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"There is no plausible reason," said Mary

The old Petronilla, in the greatest embarrassment, stammered out a feords as to an unexpected journey, secrets he ested that his friends ht have prevailed upon him to join

in a party of pleasure; but all these were such vague suppositions that

Mary plainly saw in thement that she could find no

reasonable explanation of Geronimo's absence

Mary's tears flowed faster

"Oh, Petronilla!" she exclaiht of ood, so noble, so

gifted, the unfortunate victiht! and no roo;

nevera cry of anguish, she covered her face with her hands

"I acknowledge, Mary," said the duenna, dejectedly, "that Geronimo's

absence is inexplicable; but why look on the worst side and accept it as

truth? You know that during the last four days every possible effort has

been made to discover Geronied his honor to find him dead, or alive"