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did not return Miss Keene's confidencesnot because he wished to
deceive her； but that he preferred to entertain her； while she did
not care to know his secret now that it no longer affected their
sympathy in other things。 It was a pleasant； innocent selfishness；
that； however； led them along； step by step； to more uncertain and
difficult ground。
In their idle； happy walk they had strayed towards the beach； and
had come upon a large stone cross with its base half hidden in
sand； and covered with small tenacious； sweet…scented creepers；
bearing a pale lilac blossom that exhaled a mingled odor of sea and
shore。 Hurlstone pointed out the cross as one of the earliest
outposts of the Church on the edge of the unclaimed heathen
wilderness。 It was hung with strings of gaudy shells and feathers；
which Hurlstone explained were votive offerings in which their
pagan superstitions still mingled with their new faith。
〃I don't like to worry that good old Padre；〃 he continued； with a
light smile； 〃but I'm afraid that they prefer this cross to the
chapel for certain heathenish reasons of their own。 I am quite
sure that they still hold some obscure rites here under the good
Father's very nose； and that； in the guise of this emblem of our
universal faith； they worship some deity we have no knowledge of。〃
〃It's a shame；〃 said Miss Keene quickly。
To her surprise； Hurlstone did not appear so shocked as she； in her
belief of his religious sympathy with the Padre； had imagined。
〃They're a harmless race；〃 he said carelessly。 〃The place is much
frequented by the childrenespecially the young girls； a good many
of these offerings came from them。〃
The better to examine these quaint tributes； Miss Keene had thrown
herself； with an impulsive； girlish abandonment； on the mound by
the cross； and Hurlstone sat down beside her。 Their eyes met in an
innocent pleasure of each other's company。 She thought him very
handsome in the dark； half official Mexican dress that necessity
alone had obliged him to assume； and much more distinguished…
looking than his companions in their extravagant foppery； he
thought her beauty more youthful and artless than he had imagined
it to be； and with his older and graver experiences felt a certain
protecting superiority that was pleasant and reassuring。
Nevertheless； seated so near each other； they were very quiet。
Hurlstone could not tell whether it was the sea or the flowers； but
the dress of the young girl seemed to exhale some subtle perfume of
her own freshness that half took away his breath。 She had scraped
up a handful of sand； and was allowing it to escape through her
slim fingers in a slender rain on the ground。 He was watching the
operation with what he began to fear was fatuous imbecility。
〃Miss Keene？I beg your pardon〃
〃Mr。 Hurlstone？Excuse me； you were saying〃
They had both spoken at the same moment； and smiled forgivingly at
each other。 Hurlstone gallantly insisted upon the precedence of
her thoughtthe scamp had doubted the coherency of his own。
〃I used to think；〃 she began〃you won't be angry； will you？〃
〃Decidedly not。〃
〃I used to think you had an idea of becoming a priest。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Becauseyou are sure you won't be angrybecause I thought you
hated women！〃
〃Father Esteban is a priest；〃 said Hurlstone； with a faint smile；
〃and you know he thinks kindly of your sex。〃
〃Yes； but perhaps HIS life was never spoiled by some wicked woman
likelike yours。〃
For an instant he gazed intently into her eyes。
〃Who told you that？〃
〃No one。〃
She was evidently speaking the absolute truth。 There was no deceit
or suppression in her clear gaze； if anything； only the faintest
look of wonder at his astonishment。 And hethis jealously guarded
secret； the curse of his whole wretched life； had been guessed by
this simple girl； without comment； without reserve； without horror！
And there had been no scene； no convulsion of Nature； no tragedy；
he had not thrown himself into yonder sea； she had not fled from
him shrinking； but was sitting there opposite to him in gentle
smiling expectation； the golden light of Todos Santos around them；
a bit of bright ribbon shining in her dark hair； and he； miserable；
outcast； and recluse； had not even changed his position； but was
looking up without tremulousness or excitement； and smiling； too。
He raised himself suddenly on his knee。
〃And what if it were all true？〃 he demanded。
〃I should be very sorry for you； and glad it were all over now；〃
she said softly。
A faint pink flush covered her cheek the next moment； as if she had
suddenly become aware of another meaning in her speech； and she
turned her head hastily towards the village。 To her relief she
discerned that a number of Indian children had approached them from
behind and had halted a few paces from the cross。 Their hands were
full of flowers and shells as they stood hesitatingly watching the
couple。
〃They are some of the school…children；〃 said Hurlstone； in answer
to her inquiring look； 〃but I can't understand why they come here
so openly。〃
〃Oh； don't scold them！〃 said Eleanor； forgetting her previous
orthodox protest； 〃let us go away； and pretend we don't notice
them。〃
But as she was about to rise to her feet the hesitation of the
little creatures ended in a sudden advance of the whole body； and
before she comprehended what they were doing they had pressed the
whole of their floral tributes in her lap。 The color rose again
quickly to her laughing face as she looked at Hurlstone。
〃Do you usually get up this pretty surprise for visitors？〃 she said
hesitatingly。
〃I assure you I have nothing to do with it；〃 he answered； with
frank amazement； 〃it's quite spontaneous。 And lookthey are even
decorating ME。〃
It was true； they had thrown a half dozen strings of shells on
Hurlstone's unresisting shoulders； and； unheeding the few words he
laughingly addressed them in their own dialect； they ran off a few
paces； and remained standing； as if gravely contemplating their
work。 Suddenly； with a little outcry of terror； they turned； fled
wildly past them； and disappeared in the bushes。
Miss Keene and Hurlstone rose at the same moment； but the young
girl； taking a step forward； suddenly staggered； and was obliged to
clasp one of the arms of the cross to keep herself from falling。
Hurlstone sprang to her side。
〃Are you ill？〃 he asked hurriedly。 〃You are quite white。 What is
the matter？〃
A smile crossed her colorless face。
〃I am certainly very giddy； everything seems to tremble。〃
〃Perhaps it is the flowers；〃 he said anxiously。 〃Their heavy
perfume in this close air affects you。 Throw them away； for
Heaven's sake！〃
But she clutched them tighter to her heart as she leaned for a
moment； pale yet smiling； against the cross。
〃No； no！〃 she said earnestly； 〃it w