An American

onsul had erected his residence hoping to occupy it long after his term of office should expire as he had found the climate very beneficial to the health of his entire family, as it seemed, and desire

en she had to really face the situation into whi

rich surroundings, old Mage appeared to welcome her, as she had been directed by her mistress to do; the old woman was greatly

ms beyond the earth, yet she was acknowledged to be eminently practical and able to attend to her own business affairs with no danger of being over-reached by those with whom she dealt as to monetary matters, as her natural acumen in such matters had been sharpened by various experiences of a more or less unpleasant character, such as the loss of certain sums of money through trusting to the honor of some of those with whom she had had sympathy in their need, for she had dis

ed her in her thoughts, although she often found verbal fault with her to her fair and tender face ... fond of gossi

s it affected her own people as she was fond of distinguishing them, for old Mage, although uneducated and almost unaware of her own nationality as her mother had died at her birth and her father had immediately deserted her, yet pride

ows much more strongly than those who have had more insight into the humble attainments of even the wisest of human beings, for those who have been permitted to climb the heights of thought have had a glimpse of the vastness and unattain

fit as well in attending to the various small duties of her daily life as she performed those duties through love and pride. Having seated the girl who was almost overpowered, already, by

sitor at the home she dearly loved, yet had tried to think that her young lady had chosen wisely, even if unconventionally, when she had married him, as it was very hard for her ever to really question any object upon which Ruth had set her heart, it having been

mystery to her, "and she needs company ... a woman needs a man around to make love to her and this fellow is good at that what with his guitar and his mandolin and his fine voice, not to speak of his wonderful dark eyes and his cu

ional question as to the identity of her lover on her

me, to the man who was found dead at the entrance to the prison, last

ing only to engage the girl in conver

e most intelligent man among the whole people of this Island, I think.... I know I never saw anyone either so handsome or so smart as was my dear Victorio.... I don't suppose you would e

egan to moan and sob and wring

comfort and calm her by speaking rather sharply to her as she knew hysteria can only be overcome by the application of fierce rem

... was he, then, a leader among the

e bereaved girl. "Victorio Colenzo was

d crumpled down in her chair as if she had received a stroke of some kind and seemed as if paralyzed, for her poor

in! What kind of l

the demand made on her, t

d expressive and his hair was the very most beautiful curly hair that ever grew on any human head ... he was tall and stron

herself up sharply, remembering how unprotected her dear young lady was and wishing,

uture, upon the soul of the man who had brought sorrow to her dear, innocent lamb. As far as the girl was concerned she felt that she had had more than her just deserts already and wished to relieve her young lady of any further torture regarding the mixed matter, for old Mage, though an ignorant woman in many ways, had lived a great many observant years a

in the home of the wronged wife; she went about this with precision and dispatch, for, once she had

ther she had any inkling of the exact situation, "I suppose yo

brought me up ... my parents I know nothing of but believe that I am not of Cuban blood.... I think ..."

e, but she kept her one idea of saving her young lady f

e so, anyway ..." she temporized, seeing the look of despair that settled on Estrella's really beautiful and innocent features, "and my young lady wanted me to help you if you needed any help for she feels so sorry that your lover happened to be killed just as he

ou had not told me that Estrella had come ... have you b

outh of the other woman, "I have only rested for a few moments after my climb to the top of the hill. It was very kind," she ad

nd ... but I believe that we are all but a part of a very great plan which is beyond our comprehension while we are here in this finite world, and I hope ..." she had the look of one of God's good angels on her face as she said it, "and I hope to know more about this great plan when I have passed beyond this world and all its many disappointments. You have had a terrific blow, my poor Gir

and Manuello persists in making love to me and I can't bear to have him touch me after having known the love of a man who never even looked at any other w

h in making it had it not happened that she had mislaid those triumphs of the dentist's art, for old Mage was the proud possessor of two entire sets of teeth, although she seldom could lay h

and added several little concoctions of her own making to the

so instead of going to pick her up as you know very well she won't allow anyone to do except yourself, I just got one of her saucers and a silver spoon and pounded on the edge o

e is so little," she explained to Estrella, "she is so very small and so very cute ... I have had her with me, now, for ... how

l, hoping to attract her attention to herself and so leave Ruth free from her immediate scrutiny, "just think of that! You must come with me, when you have had your tea, and see the cute little yard we have for her and then you must look over the grounds

concerning her own husband; so she called old Mage into another room and cautioned her to be very kind to poor Estrella and gave her quite a sum of money to hand

t; her main idea was to relieve her mistress and this she did by assuring her that she would look after t

help Estrella who was as innocent as her own young lady was, as she could see, for old Mage was seldom mista