en a girl, she returned to the house a woman,
hugging her secret close to her heart.

XXV

Success had crowned Juan Ramon's efforts. The pretty little _hacienda_
of which he had dreamed so long was no longer a vision of the future,
but a reality. It was actually in his possession, purchased with a part
of the money he had received from Don Felipe for his work. It now only
remained for the pretty Rosita to consent to become the mistress of the
place and he, Juan Ramon, would bid farewell to the old _Posada_ and the
gaming-tables forever. This Juan naively promised himself as his
thoughts dwelt upon the bright picture of domestic felicity which his
imagination conjured up before him.

The attractive presence of Rosita was undoubtedly the source of this
inspiration which actually led him to believe in the possibility of the
sudden and complete reformation of an inveterate gambler whose desire
for play was like the toper's insatiable thirst for liquor. And then,
there was Captain Forest's horse. Juan had an idea regarding that
animal. When everybody's attention was occupied with the festivities
during the night of the _fandango_, and he had succeeded in filling Jose
with the proper amount of _aguardiente_, he would slip quietly away with
the horse and conceal him at his _hacienda_. _Caramba!_ what a
horse--the like of which there was not in all Mexico! And Juan Ramon,
the champion _vaquero_ of Chihuahua, was the man to ride him! And he
rolled and smoked innumerable _cigarillos_ as he sauntered about the
garden and corrals, or lounged in the _patio_, musing on these and many
other things.

To say that Don Felipe was elated by what he had discovered but mildly
describes his state of exultation. At last the woman who had ruined his
life was in his power. Not for years had he experienced such delicious
transports of rapture. How sweet a thing is revenge! He was like one
born anew. The expression of melancholy faded from his countenance, his
eyes shone with renewed luster and he smiled upon all the world. There
was no more escape for her than there had been for him when she so
treacherously thrust the knife into his heart. What he had discovered
was different from anything his imagination had pictured in connection
with her. Nothing could be more compromising, and the marvel of it was
that she had been able to keep the facts concealed from the world so
long. Only a woman could have done it, and only the cleverest of