and soon she too took her place in the churchyard. Dr. Bryant came,
and again Inez loved--again she was disappointed; and now she sat
alone in the wide world, without one remaining tie to bind the future.

The hour of bitterness had come. She looked upon that dreary future
and her utter desolation, and no gleam of hope stole to her darkened
soul. An almost vacant expression settled on the dark countenance of
the once beautiful maiden. Softly the door was pushed ajar, and the
form of the Padre stood within. By instinct she seemed aware of
his entrance, for raising her bowed head, the black sparkling eyes
flashed, and the broad brow wrinkled into a frown dark as night. He
approached her, and they stood face to face upon the hearth.

"What do you here, in the house of death, Mio Padre?"

"Inez, my queen of beauty, I have come to take the prize for which I
toiled. There are none now between us, no, not one. You need not draw
back so proudly."

A bitter, contemptuous laugh rung out on the night air, and Inez
folded her arms upon her bosom.

"Truly, Padre, we are well mated! You have opposed me, and I thwarted
you! I am your equal: think you to intimidate me with threats? You
should know better!"

"Inez, listen! I leave this place before many days. My work is
finished here; there are none to oppose, and I go elsewhere. To Mexico
first, and then to Italy. You must go with me, my proud beauty! I
cannot leave you here!"

Again Inez laughed her mocking laugh. "Go with you, Mio Padre! No, no;
I must decline the honor. The hour of settlement has come! Alphonso
Mazzolin, for long you have plotted my destruction; and one by one
removed every obstacle in your way, and smoothed my path to ruin! I
have known this--silently I have watched you maneuver. You counseled
Manuel; you flattered him, encouraged his hasty course and overbearing
manner, and caused the rupture between us. You knew my nature, and
foresaw the result. You thought to secure me within the walls of
yonder gloomy convent, and hoped that in time my broad lands would
bless and enrich your holy church! But, Padre, I did not fancy
the home prepared for me in San Jose. I promised to comply with my
father's wish, and fulfil the engagement, much to your surprise and
chagrin. Padre, I would have married Manuel, sooner than second your
plans. I, too, foresaw the tempest that even now howls over us. It
was my only hope, and I said, who may predict the chances of war? The
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