rable to his hopes had
evidently been most unfavorable. He had hoped to be received as a
deliverer; he had only been viewed as a captor. Her face, her expression,
her tears, her agony, were all present evermore to his memory.

He must see her soon. He must press on this marriage at once. Delay would
only be worse. His situation here was precarious. If he were to linger
too long, the Carlists might rally, and he would be besieged. Before
that could happen he must have Katie for his wife, and then retreat as
fast as possible. He could not defer the marriage till they reached
Vittoria, for then Katie would surely elude him and effect her escape. He
concluded that he must be married on the following day at the farthest,
and in the morning. To postpone it any longer was not to be thought of.

That evening he visited Katie once more. As he entered and looked at her,
he was struck to the heart to see the change that had come over her. She
was pale, thin, and haggard. She looked up hastily, with staring eyes.
Then she started up and looked, but said nothing. But Lopez reflected
that all this was the result of a love for another, and at that thought
his pity passed away. He would go on with his work, he thought. He would
not be defeated by uureasonable whims, and violent yet fitful gusts of
passion.

"He is safe!" said Lopez.

Katie clasped her hands. Her voice now returned, and, casting up her
eyes, she ejaculated in low tones,

"Oh, thank Heaven!--but where--where--has he gone?"

Lopez shook his head.

"Not yet," said he; "nor can he go--till your promise is fulfilled."

Katie shuddered.

"Is there--is there--no other way?" she asked, tremulously.

"No," said Lopez. "And the promise must be fulfilled soon."

"Soon!" said Katie, with white lips.

"I will explain," said Lopez. "I am in danger here in many ways--enemies
all around. The moment that Rivers is released I am a ruined man. I too
must fly; but you must accompany me. So the moment that Rivers is free
you must be mine. Our marriage must take place at once."

"At once!" cried Katie, with a look of horror. "Oh heavens!"

Lopez drew a deep breath. This aversion of Katie toward himself was
horrible.

"Or else," continued Lopez, "in the event of your refusal--"

"What? what?"

"Rivers is a prisoner yet. He has been reprieved--that is all. The court
did not decide."

"A prisoner--yet!" repeated Katie.

"He cannot go," said Lopez, "till we are married."