h she eagerly seized and held between
both her own.

"_Muchacho--muchacho!_" she cried, clapping her hands as she released
her hold on Don Felipe's. "Carlos, the _Caballero's_ horse!" she
continued, addressing the _vaquero_ that appeared in the doorway of the
Inn at her summons and who advancing, took possession of Don Felipe's
horse and led him away to the stables.

"Let me look at you, Don Felipe," she continued, regarding him closely.
"Why, you have not changed a hair! It might have been but yesterday that
you left us."

"And you, Dona Fernandez are still the charming, handsome mistress of
the _Posada de las Estrellas_ to whom all men are irresistibly drawn."

"Flatterer!" retorted Senora, laughing gayly and blushing like a girl
of sixteen. How sweet it was to hear such words from a handsome
_Caballero_ like Don Felipe! It reminded her of the old days when all
men thought her beautiful and went out of their way to tell her so.

"It was unkind of you to remain away so long, Don Felipe. Your friends
have missed you sadly and have prayed for the day of your return."

"Friends?" echoed Felipe with a sneer.

"Aye, friends. You will find that you have more friends now than when
you left us."

"I can scarcely believe it. And yet," he added, "I wish it might be so."

"You shall learn shortly for yourself," returned Senora.

"How long," interrupted Felipe, eager to change the drift of the
conversation, "have the American ladies been here?"

"Ah, you have seen them?"

"Yes, they were just going out for a walk when I arrived. It was a
pleasant surprise to see them here. They are friends of mine."

"You know them?"

"Yes. I met them a year ago in Washington."

"_Dios!_ to think of it!" she exclaimed.

"But what are they doing here?" he asked.

"Ah! that is just what I would like to know myself," replied Senora.
"_Caramba!_ but they are grand ladies! They say," she went on, "that
they are traveling for pleasure, but what pleasure can such delicate,
refined ladies possibly find in the desert, I should like to know?
Judging from their talk and actions they can not have seen very much of
the world. _Dios!_ you should have witnessed the scene they created the
day they arrived. And yet," she continued, "I like them and am glad they
are here. They have brought new life into the place. God knows it is no
longer what it used to be in the old days when Don Carlos, my husband,
was alive," she added with a sigh.

Don