Furthermore--he wishes me to marry Ramon, and so that ends it."
Her lips were trembling as she peered up at him to see if he
really understood.
"Let them rave, dear. What does it matter who is President? What
does anything matter to you and me?"
"He says I am too young to know my own mind, and--perhaps that is
true, Senor Antonio; perhaps I shall soon forget you and learn to
love Ramon as he loves me, I do not know--"
In spite of the pathetic quaver in her voice, Kirk cried with
jealous bitterness:
"You don't seem to object very strongly; you seem to care about as
much for Alfarez as you do for me. Is that it?"
"Yes, senor," she said, bravely.
"You are lying!" declared Stephanie, suddenly.
The girl burst into a perfect torrent of weeping that shamed him.
Then, without any invitation, she flung herself recklessly into
his arms and lay there, trembling, palpitating like an imprisoned
bird. "Forgive me, dear," he exclaimed, softly. "I knew better all
the time. You mustn't think of doing what they ask; I won't allow
it." His own heart-beats were shaking him, and he hardly knew what
he was saying. The sight of her grief maddened him. It was as if
they had taken advantage of his helpless little maid to hurt her
maliciously, and his indignation blazed forth.
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