and you no longer except in my
heart. I must leave you and go far away. Death--worse than death--
awaits me here. I must go hence. I must return to the people from whom
my parents are sprung--to our long forgotten kindred. Perhaps there I
may find a new home and new friends, but happiness I cannot without
you--No, never!"

Catalina was silent, with tearful eyes bent upon the ground. She
trembled at the thought that was passing in her mind. She feared to
give it expression. But it was no time for the affectation of false
modesty, for idle bashfulness; and neither were her characteristics.
Upon a single word depended the happiness of her life--of her lover's.
Away with womanly coyness! let the thought be spoken!

She turned toward her lover, took his hand in hers, leant forward till
her lips were close to his, and, looking in his face, said in a soft,
but firm voice--

"Carlos! is it your wish that _I_ go with you?"

In a moment his arms were around her, and their lips had met.

"O Heavens!" he exclaimed; "is this possible? do I hear aright? Dearest
Catalina! It was this I would have proposed, but I dared not do it. I
feared to make the proposal, so wild does it seem. What! forsake all
for me? Oh, _querida! querida_! Tell me that this is what your words
mean! Say you will go with me!"

"_I will_!" was the short but firm reply.

"O God! I am too happy--a week of terrible suffering, and I am again
happy. But a week ago, Catalina, and I was happy. I had met with a
strange adventure, one that promised fortune. I was full of hope--hope
of winning you; not you, _querida_, but your father. Of winning him by
gold. See!" Here the speaker held forth his hand filled with shining
ore. "It is gold. Of this I have discovered a mine, and I had hoped
with it to have rivalled your father in his wealth, and then to have won
his consent. Alas! alas! that is now hopeless, but your words have
given me new happiness. Think not of the fortune you leave behind. I
know you do not, dear Catalina. I shall give you one equal to it--
perhaps far greater. I know where this precious trash is to be
procured, but I shall tell you all when we have time. To-night--"

He was interrupted by Catalina. Her quick ear had caught a sound that
appeared odd to her. It was but a slight rustling among the leaves near
the back of the arbour, and might have been caused by the wind, had
there been any. But not a breath was stirr