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She broke down suddenly and began to sob The lad slipped to the ground and went quickly to her, putting an arm around her waist across the saddle

"Don't cry, Val We all love you--of course we do How can we help it? It will all coht, with all of you working to o away"

"He won't He is a man, and he won't let you drive him out"

"We'll find some way, Val, to save Manuel for you"

"But it isn't only Manuel I don't want any of you hurt--you or anybody--not even this Mr Gordon Oh, Ramon, help me to stop this wicked business"

"If you can tell me how"

She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, as a sign that her weakness was past

"We erous mood? They think this ht And you must send Manuel to h he felt sure that even she could not induce his friend to withdraw from a position which he felt his honor called him to take

Nor did the mistress of the valley find it easy to lead her tenants to her way of thinking They were respectful, outwardly acquiescent, but the girl saith a sinking heart, that they remained of their own opinion Whether he were man or devil, they were determined to make an end of Gordon's intrusion