lled with tear, and
she said in a broken voice, as though this quarrel with her lover had
pained her greatly--

"Oh, oily-tongued! if only I could believe you!"

"Why, of course it's true. Surely you would not let that villain
Benito make mischief between us? But, there; time is too precious to
waste in silly squabbles. I can't stay long; I can't tell when I shall
come again."

"Is your love beginning to cool, Stanislas? If so, we had better part
before--"

"Listen, dearest," interrupted McKay; "I have good news for you," and
he told her of his unexpected promotion, and of the excellent
prospects it held forth.

"I am nearly certain to win a commission before very long. Now that we
are going to the war--"

"The war!" Mariquita's face turned ghastly white; she put her hand
upon her heart, and was on the point of falling to the ground when
McKay vaulted lightly over the fence and saved her by putting his arm
round her waist.

"Idiot that I was to blurt it out like that, after thinking all the
week how best to break the news! Mariquita! Mariquita! speak to me, I
implore you!"

But the poor child was too much overcome to reply, and he led her,
dazed and half-fainting, to a little seat near the house, where, with
soft caresses and endearing words, he sought to restore her to
herself.

"The war!" she said, at length. "It has come, then, the terrible news
that I have so dreaded. We are to part, and I shall never, never see
you again."

"What nonsense, Mariquita! Be brave! Remember you are to be a
soldier's wife. Be brave, I say."

"They will kill you! Oh! if they only dared, I would be revenged!"

"Bravo, my pet! that is the proper spirit. You would fight the
Russians, wouldn't you?"

"I would do anything, Stanislas, to help you, to shield you from harm. Why
can't I go with you? Who knows! I might save you. I, a weak, helpless girl,
would be strong if you were in danger. I am ready, Stanislas, to sacrifice
my life for yours."

Greatly touched by the deep devotion displayed by these sweet words,
McKay bent his head and kissed her on the lips.

But at this moment the tender scene was abruptly ended by the shrill,
strident tones of La Zandunga's voice.

"So I have caught you, shameless girl, philandering again with this
rascally red-coat. May he die in a dog-kennel! Here, in my very house!
But, I promise you, it is for the last time. _Hola!_ Benito! Pedro!
help!" and, screaming wildly, the old crone tore M