Rita

I will, indeed; but my heart will break to leav

parative safety. Perfect safety, I do not promise. Where shall we find it, even for our nearest and dearest, in this poor distracted country? But with Don Annunzio and his family you will be safe at least for a time; whereas here-" The General looked around, and shrugged his shoulders, spreading his hands out with a dramatic

ear Se?or General, I go! I fly! Give me half, a quarter of an hour, and I am gone. Never, never, will I be in the way of my country's defenders; ne

ou must go; yet not too soon. This evening, when the coolness falls, Don Carlos, with a chosen escort, will conduct you to the residence of Don Annunzio. There, I rejoice to think that you will find, not luxury, but at least some few of the comforts of ordinary life. Here you have suffered; your lofty spirit will not confess it, but you have-you must have suffered, d

p of blood for the defenders of her country. Now-a few kind, grave words from a gray-haired man, and all was changed. She was not a necessity, she was a hindrance; she saw that this must be so; the pain was sharp, but she would not show it; she would never again lose her self-control, never. Carlos should see that she was no longer a child. He had called her a child, not half an hour ago, a naughty child, who was making trouble for everybody. Well-Rita stood still; the thought came over her suddenly,-it was true! she had been childish, had b

o her hut, with bent head, and eyes full of unshed tears. Meanwhile, the go

the gray head bent

I seen a more lovely young person! The se?orita is most reasonable. She comprehends; she understands the desolatio

glad to find that Rita had come to her senses. He thanked General Sevillo warmly for his good offices, and, being off duty, went in search of his sister, determining that he would make her last day in camp a pleasant one, so far as lay in his power. He found Rita sitting sadly in the door of her hut, watching M

th me, and let me show you some things that you have not yet seen. You must

she drove them back bravely, and smiled, and laid her hand in h

seemed to her infinitely touching and beautiful. "Ohimé," sighed Manuela. "War is terrible, indeed! To think that we must g

kerchief was still tied about his head, but it was tied now with a grace that might have done credit to the most dandified matador in the Havana ring. His jacket was neatly mended; altogether, Pepe was once more a self-respecting, even a self-admiring youth. Also, h

a small portion of sense," she said. "

f my bones! Leave t

impleton. This General of yours drives us from his quarters; he begrudges the morsel we eat, the rude hut that shelters us. Enough! we go; even now I

ose of the Antilles. Accidental death to this bag! why have you filled it so full? There! it is strapped. Manuela, is it poss

th the chatter of a parrot in my ears? Attend, then, Pepe

fiery protestations, but was bid

have never asked me what I brought with me for you; brought all that cruel way from the city. I knew I should find you somewhere, my good Pepe; or, if not you, s

and tied with a crimson ribbon. Receiving it with dramatic eag

n seen upon the earth. This is not for me! No! Impossible! The Gener

thing enough; a square of white flannel the size of an ordinary needlebook, neatly scalloped around the edge with white silk. In

the delighted Pepe. "Did you, bright and gay, i

ng else to do. And now you may go away, Pepe,

bewildered, "you c

. It is done; I thank

en me the detente

rt. Adios, Don Pepe!" and she actually shut the door of the hut in the face of her astonished adorer, who

of nearly a week. She saw the kitchen, or what passed for a kitchen,-a pleasant spot under a palm-tree, where the cook was even then toasting long strips of

f the long, lean, coffee-coloured soldier, picturesque an

n up; not the first time, nor perhaps t

d t

build another. An affair

t often fall into the

he ashes-soldiers do not dine at the Hotel Royal, one must observe. May I offer the se?orita a bi

anut shell, filled with the favourite drink, which was simply hot water with sugar dissolved in it. Rita took the cup graciously, and drank to the health of th

le red ones, the kind you like, Rita. I'll fill a basket fo

ll grass and young palm-trees, when suddenly Rita

Look yonder, Carlos

or a land-crab. Stand here a momen

from side to side, then seemed to settle down, as if an invisible hand were pulling it from below. Carlos drew his machete, and bent fo

in terror. "Carlos, come b

. "One of our own men on outpost duty. Hav

" said the negro scout, grinning. "Bett

ck and shoulders, falling to his thighs. A pair of ragged trousers of no particular colour completed his costume. A more perfect disguise coul

ovingly. "No Gringo could possibly see you

achete and went through an expressive pantomime which, if carried o

it! The se?orita would like to

y along, holding her brother's hand, kept her eyes on the scout for a few moments; then he seemed to melt into the rest of the grass

ificent gesture. "The property, with all it contains

upright branches stuck in the ground. Under this awning was space for a man to sit, or even to lie down, if he did not mind his feet being in the sun. A small iron pot, hung on

to Rita with grave courtesy. She took it with equal dignity, thanking him with her most gracious smile, and ate i

are not afraid? No, of course not that; you are a soldier.

excellent company. They cannot talk, but that suits me very well. Then, there is always the chance of some one coming by-as to-day, when the Blessed Virgin sends the se?orita and the Se?or Don Carl

, Pablo, beside scouting and going

er would befit the se?orita. May she live as happy as she is beautiful, the

ng and waving a salute, they left the scout nodding his grass-cr