t her power of extended vision was
wonderful.

Lately, I had cherished the thought of having Ysidria go to Santa Clara,
or even to Mexico, to be under the care of some experienced occulist,
and the fear of her becoming blind, when it might be too late to have
anything done, made me very anxious, and Pedirpozza, whom I might have
called, had gone for a time to the Colorado country.

The day before this, on which I met Ysidria in the mountains, I had
spoken to Madre Moreno of the subject nearest my heart. I had spoken but
a few words when she said:

"Thou needst not go any further, Senor Carlos, I know thy thoughts and
have read them for a long time. Thou hast no one to ask for Ysidria but
herself and the old witch, who is her only relative. I give my consent."

I was so delighted that I could only express myself by kissing the
forehead of Madre Moreno.

"Be careful my Senorito!" she cried starting back and then laughing, "be
careful how thou kissest the love of el bueno Diablo, or he may be
jealous and play thee a bad trick."

I always hated the Madre when she laughed, and I hurried away.

In about ten minutes Ysidria reached the path where I was waiting, it
having been necessary for her to come by a circuitous trail.

"You are out early," I exclaimed.

"Yes, Aunt Ambrosia's kindness often seems unbearable, and I fly from
it; it is curious for one to run from kindness."

"Your aunt is a strange creature, I can never understand her; sometimes
I love her much, and then, without any apparent cause, I shun her as if
she bore a plague."

"I too feel so toward her, and scarcely know whether she loves me
devotedly or hates me; her laugh though is unbearable, to me, there
seems to be wickedness in it," replied Ysidria, "though I should not
talk ill of her, for she is very kind, making me many little sweets and
pasties, and there is one sweet drop of which she is very choice, never
giving me more than one at a time. I have nearly grown into the habit of
taking them each morning before breakfast, and I feel very wretched if I
miss one. You must try them, and shall, if I can persuade Aunt Ambrosia
for an extra drop; I think she will for you though."

"We have been talking, Madre Moreno and I, and I have proposed that you
shall go to Mexico or Santa Clara to have an oculist examine your eyes,
for indeed I fear there is something which should be looked to at once.
We would all hate to have your beautiful eyes, Ysidria,