be until----"

"Perhaps a month."

"Wilt love me until then?"

"I shall love thee forever."

"Nay, but wilt thou tell me so, with every day, every week, every hour,
every moment, with kisses like to these?"

"Oh, tempt me not!" he whispered; but he returned again and again her
caresses.

"Ah, my Alvarado, if you have once fallen, what then? Is not one kiss as
bad as a thousand?"

"Be it so; we will be happy until that time."

"One month, one month of heaven, my love, after that let come what may,"
she answered, her cheeks and eyes aflame, her heart throbbing with
exquisite pain in her breast. They would enjoy the day, the future could
take care of itself.

"Some one approaches!" he said at last, and at the same moment the rest
of the party came around the bend of the road. The poor duenna was
consumed with anxiety and remorse.

"Bernardo," said Alvarado to the sergeant, "we will take our siesta
here. Unsaddle the horses and prepare the noon-day meal under the trees.
Send one of the troopers ahead to bid Fadrique stop on the road until we
rejoin him, keeping good guard. Senora Agapida, you must be tired from
the long ride. Let me assist you to dismount."

"The Senorita Mercedes!" she asked, as he lifted her to the ground.
"Where is her horse?"

"He slipped and fell," answered the girl promptly.

"Fell? Madre de Dios!"

"Yes, over the cliff. Captain Alvarado lifted me from the saddle just in
time."

"I shall make a novena of devotion to St. Jago for thy preservation,
sweet Mercedes," cried the duenna, "and you, young sir, must have a
strong arm----"

"It is ever at your service," answered Alvarado gravely, bowing before
her.

The old woman's heart went out to the gallant young man, so handsome, so
brave, so strong, so distinguished looking.

"Why," she mused under her breath, "could he not have been the one?"

By this time the little place was filled with soldiers, attendants, and
muleteers. Some kindled fires, others unpacked hampers loaded with
provisions, others prepared a place where the party might rest, and as,
to restore order out of this confusion, Alvarado turned hither and
thither he was followed in all his movements by the lovely eyes of the
woman who had broken him, and who had won him.

During the interval of repose the young man allowed his party the two
lovers were constantly together. Alvarado had made a faint effort to go
apart and leave Mercedes to herself, but with passionat