eward for her long and faithful service. Nor was Manuela
adverse to this new arrangement which must eventually deprive her of all
authority in the household; a position she had guarded so jealously
through the years and which had raised her in the estimation of the
community. Although of a different people, the common racial blood bond
had drawn the two women together from the first; besides, she could
always assist in the lighter work of the household if she chose.

The Padre never tired of meditating upon this fond dream during his
leisure moments. What a perpetual source of joy and satisfaction the
presence and sunshine of this child of his own molding would be to him
in his old age! Besides he would always be near her to administer
spiritual council and guidance.

So, when the day of her arrival finally dawned, he and old Manuela rose
with the sun, and gathering the freshest and brightest flowers the
garden contained, they arranged them in the room she was to occupy;
transforming it into a veritable bower of fragrance and color.

The prospect of seeing his protegee so soon again, filled Padre Antonio
with the most conflicting emotions of longing and impatience.

He could think of nothing else--could neither sit nor stand, but fretted
and bustled about the house with the impatience of a child. Fearful lest
he should be too late, he hurried through his simple breakfast,
consisting of black coffee and a roll, without so much as glancing at
the local paper as was his wont; and then, quite forgetting to pull on
his black silk gloves which Manuela thrust into his hands together with
his hat and stick, he hastened to the station which he reached an hour
before the time scheduled for the arrival of the stage.

Of course she must have changed somewhat during the long interval of her
absence, he argued, more as a concession to reason than to desire or
sentiment. But in spite of this possibility, his mental picture of her
still remained that of the little Indian girl he had confided to the
care of the good Sisters of Saint Ursula six years before.

What if the stage were late, and could she make the long journey alone
and in safety, he asked himself a thousand times as he impatiently paced
up and down the platform of the station; the tap of his gold-headed cane
marking the time of his steps on the boards beneath him.

"Saints! but the stage was slow! A snail could crawl--" Suddenly he
stopped short. A flush of joy suffus