ld
man--to go for it, it must be brought by Enriquez, her cavalier of the
day.

But Enriquez was not to be found. I glanced at Miss Mannersley's
somewhat disturbed face, and begged her to let me fetch it. I thought I
saw a flush of relief come into her pale cheek as she said, in a lower
voice, "On the stone seat in the garden."

I hurried away, leaving Don Pedro still protesting. I knew the gardens,
and the stone seat at an angle of the wall, not a dozen yards from
the casa. The moon shone full upon it. There, indeed, lay the little
gray-feathered fan. But beside it, also, lay the crumpled black
gold-embroidered riding-gauntlet that Enriquez had worn at the rodeo.

I thrust it hurriedly into my pocket, and ran back. As I passed through
the gateway I asked a peon to send Enriquez to me. The man stared. Did I
not know that Don Enriquez had ridden away two minutes ago?

When I reached the veranda, I handed the fan to Miss Mannersley without
a word. "BUENO," said Don Pedro, gravely; "it is as well. There shall be
no bones broken over the getting of it, for Enriquez, I hear, has had to
return to the Encinal this very evening."

Miss Mannersley retired early. I did not inform her of my discovery, nor
did I seek in any way to penetrate her secret. There was no doubt that
she and Enriquez had been together, perhaps not for the first time; but
what was the result of their interview? From the young girl's demeanor
and Enriquez' hurried departure, I could only fear the worst for him.
Had he been tempted into some further extravagance and been angrily
rebuked, or had he avowed a real passion concealed under his exaggerated
mask and been deliberately rejected? I tossed uneasily half the night,
following in my dreams my poor friend's hurrying hoofbeats, and ever
starting from my sleep at what I thought was the sound of galloping
hoofs.

I rose early, and lounged into the patio; but others were there before
me, and a small group of Don Pedro's family were excitedly discussing
something, and I fancied they turned away awkwardly and consciously as
I approached. There was an air of indefinite uneasiness everywhere. A
strange fear came over me with the chill of the early morning air. Had
anything happened to Enriquez? I had always looked upon his extravagance
as part of his playful humor. Could it be possible that under the sting
of rejection he had made his grotesque threat of languishing effacement
real? Surely Miss Mannersley wo