a fairy in his arms?"

"What funny things you say. I never been called fairy before."

"You have never been interpreted." And then, in the whirl-waltz of that
day, both lost their breath.

When the dance was over and they stood near Dona Eustaquia, he took the
fan from Benicia's hand and waved it slowly before her. She laughed
outright.

"You think I am so tired I no can fan myself?" she demanded. "How queer
are these Americanos! Why, I have dance for three days and three nights
and never estop."

"Senorita!"

"Si, senor. Oh, we estop sometimes, but no for long. It was at Sonoma
two months ago. At the house de General Vallejo."

"You certainly are able to fan yourself; but it is no reflection upon
your muscle. It is only a custom we have."

"Then I think much better you no have the custom. You no look like a man
at all when you fan like a girl."

He handed her back the fan with some choler.

"Really, senorita, you are very frank. I suppose you would have a man
lie in a hammock all day and roll cigaritos."

"Much better do that than take what no is yours."

"Which no American ever did!"

"Excep' when he pulled California out the pocket de Mexico."

"And what did Mexico do first? Did she not threaten the United States
with hostilities for a year, and attack a small detachment of our troops
with a force of seven thousand men--"

"No make any difference what she do. Si she do wrong, that no is excuse
for you do wrong."

Two angry young people faced each other.

"You steal our country and insult our men. But they can fight, Madre de
Dios! I like see General Castro take your little Commodore Sloat by the
neck. He look like a little gray rat."

"Commodore Sloat is a brave and able man, Miss Ortega, and no officer in
the United States navy will hear him insulted."

"Then much better you lock up the ears."

"My dear Captain Russell! Benicia! what is the matter?"

Mr. Larkin stood before them, an amused smile on his thin intellectual
face. "Come, come, have we not met to-night to dance the waltz of peace?
Benicia, your most humble admirer has a favour to crave of you. I would
have my countrymen learn at once the utmost grace of the Californian.
Dance El Jarabe, please, and with Don Fernando Altimira."

Benicia lifted her dainty white shoulders. She was not unwilling to
avenge herself upon the American by dazzling him with her grace and
beauty. Her eye's swift invitation brought Don Fernando, scowling,