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powerless. They were simply at the mercy of forces hidden and unknown, and warring against circumstances unforseen and beyond control, they thought concluded at last by themselves.

Rosa thought of the world and the people in it, ah—how cruel they were, and how sad and hard it was to live—how bitterly hard to live, especially for a woman, so weak and flexible, unable to face the battle of life.

She, in her innocence, prayed to heaven to give her strength to patiently endure the buffets of circumstances and meekly suffer in humiliation man's ingratitude to man.

Crying alone, she stifled her sorrows in her heart.

Camilo could not help writing his friend Lucio, whose happiness he had in mind always. He informed him of the impending peril and trouble, of the rumor, especially the one going around in Merry Town that Rose was about to be betrothed, which she herself bitterly denied. The letter reached Lucio in due course of time.

As soon as it was received, the flamed burning within him was pitched into the height of desperation.

Just imagine what sadness that carelessly written note had caused this silent and thoughtful and devoted lover—Lucio. It somewhat aroused the animal nature within him, that is, to jealously revenge. But Camilo thought it would do good to inform him, for the lover he bore him. But after thinking it all over and viewing it from different angles, Lucio was at last self-convinced