For several days the Cubans were almost invisible, appearing only for adaily drive, a twilight saunter on the beach, or a brief visit to theballroom, there to enjoy the excitement of the pastime in which theyboth excelled. Their apartments were in the quietest wing of the hotel,and from the moment of their occupancy seemed to acquire all the charmsof home. The few guests admitted felt the atmosphere of poetry and peacethat pervaded the nest which Love, the worker of miracles, had builthimself even under that tumultuous roof. Strollers in the halls or alongthe breezy verandas often paused to listen to the music of instrument orvoice which came floating out from these sequestered rooms. Frequentlaughter and the murmur of conversation proved that ennui was unknown,and a touch of romance inevitably enhanced the interest wakened by thebeautiful young pair, always together, always happy, never weary of thedolce far niente of this summer life.

In a balcony like a hanging garden, sheltered from the sun by blossomingshrubs and vines that curtained the green nook with odorous shade,Pauline lay indolently swinging in a gaily fringed hammock as she hadbeen wont to do in Cuba, then finding only pleasure in the luxury ofmotion which now failed to quiet her unrest. Manuel had put down thebook to which she no longer listened and, leaning his head upon hishand, sat watching her as she swayed to and fro with thoughtful eyesintent upon the sea, whose murmurous voice possessed a charm morepowerful than his own. Suddenly he spoke:

"Pauline, I cannot understand you! For three weeks we hurried east andwest to find this man, yet when found you shun him and seem content tomake my life a heaven upon earth. I sometimes fancy that you haveresolved to let the past sleep, but the hope dies as soon as born, forin moments like this I see that, though you devote yourself to me, theold purpose is unchanged, and I marvel why you pause."

Her eyes came back from their long gaze and settled on him full of anintelligence which deepened his perplexity. "You have not learned toknow me yet; death is not more inexorable or time more tireless than I.This week has seemed one of indolent delight to you. To me it has beenone of constant vigilance and labor, for scarcely a look, act, or wordof mine has been without effect. At first I secluded myself that Gilbertmight contrast our life with his and, believing us all and all to oneanother, find impotent regret his daily portion. Three days ago accidentplaced an unexpected weapon in my hand which I have used in silence,lest in spite of promises you should rebel and end his trial too soon.Have you no suspicion of my meaning?"

"None. You are more mysterious than ever, and I shall, in truth, believeyou are the enchantress I have so often called you if your spells workinvisibly."

"They do not, and I use no supernatural arts, as I will prove to you.Take my lorgnette that lies behind you, part the leaves where the greengrapes hang thickest, look up at the little window in the shadowy angleof the low roof opposite, and tell me what you see."

"Nothing but a half-drawn curtain."

"Ah! I must try the ruse that first convinced me. Do not show yourself,but watch, and if you speak, let it be in Spanish."

Leaving her airy cradle, Pauline bent over the balcony as if to gatherthe climbing roses that waved their ruddy clusters in the wind. Beforethe third stem was broken Manuel whispered, "I see the curtain move; nowcomes the outline of a head, and now a hand, with some bright object init. Santo Pablo! It is a man staring at you as coolly as if you were alady in a balcony. What prying rascal is it?"

"Gilbert."

"Impossible! He is a gentleman."

"If gentlemen play the traitor and the spy, then he is one. I am notmistaken; for since the glitter of his glass first arrested me I havewatched covertly, and several trials as successful as the present haveconfirmed the suspicion which Babie's innocent complaints of his longabsences aroused. Now do you comprehend why I remained in these roomswith the curtains seldom drawn? Why I swung the hammock here and let yousing and read to me while I played with your hair or leaned upon yourshoulder? Why I have been all devotion and made this balcony a littlestage for the performance of our version of the honeymoon for onespectator?"

Still mindful of the eager eyes upon her, Pauline had been fastening theroses in her bosom as she spoke, and ended with a silvery laugh thatmade the silence musical with its heartsome sound. As she paused, Manuelflung down the lorgnette and was striding past her with irefulimpetuosity, but the white arms took him captive, adding another figureto the picture framed by the green arch as she whispered decisively, "Nofarther! There must be no violence. You promised obedience and I exactit. Do you think detection to a man so lost to honor would wound asdeeply as the sights which make his daily watch a torment? Or that ablow would be as hard to bear as the knowledge that his own act hasplaced you where you are and made him what he is? Silent contempt is thelaw now, so let this insult pass, unclench your hand and turn thatdefiant face to me, while I console you for submission with a kiss."

He yielded to the command enforced by the caress but drew her jealouslyfrom sight, and still glanced rebelliously through the leaves, askingwith a frown, "Why show me this if I may not resent it? How long must Ibear with this man? Tell me your design, else I shall mar it in somemoment when hatred of him conquers love of you."

"I will, for it is tune, because though I have taken the first step youmust take the second. I showed you this that you might find actionpleasanter than rest, and you must bear with this man a little longerfor my sake, but I will give you an amusement to beguile the time. Longago you told me that Gilbert was a gambler. I would not believe it then,now I can believe anything, and you can convince the world of this viceof his as speedily as you will."

"Do you wish me to become a gambler that I may prove him one? I alsotold you that he was suspected of dishonorable play - shall I load thedice and mark the cards to catch him in his own snares?"

Manuel spoke bitterly, for his high spirit chafed at the task assignedhim; womanly wiles seemed more degrading than the masculine method ofretaliation, in which strength replaces subtlety and speedier vengeancebrings speedier satisfaction. But Pauline, fast learning to play uponthat mysterious instrument, the human heart, knew when to stimulate andwhen to soothe.

"Do not reproach me that I point out a safer mode of operation than yourown. You would go to Gilbert and by a hot word, a rash act, put yourlife and my happiness into his hands, for though dueling is forbiddenhere, he would not hesitate to break all laws, human or divine, if by sodoing he could separate us. What would you gain by it? If you kill himhe is beyond our reach forever, and a crime remains to be atoned for. Ifhe kill you your blood will be upon my head, and where should I findconsolation for the loss of the one heart always true and tender?"

With the inexplicable prescience which sometimes foreshadows comingills, she clung to him as if a vision of the future dimly swept beforeher, but he only saw the solicitude it was a sweet surprise to find hehad awakened, and in present pleasure forgot past pain.

"You shall not suffer from this man any grief that I can shield youfrom, rest assured of that, my heart. I will be patient, though yourways are not mine, for the wrong was yours, and the retribution shall besuch as you decree."

"Then hear your task and see the shape into which circumstances havemolded my design. I would have you exercise a self-restraint that shallleave Gilbert no hold upon you, accept all invitations like that whichyou refused when we passed him on the threshold of the billiard room anhour ago, and seem to find in such amusements the same fascination ashimself. Your skill in games of chance excels his, as you proved at homewhere these pastimes lose their disreputable aspect by being openlyenjoyed. Therefore I would have you whet this appetite of his by losingfreely at first - he will take a grim delight in lessening the fortune hecovets - then exert all your skill till he is deeply in your debt. He hasnothing but what is doled out to him by Babie's father, I find; he darenot ask help there for such a purpose; other resources have failed elsehe would not have married; and if the sum be large enough, it lays himunder an obligation which will be a thorn in his flesh, the sharper foryour knowledge of his impotence to draw it out. When this is done, oreven while it is in progress, I would have you add the pain of a newjealousy to the old. He neglects this young wife of his, and she iseager to recover the affections she believes she once possessed. Helpher, and teach Gilbert the value of what he now despises. You are young,comely, accomplished, and possessed of many graces more attractive thanyou are conscious of; your southern birth and breeding gift you with awinning warmth of manners in strong contrast to the colder naturesaround you; and your love for me lends an almost tender deference toyour intercourse with all womankind. Amuse, console this poor girl, andshow her husband what he should be; I have no fear of losing your heartnor need you fear for hers; she is one of those spaniel-like creatureswho love the hand that strikes them and fawn upon the foot that spurnsthem."

"Am I to be the sole actor in the drama of deceit? While I woo Babie,what will you do, Pauline?"

"Let Gilbert woo me - have patience till you understand my meaning; hestill loves me and believes I still return that love. I shall notundeceive him yet, but let silence seem to confess what I do not own inwords. He fed me with false promises, let me build my life's happinesson baseless hopes, and rudely woke me when he could delude no longer,leaving me to find I had pursued a shadow. I will do the same. He shallfollow me undaunted, undeterred by all obstacles, all ties; shall stakehis last throw and lose it, for when the crowning moment comes I shallshow him that through me he is made bankrupt in love, honor, liberty,and hope, tell him I am yours entirely and forever, then vanish like anignis-fatuus, leaving him to the darkness of despair and defeat. Is notthis a better retribution than the bullet that would give him peace atonce?"

Boy, lover, husband though he was, Manuel saw and stood aghast at thebaleful spirit which had enslaved this woman, crushing all generousimpulses, withering all gentle charities, and making her the saddestspectacle this world can show - one human soul rebelling againstProvidence, to become the nemesis of another. Involuntarily he recoiledfrom her, exclaiming, "Pauline! Are you possessed of a devil?"

"Yes! One that will not be cast out till every sin, shame, and sorrowmental ingenuity can conceive and inflict has been heaped on that man'shead. I thought I should be satisfied with one accusing look, one bitterword; I am not, for the evil genii once let loose cannot be recaptured.Once I ruled it, now it rules me, and there is no turning back. I havecome under the law of fate, and henceforth the powers I possess willban, not bless, for I am driven to whet and wield them as weapons whichmay win me success at the price of my salvation. It is not yet too latefor you to shun the spiritual contagion I bear about me. Choose now, andabide by that choice without a shadow of turning, as I abide by mine.Take me as I am; help me willingly and unwillingly; and in the endreceive the promised gift - years like the days you have called heavenupon earth. Or retract the vows you plighted, receive again the heartand name you gave me, and live unvexed by the stormy nature time alonecan tame. Here is the ring. Shall I restore or keep it, Manuel?"

Never had she looked more beautiful as she stood there, an image ofwill, daring, defiant, and indomitable, with eyes darkened by intensityof emotion, voice half sad, half stern, and outstretched hand on whichthe wedding ring no longer shone. She felt her power, yet was waryenough to assure it by one bold appeal to the strongest element of herhusband's character: passions, not principles, were the allies shedesired, and before the answer came she knew that she had gained them atthe cost of innocence and self-respect.

As Manuel listened, an expression like a dark reflection of her ownsettled on his face; a year of youth seemed to drop away; and with theair of one who puts fear behind him, he took the hand, replaced thering, resolutely accepted the hard conditions, and gave all to love,only saying as he had said before, "Soul and body, I belong to you; dowith me as you will."

A fortnight later Pauline sat alone, waiting for her husband. Under thepretext of visiting a friend, she had absented herself a week, thatManuel might give himself entirely to the distasteful task she set him.He submitted to the separation, wrote daily, but sent no tidings of hisprogress, told her nothing when they met that night, and had left her anhour before asking her to have patience till he could show his finishedwork. Now, with her eye upon the door, her ear alert to catch the comingstep, her mind disturbed by contending hopes and fears, she sat waitingwith the vigilant immobility of an Indian on the watch. She had not longto look and listen. Manuel entered hastily, locked the door, closed thewindows, dropped the curtains, then paused in the middle of the room andbroke into a low, triumphant laugh as he eyed his wife with anexpression she had never seen in those dear eyes before. It startledher, and, scarcely knowing what to desire or dread, she asked eagerly,"You are come to tell me you have prospered."

"Beyond your hopes, for the powers of darkness seem to help us, and leadthe man to his destruction faster than any wiles of ours can do. I amtired, let me lie here and rest. I have earned it, so when I have toldall say, 'Love, you have done well,' and I am satisfied."

He threw himself along the couch where she still sat and laid his headin her silken lap, her cool hand on his hot forehead, and continued in amuffled voice.

"You know how eagerly Gilbert took advantage of my willingness to play,and soon how recklessly he pursued it, seeming to find the satisfactionyou foretold, till, obeying your commands, I ceased losing and won sumswhich surprised me. Then you went, but I was not idle, and in the effortto extricate himself, Gilbert plunged deeper into debt; for my desire toplease you seemed to gift me with redoubled skill. Two days ago Irefused to continue the unequal conflict, telling him to give himself nouneasiness, for I could wait. You were right in thinking it wouldoppress him to be under any obligation to me, but wrong in believing hewould endure, and will hardly be prepared for the desperate step he tookto free himself. That night he played falsely, was detected, and thoughhis opponent generously promised silence for Babie's sake, the affairstole out - he is shunned and this resource has failed. I thought he hadno other, but yesterday he came to me with a strange expression ofrelief, discharged the debt to the last farthing, then hinted that myfriendship with his wife was not approved by him and must cease. Thisproves that I have obeyed you in all things, though the comforting ofBabie was an easy task, for, both loving you, our bond of sympathy andconstant theme has been Pauline and her perfections."

"Hush! No praise - it is a mockery. I am what one man's perfidy has made;I may yet learn to be worthy of another man's devotion. What more,Manuel?"

"I thought I should have only a defeat to show you, but today has givenme a strange success. At noon a gentleman arrived and asked for Gilbert.He was absent, but upon offering information relative to the time of hisreturn, which proved my intimacy with him, this Seguin entered intoconversation with me. His evident desire to avoid Mrs. Redmond andwaylay her husband interested me, and when he questioned me somewhatclosely concerning Gilbert's habits and movements of late, my suspicionswere roused; and on mentioning the debt so promptly discharged, Ireceived a confidence that startled me. In a moment of despair Gilberthad forged the name of his former friend, whom he believed abroad, haddrawn the money and freed himself from my power, but not for long. Thegood fortune which has led him safely through many crooked ways seems tohave deserted him in this strait. For the forgery was badly executed,inspection raised doubts, and Seguin, just returned, was at his banker'san hour after Gilbert, to prove the fraud; he came hither at once toaccuse him of it and made me his confidant. What would you have had medo, Pauline? Time was short, and I could not wait for you."

"How can I tell at once? Why pause to ask? What did you do?"

"Took a leaf from your book and kept accusation, punishment, and powerin my own hands, to be used in your behalf. I returned the money,secured the forged check, and prevailed on Seguin to leave the matter inmy hands, while he departed as quietly as he had come. Babie's presencewhen we met tonight prevented my taking you into my counsels. I hadprepared this surprise for you and felt a secret pride in working it outalone. An hour ago I went to watch for Gilbert. He came, I took him tohis rooms, told him what I had done, added that compassion for his wifehad actuated me. I left him saying the possession of the check was afull equivalent for the money, which I now declined to receive from suchdishonorable hands. Are you satisfied, Pauline?"

With countenance and gestures full of exultation she sprang up to pacethe room, exclaiming, as she seized the forged paper, "Yes, that strokewas superb! How strangely the plot thickens. Surely the powers ofdarkness are working with us and have put this weapon in our hands whenthat I forged proved useless. By means of this we have a hold upon himwhich nothing can destroy unless he escape by death. Will he, Manuel?"

"No; there was more wrath than shame in his demeanor when I accused him.He hates me too much to die yet, and had I been the only possessor ofthis fatal fact, I fancy it might have gone hard with me; for if everthere was murder in a man's heart it was in his when I showed him thatpaper and then replaced it next the little poniard you smile at me forwearing. This is over. What next, my queen?"

There was energy in the speaker's tone but none in attitude or aspect,as, still lying where she had left him, he pillowed his head upon hisarm and turned toward her a face already worn and haggard with thefeverish weariness that had usurped the blithe serenity which had beenhis chiefest charm a month ago. Pausing in her rapid walk, as ifarrested by the change that seemed to strike her suddenly, she recalledher thoughts from the dominant idea of her life and, remembering theyouth she was robbing of its innocent delights, answered the wistfullook which betrayed the hunger of a heart she had never truly fed, asshe knelt beside her husband and, laying her soft cheek to his,whispered in her tenderest accents, "I am not wholly selfish orungrateful, Manuel. You shall rest now while I sing to you, and tomorrowwe will go away among the hills and leave behind us for a time the darktemptation which harms you through me."

"No! Finish what you have begun. I will have all or nothing, for if wepause now you will bring me a divided mind, and I shall possess only theshadow of a wife. Take Gilbert and Babie with us, and end this devil'swork without delay. Hark! What is that?"

Steps came flying down the long hall, a hand tried the lock, then beatimpetuously upon the door, and a low voice whispered with shrillimportunity, "Let me in! Oh, let me in!"

Manuel obeyed the urgent summons, and Mrs. Redmond, half dressed, withstreaming hair and terror-stricken face, fled into Pauline's arms,crying incoherently, "Save me! Keep me! I never can go back to him; hesaid I was a burden and a curse, and wished I never had been born!"

"What has happened, Babie? We are your friends. Tell us, and let uscomfort and protect you if we can."

But for a time speech was impossible, and the poor girl wept with adespairing vehemence sad to see, till their gentle efforts soothed her;and, sitting by Pauline, she told her trouble, looking oftenest atManuel, who stood before them, as if sure of redress from him.

"When I left here an hour or more ago I found my rooms still empty, and,though I had not seen my husband since morning, I knew he would bedispleased to find me waiting, so I cried myself to sleep and dreamed ofthe happy time when he was kind, till the sound of voices woke me. Iheard Gilbert say, 'Babie is with your wife, her maid tells me;therefore we are alone here. What is this mysterious affair, Laroche?'That tempted me to listen, and then, Manuel, I learned all the shame andmisery you so generously tried to spare me. How can I ever repay you,ever love and honor you enough for such care of one so helpless andforlorn as I?"

"I am repaid already. Let that pass, and tell what brings you here withsuch an air of fright and fear?"

"When you were gone he came straight to the inner room in search ofsomething, saw me, and knew I must have heard all he had concealed fromme so carefully. If you have ever seen him when that fierce temper ofhis grows ungovernable, you can guess what I endured. He said such cruelthings I could not bear it, and cried out that I would come to you, forI was quite wild with terror, grief, and shame, that seemed like oil tofire. He swore I should not, and oh, Pauline, he struck me! See, if I donot tell the living truth!"

Trembling with excitement, Mrs. Redmond pushed back the wide sleeve ofher wrapper and showed the red outline of a heavy hand. Manuel set histeeth and stamped his foot into the carpet with an indignant exclamationand the brief question, "Then you left him, Babie?"

"Yes, although he locked me in my room, saying the law gave him theright to teach obedience. I flung on these clothes, crept noiselesslyalong the balcony till the hall window let me in, and then I ran to you.He will come for me. Can he take me away? Must I go back to suffer anymore?"

In the very act of uttering the words, Mrs. Redmond clung to Manuel witha cry of fear, for on the threshold stood her husband. A comprehensiveglance seemed to stimulate his wrath and lend the hardihood wherewith toconfront the three, saying sternly as he beckoned, "Babie, I am waitingfor you."

She did not speak, but still clung to Manuel as if he were her onlyhope. A glance from Pauline checked the fiery words trembling on hislips, and he too stood silent while she answered with a calmness thatamazed him:

"Your wife has chosen us her guardians, and I think you will scarcelyventure to use force again with two such witnesses as these to provethat you have forfeited your right to her obedience and justify the stepshe has taken."

With one hand she uncovered the discolored arm, with the other held theforgery before him. For a moment Gilbert stood daunted by these muteaccusations, but just then his ire burned hottest against Manuel; andbelieving that he could deal a double blow by wounding Pauline throughher husband, he ignored her presence and, turning to the young man,asked significantly, "Am I to understand that you refuse me my wife, andprefer to abide by the consequences of such an act?"

Calmed by Pauline's calmness, Manuel only drew the trembling creaturecloser, and answered with his haughtiest mien, "I do; spare yourself thelabor of insulting me, for having placed yourself beyond the reach of agentleman's weapon, I shall accept no challenge from a - "

A soft hand at his lips checked the opprobrious word, as Babie, truewoman through it all, whispered with a broken sob, "Spare him, for Iloved him once."

Gilbert Redmond had a heart, and, sinful though it was, this generousforbearance wrung it with a momentary pang of genuine remorse, tooswiftly followed by a selfish hope that all was not lost if through hiswife he could retain a hold upon the pair which now possessed for himthe strong attraction of both love and hate. In that brief pause thisthought came, was accepted and obeyed, for, as if yielding to anuncontrollable impulse of penitent despair, he stretched his arms to hiswife, saying humbly, imploringly, "Babie, come back to me, and teach mehow I may retrieve the past. I freely confess I bitterly repent mymanifold transgressions, and submit to your decree alone; but inexecuting justice, oh, remember mercy! Remember that I was too earlyleft fatherless, motherless, and went astray for want of some kind heartto guide and cherish me. There is still time. Be compassionate and saveme from myself. Am I not punished enough? Must death be my onlycomforter? Babie, when all others cast me off, will you too forsake me?"

"No, I will not! Only love me, and I can forgive, forget, and still behappy!"

Pauline was right. The spaniel-like nature still loved the hand thatstruck it, and Mrs. Redmond joyfully returned to the arms from which shehad so lately fled. The tenderest welcome she had ever received from himwelcomed the loving soul whose faith was not yet dead, for Gilbert feltthe value this once neglected possession had suddenly acquired, and heheld it close; yet as he soothed with gentle touch and tone, could notforbear a glance of triumph at the spectators of the scene.

Pauline met it with that inscrutable smile of hers, and a look ofintelligence toward her husband, as she said, "Did I not prophesy truly,Manuel? Be kind to her, Gilbert, and when next we meet show us a happierwife than the one now sobbing on your shoulder. Babie, good night andfarewell, for we are off to the mountains in the morning."

"Oh, let us go with you as you promised! You know our secret, you pityme and will help Gilbert to be what he should. I cannot live at home,and places like this will seem so desolate when you and Manuel are gone.May we, can we be with you a little longer?"

"If Gilbert wishes it and Manuel consents, we will bear and forbear muchfor your sake, my poor child."

Pauline's eye said, "Dare you go?" and Gilbert's answered, "Yes," as thetwo met with a somber fire in each; but his lips replied, "Anywhere withyou, Babie," and Manuel took Mrs. Redmond's hand with a graceful warmththat touched her deeper than his words.

"Your example teaches me the beauty of compassion, and Pauline's friendsare mine."

"Always so kind to me! Dear Manuel, I never can forget it, though I havenothing to return but this," and, like a grateful child, she lifted upher innocent face so wistfully he could only bend his tall head toreceive the kiss she offered.

Gilbert's black brows lowered ominously at the sight, but he neverspoke; and, when her good-nights were over, bowed silently and carriedhis little wife away, nestling to him as if all griefs and pains werebanished by returning love.

"Poor little heart! She should have a smoother path to tread. Heavengrant she may hereafter; and this sudden penitence prove no sham."Manuel paused suddenly, for as if obeying an unconquerable impulse,Pauline laid a hand on either shoulder and searched his face with anexpression which baffled his comprehension, though he bore it steadilytill her eyes fell before his own, when he asked smilingly:

"Is the doubt destroyed, cariña?"

"No; it is laid asleep."

Then as he drew her nearer, as if to make his peace for his unknownoffense, she turned her cheek away and left him silently. Did she fearto find Babie's kiss upon his lips?