? My God, who will defend her? Who will rescue her?""

Chinita raised her head, her nostrils quivering, the veins upon her neck and temples swollen and palpitating.

niña,' he muttered piteously 'I have not betrayed thee; and Doña Isabel, though you have taken from me the child you thrust upon me in such mockery, have I not borne the torture meekly? No, even to this man, so like the other that he needed not to tell his name and kin, I have told nothing to shame you !'

"His words sprang from his lips in spite of the will that would have kept them back; for a time he was like a man under the influence of a maddening draught. Striving to calm him by the assurance that I would never use the knowledge he might give me to dishonor the family to which his whole life had been devoted, I drew from him little by little his strange tale. It concerns neither you nor me, Chinita, until in recompense for secret service done her in the cause of her wretched brother Leon, Doña Isabel Garcia made Pedro portero at Tres Hermanos. There my unfortunate cousin gained his good offices in his secret meetings with the young Herlinda. He seems in truth to have been conscious of no serious offence against Doña Isabel in lending his aid to the tender intercourse of the young people, although he was cognizant of her plans regarding the marriage of Herlinda and Gonzales. My cousin claimed the right to visit his wife— and Pedro took his gold and was silent, if not convinced.

"Ah, how joyously Ashley left his wife -for the last time,' he exclaimed at length, ceasing to expect my questions and taking the tone of narrative. 'Yes, he called her always his wife-what was the portero to demand? Ah! Doña Isabel would know, or the young Gonzales. One cannot do worse than put his hand in a boiling pot, and wherefore do that when it hangs over his neighbor's fire? Yes, never had he seemed more confident, more gay. "I shall not need to waken thee at midnight to let me pass like a thief who leaves thee a bribe," he said, 66 tomorrow I shall be free to come and go as I will."

"Alas!' he continued. As my eyes followed him, I thought any woman might be pardoned loving him-had he not beguiled my own heart? for I swear I loved him. Yet I wondered at the courage of the Niña Herlinda-she who had seemed so timid, so yielding to her mother's every wish. Caramba!

it is true. "There is nothing too strong for love or death." I laughed to think how youth in its folly can baffle caution; when a sound behind me echoed the laugh. The blood froze in my veins, so overpowering was the very presence of the man even before he touched me. Dios poderoso! when I looked up, the man in the peasant's dress hurled himself upon me-but the blaze in his eyes could burn only from the fierce and terrible rage of the evil spirit of that house; it was Leon Vallé who dashed me down and rushed out into the night.""

Chinita uttered an exclamation; then repeating the name, "Leon! Leon Vallé," listened with bated breath, while Ashley continued-in the words of Pedro:

"I knew at the moment that Ashley was lost.

No, a thousand prayers, nor the swiftest aid my cries could have gained him, would not have saved him. I waited, scarce daring to breathe; with strained ears I listened. Would the murderer, his first work accomplished, return? I knew then he held my life forfeit, yet had he returned, I should have opened the gate to him. Ah, you know not the power of that man! as it was in Leon Vallé, so it is now in Ramirez. God, what power in those terrible eyes! I felt it then, I felt it today. What resistance was possible? The morning came. I was still alive, but the people came to me crying of the dead. What need had I to ask the name? In the midst of the tumult, a terrible shriek rang on my ears. I thought my brain was turning. There was but one thought that steadied it-confession, confession to Doña Isabel.

"As soon as it was possible I sought her presence. I cannot tell you what passed;

left her. What was the immortal soul of a poor peon in comparison to the honor of the family of Garcia.

"It was well; why should a servant gainsay his mistress? So months went on, Señor. Within and around the hacienda people were dying. They told me the nina Herlinda herself was pining-some whispered for the American, but a terror seized even on the boldest, and the American's name ceased to be heard, and that of the young Gonzales took its place. The gossips were content to blame any name, unchid, for her wan cheeks and sunken eyes. But I knew that no living man had aught to answer for.

"I had not seen her for weeks and weeks; but one night a creature so pale and wan I thought it her ghost, accosted me. Strange, strange the mission that brought her. It was to entreat my protection-that of the worthless Pedro-for the child, which in secret and in banishment she was about to bring into the world.

"Well! well! I promised all she asked. I should have done so, even had I thought it possible the dire need she pleaded would be hers. Oh! I have heard strange and fearful tales of deeds that have been wrought within the walls of these great and solitary haciendas; but that Doña Isabel would stoop to crime, and that I might find it in my power to save a child which she should strive to sacrifice, I could not believe. Trouble, I thought, had made Herlinda

mad. But she was mad only with the frenzy of a prophetess.

"With terrible forebodings I saw her taken from her home. Day and night I thought of her, and my heart was like ice; but one day, when worn out with watching and expectancy I sat at the gate, I fell into a doze, and in my dream heard the voice of Herlinda calling me. It changed to that of a man-I woke with a start, and a child was dropped into my hands. Strange and wonderful must have been the means by which that hunted and distracted creature evaded the mother she feared! Who had been her friends, Señor? The wonder is with me still. I saw the face of her messenger but for a moment, but it has haunted me. Yes, more than once, when I have thought of new faces that have passed before me, I have said, "Such an one was like the man; why was I blind to it when he stood before me?" He started up, and clasped my arm so powerfully that I shrank. 'Señor,' he cried, As God lives, I saw such a face today! It was that of the man who rode behind him they call Ramirez.'

"'Reyes!' I ejaculated. 'Reyes!' What strange sport had made the messenger of Herlinda the follower of Ramirez? I—”

Ashley paused, for Chinita echoed the name with an intense surprise far greater than his own. She clasped her hands to her temples, as though fearing the mad bewilderment of her thoughts was crazing her. "Tell me no more," she said faintly. * Do I not know the unnatural wretch which I have been? But what of Pedro? Why did you leave him? how dared you leave him? You!" She turned upon Pepé accusingly. "He lives, you say, and yet

you are here!"

"No less would content him," interposed Ashley, while Pepé muttered an inarticulate remonstrance. "It was Pepé you had sent upon your errand; it was Pepé he would dispatch with his answer."

"Ay!" said Pepé grumblingly, "and

with you I must remain; I am sworn to that whether you like it or loathe it."

"I," said Ashley, "have ridden thus far out of the direct path I would have taken to El Toro, to warn you of the character of the man you have made your hero; to tell you I believe you to be the daughter of my cousin, and to offer you the home, the fortune, that would have been his."

He

He spoke unhesitatingly, yet a strange sense of bewilderment swept over him. was conscious that it was no material loss that troubled him-not for an instant did he dream of using the advantage of the law against this defenceless girl; but that this strange impulsive creature should be of the same blood as he-as the calm and gentle Mary-that she should come into their life with her wayward passions, her erratic genius, her weird beauty, was a thing incomprehensible, almost terrible. And yet the blood leaped stronger in the young man's veins as he beheld her; his heart bounded as he said, "Yes, I must go; for I have certain news that the enemy is massing his forces for attack. I go to warn Gonzales; but I shall return to claim you as my cousin's child. Meanwhile, be silent-patient. Pedro prays you keep the secret of your birth. He believes as firmly as ever that only thus can you be safe. And for that mother's sake I pray you be silent. Right may be won for you, and her good name be still left untainted. There may be a mystery still unraveled."

"I will be silent; I will wait,” she said in a cold, hollow voice.

love, her hopes, her passions-Pedro-Ramirez-Doña Isabel.

"Ah,

"I will be silent," she repeated. it will be easier now! Yes, hasten to El Toro, bring Gonzales-he will be a surer, safer leader than Ruiz; though I will turn him to my will. Yes, yes, more than once I have thought him wavering, uncertain! Now at a word I will make him what before he has only affected to others to be the undying enemy of Ramirez!"

Ashley was silent. He would have had this girl passive, supine, womanly, yet from the very necessity of warning her, had been forced to arouse in her this vindictive wrath against the man who had done her unwittingly such foul wrong.

"Listen!" he said hurriedly after a pause, "It is Pedro who implores, who commands, that until he gives you leave, nothing of what I have told you shall pass your lips. I might have had your promise before I would speak. See, the stars are shining that must see me on my way. Give me two promises before we part-one that you will be silent, the other that Pepé shall be continually within your sight or call. For this he was sent from the side of the suffering, perhaps dying, Pedro. He would have you safe-safe from Ramirez."

"And I would kill you before you should fall into his hands," interposed Pepé grimly. Chinita smiled with cynical bitterness, and said indifferently, "I promise. Yes, I promise. Ah, yes, Señor, you will see I have been silent when you come again. And now I will go back. What if the Señora Doña Isabel should wake and find me missing?-the child she loves so well!"

She waved her hand and stepped backward through the darkness. At the door of the chamber where Doña Isabel lay, she seemed to vanish into air, so swift, so silent, was her going.

Ashley gazed after her long in silenceso long that another spectral figure stole through the doorway, and with noiseless

steps reached Pepe's side. "The Señora slept like the dead," Caterina whispered; "but not for a thousand duros, would I lie in Chinita's place again, while she forgets time in lover's chat. I wonder at thee, Pepé thou hast not a man's heart in thee, I thought thou lovedst her thyself!"

"Fool!" said Pepé sulkily, and turned away, while Caterina, ill paid for her devotion, sought a corner of the corridor, in which to sink to sleep.

"Strange, incomprehensible creature!" muttered Ashley at length. "What emotions, what thoughts are hers? At least it is certain that the fascination of Ramirez is dissolved-horror, hatred perhaps, have taken its place. She is safe; and now Pepé, my horse, I must take the road-and if it be true that Juarez' is at hand, even Ramirez himself may tremble; even the combined forces of Gonzales and Ruiz will hold him at bay and keep an open road for the capital."

It was scarcely two hours past midnight, though his interview with Chinita had lasted long, when Ashley Ashley cautiously emerged from the meson, and took his way towards the open country. The troops lay at the east end of the town; but giving the watchword to the few sentinels who challenged him, he avoided them, and soon found himself in the vast solitude of the night. He had taken the precaution to procure a fresh horse, and for some leagues the way lay across a level country, so he made such speed as brought him by dawn within sight of the mountain upon which Pedro lay; but on a side many miles nearer his destination, where Gonzales, with his insufficient garrison, was anxiously awaiting the reinforcements without which he could neither dare to advance, nor hope to maintain his position in case of attack.

As Ashley glanced towards the ragged and solitary cliffs, where like a hunted animal the man was lying, he remembered that after the first hour was passed, Chinita had

spoken no more of her foster father-had asked no question as to what hands were set to tend him, nor in what direction lay the cave in which he was sheltered. Such queries would have been useless-she could do nothing; yet it would have been but natural that she should have made them. Even if his care of her neglected infancy was forgotten, or accepted as a matter of course, and though her mind was absorbed by thoughts of her own history, and her wrongs, yet his very connection with them should have made him an object of interest, if not of tenderness.

"Heavens!" he murmured, "can it be that this strange creature, as different in her instincts as in her appearance and education, can be of the same blood as Mary. A bewildering charge shall I take to her, if Doña Isabel still, to save the reputation of her daughter, lays no claim to this beautiful girl, and denies her such scanty justice as she can give! For a daughter of an Ashley must not be left to the sport of chance--neither to be sold to the first who bargains for her beauty, nor, worse still, to be consigned to a convent, as the unhappy Herlinda was. If this Gonzales but proves a man of honor, I may gain some aid from him; he, at least, may know in which convent this woman-whom he also loved-is immured. By the way, he is a fanatic upon this new scheme of Juarez, of secularizing the property of the clergy. Ah, in event of the success of the Liberal arms, that might work countless and unimagined changes!"

at the door of the meson of El Toro. And almost at the same moment, far on the other side of the mountain, two travelers, so wrapped in long frazadas and covered by wide sombreros as to be almost indistinguishable, the man from the woman, drew rein before a mass of cactus and grey rock; and while the one gazed furtively around, vainly seeking a sign of human contiguity, the other dismounted, and bending to a mere crevice in the rock gave a long, low whistle, then turned to help his companion, saying, "That will bring Stefano. China, thou wilt see that, though a coward, he is no fool and has cared well for the padrino. Said I not so? Ah, here he comes.'

Chinita was cramped by long riding, and was fain to cling to her guide. She looked around her with a shudder. The wild solitude of the place was terrible. She feared to move, lest she should find herself face to face with death. Her head swam, the world turned black before her eyes; and in the midst a strange hand touched her own. A low laugh sounded on her ear-it was that of a woman.

"Santa Maria!" she heard Pepé exclaiming."It is the Virgin de la Patrocenia herself. It is then that we are too late to serve the poor padron!"

The low laugh sounded again—there was in it more of madness than sanctity. Chinita, with superstitious fear and desperation, sought to wrench her hand from the hot clasp in which it was held. The close air of the entrance of the cave closed round her, as with persistent force she was drawn within; and with a scream of terror she fell fainting, overcome by the excitement and exertion of many hours, and by the unexpected apparition which had greeted her. Louise Palmer Heaven,