separated. Thou dost know this, Alicia, yet I love and trust thee, my wife. Nor is this all; they have taken from me, too, my money on false pretenses. I begrudge it not when deserved, but when they deceive to get it from me, I will refuse."

Thus had often said her husband to her, and it was such words as these that rushed to her memory as she stood, silent, before her priest.

"Is it not worth the cost, my daughter?" said the man, noticing her hesitancy.

"Yes-oh, yes-but my husband!" she faltered.

"Need thy husband know? Is not the money thine as well as his?"

The woman recoiled as from a blow. Looking into her eyes, the priest knew he had blundered.

Ere he could reply, she arose. "I will tell my husband. He will send to you the money."

CHAPTER III.

THE RANSOM.

Mariana clung to her new found protector. They were continually watched, not allowed out of sight; yet they often had frequent opportunities for conversation, spending hours together sitting under the trees near to the nut.

Aurelio told her his story. His lovely hacienda home was only ten leagues from the city where Mariana lived. Indeed, he remembered that the supplies from the hacienda were bought at the big store of Peralta, Mariana's father. Aurelio was an only child, accustomed to the plain and to long rides on his pony, accompanying the peons or alone. On such occasion, he was pursued and seized by a couple of men and carried to this place. From occasional words which he had overheard he had concluded that he was being held for a ransom. This he supposed was Mariana's situation also, and he comforted her by assurance of their return in time.

"Can we not run away some dark night, Aurelio, and find my home?" asked the child.

"No, no! It is far,-leagues and leagues. Thou couldst not walk so far, and they would soon find us again. If we try to run away, they may hurt us, for I have tried it many a time. But if we keep quiet, we will all the sooner be sent home. They are waiting for money."

"Oh, my papa is rich, he will send them money. Shall I tell them?"

"No, we must keep quiet and wait."

One morning Aurelio led her to a distant rock where they often sat together. "Something is going to happen!" he said, speaking hurriedly. "I have heard some words, I am to be sent home!"

"And I, too?" interrupted the excited child.

"Be very quiet!" continued Aurelio. "No, queridita, I fear it is only I, but I promise this, I will go at once and tell your papa where you are." Mariana was crying and laughing.

"Come here," said the boy, and stooping, he drew from under the rock a little packet. Unwrapping the rags, he disclosed a dainty, slender golden chain with a little hanging

cross.

"Oh, it is just like the one they took from me," said the girl, breathing hard. "Yes, my mother gave it to me, she said, because she had no girl. I was to wear it

to remind me to pray morning and evening to our blessed Virgin Mary. When they took from me my clothes, as they did thine, I snatched this from my neck and put it in my mouth. Then when they did not see, I slipped it into my shoe, till I could hide it out of doors. I will give it to thee to keep till I see thee again. But I must hide it again, and do not take it from this place till thou art going, for they will see it and take it from thee."

"Oh, I am so glad. It is so pretty! But I wish I had something to give to thee!"

"I have already something of thine!" laughed the boy, pulling from under his torn little shirt a shining black curl. “I found this where they had thrown thine hair, thy beautiful curls, and I will keep it to make me think of thee. And I will look for thy papa, and soon thou, too, wilt be home again!"

"Oh, quickly, so quickly!" cried little Mariana.

"They are calling us now," added the boy, stooping to hide the packet, and to pick up a handful of pebbles as an excuse.

There was no further opportunity for words. The boy was told to put on quickly his own clothes, which had been hidden from him. He saw two men on horses. He

was told to climb behind one of the men. Mariana shuddered, for she saw again the fellow with shifting eyes and the scar across his forehead. But she had learned to make no outbreaks. Only an interchange of looks was there between the children-one of loving farewell, the other of mute, longing appeal.

The boy saw they were approaching the city, Mariana's city.

"I will cry out in the streets! I will shout and tell them where she is, that they may go at once and get her!" said the boy to himself.

Just outside the wall they halted, by the shrine of the Virgin, where travelers were wont to stop and pray for safe journey. One of the men, reaching under the hollow pedestal, drew something forth. His eyes gleamed.

"Well for thee, boy, that this is here!" he exclaimed to Aurelio. "Now run to the inn of San Andres and find those who will be awaiting thee."

Then looking again with gloating eye over the money, he exclaimed, "And large share of this is mine! I will get it!"

Reaching the inn, Aurelio saw his father standing. Rushing into his arms, he cried:

"Oh, here I am, but Mariana is still there! Tell her father to go now-now-to