her face still averted.

"It was the dearest wish of my poor father and of Anita's that the
ancient friendship between the families should be cemented by a
marriage between Anita and me. For me Senora Sepulvida would be a
marvelous mother-in-law, because she's my kind of people and we
understand each other. Really, I feel tremendously complimented
because, even before the oil strike saved the family from financial
ruin, Anita did not lack opportunities for many a more brilliant match."

"She's--dazzling," Kay murmured drearily. "What a brilliant wife she
will be for you!"

"Anita is far too fine a woman for such a sacrifice. I've always
entertained a very great affection for her and she for me. There's
only one small bug in our amber."

"And that--"

"We aren't the least bit in love with each other. We're children of a
later day and we object to the old-fashioned method of a marriage
arranged by papa and mama. I know there must be something radically
wrong with me; otherwise I never could resist Anita."

"But you are going to marry her, are you not?"

"I am not. She wouldn't marry me on a bet. And of course I didn't
accept her dear old mother's offer of financial aid. Couldn't, under
the circumstances, and besides, it would not be kind of me to transfer
my burden to them. I much prefer to paddle my own canoe."

He noticed a rush of color to the face as she turned abruptly toward
him now. "What a heritage of pride you have, Miguel. But are you
quite certain Anita does not love you? You should have heard all the
nice things she said about you to-day."

"She ought to say nice things about me," he replied casually. "When
she was quite a little girl she was given to understand that her
ultimate mission in life was to marry me. Of course I always realized
that it would not be a compliment to Anita to indicate that I was not
head over heels in love with her; I merely pretended I was too bashful
to mention it. Finally one day Anita suggested, as a favor to her and
for the sake of my own self-respect, that I abandon the pose; with
tears in her eyes she begged me to be a gallant rebel and save her from
the loving solicitude of her parents to see her settled in life. At
that moment I almost loved her, particularly when, having assured her
of my entire willingness and ability to spoil everything, she kissed me
rapturously on both cheeks and confided to me that she was secretly
engaged to an engineer ch