rvent
prayer for the repose of his spirit, whose mysterious end they had just
been made acquainted with.

"Every day," said he, "during the following year, the Chaplain will, by
my orders, say a mass for Don Estevan's soul, for this man spake of the
justice of God, which was accomplished in the desert. These words are
serious, and the manner with which they were pronounced, leaves no doubt
as to their veracity."

"May God pardon him!" replied Rosarita, rising from her knees, "and
grant him the mercy he requires."

"May God pardon him!" repeated Don Augustin, earnestly, "the noble Don
Estevan was no ordinary man, or rather, that you may now know it,
Rosarita, Don Antonia de Mediana, who, in his lifetime, was Knight of
the Grand Cross, and Duke de Armada."

"Mediana, did you say, my father?" cried the young girl, "what! he must
then be his son?"

"Of whom do you speak?" asked Don Augustin, in astonishment, "Don
Antonio was never married. What can you mean?"

"Nothing, my father, unless it be that your daughter is to-day very
happy."

As she said these words, Dona Rosarita threw her arms round her father's
neck, and leaning her head upon his breast burst into a passion of
tears; but in these tears there was no bitterness, they flowed softly,
like the dew which the American jasmine sheds in the morning from its
purple flowers.

The haciendado, but little versed in the knowledge of the female heart,
misconstrued the tears, which are sometimes a luxury to women; and he
could conceive nothing of the happiness which was drawing them from his
daughter's eyes.

He questioned her anew, but she contented herself with answering, while
her lips were parted by a smile, and her eyes were still moist.

"To-morrow I shall tell you all, my father."

The good haciendado did indeed require the explanation of this mystery,
when he was left in ignorance of the chief fact concerning it.

"We have another duty to fulfil," continued he; "the last wish expressed
by Don Antonio, on parting from me, was that you should be united to the
Senator Tragaduros. It will be in compliance with the request of one
who is now no more, that this marriage should no longer be delayed. Do
you see any obstacle to it, Rosarita?"

The young girl started at these words, which reminded her of the fatal
engagement she had sought to banish from memory. Her bosom swelled, and
her tears flowed afresh.

"Well," said the haciendado, smiling, "this is