t time. The fact is, I--I did ask her to--to be my
wife."

"And she?"

"She? Well--she said she would, I think," said Ashby, evasively.

"You think!" exclaimed Dolores.

"Well, you see, there's a difficulty."

"A difficulty?"

"Yes. Her guardian will not consent."

"But that is nothing," said Dolores, in an animated tone. "You must
take her, and run away with her."

Ashby looked at Dolores with a strange, eager, hungry gaze.

"But there's another objection," said he.

"Objection? What is that?"

"I don't want to."

"What?" asked Dolores, in surprise.

Ashby hesitated for a moment, and then said, with an effort,

"I thought before we left that I loved her; but since I have seen you
again--I feel--that I do not."

These words were spoken rapidly, in a low, feverish whisper. At first
Dolores started as though she had been shot. Then she averted her
face, and held up her hands deprecatingly.

"Ah," said she, in a sad voice, "that is all idle, idle, idle,
foolish, foolish, foolish compliment, and nothing more. You must not
say that again, or I will never forgive you--never, never!"

At this Ashby was brought back to his senses with a sudden and
wholesome shock, and said no more upon that point. In fact, he now
felt afraid that he had said altogether too much.

CHAPTER III.

HOW ASHBY MEETS WITH ANOTHER FRIEND, AND HOW HE TAKES HIM INTO HIS
CONFIDENCE.

That evening they arrived at Burgos, where, on account of troubles
along the line, the train was to remain until ten o'clock on the
following day. Dolores informed Ashby that she was going to stay with
friends, and refused to allow him to accompany her to the house, in
spite of his earnest entreaties. She had been in Burgos before, she
said. The house was not far from the station, and she was firm in her
resolve to go alone. Ashby followed her, however, and saw her pass in
safety through the streets and into a large and venerable house not
far from the Cathedral. He then retraced his steps, and made the best
of his way to the Fonda del Norte, where he put up for the night.

Here, after dinner, he loitered about for a time, meditating over the
events of the day, and conjecturing about the morrow. His situation
was growing somewhat complicated; for there was Katie, whom he had
promised to see at Burgos; but on leaving the train he had followed
Dolores, and now he had not the faintest idea where the Russells had
gone. They were not at the Fo