d kneel together--it would have been
ridiculous. And I could not wear a colored reboso to-day."

"I should have liked to fancy we were here for our nuptials. Delusions
pass but are none the less sweet for that."

They knelt before the altar, the Commandante, Dona Ignacia, Luis,
Santiago, Rafaella Sal and Elena Castro just behind; the rest of the
party, their bright garments shimmering vaguely in the gloom, as they
listened; and enough fervent prayers went up to insure the health and
safety of the departing guests for all their lives.

Rezanov, who had much on his mind, stared moodily at the altar until
Concha, who had bowed her head almost to her knees, finished her
supplication; then their eyes turned and met simultaneously. For a
moment their brains did swim in the delusion that the priest with his
uplifted hands pronounced benediction upon their nuptials, that
probation was over and union nigh. But Father Abella dismissed all
with the same blessing, and they shivered as they rose and walked
slowly down the church.

Dona Ignacia took her husband's arm, and muttering that she feared a
chill, hurried the others before her. The priests had gone to the
sacristy. Before they reached the door Rezanov and Concha were alone.

His hands fell heavily on her shoulders.

"Concha," he said, "I shall come back if I live. I make no foolish
vows, so idle between us. There is only one power that can prevent our
marriage in this church not later than two years from to-day. And
although I am in the very fulness of my health and strength, with my
work but begun, and all my happiness in the future, and even to a less
sanguine man it would seem that his course had many years to run, still
have I seen as much as any man of the inconsequence of life, of the
insignificance of the individual, his hopes, ambitions, happiness, and
even usefulness, in the complicated machinery of natural laws. It may
be that I shall not come back. But I wish to take with me your promise
that if I have not returned at the end of two years or you have
received no reason for my detention, you will believe that I am dead.
There would be but one insupportable drop in the bitterness of death,
the doubt of your faith in my word and my love. Are you too much of a
woman to curb your imagination in a long unbroken silence?"

"I have learned so much that one lesson more is no tax on my faith.
And I no longer live in a world of little things. I promise you