resented at the different Courts of Europe, and it was in
Washington where his uncle was the Mexican Minister to the United
States, that he met Blanch and Mrs. Forest and her niece. In vain did he
try to forget. In vain did he search for another woman to supplant his
love for Chiquita. He plunged into the wildest dissipation, but to no
effect. The beautiful face of the dark woman followed him everywhere,
stood between him and the world, lured him, fascinated him still as
nothing else could, tortured him day and night and he knew no rest.

A thousand times he resolved to return and kill her, and a thousand
times he relented, for he loved her as madly as ever and could not carry
out his resolve. A prey to alternate fits of remorse and hatred, and
tortured constantly by the knowledge of an unrequited love, the soul of
Don Felipe Ramirez suffered the torments of the damned. His
unconquerable love for Chiquita devoured him, gnawed constantly at his
heart, and he cursed her--cursed her as only one of his temperament who
had suffered as he suffered, could curse.

What could he do? Anguish succeeded anguish until he was at length
drawn back again as irresistibly as the magnet is drawn to the north, to
the woman he both loved and hated. He would throw himself at her feet.
He, the proud, arrogant Don Felipe of former years, and bowed in the
dust, implore forgiveness. Nothing was too hard. Any sacrifice she might
demand of him, he would make. Surely, when she saw his remorse, his
contrite humbled spirit, understood his suffering and realized that he
could not forget her, could not live without her, that he loved her
still through all the years of suffering, that his life was irrevocably
linked to hers, she would relent, forgive him--become his wife.

His wife! The thought electrified, elated his being to an extent that it
was lifted for the moment from out the black depths of his despondency.
If not, well then, there would be time for the fulfillment of that which
must inevitably follow--either his death or hers.

XI

"Holy Mother! but I am glad to see you again, Don Felipe Ramirez! What
blessed chance has brought you back to us again?" Don Felipe started
like one in a dream, and turning in the direction whence came the sound
of the voice, he beheld Senora Fernandez standing on the veranda
regarding him intently.

"Dona Fernandez!" he exclaimed with genuine pleasure, advancing to meet
her, and extending his hand whic