FOR WOMAN'S LOVE

A Novel

by

MRS. E. D. E. N. SOUTHWORTH

Author of "The Hidden Hand, " "Only a Girl's Heart, " "Unknown, ""The Lost Lady of Lone, " "Nearest and Dearest, " etc. 

New York and LondonStreet & Smith, Publishers

1890

CHAPTER I. 

A BRILLIANT MATCH. 

"I remember Regulas Rothsay--or Rule, as we used to call him--when hewas a little bit of a fellow hardly up to my knee, running aboutbare-footed and doing odd jobs round the foundry. Ah! and now he iselected governor of this State by the biggest majority ever heard of, and engaged to be married to the finest young lady in the country, withthe full consent of all her proud relations. To be married to-day and tobe inaugurated to-morrow, and he only thirty-two years old this blessedseventh of June!"

The speaker, a hale man of sixty years, with a bald head, a sharp face, a ruddy complexion, and a figure as twisted as a yew tree, and about astough, was Silas Marwig, one of the foremen of the foundry. 

"Well, I don't believe Regulas Rothsay would ever have risen to hispresent position if it had not been for his love of Corona Haught. Nomore do I believe that Old Rockharrt would ever have allowed hisbeautiful granddaughter to be engaged to Rothsay if the young man hadnot been elected governor, " observed a stout, florid-faced matron offifty-five. "How hard he worked for her! And how long she waited forhim! Why, I remember them both so well! They were the very best offriends from their childhood--the wealthy little lady and the poororphan boy. "

"That is very true, Mrs. Bounce, " said a young man, who was a newcomerin the neighborhood and one of the bookkeepers of the great firm. "Buthow did that orphan get his education?"

"By hook and by crook, as the saying is, Mr. Wall. I think the littlelady taught him to read and write, and she loaned him books. He lefthere when he was about thirteen years old. He went to the city, and gotinto the printing office of _The National Watch_. And he learned thetrade. And, oh, you know a bright, earnest boy like that was bound toget on. He worked hard, and he studied hard. After awhile he began towrite short, telling paragraphs for the _Watch_, and these at lengthwere noticed and copied, and he became assistant editor of the paper. Bythe time he was twenty-five years old he had bought the paper out. "

"And, of course, he made it a power in politics. I see the rest. He waselected State representative; then State senator. "

"Yes, indeed. You've hit it. And now he is going to marry his first loveto-day, and to take his seat as governor to-morrow, " continued thematron, with a little chuckle. 

"Regulas Rothsay will never take his seat as governor, " spoke a solemnvoice from the thicket on the right of the road along which the partywere walking to the scene of the grand wedding. All turned to see astrange form step out from the shelter of the trees--a tall, gaunt, swarthy woman, stern of feature and harsh of tone; her head covered withwild, straggling black hair; her body clothed in a long, clinginggarment of dark red serge. 

"Old Scythia, " muttered the matron, shuddering and shrinking closer tothe side of the bookkeeper, for the strange creature was reported andbelieved by the ignorant and superstitious of the neighborhood to bepowerful and malignant. 

"Regulas Rothsay will never take his seat as governor of this State!"

As the beldame repeated and emphasized these words, she raised her handwith a prophetic gesture and advanced upon the group of pedestrians. 

"Now, then, you old crow! What are you up to with your croaking?"demanded Mr. Marwig. "Look here, Mistress Beelzebub! Do you know thatyou are a very lucky woman to live in a land where not only may abarefooted boy rise to the highest honors by talent and perseverance, but where a malignant old witch may torture and terrify her neighborswithout fear of the ducking stool or the stake?" he demanded. 

The beldame looked at him scornfully, and disdained to reply. 

"Wait!" said a stout, dark, middle-aged, black-whiskered man, TimothyRyland by name, and one of the managers of the "works" by state. "Wait, I want to question this miserable lunatic. She may have got wind ofsomething. Tell me, old mother, why will not the governor-elect take hisseat to-morrow?"

"Because Fate forbids it, " solemnly replied the crone. 

"Will the governor be--murdered?"

"No; Regulas Rothsay has not an enemy in the world!"

"Will he be killed on the railroad, or kidnapped?"

"No!"

"Will he be taken suddenly ill?"

"No!"

"What then in the fiend's name is to prevent his taking his seatto-morrow?" impatiently demanded the manager. 

"An evil so dire, so awful, so mysterious, that its like never happenedon this earth!"

"Arrest her, Mr. Ryland! She ought to be locked up until she could besent to the asylum!" exclaimed old Marwig. 

"I have no power to do so, my friend, " replied the manager. 

"Why, where is she?" inquired Mrs. Bounce, trembling. "Who saw her go?"

No one answered, but every one looked around. Not a trace of the witchcould be seen. She had passed like a dark cloud from among them, and wasgone. 

It was a glorious day in June. A long, deep, green valley lay lowbetween two lofty ridges of the Cumberland mountains, running north andsouth for ten miles, and near the boundary lines of three States. Thislovely vale was watered by a merry, sparkling little river called theWhirligig, which furnished the power for the huge machinery of the greatfirm of Rockharrt & Sons, proprietors of the Plutus iron mines and theNorth End foundries, which supplied the mighty engines on the greatlines of railroad from the East to the West, and whose massivebuildings, forges, furnaces, store-houses and laborers' cottagesoccupied all the ground between the foot of the mountain and the banksof the river, on both sides of the Whirligig, at the upper or north endof the valley, where a substantial bridge connected the two shores. 

This settlement, called, from its position, North End, was quite athriving little village. North End was not only blessed with a missionchurch, having a schoolroom in its basement, but it was provided with apost-office, a telegraph, a drug store, kept by a regular physician, whodispensed his own physic (advice and medicine, one dollar), and ageneral store, where everything needed to eat, drink, wear or use(except drugs), was kept for sale. 

On this bright June morning, however, the great works were all stopped. There was a general holiday, and as this was at the cost of the firm, itgave general satisfaction. All the people of North End, except the aged, infirm and infantile, were trooping down the valley, on the rough roadbetween the foot of the West Ridge and the side of the river, to a feteto be given them at Rockhold on the occasion of the marriage of oldAaron Rockharrt's granddaughter, Corona Haught, to Regulas Rothsay, thegovernor-elect of the State. 

It was a marriage of very rare interest to the workmen and theirfamilies. To the men, because the governor-elect had been one of theirown class. The elders remembered him from the time when he was afriendless orphan child, glad to run the longest errand or do thehardest day's work for a dime, but also a very independent littlefellow, who would take nothing in the shape of alms from anybody. To thewomen, because he was going to marry his first and only sweetheart, andon the very day before his inauguration, so that she might take part inthe pageantry that was to be his first great success and triumph. 

On one side of the river, at the foot of the East Ridge, stood Rockhold, the country seat of the Rockharrts, in its own park, which lay betweenthe mountain and the river. The house itself was a large, heavy, oblongbuilding of gray stone, two stories high, with cellar and garret. Fromthe front of the house to the edge of the river extended a fair greenlawn, shaded here and there by great forest trees. Under many of thesetrees, tables with refreshments were set, and seats were placed for theaccommodation and refreshment of the out-door guests. In sunny spots, also, some white tents were raised and decorated with flags. 

As a group of working men and women sat on the west bank of the river, waiting impatiently for the return of the ferryboat, they saw, fromminute to minute, carriages drive up the lawn avenue, discharge theoccupants at the main entrance of the house, and then roll off to thestable yard in the rear. 

These seemed to come in a slow procession. 

"Only the nearest relations and most intimate friends of the family areinvited to the ceremony. There have only been five carriages passedsince we have been sitting here, and I don't believe there was one comebefore we came, or that there'll be another come after that last one, which was certainly the groom's, " said Old Marwig. 

"Oh! was it, indeed? But how do you know?" demanded Mrs. Bounce. 

"It is the new carriage from North End Hotel! And he and his groomsmenhad engaged it. That's how I know! Here comes the ferryboat! Now forit!"

The boat touched the banks, and as many as could find room crowded intoit, and were speedily rowed across the river and landed on the otherside, where they found a few of the lawn party there before them. 

"There is Mr. Clarence Rockharrt coming toward us!" said Mrs. Bounce, asthe party walked up from the landing, and a medium-sized, plump, fairman of middle age, with a round, fresh face, a smiling countenance, blueeyes and light hair, and in "a wedding garment" of the day, came down tomeet them, and shook hands with all, warmly welcoming them in the nameof his father. Then he led them up to the lawn and gave them chairsamong the unoccupied seats at the various tables. 

"If you please, Mr. Clarence, is the groom in good health and sperrits?"meaningly inquired Mrs. Bounce. 

"Mr. Rothsay is in excellent health and spirits, thank you, " repliedthe gentleman, looking a little surprised at the question: an thenmoving off quickly to receive some new arrivals. 

The guests for the lawn party were constantly arriving, and theferryboat was kept busy plying from the shore to shore. 

It is time now to introduce our readers to the house of Rockharrt. 

Old Aaron Rockharrt, the head of that house, was at this timeseventy-five years of age and a wonder of health and strength. He wascalled the "Iron King, " no less from his great hardihood of body andmind than from his vast wealth in mines and foundries. In size he wasalmost a giant, with a large head covered by closely-curling, steel-grayhair. His character may be summed up in a very few words:

Aaron Rockharrt was an incarnation of monstrous selfishness. 

His manners to all, but especially to his dependants, were arrogant, egotistical and overbearing. He was utterly destitute of sympathy orcompassion. There was no room for either in a soul so full of self. Inhis opinion there was no one on earth, neither king nor Kaiser, saintnor hero, so important to the universe as Aaron Rockharrt, head ofRockharrt & Sons. 

Yet Aaron Rockharrt had two redeeming points. He was strictly truthfulin word and honest in deed. 

His wife was near his own age, a quiet, gentle, little old lady, smalland slim, with white hair half hidden by a lace cap. If she ever had anyindividuality, it had been quite crushed out by the hard heel of herhusband's iron will. Their eldest son and second partner in the firm wasFabian Rockharrt, a fine animal of fifty years old, though scarcelylooking forty. He had inherited all his father's great strength of bodyand of mind, with more than his father's business talent; but he hadnot inherited the truth and honesty of his father. 

Yet there is no one wholly evil, and Fabian Rockharrt's one redeemingquality was a certain good nature or benevolence which is more theresult of temperament than of principle. This quality rendered hismanner so kind and considerate to all his employes that he was the mostpopular member of his family. 

Clarence, the second son, was much younger than his elder brother, andso diametrically opposite to him and to their father, both in person andcharacter, that he scarcely seemed to come of the same race. 

He was really thirty-five years old, but looked ten years less, and wasa fair blonde, medium-sized and plump, with a round head covered withlight, curling yellow hair, a round, rosy face as bare as a baby's andalmost as innocent. He had not the satanic intellect of his father orhis brother, but he had a fine moral and spiritual nature that neithercould understand or appreciate. 

There were yet two other exceptions to the family character ofworldliness and selfishness. There were Corona and Sylvanus Haught, asister and brother, orphan grand-children of Aaron Rockharrt, left himby his deceased only daughter. Sylvanus, a fine, manly young fellow, resembled his Uncle Clarence in person and in character, having the sametruthfulness, generosity and sincerity, but with a mocking spirit, whichturned evil into ridicule rather than into a subject of serious rebuke. He was three years younger than his sister. Corona was a beautifulbrunette, tall, like all the Rockharrts, with a superbly developed form, a fine head, adorned with a full suit of fine curly black hair, delicateclassic features, straight, low forehead, aquiline nose, a "Cupid's bow"mouth, and finely curved chin. This was her wedding-day and she woreher bridal dress of pure white satin, with veil of thread lace andwreath of orange buds. Hers was the very triumph of a love match, forshe was about to wed one whom she had loved from earliest childhood, andfor whom she had waited long years. 

Here was Corona Haught's great victory. She had seen his opponents, herown family, bow down and worship her idol. Yet, at the culmination ofher triumph, on this her bridal day, why did she sit so pale and wan?

From her deep, sad reverie she was aroused by the entrance of her sixgay bridesmaids. 

"Corona, love, good morning! Many happy returns, and so on!" said FloraFields, the first bridesmaid, coming up to the pale bride and kissingher. 

All the others followed the example, and then Miss Fields said:

"Cora, dear, 'the scene is set'--otherwise, the company are allassembled in the drawing-room. Grandpapa and grandmamma are in theirseats of honor. The bishop, in his canonicals, is waiting; the groom andhis groomsmen are expectant. Are you ready?"

"I know getting married must be a serious, a solemn, even an awful thingwhen it comes to the point. And most brides do look pale! But you--youlook ghastly! Come, take some composing spirits of lavender--do!"

"Yes; you may give me some. You will find the vial on thedressing-table. "

The restorative was administered, and then the "bevy of fair maids" leftthe chamber and went down stairs. 

There, in the great hall, they met the bridegroom and his six groomsmen;for it was the custom of that time and place to have a groomsman foreach bridesmaid. The bridegroom and governor-elect was not a handsomeman--that was conceded even by his best friends--but he was tall andmuscular, with a look of strength, manliness and nobility that wasimpressive. A son of the people truly, but with the brain of the ruler. The whole rugged form and face assumed a gentleness and courtesy thatalmost conferred grace and beauty upon him, as he advanced to greet hisbride. 

Why did she shrink from him?

No one knew. It was only for a moment; and happily, he, in thesimplicity of a single, honest heart, had not seen the momentaryshudder. 

He drew her hand within his arm, looked down on her with a beam ofineffable tenderness and adoration, and then waited, as he had beeninstructed to do, until the groomsmen and bridesmaids had formed theprocession that was to usher them into the drawing-room and before theofficiating bishop. They entered the crowded apartment. The bishop, inhis white robes, stood on the rug, supported by the Rev. Mr. Wells, temporary minister of the mission church at North End, and the ceremonybegan. All went on well until he came to that part where the officiatingminister must read--though a mere form this solemn adjuration to thecontracting lovers:

"'I require and charge ye both, as ye shall answer at the dreadful dayof judgment, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that ifeither of you know just cause why ye may not be united in matrimony, yedo now declare it. '"

There was a pause, to give opportunity for reply, if any reply was to bemade--a mere form, as the adjuration itself was. Yet the bride shudderedthroughout her frame. Many noticed it, but not the bridegroom. 

The ceremony went on. 

"'Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?'"

Old Aaron Rockharrt, who stood on the right of the bridal party, steppedforth, took his granddaughter's hand, and placed it in that of thegroom, saying, with visible pride:

"I do. "

The rites went on to their conclusion, and the whole party were invitedinto the dining-room, where the marriage feast was spread, where therevelry lasted two full hours, and might have lingered longer had notthe bride withdrawn from the table, and, attended by her bridesmaids, retired to her chamber to change her bridal robes for a plain travelingsuit of silver gray silk, with hat and gloves to match. 

There the gentle, timid, old grandmother came to bid her pet child aprivate good-by. 

"Are you happy, my love--are you happy?" she inquired. "Why don't youanswer?"

"My heart is full--too full, grandma, " evasively answered CoronaRothsay. 

"Ah, yes; that is natural--very natural. 'Even so it was with me when Iwas young, '" sighed the old lady, who detected no evasion in the wordsof her darling. 

The bride went down stairs, where the bridegroom awaited her. There, inthe hall, were collected the members of her family, friends, neighborsand wedding guests. 

Some time was spent in bidding good-by to all these. 

"But it is not good-by, really; for the majority of us will follow by alater train, and be on hand for the inauguration to-morrow, " said oldAaron Rockharrt, who seemed to have recovered his youth on this proudday. 

"And, grandpa, be sure to bring grandma. Don't say that she is too old, or too feeble, or too anything, to travel, because she is not; and shehas set her heart on seeing the pageantry to-morrow. Promise me before Ileave you, " pleaded the bride. 

"Very well; I will bring her, " said Mr. Rockharrt, who would havepromised anything to his granddaughter on this auspicious occasion. 

"You will find your traps all right, Cora. They went off by the earlytrain this morning, " said Mr. Clarence. 

"And I trust, Rothsay, that you will find my town house comfortablyprepared for your reception, " said Mr. Rockharrt. 

The bridegroom handed his bride into the carriage that was to conveythem to the railway station. The carriage crossed the ferry, and in afew minutes reached the other side, and rolled toward the railwaystation. 

The road was at this hour very solitary, and the bridegroom and hisbride found themselves for the first time that day tete-a-tete. Heturned to her, and drew her head to his heart and whispered:

"Cora, speak to me! Call me your husband!"

"I--cannot. My heart is too full, " the girl muttered evasively. 

But his grand, simple, truthful spirit perceived no prevarication in herwords. If her heart was full, it was with responsive love of him, hethought. He bent his face lower over her beautiful head, that lay uponhis bosom, and kissed her. 

Soon they reached North End, where all the aged, infirm and infantilewho could not come to the wedding were seated at their cottage doors, tosee the carriage with the bridegroom and bride go by. 

Smiling and bowing in response, the pair passed through the village andwent on their way toward the station which they reached at half-past oneo'clock. 

They had to wait about ten minutes for the train to come up. Theyremained in the carriage; for here, too, a small crowd of country peoplehad collected to see the bride and the bridegroom, who was also thegovernor-elect. 

The train from the East ran into the station. The bridal pair left thecarriage and went on the cars, and the governor-elect and his bride setout for the State capital. It was a long afternoon ride, and the sun waslow when the train drew in sight of the State capital, and slowed intothe station. 

An immense crowd had gathered to welcome the governor-elect, and as hestepped out upon the platform, and stood with his bride on his arm, thecheers were deafening. When these had in some measure subsided, the heroof the hour returned thanks in a simple little speech. Then thecommittee of reception came up and shook hands with the governor-to-be, who next presented them in turn to his wife. 

At last the pair were allowed to enter the carriage that was in waitingto convey them to the town house of Aaron Rockharrt. Other carriagescontaining members of the committee attended them. They passed throughthe main street of the city. 

The procession of carriages passed until it reached the Rockharrtresidence, opposite the government mansion, where the committee tookleave of the governor-elect and his bride, who entered their temporaryhome alone, to be received and attended by obsequious servants. 

There we also will leave them. 

Visitors to the inauguration were arriving by every train. 

Among the arrivals from the East came Aaron Rockharrt, with his wife, his two sons, Fabian and Clarence, and his grandson, Sylvan, theyounger brother of Cora. 

The main door of the mansion was open, and several gentlemen, wearingofficial badges, stood without or just within it. 

"By Jove! we are just in time, and it has been a close shave! That isthe committee come to take him to the State house!" exclaimed old AaronRockharrt as he stepped out of the carriage, and helped his feeblelittle wife to alight. He led her up the steps, followed by the otherthree men of his party. 

"Good morning, Judge Abbot. We are just in time, I find. We came up bythe night train, and a close shave it has been. Well, a miss is as goodas a mile, and we are safe to see the whole of the pageant, " said theold man, speaking to a tall, thin, gray-haired gentleman, who wore arosette on the lapel of his coat. 

"Yes, sir; but here is a very strange difficulty--very strange, indeed, "replied the official, with a deeply troubled and perplexed air, whichwas shared by all the gentlemen who stood with him. 

"What's the trouble, gentlemen? Is the chief justice ill, that his honorcannot administer the oath, or what?"

"It is much worse than that--if anything could be worse, " gravelyreplied one of the committee. 

"What is it then? A contested election at this late hour?"

"The governor-elect cannot be found. No one has seen him since eleveno'clock last night. He is missing. "

CHAPTER II. 

A LOST GOVERNOR AND BRIDEGROOM. 

"Missing!" echoed old Aaron Rockharrt, drawing up his huge frame to itsfullest height, and staring with strong black eyes in a defiant andaggressive manner. "Missing! did you say, sir?" he repeated sternly. 

"Yes, Mr. Rockharrt; ever since last night, " replied Judge Abbot, chairman of the committee, in much distress and anxiety. 

"Impossible! Never heard of such a thing in the whole course of my life!A bridegroom lost on the evening of his marriage! A governor lost on themorning of his inauguration! I tell you, sir, it is impossible--utterlyand entirely impossible! How do you know, sir, that he has not been seenby some one or other since last night? How do you know that he cannot befound, somewhere, this morning?"

"All his household have failed to find him. Our messengers have beensent in every direction without discovering the slightest clew tohis--fate, " gloomily replied the judge. 

Mr. Rockharrt turned to the porter, who was still in attendance at thedoor, and demanded:

"Where is your mistress?"

The man, a negro and an old family servant of the Rockharrts, replied:

"The young madam is in the back drawing room, sir; and if you please, sir, I think she would be all the better for seeing the old madam. "

"Who is with her now?" shortly demanded Mr. Rockharrt, ignoring hisservant's suggestion, although Mrs. Rockharrt looked nervously anxiousto follow it "There is no one with her, sir. "

"Alone! Alone! My granddaughter left alone on the morning after hermarriage? What do you mean by that? Where is your master?

"Show me in to your mistress at once. I will get at the bottom of thismystery, or this villainy, as it is more likely to prove, before I amthrough with the matter. And if my granddaughter's husband is not to befound before the day is out, I will have all concerned in the plotarrested for conspiracy!" exclaimed Mr. Rockharrt, with that utterrecklessness of assertion to which he was addicted in moments ofexcitement. 

The dismayed negro lowered his eyes and led the way. Aaron Rockharrtstrode on, followed by his timid and terrified old wife, his stalwartsons, his mocking grandson, and the members of the committee. But theold man, not liking such an escort, turned upon them, and said, withsarcastic politeness and dignity:

"Gentlemen, permit me. It is expedient, under existing circumstances, that I should first see my granddaughter alone. "

The members of the committee bowed with offended dignity and withdrew tothe front of the hall. 

Meanwhile Aaron Rockharrt sent back the members of his own family, andstrode solemnly into the drawing room, which was half darkened by theclosed window shutters. 

"Now leave the room, sir; shut the door after you and stand on theoutside to keep off all intruders, " commanded Mr. Rockharrt to theservant who had admitted him. 

When the door was closed upon him, Aaron Rockharrt discerned hisgranddaughter, who sat in an easy chair in a dark corner of the backdrawing room, which was divided from the front by blue satin and whitelace portieres. Her deadly pallid face gleamed out from the shadows instartling contrast to her jet black hair and the black dress which, against all precedent, she wore on this the morning after her marriage. 

The old man of iron went up and stood before her, looking at her insilence for a few moments. 

"Corona Rothsay, " he began, sternly, "what is the meaning of thisunparalleled situation?"

"I--I--do not know. "

"You do not know where your husband is on the morning after his marriageand on the day of his expected inauguration?"

"No; I do not know. "

"You seem to take this desertion or this death very quietly. "

"What would be gained by taking it any other way?" she murmured, thoughindeed she was not taking the situation quietly, but controllingherself. 

"How dare you say so to me?" severely demanded the old man, scarcelyable to control his wrath, though at a loss to know against whom todirect it. 

"You ask me a direct question. I give you a truthful answer. "

"Answer me, truly!" rudely exclaimed Aaron Rockharrt, giving way, in hisblind egotism, to utter recklessness of assertion, to gross injusticeand exaggeration. "What have you done to him, Corona? Tell me that!"

She started violently and looked up quickly; her face was whiter, hereyes wilder than before. 

"What--have--you--done to him?" he sternly repeated, looking her full inthe deathly face. 

"I? Nothing!" she answered, but her voice faltered and her frame shook. 

"I believe that you have! You look as if you had! I have seen the devilin you since we brought you home from Europe against your will;especially within the last few days!"

Having hurled upon her this avalanche of abuse, he turned and strodewrathfully up and down the room until he had got off some of hisexcitement. Then, he came and stood before his granddaughter. 

"How long has your husband been missing?" he abruptly inquired. 

"Since last night, " in a very low tone. 

"When did you see him last? Tell me that!"

"I have already told you--last evening. "

"Tell me all that has occurred from the time you both left Rockhold tothe time you entered this house which I placed at your disposal and towhich I sent you, to save you from the noise and bustle and excitementof a crowded hotel, and to give you rest and quiet and seclusion. Yes!and this the result! But go on and tell me. From the time you leftRockhold to this time, mind you!"

"Very well, sir, I will tell you. Our journey, a series of ovations. Ourreception in this city was a triumph. We were met at the depot by agreat crowd, and by the committee with carriages, and we were escortedto this house by a military and civil procession with a band of music. They left us at the gate. 

"We entered, and were received by the servants. As soon as I had changedmy dress we went down to dinner. After dinner we went into the drawingroom. A gentleman was announced on official business connected with theceremonies of to-day. He was shown into the library, and my husband wentto him. Many callers came. They talked with Mr. Rothsay in the library. I remained in this room. At last the crowd began to thin off, and soonall were gone. Mr. Rothsay came into this room--and sat down by myside. We talked together for an hour or more. Then a card was broughtin. Mr. Rothsay took it, looked at it, and said:

"'I will see the gentleman. Show him into the front room. '

"Mr. Rothsay arose and went into the front room to receive his visitor. It was late, and I was very tired, so I went up stairs to my chamber andretired to bed. I have never seen my husband since. "

And Corona dropped her face upon her hands and sobbed as if her heartwould break. She had utterly broken down for the first time. 

"Good heavens! I don't understand it all! Had you had a lover's quarrelnow in that hour when you talked together in this parlor?" inquired theold gentleman, his insane anger being now merged in wonder. "Had youreproached him for spending so much time with his political friendswhile you were waiting here alone?"

"Oh, no, no, " replied Corona, between her convulsive sobs. 

"Good heavens!" again exclaimed the old man. "When did you first misshim?"

"When I came down in the morning. I thought then that he had been keptup all night by his friends, and that I should meet him at breakfast. Hedid not appear at breakfast. The servants searched for him all over thehouse, but could not find him. I waited breakfast until I was faint withfasting and suspense. Then I took a cup of coffee. On inquiry it wasfound that Jasper had been the last to see him, and that he had not seenhim since he showed the visitor in. He did not show the visitor out. Hewaited some time to do so, and fell asleep. When he awoke the visitorhad gone, and the drawing rooms were empty. The man supposed that Mr. Rothsay had seen his friend to the door, and had then retired to bed. And so he shut up the house and went to his room. No one discovered thatMr. Rothsay was missing until this morning. When the inaugural committeecame two hours ago, the servants told them all that I have just toldyou. "

"Who was the last visitor? He might throw some light upon this dark, evil subject. Who was he?" abruptly demanded Aaron Rockharrt. 

"I do not know. No one seems to know. Jasper says he never saw himbefore, nor ever heard his name. "

"Couldn't he see it on his card?"

"Jasper cannot read, you must remember. "

"Where is that card? Let me see it!"

"It cannot be found. "

"Conspiracy! Treason! Murder!" interrupted Aaron Rockharrt. "Thegovernor-elect has been decoyed away from the house by that last caller, and has been murdered! And the people in the house may not be asinnocent or ignorant as they pretend to be. I will go out and takecounsel with the committee, " he said, and he turned and strode out ofthe drawing room. 

When he reached the hall, however, he found that the officials had goneto pursue their search for the missing man elsewhere. The men of his ownparty were nowhere to be seen. The porter, Jasper, was the only occupantof the hall, and Aaron Rockharrt opened the hall door and walked out. The military and civil escort were still on parade before the house, waiting for the governor-elect. 

Mr. Rockharrt's carriage was standing before the door. He entered it andordered the coachman to drive to police headquarters. 

The hour for the inauguration of the new governor was approaching. Theprocession to the State house should have been in motion by this time. The people on the sidewalks, at the doors and windows, on the balconies, and on the roofs, all along the line of march, were beginning to beweary of waiting. 

The officials who had the ceremonies of the occasion in hand waiteduntil three o'clock in the afternoon, and then, as the governor-electwas nowhere to be found, as the necessity was imminent, the inauguralprocession was ordered to begin its march. 

"Where is he? Where is Rothsay?" demanded the spectators one of theother. 

No one knew. No one had seen him. No one could, therefore, answer. 

When the procession reached the State house, the lieutenant-governor, Kennelm Kennedy, was sworn in, and the military companies and the civicsocieties and the spectators all dispersed. 

But where was the governor? That was the question of the hour. Why hadhe not been inaugurated? was asked by everybody of everybody else. Thesecret of his total and unexplained disappearance had not, indeed, beenclosely kept. His intimate friends, his household servants and thepublic officials knew it, but the general public did not. 

The next morning the news came out, and the papers had sensationalhead-lines and long accounts of the sudden and mysterious disappearanceof the governor-elect on the eve of his inauguration and of a bridegroomon the evening of his wedding day. 

Also there were rewards offered for any intelligence of Regulas Rothsay, living or dead, and for the identification of the unknown visitor whowas supposed to have been the last to have seen him on the night of hisdisappearance. 

Days passed, and nothing came in answer to the advertisements. Thepublic at length reached in theory this conclusion: that thegovernor-elect had been decoyed from the house by his latest visitor, and had been secretly murdered in some remote quarter. 

The Rockharrts did not return to Rockhold, but remained in town throughall the heat of that hot summer, because Aaron Rockharrt thought hecould best pursue his investigations on the scene of the mystery. But hesent his sons to North End to look after the works. 

Corona would see no one save the members of her own family. She kept herroom, and grieved without ceasing. On the ninth day after thedisappearance of her lover-husband she made an effort and came down intothe drawing room, to please the gentle old grandmother. 

She sat there with the old lady, reading to her, until Mrs. Rockharrtwas called out by her tyrant to get something, it might be a book or apaper, a cigar or a pipe, that he himself or a servant might have gotjust as well, except that Aaron Rockharrt liked to have the ladies ofhis family wait upon him. 

What happened during the hour of the old lady's absence from the drawingroom no one knew, but when she returned she found her granddaughter in aswoon on the carpet. In great alarm she called the servants to herassistance. The unconscious girl was laid upon a sofa, and all meanswere taken to restore her to her senses. Corona recovered her facultiesonly to fall into the most violent paroxysms of anguish and despair. 

From her ravings and self-reproaches Mrs. Rockharrt gathered that theunfortunate girl had heard, or in some way learned, some fatal news. 

She sent all the servants out of the room, locked the door, administereda sedative to her child, and then, when the latter was somewhat calmer, questioned her as to the cause of her distress. 

"I have nothing to tell--nothing, nothing to tell! But take me away fromthis place! Take me home to Rockhold, where I may be alone!"

"I will do all I can to comfort you, my dear, " said Mrs. Rockharrt. "Iwill speak to Mr. Rockharrt when he comes in. "

No one but the snubbed, brow-beaten and humiliated wife knew all thatshe engaged to suffer when she promised to speak to her lord and master. 

Corona, soothed by the sedative that had been given her, and consoled bythe love and sympathy that had been lavished upon her, grew morecomposed, and finally fell into a deep sleep from which she awokerefreshed. But a rumor went through the house that the young lady hadgot news which she did not choose to communicate. 

Later in the day Mrs. Rockharrt deferentially proposed to the domesticdespot that they should return to Rockhold, as the weather was sooppressive and the town house was so obnoxious to dear Corona, which wasquite natural under the trying circumstances. 

Aaron Rockharrt glared at her until she cowered, and then he told herthat he should direct the movements of his family as he thought proper, and that any suggestions from her or from his granddaughter were bothunnecessary and impertinent. 

So they both had to bend under the iron will of Aaron Rockharrt. 

At length, however, something happened to relieve them. 

Mr. Rockharrt had not been neglecting his own business, while lookingafter the missing governor-elect, nor had he been leaving it to his sonsand partners, whom he refused to trust. He had been corresponding withhis chief manager, Ryland. This correspondence had not been entirelysatisfactory, so at length he wrote to Ryland to come to the city for abusiness talk. It was about the middle of August that the managerarrived and was closeted with his chief. After two hours' discussion ofbusiness matters, which ended satisfactorily, the manager, rising toleave the study, observed:

"This is a bad job about the governor, sir!"

"I do not wish to talk of this matter, " said Mr. Rockharrt. 

"Very well, sir, I am dumb, " replied the manager, taking up his hat toleave the house. 

"Do you go back to North End by the night train?" inquired Mr. Rockharrt. 

"Yes, sir! I must be at my post to-morrow morning, in order to carry outyour instructions. "

"Quite right, " said the head of the great firm. Then with strangeinconsistency, since he had declared that he wished to talk no more onthe subject of the lost governor, he suddenly inquired:

"What do the people of North End say about the disappearance of GovernorRothsay?"

"Some say he was beguiled away by that man who called on him late atnight, and that he was murdered and his body made away with. But I begyour pardon, sir, for repeating such dreadful things. "

"Go on! What else do they say?"

"Well, sir, one says one thing, and one another; but they all agree thatOld Scythia could tell something if she chose. "

"Old Scythia? And what has she to do with the loss of the governor?"

"Nothing that I know of, sir. But the people at North End say that shehas. "

"Why do they say it?"

"Because, sir, on the day of the wedding, and the eve of theinauguration, she did foretell, in the hearing of a score, that Mr. Rothsay would never take his seat as governor. "

"What! Absurd! Preposterous!"

"Of course it was, sir! Yet she did say that, sir, in the hearing oftwenty or more of us, and it was a strange coincidence, to say theleast, that her words came true. She said it in the presence of manywitnesses on the day before the intended inauguration, and when thereseemed no possibility of her words coming true. And strange to say, theyhave come true. "

Old Aaron Rockharrt mused for a few minutes and then replied:

"There is no such thing as divination, or soothsaying, or prophesy, orfortune telling in this world. It is all coarse imposture, that candeceive only the weakest mortals. You know that, of course, Ryland. Itfollows, then, that this old woman could have had no knowledge of whatwas going to happen unless she was in league with conspirators who hadplanned to kidnap or murder the governor-elect. "

"But, sir, if Old Scythia had been in league with any conspirators, would she have betrayed them--beforehand?"

"No; unless she was too crazy to keep their secret. But--she may havegot wind of their plots in some way without their knowledge. "

"Yes, sir, " said Manager Ryland, who agreed to every opinion advanced byhis chief. 

"Well, then, I shall go down to Rockhold to-morrow, and investigate thismatter for myself. In my capacity of justice of the peace I shall issuea warrant to have that woman brought before me on a charge of vagrancy, and then I shall examine her on this point. But, Ryland, you are to becareful not to drop even a hint of my intention. "

"Of course I will not, sir, " replied the manager, and then, as thereseemed no more to do or say, he took his leave. 

Old Aaron Rockharrt strode into the drawing room where his wife andgranddaughter sat, and astonished them by saying:

"Pack up your things this afternoon. We leave for Rockland by the firsttrain to-morrow morning. "

He deigned no explanation, but turned and stalked off. 

The three reached North End at noon. As their arrival was to be asurprise, no carriage had been ordered to meet them. But the large, comfortable hack from the North End Hotel was engaged, and in it theyrode on to Rockhold, where they pulled up two hours later, to theastonishment and consternation of the household, who, be it whispered, had almost as lief been confronted with his satanic majesty as to besurprised by their despotic master. 

Leaving his womenkind to get domestic affairs into order, the Iron Kingwent to the little den at the end of the hall, which he called hisstudy, and there made out a warrant for the arrest of Hyacinth Woods onthe charge of vagrancy. This he directed to William Hook, countyconstable, and sent it off to the county seat by one of his servants. Hewaited all the rest of the day for the return of the warrant with theprisoner, but in vain. 

The next day, in the afternoon, Constable Hook made his appearancebefore the magistrate without the prisoner, and reported:

"She cannot be found. I went first to her hut on the mountain, but itwas in ruins. It had fallen in. I searched for the woman everywhere, andonly found out that she had not been seen by anybody since the day ofthe grand wedding here, " replied the officer. 

"The old crone is lost on the same day that the young governor wasmissing, eh? Very significant. I want you to take a paper for me to the_Peakeville Gazette_. I will advertise a thousand dollars reward for thediscovery of that woman. She knows the fate of Rothsay. "

CHAPTER III. 

A MOUNTAIN IDYL--THE GIRL AND THE BOY. 

On a fine day near the end of October, several years before the openingof this story, the express train from the southwest was speeding ontoward North End. In one of the middle cars, which was not crowded, nor, indeed, quite full, sat a girl and a boy--both dressed in deep mourning, and both in charge of a tall, stout gentleman, also in deep mourning. These children were Corona, aged seven, and Sylvanus, aged four, orphansand co-heirs of John Haught, a millionaire merchant of San Francisco, and of his wife, Felicia, only daughter of Aaron and Deborah Rockharrt, of Rockhold. They had lost their parents during the prevalence of anepidemic fever, and had been left to the guardianship of AaronRockharrt. They were now coming, in charge of their Uncle Fabian--whohad been sent to fetch them--to their grandparents' house, which was tobe their home during their minority. 

In front of these children sat a man of middle age and a boy of abouttwelve years. They seemed to belong to the honorable order of workingmen. Their clothing was old, worn and travel-stained. They had beenpicked up only at the last past station, and looked as if they hadtramped a long way--weary and dejected. Each wore on his battered hat alittle wisp of a dusty black crape band. This was a circumstance whichmuch interested the little girl, Corona, who had a longer memory thanher baby brother, and had not yet done grieving after her father and hermother, and she wanted to speak to the poor boy, and to tell him howvery sorry she was for him, but was much too timid for such a venture. Neither the boy nor the man looked behind them, and so the childrennever saw their faces during the ride to North End. Both parties got outat the station. The Rockhold carriage was waiting for Fabian and hischarges. Nothing was waiting for the tramp and his son. Mr. Fabianlooked at them, and took in the whole situation. He put his nephew andniece into the carriage, told the coachman to wait for him, and thenwent up to the tramps. 

"Looking for work?" he said, addressing the elder. 

"Yes, sir, " replied the latter, touching his old hat. "I have come along way to look for it, and I am bound now for Rockharrt & Sons'Locomotive Works. Could you be so kind as to direct me where to findthem?"

"About three miles down this side of the river. You cannot miss them ifyou follow this road. Stay--I am one of the firm. We have rather moremen than we want just now, but I will give you a line to our manager, and he will find a place for you, and the boy, also, " said plausible, good-natured, lying, dishonest Fabian Rockharrt, as he drew a card fromhis pocket and just wrote above his name:

"Take the bearer and his boy on. "

Then on the opposite side of the card he wrote the superscription:"Timothy Ryland, Manager North End Foundries. "

He gave this to the tramp, who touched his hat again, and led off hisboy for their long walk to the works. 

Fabian Rockharrt, with his nephew and niece, reached Rockland two hourslater. 

Aaron Rockharrt and his younger son, Clarence, were absent, at theworks; but little Mrs. Rockharrt was at home. 

Little Cora became the constant companion of the grandmother, who foundher well advanced in learning for a child of seven years. She couldread, write a little, and do easy sums in the first four simple rules ofarithmetic. 

A school room was fitted up on the first floor back of the Rockholdmansion. A nursery governess was found by advertisement. 

She was a young and beautiful girl of the wax doll order of beauty, andof not more than sixteen years of age. In person she was tall, slim andfair, with red cheeks, blue eyes and yellow hair. Her very name, as wellas her presence, was full of the aromas of Araby the Blest. It was RoseFlowers. 

Rose smiled and bloomed and beamed on all, but most of all on Mr. Fabian, who was at that time a very handsome and fascinating man of nomore than thirty, and to do her justice, she brought her young pupilswell on in elementary education. 

No more was seen or heard of the tramp and his boy, who had come to seekwork at the foundries. They seemed to have been forgotten even by thelittle girl whose sympathies had been touched by their appearance on thetrain with their own party. 

But early in February a catastrophe occurred which brought them backmost painfully to, her memory. There was an explosion in the foundry, by which the man was instantly killed. 

"Uncle Clarence, " asked Cora of that person, "where is the boy belongingto the poor man that was killed? You know they came in the cars with usto North End Station. Oh! and they were so poor! Oh, and the boy had abit of old crape on his old hat! Oh, and I know he had no mother! But Idon't know whether the man was his father or his uncle. But, oh, UncleClarence, dear, where is the boy?"

"I don't know anything about the boy, little one, but I will inquire andtell you. I think the little chap has two more friends left, dear. Youare one. I am the other. "

"Oh, Uncle Clarence, you are a dear ducky-ducky-darling! And when I am agrown-up woman, I will marry you. "

"Oh! well, all right, if you remain in the same mind, and--"

"I will never, never change my mind. I love you better than I do anybodyin the world, except Sylvan and grandma, and Miss Flowers and Tip!"

Clarence kept his word with the child about making inquiries as to thefate of the boy in whom she was interested. 

The boy was motherless, and, by the death of his father, had been leftutterly destitute. He had found a home with Scythia Woods, an eccentricwoman, who lived in a hut on the mountain side, half way between NorthEnd and Rockhold, and he supported himself in a poor way by runningerrands and doing little jobs about the works. 

Little Cora Haught listened to this account of the poor, friendless, self-reliant lad with the deepest sympathy. 

"Uncle Clarence, " she pleaded, "you are so rich. Why don't you givethat poor boy clothes, and shoes, and hats, and all he ought to have?"

"My good little girl, nothing would give me more delight, but thatfellow would see Rockharrt & Sons swallowed up by an earthquake beforehe would take a cent from them that he had not earned. "

"Oh, I like that--that is grand! But why don't you take him on and givehim good pay?"

"But, my dear, he is a boy, and cannot do regular heavy work. He isquite uneducated, and cannot do any other except what he does. "

Two months later, one lovely spring day, she saw him again for the firsttime since their meeting on the train six months previous. He came toRockhold one Saturday afternoon to bring a letter from the manager tothe head of the firm. He came to the back door which opened from theporch. He sent in his letter by the servant who came at his knock, andhe said he was to wait for an answer. Cora, in the back parlor, saw him, recognized him, and ran out to speak to him. 

Perhaps the tiny lady had some faint idea of the duties andresponsibilities of wealth and station. So she spoke to the boy. 

"Are you Regulas Rothsay?" she inquired, in a soft tone. 

"Yes, miss, " replied the boy. 

There was an awkward pause, and then the little girl said slowly:

"You won't let anybody give you anything, although you have no fathernor mother. Now, why won't you?"

"Because, I can work for all I want, all--but--" the boy began, and thenstopped. 

"You have all but what?"

"A little schooling. "

"Here's the answer, Rule! You are to run right away as fast as you canand take it to Mr. Ryland, " said a servant, coming out upon the porchand handing a letter to the boy. 

It was a week after this interview with the lad before Cora saw himagain. 

He was on the lawn in front of the house. She was at the window of thefront drawing room. As soon as she espied him she ran out to speak tohim, and eagerly begged that she might teach him to read. 

The boy, surprised at the suddenness and the character of such an offer, blushed, thanked the little lady, and declined, then hesitated, reflected, and then, half reluctantly, half gratefully, consented. 

Cora was delighted, and frankly expressed her joy. 

"Oh, Regulas, I am so glad! Now every afternoon when I have done mylessons--I am in Comly's first speller, Peter Parley's first book ofhistory, and first book of geography, and I am as far as short divisionin arithmetic, and round hand in the copy book--so as soon as I getthrough with my lessons, and you get through with your work, you come tothis back porch, where I play, and I will bring my old primer and whiteslate, and I will teach you. If you get here before I do, you wait forme. I will never be long away. If I get here before you, I will wait foryou, " she concluded. 

The Iron King, Mr. Fabian, or Mr. Clarence, passing out of the back doorfor an afternoon stroll in the grounds, would see the little lady seatedin one of the large Quaker chairs, her feet dangling over its edge, busywith her doll's dresses, and furtively watching her pupil, who, seatedbefore her on one of the long piazza benches, would be poring over hisprimer or his slate. 

As time went on every one began to wonder at the earnestness andconstancy of this childish friendship. 

So the lessons went on through all the spring and summer and earlyautumn of that year. 

Before the leaves had fallen Regulas had learned all she could teachhim. 

Then their parting came about naturally, inevitably. When the weathergrew cold, the lessons could no longer be given out on the exposedpiazza, and the little teacher could not be permitted to bring her roughand ragged pupil into the house. 

Cora begged of her kind Uncle Clarence some of his old school books, which she knew to be among the rubbish of the garret, which was her ownrainy-day play room in summer, and offered the books to the boy as aloan from herself, because she dared not offer the lad a gift. 

Later, she loaned him a "Boy's Life of Benjamin Franklin. " It was thatbook, perhaps, that decided the boy's destiny. He read it with avidity, with enthusiasm. The impression made upon his mind was so deep andintense that his heart became fired with a fine ambition. He longed totread in the steps of Benjamin Franklin--to become a printer, to rise toposition and power, to do great and good things for his country and forhumanity. He brooded over all this. 

To begin, he resolved to become a printer. 

So, when the spring opened, he came to Rockhold and bade good-by to hislittle friend, and went, at the age of fourteen, to the city to seek hisfortune, walking all the way, and taking with him testimonials as to hischaracter for truth, honesty, and industry. 

There were at that time three printing offices in that city. Ruleapplied to the first and to the second without success, but when heapplied to the third--the office of the _Watch_--and showed hiscredentials, the proprietor took him on. 

He and his little friend corresponded regularly from month to month. 

No one objected to this letter writing, any more than to the lessongiving. It was but the charity of the little lady given for theencouragement of the poor, struggling orphan boy. 

 * * * * *

It was nearly four years after the departure of Rule from the works atNorth End to seek his fortune in a printing office of the neighboringcity. He had never yet returned to see his friends, though hiscorrespondence with Cora had been kept up. 

In the four years that Rose Flowers had lived at Rockhold she had wonthe hearts of all the household, from the master down to the meanestdrudge. She was, indeed, the fragrance of the house. All admired hermuch and loved her more, and yet--

And yet in every mind there was a latent distrust of her, which seemedunjust, and for which all who felt it reproached themselves--in everymind but one. 

The Iron King felt no distrust of the submissive, beautiful creature, whom he continually held up to other members of his family as the verymodel of perfect womanhood. 

He did not see, he said, why she should now, when it was finally decidedthat Cora should be sent to the young ladies' institute, at the city, why Rose should leave the house. She might remain as companion for Mrs. Rockharrt. But when this was proposed to Miss Flowers, the younggoverness explained, with much regret, that, not anticipating thisgenerous offer, she had already secured another situation. 

With tears in her beautiful eyes, Rose Flowers took the old man's handand pressed it to her heart and then to her lips as she bent her headand cooed:

"I will remember all you have told me--all the wise and good counselyou have ever given me, all the precious acts of kindness you have evershown me. And when I cease to remember them, sir, may heaven forget me!"

"There, there, my child. You are a baby--a mere baby!" said the IronKing, as he patted her on the head and left her. 

This interview occurred a few days before Christmas. 

It was now Christmas morning, nearly four years after the departure ofRule Rothsay. It was a fine clear, cold day. Bright with color was thevillage of North End, where all the houses were decorated with holly, and the people, in their Sunday clothes, were out in the streets ontheir way to the church, which had been beautifully decorated for theoccasion. 

The Rockharrt family--with the exception of old Aaron Rockharrt, who didnot choose to turn out that day, and Miss Rose Flowers, who stayed hometo keep him company and to wait on him--came early in their capaciousand comfortable family carriage. They had a large, square, handsomelyupholstered pew in the right-hand upper corner of the church. 

When they were all quietly settled in their seats and the voluntary wasgoing on, the elders of the party bowed their heads to offer up theirpreliminary prayers. But Cora, girl-like, looked about her, letting herglances wander over the well-filled pews, and then up toward thegalleries. A moment later she suddenly gave a little start andhalf-suppressed exclamation of delight. 

Mrs. Rockharrt, who had finished her prayer, looked around in surpriseat the girl, who had committed this unusual indecorum. 

"Oh, grandma, it is Rule! Rule, up there in the boys' gallery--look!"Cora whispered, in eager delight. 

The old lady raised her eyes and recognized Regulas Rothsay--but sowell grown, so well dressed, and well looking as to be hardlyrecognizable, except from his strong, characteristic head and face. Hewore a neatly fitting suit of dark-blue cloth; neat woolen glovescovered his large hands; his hair was trimmed and as nicely dressed assuch rough, tawny locks could be. 

At length the beautiful service was finished, and the congregation filedout of the church into the yard, where all immediately began shakinghands with each other. 

Presently Cora saw the youth come out of the church, look earnestlyabout him until he descried her party, and then walk directly towardher. 

"Oh, Rule, I am so glad to see you! When did you get here? Why didn'tyou come straight to Rockhold? Why didn't you write and tell me you werecoming?" Cora eagerly demanded, as she met him, and hurrying questionupon question before giving him time to answer the first one. 

The youth raised his cap and bowed to the elder members of the partybefore answering the girl. Then he said:

"I did not know that I could come until an hour before I started. I cameby the midnight express, and reached here just in time for church. Ihave not seen, or I should say, I have not spoken to, any one here yetexcept yourself. 

"Last evening, being Friday evening, we were at work very late on ourSaturday's supplement, and a Christmas story in it. Very often we haveto work on Christmas night, if the next day is a week day; and everySunday night--that is, from twelve midnight, when the Sabbath ends--wehave to work to get out Monday morning's paper. "

"Oh, yes; of course, " said Fabian. 

"Well, I never have had a whole holiday since I have been in the _Watch_office; but last night, about half-past ten, after the paper had gone topress, the foreman came to me, paid my wages up to the first of January, and told me that I need not return to the office at midnight afterSunday, but might have leave of absence until Monday morning, so as tohave time to go and spend Christmas with my friends if I wished to doso. "

Just then Clarence Rockharrt joined them and said, anxiously:

"Mother, dear, I think you had better get into the carriage. It is verybleak out here, and you might take cold. "

Mrs. Rockharrt at once took the arm of her youngest and best-beloved sonand let him lead her away to the spot where the comfortable family coachawaited them. 

Mr. Fabian started to follow with Cora. 

"Come with us to the carriage door, Rule, " said the girl, looking backand stretching her hand out toward the youth. 

"Yes! Come!" added pleasant Mr. Fabian. 

Regulas touched his hat and followed. Fabian put his niece in the seatbeside her grandmother, and then turned to the youth and inquired:

"What are you going to do with yourself to-day?"

"I shall go down to my old home, sir, Mother Scythia's hut. "

"Oh! Ah! Yes; I remember. You are going to stop there?"

"Yes, sir; but I shall try to see all old friends to-day or to-morrow, and I should like to go to Rockhold to thank all the friends there whohave been kind to me, and to tell Mrs. Rockharrt and Miss Cora, who werekindest of all, how I have got on in the city. "

"Certainly! Certainly, Rule! Come whenever you like! And see here! Itis a long, rough road from here to old Scythia's Roost, which is righton our way to Rockhold. Sorry we cannot offer you a seat in the carriagebut you see there are but four seats and there are already five peopleto fill them. "

"Oh, sir, I should not expect such a thing, " said the youth. 

"But I was about to say if you will mount to a seat beside the coachman, you will be heartily welcome to what used to be my own 'most favoryte'perch in my younger days. And we can set you down at the foot of thepath leading up to old Scythia's hut, " concluded Mr. Fabian. 

"Oh, do, Rule! Please do!" pleaded Cora. 

Regulas, with his sturdy independence of spirit, would most likely havedeclined this favor had not the girl's beseeching face and voicepersuaded him to accept it. 

"I thank you very much, sir, " he said, and promptly climbed to the seat. 

Three miles down the road the carriage was pulled up at the foot of thehighest point of the mountain range, and Rule came down from his perchbeside the coachman, stepped up to the carriage window, took off hishat, thanked the occupants for his ride, and then drew a neat, whiteinch-square parcel from his vest pocket, and holding it modestly, said:

"I hope you will accept this, Miss Cora. "

The girl took it with a smile, but before she could open her lips toexpress her thanks, the youth had bowed, turned from the carriage, andwas speeding his way up the rough mountain path, springing from crag tocrag up to the ledge on which old Scythia's hut stood. 

Cora opened the parcel and found an inch-square little casket of redmorocco. She opened this with a spring, and found a small gold heartreposing in a bed of white satin. 

"How pretty it is!" she said softly to herself, as she took the trinketfrom its case. "Look, grandma, what Rule has brought me for a Christmasgift! A little gold heart! A pure gold heart! His is a pure gold heart, is it not?" she added, earnestly, as she placed the trinket in thelady's hand. 

Mrs. Rockharrt looked at it with interest, and then passed it on to hereldest son. 

The ride was continued, and presently the carriage was driven off theboat and up the avenue leading to the house. As the vehicle drew upbefore the front doors, a pretty picture might have been seen throughthe drawing-room windows. 

A bright fireside, an old man reclining in his luxurious arm-chair; abeautiful girl seated on a hassock at his feet, reading to him, and atintervals lifting her lovely blue eyes in childish adoration to hisface. They might have been grandfather and granddaughter, but they were, in fact, old Aaron Rockharrt and Miss Rose Flowers--Merlin and Vivienagain, except that the Iron King was rather a rugged and unmanageableMerlin. 

 * * * * *

Meanwhile, Regulas Rothsay had climbed the rugged mountain path that ledto Scythia's hut. On the back of the broad shelf of rock on which thehut stood was a hollow in the side of the precipice. Scythia had clearedout this hollow of all its natural litter. Before this apartment she hadbuilt another room, with no better material than fragments of rock foundon the spot, and filled in with earth, moss and twigs. She had roofedthis over with branches of evergreens piled thick and high, to keep offrain and sun. A heavy buffalo robe, fastened with large wooden pins atits top to the roof of the hut, served for a door. There was no window. In the inner or cavernous apartment she had built a rude fire-place andchimney going up through a hole in the rock. A pallet of rough furs andcoarse blankets lay in one corner of this room, and a few rude cookingutensils occupied another. In the outer room there was a rough oak tableand two chairs. 

Up before the edge of this natural shelf on which the hut stood appearedthe tops of a thicket of pine trees that grew on the mountain side fiftyfeet below. Up behind this shelf arose other pines, height above height, until their highest tops seemed to pierce the clouds. 

When Rule reached this shelf, he found the tops of the pine trees, theground, and the hut all covered with snow. 

"Good morning, mother! A merry Christmas to you!" said Rule, gayly. 

"I hope you have made yourself as comfortable as possible in thisplace, " said the youth, anxiously. 

"Yes, Rule! always as happy and as much at ease as my past will permit. "

"Oh! what is--what was this terrible past?" inquired the youth--not forthe first time. 

"It was, it is, and it ever will be! This past will be present andfuture so long as I live on this earth. And some day, when time andstrife and woe have made you strong and hard and stern, I will lift theveil and show you its horrible face! But not now, my boy! not now! Comein. "

As the weird woman said this she led the way into the hut, where therude table stood covered with a coarse white cloth and adorned with twowhite plates and two pairs of steel knives and forks. Here the Christmasdinner was eaten, and afterward the two began a close conversation. 

"Mother, " said the youth, "I shall have to leave here to-morrow night. Ishould go away so much more contented if I could see you living down inthe village among people. Here you are dwelling alone, far from humanhelp if you should require it. The winter coming on!"

"Rule! I hate the village! I hate the haunts of human beings! I love thewilderness and the wild creatures that are around me!"

"But, mother, if you should be taken ill up here alone!"

"I should get well or die; and it would not in the least matter which. "

"But you might linger, you might suffer. "

"I am used to suffering, and however long I might linger, the end wouldcome at last. Recovery or death, it would not matter which. "

"Oh, Mother Scythia!" said the youth, in a voice full of distress. 

"Rule! I am as happy here as my past will permit me to be. I abhor thehaunts of the human! I love the solitude of the wilderness. The time maycome when you too, lad, shall hate the haunts of the human and long forthe lair of the lion! You will rise, Rule! As sure as flame leaps to theair, you will rise! The fire within you will kindle into flame! You willrise! But--beware the love of woman and the pride of place! See!Listen!"

The face of the weird woman changed--became ashen gray, her form becamerigid, her eyes were fixed, her gaze was afar off in distant space. 

"What is it, mother?" anxiously demanded the youth. 

"I see your future and the emblem of your future--a splendid meteor, soaring up from the earth to the sky, filling space with light andglory! Dazzling a million of eyes, then dropping down, down, down intodarkness and nothingness! That is you!"

"Mother Scythia!" exclaimed the youth, in troubled tones. 

The weird woman never turned her head, nor withdrew her fearful, far-offstare into futurity. 

"That is you. You are but a poor apprentice. But from this year you willsoar, and soar, and soar to the zenith of place and power among yourfellows! You will be the blazing meteor of the day! You will dazzle alleyes by the splendor of your success, and then, 'in an instant, in thetwinkling of an eye, ' you will drop into night, and nothingness, and beheard of no more!"

"Mother! Mother Scythia! Wake up! You are dreaming!" said Rule, layinghis hand on the woman's shoulder and gently shaking her. 

"Oh, what is this? Rule! What is it?"

"You have been dreaming, Mother Scythia. "

"Have I?" said the woman, putting her hands to her forehead and strokingaway the raven locks that over-shadowed it. 

And gradually she recovered from her trance and returned to her normalcondition. When Rule was quite sure that she was all right again, hesaid:

"Mother Scythia, I am going to Rockhold to see the friends there whohave been kind to me. But I will come back to spend the night with you. "

"Well, lad, go. Why should I try to hinder you? You must work out yourdestiny and bear your doom, " she said, wearily, with her forehead bowedupon her hands, as if she felt the heavy prophetic cloud stillover-shadowing and oppressing her. 

"Mother Scythia, why do you speak so solemnly of me, and I only in mynineteenth year?" gravely inquired the youth, who, though he had beenaccustomed to the weird woman's strange moods and stranger words anddeemed them little less than the betrayals of insanity, yet now feltunaccountably troubled by them. 

"Yes; you are young, but the years fly fast; and I--I see the future inthe present. But go, my boy! enjoy the good of the present--your bestdays, lad!--and come back this evening and you shall find your pallet ofsweet boughs and soft blankets ready for you, " she said. 

Rule stooped and kissed her corrugated forehead and then left the hut. 

The sun was setting behind the mountain, which threw a dark shadow overScythia's Ledge and Rule's path, as he ran springing from rock to rockdown the precipice to the river's side. It was dark when he reached thespot. But the lights from the windows of Rockhold on the opposite shoregleamed out upon the snow with splendid effect. 

Every window in the front of the building was shining with light thatstreamed out upon the snow; for the shutters had been left unclosed onpurpose, this Christmas night. 

Rule crossed the ferry and went, as he had been used to go, to the backdoor, opening on the back porch, where, four years before, Cora used tokeep school for her one pupil. He rapped at the door, and Sylvan sprangup and opened it. He was warmly welcomed, and spent a pleasant evening. The rest of his vacation was spent in a way equally pleasant, and atseven a. M. , Monday, Rule was at work, type-setting in the _Watch_office. 

On the third of January following that Christmas there were threedepartures from Rockhold. Miss Rose Flowers went East to enter upon hernew engagement. Corona Haught, in charge of her grandmother and herUncle Clarence, went West to enter the Young Ladies' Institute, in thecapital, and Master Sylvanus Haught went North, in the care of his UncleFabian, to enter a boy's school. 

CHAPTER IV. 

A RETROSPECT. 

It was near the close of a cold, bright day early in January, that Mrs. Rockharrt and Corona Haught, escorted by Mr. Clarence, stepped from thetrain at the depot of the capital city of their State--which must, forobvious reason, be nameless--and were driven to the Young Ladies'Institute, where the girl was left, and as the adieus were being said itwas explained to Cora that discretion and social conventionalitydictated that her correspondence with young Rothsay should cease. Clarence stated that he would write to the youth and explain that therules of the school, also, forbade such a correspondence. 

"I will also tell him that he can continue to send the _Watch_ to you, with his own paragraphs marked as before, " said Corona's uncle. "Therecan be no law against that. I will correspond with Rule occasionally, and keep you posted up as to how he is getting on. There can be noschool law against your uncle writing to you. "

Cora Haught graduated when she was eighteen. In all these years she hadnot seen Rule Rothsay. She only heard from him through his letters toher Uncle Clarence, reported second hand to herself. She knew that inthese five years Rule had risen, step by step, in the office where hehad begun his apprenticeship; that he had risen to be foreman, thensub-editor, and now he was part proprietor and one of the most powerfulpolitical writers on the paper. 

The workingmen's party wished to put him up as a candidate for the Statelegislature. What a power he would have been for their cause in thatplace! but when the subject was proposed to him, he admonished thespokesman that he was, as yet, a little less than of legal age for anoffice that required its holder to be at least twenty-five years old. 

After Cora's graduation the Rockharrt family spent a week in their townhouse, preparatory to a summer tour through the Northern States andCanada. 

One morning, while the whole family were sitting around the breakfasttable, old Aaron Rockharrt suddenly spoke:

"Fabian! Now that my granddaughter has left school, she will want acompanion near her own age. Miss Rose Flowers would suit very well. Haveyou any idea where she is?"

"Miss Rose Flowers, my dear sir, is now Mrs. Slydell Stillwater, the--"

"Married!" interrupted all voices except that of the Iron King, who benthis heavy gray brows as he gazed upon his son. 

"Stuff and nonsense! How did you know anything about her marriage?"demanded old Aaron Rockharrt. 

"In the simplest and most natural way, sir. I saw it in the newspapers, about three years ago. And, in point of fact, I forgot it and shouldnever have thought of it again but for your inquiries about the youngwoman this morning. Her husband is Captain Slydell Stillwater, captainand half owner of the East Indiaman Queen of Sheba, " replied Mr. Fabian. 

"Poor child! To be parted from her husband more than half her time. IsCaptain Stillwater now at sea?"

"I think he must be, sir, as there has hardly been time for his returnsince he sailed soon after his marriage. "

"Do you know where Mrs. Stillwater lives?"

"I do not, sir; but I might find out by inquiring of some mutualacquaintance. "

"Do so. And, Mrs. Rockharrt, " the King added, turning to his little oldwife, "you will write a note to Mrs. Stillwater, inviting her to joinour party for a summer tour, and as our guest, remember. Fabian, youwill see that the note reaches the lady in time. "

"I will do my best, sir, " said Mr. Fabian. 

"Very well, " said the wife. 

The note of invitation to Mrs. Stillwater was written. Mr. Fabian usedsuch dispatch in his search for the lady that his efforts were soonrewarded with success. A letter came from Mrs. Stillwater, postmarkedBaltimore, in which she cordially thanked Mrs. Rockharrt for herinvitation, gratefully accepted it, and offered to join the Rockharrtparty at any point most convenient to the latter. This answer wascommunicated to the family autocrat, who thereupon issued his commands:

"Write and say to Mrs. Stillwater that we will stop at Baltimore on ourway, and call for her at her hotel on Friday; but say that if she shouldnot be ready, we will wait her convenience. "

This letter was also written and sent off. 

Three days later the whole family left the capital for Baltimore, whichthey reached at night. They went directly to the hotel where Mrs. Stillwater was staying, and engaged rooms for their whole party. 

They scarcely took time enough to wash the travel dust from their facesand brush it from their hair, and change their traveling suits forfresher dresses, before they hurried down stairs to their privateparlor, whence Mrs. Rockharrt sent her own and her granddaughter's cardsto Mrs. Stillwater's room. 

A few minutes after, the young siren appeared. 

"Heavens! how beautiful she is! More beautiful than before! Look, Cora!Was there ever such a perfect creature?" said Mr. Clarence, under hisbreath. 

Cora looked at her former governess with a start of involuntary wonderand admiration. Rose Stillwater was more beautiful than ever. Herexquisite oval face was a little more rounded. Her fair complexion had aricher bloom on the cheeks and lips. Her hair was darker in the shadeand brighter in the light; her blue eyes were softer and sweeter; hergraceful form fuller. She was dressed in some floating material thatenveloped her figure like a cloud. 

She came, blooming, beaming, smiling, into the room, where all arose tomeet her. She went first to Mr. Rockharrt, and bent and almost kneltbefore him, and raised his hand to her lips as if he had been hersovereign; and then, before he could respond--for she saw that he wasslightly embarrassed as well as greatly pleased by this adoration--sheturned and sank into the arms of old Mrs. Rockharrt, and cooed forth:

"How sweet of you to remember your poor, lonely child and call her toyour side!"

"Why didn't you tell me you were going to be married, my dear?" was thepractical question of the old lady. 

"It was shyness on my part. I dared not obtrude my poor affairs on yourattention until you should notice me in some way, " she meekly replied, and then she gracefully slipped out of Mrs. Rockharrt's embrace and wentand folded Cora to her bosom, murmuring:

"My own darling, how happy I am to meet you again! How lovely you are, my sweet angel!"

"Oh, why did you not write to me that you were going to be married? Ishould have so liked to have been your bridesmaid!" complained Cora. 

"Sweetest sweet, if I had dreamed such honor and happiness were possiblefor me, I should have written and claimed them with pride and delight. But I dared not, my darling! I dared not. I was but a poor governess, without any claims to your remembrance, and should not now be with youhad not the dear lady, your grandmamma, kindly recalled her poordependant to mind and brought me into her circle. "

"Oh, Rose, do not speak so! I should hate to hear even the poorest maidin our house speak so. You were never grandma's dependant, or anybody'sdependant. You were one of the noble army whom I honor more than I doall the monarchs on earth, " said Cora earnestly. 

With remembrances and delightful chat the evening was wearing away, andit was time for the party to retire to rest. 

Two days after this the Rockharrts, with Cora Haught and Mrs. Stillwater, left Baltimore for the North, _en route_ for Canada and NewBrunswick. 

The party went first directly to Boston, where they stayed for a fewdays, to attend the commencement of the collegiate school at whichMaster Sylvanus Haught was preparing himself to become a candidate foradmission to the military academy at West Point; but where, as yet, hehad not distinguished himself by application to his studies. 

On promising to do better, Sylvan was permitted to accompany his friendson their summer tour. 

The party spent the season in traveling, and it was not until the 15thof September that they set out on their return South. They reachedBaltimore late in September, yet found the weather in that latitudestill oppressively warm, and roomed at a hotel. 

Here it had been tacitly understood from the first that Mrs. Stillwaterwas to remain, while the rest of the party should proceed on theirjourney West. 

But the family despot had become so habituated to the incense hourlyoffered up to his egotism by Circe, that he felt her society to beessential to his contentment. So he issued his commands to his wife toinvite Mrs. Stillwater to accompany the family party to Rockhold for along visit. 

The old lady very willingly obeyed these orders, for she also desiredthe visit from the fascinator, whose presence kept the tyrant in a goodhumor and on his good behavior. So she pressed Rose Stillwater toaccompany them to their mountain home. 

Rose Stillwater raised her beautiful soft blue eyes, brimming with tearsthat ever came at will, gazed sorrowfully, penitently, deprecatingly, into the lady's face and cooed:

"I feel as if it were a sin to refuse you! You who have been a mother tome. And, oh! how dearly I should love to stay with you and wait on youforever and forever! I could not conceive a happier life! But dutyconstrains me to deny myself this delight, and to wrench myself awayfrom all I love. "

"Duty? What duty, my dear girl? I do not understand that. You have nochildren to take care of, no house to look after, no husband to please, for Captain Stillwater is at sea. What duty, then, can you have which isso pressing as to keep you away from your friends?"

"The Queen of Sheba was spoken and passed by the Liverpool and New Yorkocean steamer Arctic on Saturday, within three days' sail of land. Andhe may arrive here any hour. I must wait to receive him. "

"Indeed! I did not know that. My dear, I congratulate you on your cominghappiness. I can urge you no more, of course. It is a sacred duty aswell as a sweet delight for you to remain here and meet your husband. So, of course, we must resign ourselves to our loss; but I hope, mydear, that you and your husband will come together at an early date andmake us a long visit. "

"I hope so, too, dearest lady!"

When, a little later in the evening, the Iron King heard the result ofthis interview, he was--as his wife had feared--dreadfully disappointed, and consequently in one of his morose and diabolical tempers, andsullenly set his despotic will against the reasonable wishes ofeverybody else. He announced that they should all set forward the nextday. It was high time they should all be at home looking after house andbusiness. So it was settled. 

As the party needed rest, they retired very early. 

That night Cora Haught had a rather strange adventure, to relate whichintelligibly I must describe the situation of their rooms. 

The suite occupied by the Rockharrt party was on the third floor of thehouse, and consisted of five rooms in a row, on the left hand side ofthe corridor, from the head of the stairs. The front room, overlookingan avenue, was tenanted by Mr. And Mrs. Rockharrt, the next one wasoccupied by Cora Haught, the third room was the private parlor of thesuite, the fourth room was that of Mrs. Stillwater, and the fifth, andlargest, was a double-bedded room, tenanted jointly by Mr. Fabian andMr. Clarence. All these rooms had doors communicating with each other, and also with the corridor, all or any of which could be left open ormade fast at discretion. 

Cora's room, between her grandparents' bed-chamber and their privateparlor, was the smallest, the closest and the warmest of the suite. ThatSeptember night was sultry and stifling. Scarcely a breath of air camefrom without. 

The girl could not sleep for the heat. Anathematizing her room as a"black hole" of Calcutta, she lay tossing from side to side, andlistening for the hourly strokes of a neighboring clock, and praying forthe night to be over. She heard that clock strike eleven, twelve, one. 

At length Cora thought that she would go into the private parlor nexther own room to get a breath of fresh air. She felt sure that there sheshould be perfectly safe from intrusion, as she knew that the doorleading from the parlor into the corridor was secured from within by astrong bolt, and the other two doors led, the one into her own littleroom, and the other, on the opposite side, into Mrs. Stillwater's. Sothat she would be as secluded as in her own chamber. 

She slipped on a thin, dark blue silk dressing gown, thrust her feet inslippers, opened the door and passed into the parlor. 

The room was very dark, still and cool. The two side windows overlookingthe alley were open, and a rising breeze from the harbor blew in. Corawent and sat down in an easy chair in the angle of the corner between anopen side window and her own room door. 

The room was pitch dark. The darkness, the coolness, and the stillnesswere all so soothing and refreshing to the girl's heated and excitednerves that she sank back in her high, cushioned chair and dozed offinto sleep--into such a deep and dreamless sleep that she knew nothinguntil she was awakened, or rather only half awakened, by the sound of akey turning in a lock and a door creaking upon its hinges. The soundseemed to come from the direction of Mrs. Stillwater's room; but Corawas still half asleep, and almost unconscious of her whereabouts. As ina dream, she heard some one tiptoe slowly across and jar a chair in thedeep darkness. She heard the bolt of the door leading into the corridorgrate as it was slipped back. This awakened her thoroughly. She wasabout to call out:

"Who is there?"

Then a voice that she recognized even in its low, whispering tones spokeand arrested the words on her lips. It said:

"Fabe! Fabe! is that you?"

"Yes. Is all quiet?"

"Yes; and has been so for hours. Come in. Pass around, feeling by thewall until you reach the sofa. If you attempt to cross the room, you maystrike a chair or table and make a noise, as I did. "

The unseen man cautiously crept around by the wall, feeling his way, butoccasionally striking and jarring a picture frame or looking glass as hepassed, and muttering good-humored little growls of deprecation, andfinally making the sofa creak as he struck and sat heavily down upon it. 

Cora was wide awake now, and quite cognizant of the identity of theinvisible persons in the room as that of Mr. Fabian Rockharrt and Mrs. Rose Stillwater. 

It did not once occur to the girl that she was doing any wrong inremaining there, in the parlor common to the whole party. Surprise andwonder held her spellbound in her obscure seat. 

The sofa on which they sat was between the two windows. She reclined inthe easy chair in the corner between the right-hand window and the doorof her room. She was so near them that she might have touched the sofaby stretching out her hand. 

Without dreaming of harm, she overheard their conversation. 

Mr. Fabian was the first to speak. 

"I say, Rose, " he began, "I have a deuce of a hard time to get atete-a-tete with you. This is the first we have had for two months. "

"And we could not have had this but for the accidental arrangement ofthese convenient rooms, " she whispered. 

"Exactly. We must arrange for future plans to-night. I understand thatthe old folks have been trying to persuade you to return home with us?"

"Yes; but, of course, I shall not go. "

"Of course not; but how did you get out of it?"

"Oh, by raising the old gentleman. "

"Do you mean the--the--the--de--"

"Certainly not. I mean my husband, the gallant Captain Stillwater, ofthe East Indiaman Queen of Sheba, who has been spoken within three days'sail of port, and is expected here every hour. So that, you see, I mustremain here to welcome my husband. It is my sacred duty, " said the womandemurely. 

"Ha-ha-ha!" laughed Mr. Fabian, in a low, half-suppressed chuckle. 

"Hush! Oh, be careful! You will be heard!" murmured Rose Stillwater, ina frightened whisper. 

"What! at this hour? Why, everybody in this suite is in his or herdeepest sleep. I say, Rosebud. "

"What?"

"His Majesty the King of the Cumberland Mines has been in a demoniachumor ever since he learned that you were not coming home with us. "

"I know it, and I am very sorry for it, especially on his family'saccount, but I could not help it. "

"Certainly not. It would have been inconvenient and embarrassing. Lookhere, Rosalie. "

"Well?"

"If the aged monarch was not such a perfect dragon of truth, honesty andfidelity, and all the cast-iron virtues, I should think that he was overhead and ears in love with you. "

"Nonsense, Fabian! Mr. Rockharrt is old enough to be my grandfather, andhis hair is quite gray. "

"If he were old enough to be your great-grandfather, and his hair wasquite white, it need make no difference in that respect, my dear. Thefires of Mt. Hecla burn beneath eternal snows. "

"What rubbish you are talking, Fabian! But--to change the subject--whenwill my house be ready? I warn you that I will not go back to that brickblock on Main Street in your State capital. "

"You should not, Rosebella. Your home is finished and furnished; and alovelier bower of roses cannot be found out of paradise! It is simplyperfection, or it will be when you take possession of it. "

"Yes; tell me all about it, " whispered the lady, eagerly. 

"It is a small, elegant villa, situated in the midst of beautifulgrounds in a small, sequestered dell, inclosed with wooded hills risingbackward into forest-crowned mountains, and watered by many littlesprings rising among the rocks and running down to empty into aminiature lake that lies shining before the house. It seems to be in theheart of the Cumberlands, in the depth of solitude, yet it is notfifteen minutes' walk by a forest footpath to the railway station atNorth End. "

"What shall we name this little Eden?"

"Rose Bower, and the locality Rose Valley. "

"And when may I take possession?"

"Whenever you please. All is prepared and waiting the arrival of Mrs. Stillwater, who has taken the house and engaged the servants through heragent, and who is expected to reside there during the absence of herhusband, Captain Stillwater, on long voyages. "

"How long are these false appearances to be kept up, and when are ourtrue relations to be announced?"

"Before very long, my sweet!"

"I hate this concealment! I know that I am a favorite with your fatherand mother, so I cannot see why you have not told them and will not tellthem. "

"Now, Rosamunda, don't be a little idiot! Be a little angel, as youalways have been! Am I not doing everything I can for your comfort andhappiness, only asking you in turn to be faithful and patient until Ican make you my wife before the whole world? My father does not like theidea of my marrying--anybody! If he knew we were engaged to each other, he would never forgive me, and that means he would cut me off from allshare in the patrimony. And we could not afford to lose that! Let metell you a secret, Rose. Though our firm does business under the name'Rockharrt & Sons, ' yet 'Sons' have a merely nominal interest in theworks while Rockharrt lives. So you see, I have very little of my own, and if the autocrat should learn, even by our own confession, that wehad been--been--been--concealing our engagement from him, he would neverforgive either of us. "

At this moment a step was heard passing along the corridor outside. 

It caused the two unseen inmates of the parlor to shrink into silence, and even when it had passed out of hearing it caused them, in renewingtheir conversation, to speak only in the lowest tones, so that Coracould no longer catch a word of their speech. 

She would before this have risen and retired to her own room; but shewas afraid of making a noise, and consequently causing a scene. 

Were those two, her Uncle Fabian and Mrs. Stillwater, only secretlyengaged? Secretly engaged? But whoever heard of a betrothed loverproviding a home for his betrothed bride to live in before marriage! Andthen, again, was her Uncle Fabian really so dependent on his father ashe had represented to Rose? Cora had always understood that he had aquarter share in the great business, and that Clarence had an eighth. And, worse than all, had they been so deceived as to the condition ofRose that, if she was Mrs. Stillwater at all, she was the widow and notthe wife of Captain Stillwater, since she was engaged to be married, ifnot already married, to Mr. Fabian Rockharrt?

Altogether the affair seemed a blinding and confusing tissue offalsehood and deception that amazed and repulsed the mind of the girl. 

Bewildered by the mystery, lulled by the hum of voices whose words shecould not distinguish, fanned by the breeze from the harbor, and calmedby the darkness, the wearied girl sank back into her resting chair, closed her eyes, and lost the sequence of her thoughts in dreams--fromwhich she presently sank into dreamless sleep, which lasted until shewas awakened by the noise of the hotel servants moving about on theirmorning duties, opening windows, rapping at doors to call up travelersfor early trains, dragging along trunks, and so on. 

At breakfast Cora watched Mr. Fabian and Rose, because she could nothelp doing so, and she certainly discovered signs of a secretunderstanding between them--signs so slight that they would have beenunnoticed by any one who had not the key to the mystery. But howsickening and depressing was all this! Rose Flowers, or Stillwater, orRockharrt--whichever name she could legally claim--was a fraud. Mr. Fabian Rockharrt was another fraud. Those two were secretly engaged orsecretly married. 

After breakfast the party were ready for their journey Then came theleave-taking. 

Every one, except Cora Haught, shook hands warmly with Rose Stillwater. Mrs. Rockharrt embraced and kissed her fondly, and renewed and pressedher invitation to the beauty to come and make a long visit. 

Rose put her arms around the old lady's neck and clung to her, and, withtearful eyes and trembling tones and loving words, assured her that shewould fly to Rockhold on the first possible opportunity, and, after manycaresses, she reluctantly turned away and went toward Cora. 

The girl had lowered her blue veil, and tied it mask-like over her face, in a way that women often do, but which Cora never did, except on thisoccasion, when she wished to evade the sure to be offered kiss of RoseStillwater. 

But Rose embraced her strongly and kissed her through the veil, endearments which the young girl could not repel without attractingattention, but which she only endured and did not return. 

The party reached Rockhold on the evening of the second day's travel. 

Old Aaron Rockharrt found himself so weary of traveling that heannounced his intention of remaining in Rockhold for the entire winter, nor leaving it even to go to his town house for a few weeks during thesession of the legislature. 

Cora was disappointed. She longed to go to Washington for the season--togo into company, to go to balls and parties, concerts and operas, tosee new people and make new friends, perhaps to attract new admirers;and as she was now nineteen years of age, she need not be too severelycriticised for so natural an aspiration. 

Mr. Fabian was the most zealous and active member of the firm. He wouldgo to North End and stay two days at a time to be near his scene ofduty. 

Time passed, but Rose Stillwater did not make her promised visit. 

Old Aaron often referred to it, and worried his wife to write to her andremind her of her promise. The old lady always complied with herhusband's requirements, and wrote pressing letters; but the beautyalways wrote back excusing herself on the ground of "the captain's" manyengagements, which confined him to the ship and her to his side. 

So time passed, and nearly another year went by. The Rockharrts werestill at Rockhold. 

A political crisis was at hand--the election for the State legislature. 

The candidate for representative of the liberal party in that electiondistrict was Regulas Rothsay. 

The election day came at length, as anxious a day for Cora Haught as forany one. 

It was a grand success, a glorious triumph for the printer boy and forthe workingmen's cause as well. Rule Rothsay was elected representativefor his district in the State legislature by an overwhelming majority. 

Cora was destined to a joyful surprise the next morning, when thedomestic autocrat suddenly announced:

"I shall take the family to my town house on the first of next week. Mylast bill, which was defeated last year, may be passed this session. "

Cora now, on the Irishman's principle of pulling the pig backward ifyou want him to go forward, ventured on the assurance of counseling hergrandfather by saying:

"I would not approach Mr. Rothsay on the subject of this bill, if I wereyou, sir. "

"But you are not I, miss!" exclaimed the old man, opening his eyes wideto stare her down. "And the new man is the very one to whom I shallfirst speak. He is the most proper person to present the bill. Herepresents my own district. His election is largely due to the men in myown employ. I am surprised that you should presume to advise uponmatters of which you can know nothing whatever. "

Cora bowed to the rebuke, but did not mind it in the least, since nowshe felt sure of meeting Rule Rothsay in town. 

On the following Monday the Rockharrts went to town. 

Mr. Rockharrt met and compared notes with some of the lobbyists. 

One veteran lobbyist gave him what he called the key to the riddle ofsuccess. 

"You appealed to reason and conscience!" said he. "My dear sir, youshould have appealed to their stomachs and pockets. You should havegiven them epicurean feasts, and put money in your 'purse' to betransferred to theirs!"

"Bribery and corruption! I would lose my bill forever! And I would seethe legislature--_exterminated_, before I would pay one cent to get avote, " said the Iron King. And he used a much stronger as well as muchshorter word than the one underscored; but let it pass. 

As soon as the morning papers announced--among other arrivals--that ofthe new assemblyman, the Hon. Regulas Rothsay, Aaron Rockharrt soughtout the young legislator, and explained that he wished to get a charterfor a railroad that he wished to build. The company--all responsiblemen--had been incorporated some time, but he had never succeeded ingetting a charter from the legislature. 

Rule saw that the enterprise would be a benefit to the community atlarge, and especially to the workingmen, the farmers, shop keepers andmechanics; so when he had heard all the old Iron King had to say on thesubject, he promptly gave a promise which neither favor, affection norself-interest could ever have won from him, but which reason, conscienceand the public good constrained him to give--namely, to present thepetition for the charter to the assembly, and to support it with all hismight. 

After this Regulas Rothsay came often and more often, until at length hepassed every evening with the Rockharrts when they were at home. OldAaron Rockharrt esteemed him as he esteemed very, very few of his fellowcreatures. Mrs. Rockharrt really loved him. Mr. Fabian and Mr. Clarenceliked him. Cora admired and honored him. He was made so welcome in thefamily circle that he felt himself quite at home among them. 

On the second of January the first business taken up was that of thebill to charter the projected railroad. It was presented by Mr. Rothsay, and referred to the proper committee. 

The charter bill was reported with certain amendments, sent back againand reported again, with modified amendments, laid on the table, takenup and generally tormented for ten days, and then passed by a smallmajority. 

Rule had conscientiously done his best, and this was the result: OldAaron Rockharrt thanked him stiffly. 

"You have worked it through, sir! No one but yourself could have doneit! And it is a wonder that even you could do so with such a set ofpig-headed rascals as our assemblymen. And now, will it pass thesenate?"

"I believe it will, Mr. Rockharrt. I have been speaking to many of thesenators, and find them well disposed toward it, " said Rule. 

To be brief, the bill was soon taken up by the senate; and after muchthe same treatment it had received in the assembly, it came safelythrough the ordeal, and was passed--again by a small majority. 

Old Aaron Rockharrt was triumphant, in his sullen, dogged andundemonstrative way. 

But having gained his ends, for which alone he had come to the city, heordered his family to pack up and be ready to leave town for Rockholdthe next day but one. 

But the worst was to come. 

When all the household were assembled at luncheon, he shot his lastbolt. 

"Now look you here, all of you! We are going to Rockhold to-morrow. I donot wish to have any company there. I am tired of company! I hatecompany! I am going to the country to get rid of company. So see thatyou do not, any of you, invite any one to visit us. "

The next morning the Rockharrt family left town for North End, wherethey arrived early in the afternoon. 

A monotonous season followed, at least for the two ladies, who led avery secluded life at the dreary old stone house on the mountain side. 

Winter, spring, summer and autumn crept slowly away in, the lonelydwelling. In the last days of November he announced to his family, withthe usual suddenness of his peremptory will, that he should go toWashington City for the winter, taking with him his wife andgranddaughter, and leaving his two sons in charge of the works, and thatthey would be joined in Washington at Christmas by his grandson, forwhom he was about to apply for admission into the military academy atWest Point. 

Regulas called frequently, and his attentions to Cora were marked. 

The Rockharrt party went to Washington on the first of December, andtook possession of the suite of rooms previously engaged for them at oneof the large West End hotels. 

One morning, when Rule was out of the way, being on a canvassing roundwith Mr. Rockharrt among such members of Congress as had remained in thecity, Sylvan suddenly asked his sister:

"Cora, what's to make the pot boil?"

"What do you mean?" inquired the young lady, looking up from "BleakHouse, " which she was reading. 

"Who's to get the grub?"

"I--don't understand you. "

"Oh, yes, you do. What are you and Rothsay to live on after you aremarried? He is poor as a church mouse, and you are not much richer. Youare reported to be an heiress and all that, but you know very well thatyou cannot touch a cent of your money until you are twenty-five yearsold, and not even then if you have married in the interim without ourgreat Mogul's consent. Such are the wise provisions of our father'swill. Now then, when you and Rule are married, what is to make the potboil?"

"There is no question of marriage between Mr. Rothsay and myself, "replied Cora, with a fine assumption of dignity, which was, however, quite, lost on Sylvan, who favored her with a broad stare and thenexclaimed:

"No question of marriage between you? My stars and garters! then thereought to be, for you are both carrying on at a--at a--at a mosttremendous rate!"

Cora took up her book and walked out of the room in stately displeasure. 

No; there had been no question of marriage between them; no spokenquestion, at least, up to this day. 

This was true to-day, but it was not true on the following day, whenCora and Rule, being alone in the parlor, fell into thoughtful silence, neither knowing exactly why. 

This was broken at last by Rule. 

"Cora, will you look at me, dear?"

She raised her eyes and meet his fixed full and tenderly on hers. 

"Cora, I think that you and I have understood each other a long time, too long a time for the reserve we have practiced. My dear, will you nowshare the poverty of a poor man who loves you with all his heart, orwill you wait for that man until he shall have made a home and positionmore worthy of you? Speak, my love, or if you prefer, take some time tothink of this. My fate is in your hands. "

These were calm words, uttered with much, very much, self-restraint; yeteyes and voice could not be so perfectly controlled as language was, andthese spoke eloquently of the man's adoration of the woman. 

She put her hand in his large, rough palm--the palm inherited from manygenerations of hard workers--where it lay like a white kernel in a brownshell, and she answered quietly, with controlled emotion:

"Rule, I would rather come to you now forever, and share your life, however hard, and help your work, however difficult, than part from youagain; or, if this happiness is not for us now, I would wait foryears--I would wait for you forever. "

"God bless you! God bless you, my dear! my dear! But is not this in yourown choice, Cora?"

"No; it is in my grandfather's. "

"You are of age, dear. "

"Yes. But not because I am of age would I disobey his will. He hasalways done his duty by me faithfully. I must do mine by him. He is oldnow. I must not oppose him. He may consent to our union at once, for youare a very great favorite with him. But his will must be consulted. "

"Of course, dear. I meant to speak to Mr. Rockharrt after speaking toyou. "

"And to abide by his wishes, Rule?"

"If I must. But I would rather abide by yours only, since you are ofage, " said the young man. 

And what more was spoken need not be repeated here. The next day RuleRothsay called early, and asked to see Mr. Rockharrt. 

"Ah! Ah! You come to tell me that you have seen Hunter, I suppose? Howdoes he stand affected toward my bill?" exclaimed the Iron King, pointing to one chair for his guest and dropping into another himself. 

"The truth is, Mr. Rockharrt, I came to see you on quite anothermatter--"

The young man paused. The old man looked attentive and curious. 

"It is a matter of the deepest interest to me--"

Again Rule paused, for Mr. Rockharrt was looking at him with bent brows, staring eyes, and bristling iron gray hair and beard, or hair and beardthat seemed to bristle. 

"Your granddaughter--" began Rule. "Your granddaughter has made me veryhappy by consenting to become my wife, with your approbation, " calmlyreplied Rule. 

"Oh!" exclaimed the old man, in a peculiar tone, between surprise andderision. "And so you have come to ask my consent to your marriage withmy granddaughter?"

"If you please, Mr. Rockharrt. "

"And so that is the reason why you worked so hard to get my railroadbill through the legislature. Well, I always believed that every man hadhis price; but I thought you were the exception to the general rule. Ithought you were not for sale. But it seems that I was mistaken, andthat you were for sale, and set a pretty high price upon yourself, too--the hand of my granddaughter!"

The young man was not ill-tempered or irritable. Perfectly conscious ofhis own sound integrity, he was unmoved by this taunt; and he answeredwith quiet dignity:

"If you will reflect for a moment, Mr. Rockharrt, you will know thatyour charge is untrue and impossible, and you will recall it. I took upyour railroad bill because I saw that its provisions would be beneficialto the small towns, tradesmen and farmers all along the proposedline--interests that many railroads neglect, to the ruin of parties mostconcerned. And I took up this cause before I had ever met yourgranddaughter since her childhood or as a woman. "

"That is true. Well, well, the selfish and mercenary character of themen, and women, too, that I meet in this world has made me, perhaps, toosuspicious of all men's motives, " said the champion egotist of theworld, speaking with the air of the great king condescending to anapology--if his answer could be called an apology. 

Rule accepted it as such. He knew it was as near to a concession as thedespot could come. He bowed in silence. 

"And so you want my granddaughter, do you?" demanded the old man. 

"Yes, sir; as the greatest good that you, or the world, or heaven, couldbestow on me, " earnestly replied the suitor. 

"Rubbish! Don't talk like an idiot! How do you propose to support her?"

"By the labor of my brain and hands, " gravely and confidently repliedRule. 

"Worse rubbish than the other! How much a year does the labor of yourbrain and hands bring you in?--not enough to keep yourself in comfort!And you would bring my granddaughter down to divide that insufficientincome with you"

"My income would provide us both with modest comforts, " replied Rule. 

"I think your ideas and our ideas of comfort may differ importantly. Nowsee here, Mr. Rothsay, I do believe you to be a true, honest, straightforward man; I believe you are attracted to Cora by a sincerepreference for herself, irrespective of her prospects; and you are arising man. Wait a year or two, or three. Take a few steps higher on theladder of rank and fame, and then come and ask me for my granddaughter'shand, and if you are both of the same mind, I will give it to you. There!"

"Mr. Rockharrt--" began Rule. 

"There, there, there! I will not even hear of an engagement until thattime shall arrive. How do I know how you will pass through the ordeal ofa political career, or into what bad company, evil habits, riotousliving, dissipation, drunkenness, bribery and corruption, embezzlements, ruin and disgrace you may not be tempted?"

"Heaven forbid!" exclaimed Rule. 

"Amen! I believe you will stand the test, but I have seen too manybrilliant and aspiring young politicians go up like a rocket and comedown a burnt stick, to be very sure of any man in the samecircumstances. "

"But, Mr. Rockharrt, such men were most probably brought up in wealthand luxury. They were not trained, perhaps, as I have been, in the hardbut wholesome school of labor and self-denial. "

"There may be something in that; but if you advance it as an argumentfor me to change my mind in this matter of a prudent delay, it is thrownaway upon me. You should know me well enough to know that I never changemy mind. "

Rule did know it. But he answered earnestly:

"I accept your conditions, Mr. Rockharrt. I will wait and work as longfor Cora as Jacob did for Rachel, if necessary. Cora has been theinspiration of all that I have wrought, endured and achieved--and shewas all that to me long before I dreamed of aspiring to her hand inmarriage, and she will be as long as we both shall live in this world orthe world to come. "

Rule bowed and left. He at once recounted to Cora the interview and thecondition imposed on him. 

When the short season ended, and the city was tilted upside down andemptied like a bucket of half its contents, the Rockharrts went with therest. 

Old Aaron was in his very worst fit of sullen ferocity. He had not beenable to get a charter for clearing out the channel of the CumberlandRiver (another pet project of his), or even to form a company strongenough to undertake the enterprise. 

After a while, out of restlessness, he started with his wife, granddaughter and grandson for a tour to the Northern Pacific Coast. Hespent some time in traveling through that region of country, andreturned East. 

He stopped at West Point to leave Sylvan Haught, who had successfullypassed his examination and received his appointment at the militaryacademy. 

Then he took his womenkind home to Rockhold. 

A few days later young Rothsay was elected senator. 

Some weeks later Rothsay again pressed his suit on the attention of Mr. Rockharrt. 

But the old man was adamant. 

"No, sir, no! You must have a firmer foundation to build upon than thefickle favor of the public. Wait a year or two longer. Let us seewhether your success is to be permanent. "

"But, " urged Rule, "my chosen bride is twenty-three years of age, and Iam twenty-seven. Time is flying. "

"What has that got to do with the question? If you were to marry thismorning, would that stop the flight of time? Would not time fly just asfast as ever? Suppose you should not marry for two years? Mygranddaughter would then be twenty-five and you thirty, and many wisephilosophers think that such are the relative ages at which man andwoman should marry. Then the Iron King cast a thunderbolt. He said:

"I am going to take my girl on a trip to Europe this summer. When wereturn, it will be time enough to talk about marriage. "

Rule bowed a reluctant admission to this mandate. He knew well thatargument would be thrown away upon the Iron King, and he knew that, evenif he himself were tempted to try to persuade Cora to marry him atpresent, she would not do so in opposition to her grandfather's will. 

Mr. Rockharrt had not as yet said one word to his family concerning hisintended trip to Europe, although he had been thinking of it, and layinghis plans, and making his arrangements, preparatory to the voyage, allthe winter. 

So it was with amazement that Cora first heard of the matter from RuleRothsay, who came to her to report the result of his last attempt togain the consent of the old gentleman to his marriage with thegranddaughter. 

A few days later the family despot announced to his subjects that heshould start for Europe in two weeks, taking his wife and granddaughterwith him, and leaving his two sons in charge of the works. 

Active preparations went on for the voyage. Mr. Rockharrt went every dayto the works to lay out plans for the summer to be completed during hisabsence. 

Mrs. Rockharrt and Cora had few arrangements to make, for the autocrathad warned them that they were to take only sufficient for the voyage, as they could buy whatever they needed on the other side. 

A few days before they left Rockhold, Rule Rothsay came uninvited tovisit his beloved Cora. 

Mr. Rockharrt happened to be the first to see him, and received himwell. 

When they were seated, Rule said:

"You refused to allow me to marry your granddaughter at present, and--"

"Now begin all that over again, Rothsay. I said that in two years youcan marry her and take her fortune, if you both choose, whether I likeit or not. That is all. "

"Do you, however, sanction our engagement, Mr. Rockharrt? Shall yourgranddaughter and myself be betrothed, openly betrothed, so that all mayknow our mutual relations, before the ocean divides us? That is what Iwould know now. That is what I have come down here to ask. "

The old man ruminated for a few moments, and then answered:

"Well, yes; you may be, with the understanding that you will wait tomarry for two years longer. These two years will be a probation to both. If you fulfill the promise of your youth, and rise to the position thatyou can, if you will, attain, and if you remain faithful to her, and ifshe remains true to you, you may then marry. With all my heart I shallwish you well. But if either of you fail in truth and fidelity, thedefaulting one, whether it be you or she, shall never look me in theface again, " concluded the Iron King. 

Rule's eyes lighted up with the fire of love and faith. He seized thehand of the old man and shook it warmly, saying:

"You have made me very happy by your words, Mr. Rockharrt, and I assureyou, by all my hopes on earth or in heaven, that whatever may change intime or eternity, my heart will never vary a hair's breadth from itsfidelity to its queen. "

"I believe you, or rather I believe you think so. "

A kind impulse, a rare one, moved the old man. Perhaps he reflected thatthese two young people might, have defied him and married without hisconsent had they pleased to do so; but they had submitted themselves tohis will, and as his favorite motto told him that "Government ismaintained by reward and punishment, " he may have reasoned that this wasan occasion for reward. So he said to the young man, who had risen, andwas standing before him:

"Rothsay, we shall leave here for New York on Tuesday, to sail by theSaturday's steamer for Liverpool. If your engagements admit of it, andif you would like to spend the intervening time near Cora, we should bepleased to have you stay here. "

Rule spent three happy days at Rockhold, and in the evening of the thirdday, the evening before they were to leave for Europe, he asked Mr. Rockharrt if he might have the privilege of attending the travelers tothe seaport, and seeing them off by the steamer. 

The Iron King found no objection to this plan. Mrs. Rockharrt waspleased, and Cora was delighted with it. 

Accordingly, on the next morning, they left Rockhold for New York, wherethey arrived on the evening of the next day. 

And on Saturday morning they went on board the steamer Persia, bound forLiverpool. 

They bade good-by to Regulas Rothsay, on the deck, at the last moment. 

The signal gun was fired, and our party sailed away to a new life, inwhich the faith of a woman was to be tempted and lost, and the career ofa man was to be wrecked. 

It was in the third year of their absence that they returned from theContinent to England. They reached London in February, in time to seethe grand pageant of the queen opening parliament. After which theyattended the first royal drawing room of the season, on which occasionMrs. Rockharrt and Miss Haught were presented to her Majesty by the wifeof the American minister. 

Cora Haught was a new beauty and a new social sensation. She was, indeed, more beautiful than she had been when she left America. A richlycolored Southern brunette was unique among British blondes. It was forthis, perhaps, she was so much admired. 

Moreover, she was reported to be the only descendant of her grandfatherand the sole heiress of his fabulous wealth. 

There was at this time another _debutant_ in society, a young man, theDuke of Cumbervale, who had lately reached his majority and come intohis estates, or what was left of them--an ancient castle and a fewbarren acres in Northumberland, an old hall and a few acres in Sussex, and a town house in London; but his title was an historical one. Hisperson was handsome, his manners attractive, and his mind highlycultivated. 

Cora met him first at the queen's drawing room, and afterward at everyball and party to which she went. 

It was, perhaps, natural--very natural--that the handsome blonde manshould be attracted by the beautiful brunette woman, without thought ofthe supposed fortune that might have redeemed his mortgaged estates andsupported his distinguished title. But why should the betrothed ofRegulas Rothsay have been fascinated by this elegant English aristocrat?

Surely no two men were ever more diametrically opposite than theAmerican printer and the English duke. 

Regulas Rothsay was tall, muscular, and robust, with large feet andhands, inherited from many generations of hard-working forefathers. Hismovements were clumsy; his manners were awkward, except when he wasinspired by some grand thought or tender sympathy, when his whole personand appearance became transfigured. His sole enduring charms were hisbeautiful eyes and melodious voice. 

The Duke of Cumbervale was slight and elegant in form, with small, perfectly shaped hands and feet--derived from a long line of idle anduseless ancestors--finely cut Grecian profile, pure, clear, white skin, fine, silken, pale yellow hair and mustache, calm blue eyes, gracefulmovements, and refined manners. 

Regulas Rothsay was a man of the people, who did not know any ancestrybehind his laboring father, who could not have told the names of hisgrandparents. 

The Duke of Cumbervale was descended from eight generations ofnoblemen. 

Cora Haught saw and felt this contrast between the two men, so oppositein birth, rank, person, manner, character, and cultivation. 

Not all at once could she become an apostate to her faith, pledged toRule. But, in truth, she had always loved him more as a sister loves adear brother than as a maiden loves her betrothed husband. She had notseen him for three years. And she had seen so much since they hadparted! In truth, his image had grown dim in her imagination. 

She wrote to him briefly from London that her engagements were sonumerous as to preclude the possibility of her writing much, but that atthe end of the London season they expected to return home. This wasbefore she had--

 "Foregathered with the de'il, "

in the shape of the handsome, eloquent, and fascinating Duke ofCumbervale. 

Afterward a strange madness had seized her; a sudden revulsion offeeling, amounting almost to repugnance, against the rugged man of thepeople who had hewn out his own fortune, and who looked, she thought, more like a backwoodsman than a gentleman. Yes; it was madness--suchmadness as is sometimes the wreck of families. 

The duke grew daily more impressive in his attentions, and Cora moredelighted to receive them. So the season went on. People began toconnect the names of the Duke of Cumbervale and the beautiful Americanheiress. 

Just about this time old Aaron Rockharrt walked into the breakfast roomof their apartments at Langham's with an American newspaper, which hadjust come by the morning's mail, in his hands. 

"Here is news!" he said. "Rothsay has been nominated as governor of----! But perhaps this is no news to you, Cora. You may have received aletter?" he added, turning to his granddaughter. 

"I had a letter from Mr. Rothsay yesterday, but he said nothing on thesubject, " replied the girl somewhat coldly. 

"Well, if he should be elected--and I really believe he will be, for heis the most popular man in the State--I shall throw no obstacles in theway of your immediate marriage with him. You have been engaged longenough--long enough! We shall set out for home on the first of nextmonth, and so be in full time for the election. "

Cora did not reply. She grew pale and cold. 

The Iron King looked at his granddaughter, bending his gray brows overkeenly penetrating eyes. 

"See here, mistress!" he said. "You don't seem to rejoice in this news. What is the matter with you? Have any of these English foplings andlordlings, with more peers in their pedigrees than pennies in theirpockets, turned your head? If so, it is time for me to take you home. "

Cora did not reply. Only the night before, at the ball given by theMarchioness of Netherby, the Duke of Cumbervale had proposed to her, andhad been referred to her grandfather. He was coming that very morning toask the hand of the supposed heiress of the Iron King. Cora was thatvery day intending to write to Rule and tell him the whole truth, andask him to release her from her engagement; and she knew full well thathe would have no alternative but to grant her request. 

"Why do you not answer me, Corona? What is the matter with you?" againdemanded old Aaron Rockharrt. 

But at that moment a waiter entered, and laid a card on the table beforethe old gentleman. He took it up and read:

 THE DUKE OF CUMBERVALE. 

"What in the deuce does the young fellow want of me? Show him into theparlor, William, and say that I will be with him in a few minutes. "

The waiter left the room to do his errand, and was soon followed by Mr. Rockharrt, who found the young duke pacing rather restlessly up and downthe room. 

"Good morning, sir, " said old Aaron, with stiff politeness. 

The visitor turned and saluted his host. 

"Will you not be seated?" said Mr. Rockharrt, waving his hand towardsofa and chairs. 

The visitor bowed and sat down. The host took another chair and waited. There was silence for a short time. The old man seemed expectant, theyoung man embarrassed. At length, when the latter opened his mouth andspoke, no pearls and diamonds of wisdom and goodness dropped from hislips; he said:

"It is a fine day. "

"Yes, yes, " admitted the Iron King, taking his hands from his knees, anddrawing himself up with the sigh of a man badly bored--"for London. Wewouldn't call this a fine day in America. But I have heard it said thatit is always a fine day in England when it don't pour. "

"Yes, " admitted the visitor; and then he driveled into the most inanetalk about climates, for you see this was the first time the poor youngfellow had ever ventured to

 "Beard the lion in his den, "

so to speak, by asking: a stern old gentleman for a daughter's hand, and this Iron King was a very formidable-looking beast indeed. 

At length, Mr. Rockharrt, feeling sure that his visitor had come uponbusiness--though he did not know of what sort--said:

"I think, sir, that you are here upon some affairs. If it is aboutrailway shares--"

The old man was stopped short by the surprised and insolent stare of theyoung duke. 

"I know nothing of railway shares, sir, " he answered. 

"Oh, you don't! Well, I did not think you did. In what other way can Ioblige you?"

Indignation generally deprives a man of self-possession, but on thisoccasion it restored that of the embarrassed lover. Feeling that he--thedescendant of a dozen dukes, whose ancestors had "come over with Williamthe Conqueror, " had served in Palestine under King Richard, hadcompelled King John to sign the Magna Charta, had gained glory in everygeneration--was about to do this rude, purse-proud old tradesman thegreatest honor in asking of him his granddaughter in marriage, he said, somewhat coldly:

"Miss Haught has made me happy in the hope of her acceptance of my hand, pending your approval, and has referred me to you. "

The Iron King stared at the speaker for a moment, and then said, quitecalmly:

"Please to repeat that all over again, slowly and distinctly. "

The duke flushed to the edges of his hair, but he repeated his proposalin plain words. 

"You have asked Cora Haught to marry you?" demanded the Iron King. 

"Yes, sir. "

"What did she say?"

"She did me the honor to give me some hope, and she referred me to you, as I have already explained. "

"I don't believe it!" blurted the old man. 

"Sir!" said the duke, in a low voice. 

"I don't believe it! What! My granddaughter--mine--break her faith andwish to marry some one else?"

"Mr. Rockharrt, " began the duke, in a smooth tone--though his blood washot with anger--"I am sorry you should so forget the--"

"I forget nothing. I remember that you charge mygranddaughter--mine--with unfaithfulness! It is an insult, sir!"

"Really, Mr. Rockharrt, I do not understand you. "

"I don't suppose you do! I never gave your order much credit forintelligence. "

Is this old ruffian mad or drunk? was the secret question of the duke, whose tone and manner, always calm and polite, grew even calmer and morepolite as the Iron King grew more sarcastic and insulting. 

"I would suggest that you speak to Miss Haught on this subject, that shemay confirm my statement, " he said. 

"I shall do nothing of the kind! I shall not entertain for an instantthe thought of the possibility of my granddaughter breaking her plightedfaith. "

"I never knew that she was engaged. May I ask the name of the happyman?"

"Regulas Rothsay; he is not a duke; he is a printer; also a senator, andnominated for governor of his native State; sure to be elected, and thenhe is to marry my granddaughter, who has been engaged to him manyyears. "

"But Miss Haught certainly authorized me to ask her hand of you. "

When did this extraordinary acceptance take place?"

"Yesterday evening, at Lady Netherby's ball. "

"After supper?"

"After supper. "

"That accounts for it! You took too much wine, and misunderstood mygranddaughter's reply She must have referred you to me for anexplanation of her engagement, and consequent inability to entertain anyother man's proposal. That was it!"

"May I refer you to Miss Haught for confirmation of my words?"

"I say, as I said before, no. "

"May I see the young lady herself?"

"No; but I will tell you something that may console you under yourdisappointment. I have seen in several of your papers, in the societycolumns, my granddaughter referred to as my sole heiress. I do not knowwho is responsible for these reports, but you may have believed them, though there is not a word of truth in them. My granddaughter is not mysole heiress; not my heiress in the slightest degree. I have twostalwart sons, partners in my business, both now in charge of the worksat North End, Cumberland mountains, and managing them extremely well, else I could not be taking a long holiday here. These sons are heirs toall my property. Nor is my granddaughter the heiress of her late father. She has a brother, now a cadet at our military academy at West Point. Heinherits the bulk of his father's estate. My granddaughter's fortune is, therefore, very moderate--quite beneath the consideration of an Englishnobleman, " concluded the old man, very grimly. 

The young duke heard him out, and then answered;

"I trust, sir, that you will credit me with better motives in seekingthe hand of the young lady. It was her charm of person and of mind thatattracted me to her. "

"Of course, of course; but, my dear duke, there is a plenty of soleheiresses among the wealthy trades-people of London who would be proudto buy a title with a fortune. Let me advise you to strike a bargainwith one of them. Now, as I have pressing business on hand, you willexcuse me. "

The young duke arose, with a bow, and left the room, muttering tohimself: "What an unmitigated beast that old man is! I do like the girl;she is a beautiful creature, but--I am well out of it after all. "

Old Aaron Rockharrt made no false pretense of business to get rid of hisunwelcome visitor; he never made false pretense of any sort for anypurpose. He had pressing business on hand, though it was business whichhad suddenly arisen during his interview with the duke, and had in factcome out of it. No sooner had the young man left the house than the IronKing went to the agency of the Cunard line, and secured staterooms forhimself and party in the Asia, that was to sail on the followingSaturday from Liverpool for New York. 

When he re-entered his parlor at the Langham, he found his wife and Coraseated there, the girl reading the _Court Journal_ to her grandmother. 

"Put that tomfoolery down, Cora, and listen to me, both of you! This isWednesday. We leave London for Liverpool on Friday morning, and sailfrom Liverpool for New York on Saturday. So you sent that man to me, mistress?"

"Yes, sir, " without looking up. 

"For my consent to a marriage with him!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Then the fellow did not mistake your meaning! Cora Haught! I could nothave believed that any girl who had any of my blood in her veins couldbe guilty of such black treachery as to break faith with her betrothedhusband, and wish to marry another, just for the snobbish ambition to bea duchess and be called 'her grace'!" said the Iron King, with all thesardonic scorn and hatred of any form of falsehood that was the oneredeeming trait in his hard and cruel nature. 

"Grandpa, it was not so! Indeed, it was not! Oh, consider! I had knownRule Rothsay from my childhood, and loved him with the affection asister gives a brother; I knew of no other love, and so I mistook it forthe love surpassing all others that a betrothed maiden should give herbetrothed. But when I met Cumbervale and he wooed me, I loved truly forthe first time! loved, as he loves me!" she concluded, with tremblinglips and downcast eyes and flushed cheeks. 

"Stuff and nonsense! Don't talk to me about love or any such sentimentaltrash! I am talking of good faith between man and woman--words of whichyou don't seem to know the meaning!"

"Oh, grandpa! yes, I do! But would it be good faith in me to marry RuleRothsay, when I love Cumbervale?"

"It would be good faith to keep your word, irrespective of yourfeelings, and bad faith to break it in consideration of your feelings!But you are too false to know this!"

"Oh, sir! pray do not set your face against my marriage with Cumbervale, or insist on my marrying Rule! It would not be for Rule's good, " pleadedCora. 

"No; Heaven knows it would not be for his good! It had been better forRothsay that he had been blown up in the explosion that killed hisfather, than that he had ever set eyes on your false face! But you havegiven him your word, and you must keep it, or never look me in the faceagain! You shall be married as soon as we reach Rockhold. "

Cora raised her tearful face from her hands, and looked astonished andwretched. 

"Oh, you may gaze, but it is true. The fortune hunter has discoveredthat he is on a false scent. There is no fortune on the trail. I toldhim everything about you. I told him that you were not my heiress atall, because I had two sons who would inherit all my property; that youwere not even your father's heiress, because you had a brother who wouldinherit the larger portion of his; that, in point of fact, you were onlymoderately provided for. He was startled, I assure you. I also told himthat for years you had been engaged to a young printer in your nativecountry, who would probably be the next governor of his native State. Hebowed himself out. I engaged our passage to New York by the Saturday'ssteamer. You will never see the little dandy again. He was after afortune, and finding that you have none, he has forsaken you--and servedyou right, for a base, treacherous, and contemptible woman, unworthyeven of his regard; for you are much lower in every way than he is, forwhile he was seeking a fortune and you were seeking a title, you wereconcealing from him the fact of your engagement to Rule Rothsay. Youwere doubly false to Rule and to Cumbervale. Oh, Cora Haught! CoraHaught! Are you not ashamed of yourself! Ashamed to look any honest manor woman in the face! Ah! you do well to hide yours!" he concluded, forCora had lost all self-control, dropped her head upon her hands, andburst into hysterical sobs and tears. 

Did you ever see a small bantam hen ruffle up all her feathers in angrydefense of her chick? So did poor little, timid Mrs. Rockharrt inprotection of her pet. She ventured to expostulate with her tyrant for, perhaps, the first time in their married life. 

"Oh, Aaron, do not scold the child so severely. She is but human. Shehas only been dazzled and fascinated by the young duke's rank, andbeauty, and elegance. She could not help it, being thrown in his companyso much. And you know they say that half the girls in London society arein love with the handsome duke. We will take her home, and she will comeall right, and be our own, dear, faithful Cora again, and--"

Old Aaron Rockharrt, who had gazed at his wife in speechlessastonishment at her audacity in reasoning with him, now burst forthwith:

"Hold your jaw, madam, " and strode out of the room. 

A minute later a waiter came in and laid a note on the table before Coraand immediately withdrew. 

Cora took the missive, recognized the handwriting and seal, tore it openand eagerly ran her eyes along the lines. This was the note:

 CUMBERVALE LODGE, LONDON, May, 1, 18--

 MISS HAUGHT: For my indiscretion of last evening I owe you an humble apology, which I beg you to accept with this explanation, that, had I known, or even suspected, that your hand was already promised in another quarter, I should never have presumed to propose for it. I beg now to withdraw such a false step. 

 Accept my best wishes for your happiness in a union with the more fortunate man of your choice, and believe me to be now and ever, Your obedient servant, CUMBERVALE. 

Scarcely had Cora's eyes fallen from the paper when Lady Pendragon'scarriage drove up to the door. 

Glad of the interruption that enabled her to escape from the parlor, andgive way to the passion and grief and despair that were swelling herheart to breaking, Cora hastened to her bed chamber and threw herselfdown upon the couch in a paroxysm of sobs and tears. 

Mrs. Rockharrt waited in the parlor to receive the visitor, but novisitor came up. Only two cards were left for the two ladies, and thenthe Countess of Pendragon rolled away in her carriage. 

On Friday morning the Rockharrts left London. And on Saturday morningthey sailed from Liverpool. After a prosperous voyage of ten days theylanded at New York. 

"My soul! there is Rothsay on the pier, waving his hand to us!"exclaimed the Iron King, as he led his little wife down the gang plank, while Cora came on behind them. 

Yes; there was Rule, his tall figure towering above the crowd on thepier, his rugged face beaming with delight, his hand waving welcome tothe returning voyagers. He received his friends as they stepped upon thepier. He shook hands warmly with Mrs. Rockharrt, heartily with the IronKing, and then, behind them, with Cora, and before Cora knew what wascoming she was folded in the arms and to the faithful breast of herlife-long lover--only for a moment; and then he drew her arm within hisown and led her on after the elder couple, whispering:

"Dear, this is the happiest day I have ever seen as yet, but a happierone is coming--soon, I hope. Dear, how soon shall it be?"

"You must ask my grandparents, Rule. Their judgment and theirconvenience must be consulted, " she answered in a low, steady tone. 

She had no thought now of breaking her engagement with Rule, though herheart seemed breaking. She still loved that rugged man with the sisterlyaffection she had always felt for him, and which, in her ignorance oflife and self, she had mistaken for a warmer sentiment, and resolved, inwedding him, to do her whole duty by him for so long as she should live, and she hoped and believed that that would not be very long. 

Rothsay led the way to a carriage. When all were seated in this, the oldman leant toward the young one, and said:

"Well, I haven't had a chance to ask you yet. The election is over. Howdid it go? Who is their man?"

"They chose me, " answered Rothsay, simply. 

Cora Haught's bosom was wrung by hopeless passion and piercing remorse. 

Yet she tried to do her whole duty. 

"If it craze or kill me I will wed Rule, and he shall never know what itcosts me to keep my word, " she said to herself, as she lay sleepless andrestless in her bed on the night before her wedding morn. "Yes; I willdo my duty and keep my secret even unto death. "

"'Even unto death!' but unto whose death?" whispered a voice close toher ear--a voice clear, distinct, penetrating. 

Cora started and opened her eyes. No one was near her. She sat up inbed, and looked around the apartment. The night taper, standing on thehearth, burned low. The dimly lighted room was vacant of any human beingexcept herself. 

"I have been dreaming, " she said, and she laid down and tried to composeherself to sleep again. In vain! Memories of the near past, dread of thenearer future, contended in her soul, filling her with discord. WhenCora arose on her wedding morning, she said to herself:

"Yes, this day I am going to marry Rule, dear, loving, faithful, hard-working, self-denying Rule! A monarch among men, if greatness ofsoul could make a monarch. In that sense no woman, peeress or princess, ever made a prouder match. May Heaven make me worthier of him! MayHeaven help me to be a true, good wife to him!"

She said these words to herself, but oh! oh! how she shuddered as shebreathed them, and how she reproached herself for such shuddering! Thegirl's whole nature was at war with itself. Yet through all the terribleinterior strife she kept her firm determination to be faithful to Rule;to go through the ordeal before her, even though it should cost her lifeor reason. 

The external circumstances of this wedding were given in the firstchapter, and need not be repeated here. 

My readers may remember the marble-like stillness of the bride as shesat in her bridal robes, looking out from the front window of herchamber on the bright and festive scene below, where all the work peoplefrom the mines and foundries were assembled; they will remember how sheshivered when she was summoned with her bridesmaids to meet herbridegroom and his attendants in the hall below; how when she met him atthe foot of the stairs she shrank from his greeting--emotion in which hein his simple, loyal soul saw no repugnance, but only maiden reserve tobe reverenced, as he drew her arm within his own to lead her before thebishop; how she faltered during the whole of the marriage ceremony; howlike a woman in a trance she passed through the scenes of the weddingbreakfast and those that immediately followed it; how in her own room, where she went to change her wedding dress for a traveling suit, andwhither her gentle old grandmother had followed her for a privateparting, she had answered the old lady's anxious question as to whethershe was "happy, " first by silence and then by muttering that her heartwas too full for speech; how when the bridegroom and the bride hadtaken leave of all their friends at Rockhold, and were seated_tete-a-tete_ in their traveling carriage, bowling along the river road, at the base of the East Ridge toward the North End railway station, whenhe passed his arm around her and drew her to his heart and murmured ofhis love and his joy in her ear, and pleaded for some response from her, she had only said that her heart was too full for speech, and he in hisconfiding spirit had perceived no evasion in her reply, but thought, ifher heart was full, it was with responsive love for him. 

My readers will recollect the railway journey to the State capital; theprocession through the decorated streets between the crowded sidewalksfrom the railway station to the town house of Mr. Rockharrt, which hadbeen placed at the disposal of the governor-elect for the intervalbetween his arrival in the State capital and his inauguration. 

The committee of reception escorted them to the gates of the Rockharrtmansion and left them at the door. There we also left them, in thesecond chapter of this story--and there we return to them in this place. 

CHAPTER V. 

THE GREAT RENUNCIATION. 

When the governor-elect and his bride entered the Rockharrt town house, they were received by a group of obsequious servants, headed by Jason, the butler, and Jane, the housekeeper, and among whom stood Martha, lady's maid to the new Mrs. Rothsay. 

"Will you come into the drawing room and rest, dear, before goingupstairs?" inquired Mr. Rothsay of his bride, as they stood together inthe front hall. 

"No, thank you. I will go to my room. Come, Martha!" said the bride, andshe went up stairs, followed by her maid. 

Rule stood where she had so hastily left him, in the hall, looking somuch at a loss that presently Jason volunteered to say:

"Shall I show you to your apartment, sir?"

"Yes, " answered Mr. Rothsay. And he followed the servant up stairs to alarge and handsomely furnished bed chamber, having a dressing roomattached. 

Jason lighted the wax candles on the dressing table and on the mantelpiece, and then inquired:

"Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?"

"No, " replied Mr. Rothsay. 

And the servant retired. 

Rothsay was alone in the room. He had never set up a valet; he hadalways waited on himself. Now, however, he was again at a loss. He wascovered with railway dust and smoke, yet he saw no conveniences forablution. 

While he stood there, a shout arose in the street outside. A singlevoice raised the cheer:

"Hoo--rah--ah--ah for Rothsay!"

He went to the front window of the room. The sashes were hoisted, forthe night was warm; but the shutters were closed. He turned the slats alittle and looked down on the square below. It was filled withpedestrians, and every window of every house in sight was illuminated. When the shouts had died away, he heard voices in the room. He washimself accidentally concealed by the window curtains. He looked aroundand saw his bride emerge from the dressing room, attired in an elegantdinner costume of rich maize-colored satin and black lace, withcrocuses in her superb black hair. She passed through the room withouthaving seen him, and went down stairs followed by her maid. 

He saw the door of the dressing room standing open and went into it. Itwas no mere closet, but a large, well lighted and convenient apartment, furnished with every possible appurtenance for the toilet. Here he foundhis trunk, his valise, his dressing case, all unpacked--his brushes andcombs laid out in order, his dinner suit hung over a rack--everyrequirement of his toilet in complete readiness as if prepared by anexperienced valet. All this he had been accustomed to do, and expectedto do, for himself. Who had served him? Had Corona and her maid?Impossible!

He quickly made a refreshing evening toilet and went down stairs, for hewas eager to rejoin his bride. He found her in the drawing room; butscarcely had he seated himself at her side when the door was opened anddinner announced by Jason. 

They both arose; he gave her his arm, and they followed the solemnbutler to the dining room, which was on the opposite side of the fronthall and in the rear of the library. 

An elegant tete-a-tete dinner but for the presence of the old butler andone young footman who waited on them. 

They did not linger long at table, but soon left it and returnedtogether to the drawing room. 

They had scarcely seated themselves when the door bell rang, and in afew moments afterward a card was brought in and handed to Mr. Rothsay, who took it and read:

A. B. Crawford. 

"Show the judge into the library and say that I will be with him in afew moments, " he said to the servant. 

"He is one of the judges of the supreme court of the State, dear, and Imust go to him. I hope he will not keep me long, " said Mr. Rothsay, ashe raised the hand of his bride to his lips and then left the room. 

With a sigh of intense relief Cora leaned back in her chair and closedher eyes. 

People have been known to die suddenly in their chairs. Why could notshe die as she sat there, with her whole head heavy and her whole heartfaint, she thought. 

She listened--fearfully--for the return of her husband, but he did notcome as soon as he had hoped to do; for while she listened the door bellrang again, and another visitor made his appearance, and after a shortdelay was shown into the library. 

Then came another, and still another, and afterward others, until thelibrary must have been half full of callers on the governor-elect. 

And presently a large band of musicians halted before the house andbegan a serenade. They played and sang "Hail to the Chief, " "YankeeDoodle, " "Hail Columbia, " and other popular or national airs. 

Mr. Rothsay and his friends went out to see them and thank them, andthen their shouts rent the air as they retired from the scene. 

The gentlemen re-entered the house and retired to the library, wherethey resumed their discussion of official business, until anothermultitude had gathered before the house and shouts of--

"Hoo-rah-ah ah for Rothsay!" rose to the empyrean. 

Neither the governor-elect nor his companions responded in any way tothis compliment until loud, disorderly cries for--

"Rothsay!"

"Rothsay!"

"Rothsay!"

constrained them to appear. 

The governor-elect was again greeted with thundering cheers. Whensilence was restored he made a short, pithy address, which was receivedwith rounds of applause at the close of every paragraph. 

When the speech was finished, he bowed and withdrew, and the crowd, witha final cheer, dispersed. 

Mr. Rothsay retired once more to the library, accompanied by hisfriends, to renew their discussion. 

Cora, in her restlessness of spirit, arose from her seat and walkedseveral times up and down the floor. 

Presently, weary of walking, and attracted by the coolness and darknessof the back drawing room, in which the chandeliers had not been lighted, she passed between the draped blue satin portieres that divided it fromthe front room and entered the apartment. 

The French windows stood open upon a richly stored flower garden, fromwhich the refreshing fragrance of dewy roses, lilies, violets, capejasmines, and other aromatic plants was wafted by the westerly breeze. 

Cora seated herself upon the sofa between the two low French windows, and waited. 

Presently she heard the visitors taking leave. 

"The committee will wait on you between ten and eleven to-morrowmorning, " she heard one gentleman say, as they passed out. 

Then several "good nights" were uttered, and the guests all departed, and the door was closed. 

Cora heard her husband's quick, eager step as he hurried into the frontdrawing room, seeking his wife. 

She felt her heart sinking, the high nervous tension of her whole framerelaxing. She heard the hall clock strike ten. When the last stroke diedaway, she heard her husband's voice calling, softly:

"Cora, love, wife, where are you?"

She could bear no more. The overtasked heart gave way. 

When, the next instant, the eager bridegroom pushed aside the satinportieres and entered the apartment, with a flood of light from the roomin front, he found his bride had thrown herself down on the Persian rugbefore the sofa in the wildest anguish and despair and in a paroxysm ofpassionate sobs and tears. 

What a sight to meet a newly-made, adoring husband's eyes on hismarriage evening and on the eve of the day of his highest triumph, inlove as in ambition!

For one petrified moment he gazed on her, too much amazed to utter aword. 

Then suddenly he stooped, raised her as lightly as if she had been ababy, and laid her on the sofa. 

"Cora--love--wife! Oh! what is this?" he cried, bending over her. 

She did not answer; she could not, for choking sobs and drowning tears. 

He knelt beside her, and took her hand, and bent his face to hers, andmurmured:

"Oh, my love! my wife! what troubles you?"

She wrenched her hand from his, turned her face from him, buried herhead in the cushions of the sofa, and gave way to a fresh storm ofanguish. 

When she repulsed him in this spasmodic manner, he recoiled as a manmight do who had received a sudden blow; but he did not rise from hisposition, but watched beside her sofa, in great distress of mind, patiently waiting for her to speak and explain. 

Gradually her tempest of emotion seemed to be raging itself into therest of exhaustion. Her sobs and tears grew fainter and fewer; andpresently after that she drew out her handkerchief, and raised herselfto a sitting position, and began to wipe her wet and tear-stained faceand eyes. Though her tears and sobs had ceased, still her bosom heavedconvulsively. 

He arose and seated himself beside her, put his arm around her, and drewher beautiful black, curled head upon his faithful breast, and bendinghis face to hers, entreated her to tell him the cause of her grief. 

"What is it, dear one? Have you had bad news? A telegram from Rockhold?Either of the old people had a stroke? Tell me, dear?"

"Nothing--has--happened, " she answered, giving each word with a gasp. 

"Then what troubles you, dear? Tell me, wife! tell me! I am yourhusband!" he whispered, smoothing her black hair, and gazing withinfinite tenderness on her troubled face. 

"Oh, Rule! Rule! Rule!" she moaned, closing her eyes, that could notbear his gaze. 

"Tell me, dear, " he murmured, gently, continuing to stroke her hair. 

"I am--nervous--Rule, " she breathed. "I shall get over it--presently. Give me--a little time, " she gasped. 

"Nervous?" He gazed down on her woe-writhen face, with its closed eyesthat would not meet his own. Yes, doubtless she was nervous--verynervous--but she was more than that. Mere nervousness never blanched awoman's face, wrung her features or convulsed her form like this. 

"Cora, look at me, dear. There is something I have to say to you. "

She forced herself to lift her eyelids and meet the honest, truthfuleyes that looked down into hers. 

"Cora, " he said, with a certain grave yet sweet tone of authority, "there is some great burden on your mind, dear--a burden too heavy foryou to bear alone. "

"Oh, it is! it is! it is!" she wailed, as if the words had broken fromher without her knowledge. 

"Then let me share it, " he pleaded. 

"Oh, Rule! Rule! Rule!" she wailed, dropping her head upon his breast. 

"Is your trouble so bitter, dear? What is it, Cora? It can be nothingthat I may not share and relieve. Tell me, dear. "

"Oh, Rule, bear with me! I did not wish to distress you with my folly, my madness. Do not mind it, Rule. It will pass away. Indeed, it will. Iwill do my duty by you. I will be a true wife to you, after all. Only donot disturb your own righteous spirit about me, do not notice my moods;and give me time. I shall come all right. I shall be to you--all thatyou wish me to be. But, for the Lord's love, Rule, give me time!" shepleaded, with voice and eyes so full of woe that the man's heart sank inhis bosom. 

He grew pale and withdrew his arm from her neck. She lifted her headfrom his breast then and leaned back in the corner of the sofa. Shetrembled with fear now, lest she had betrayed her secret, which she hadresolved to keep for his own sake. She looked and waited for his words. He was very still, pale and grave. Presently he spoke very gently to thegrieving woman. 

"Dear, you have said too much and too little. Tell me all now, Cora. Itis best that you should, dear. "

"Rule! oh, Rule! must I? must I?" she pleaded, wringing her hands. 

"Yes, Cora; it is best, dear. "

"Oh, I would have borne anything to have spared you this. But--Ibetrayed myself. Oh, Rule, please try to forget what you have seen andheard. Bear with me for a little while. Give me some little time to getover this, and you shall see how truly I will do my duty--how earnestlyI will try to make you happy, " she prayed. 

"I know, dear--I know you will be a good, dear wife, and a dearly lovedand fondly cherished wife. But begin, dear, by giving me yourconfidence. There can be no real union without confidence betweenhusband and wife, my Cora. Surely, you may trust me, dear, " he said, with serious tenderness. 

"Yes; I can trust you. I will trust you with all, through all, Rule. Youare wise and good. You will forgive me and help me to do right. " Shespoke so wildly and so excitedly that he laid his hand tenderly, soothingly, on her head, and begged her to be calm and to confide in himwithout hesitation. 

Then she told him all. 

What a story for a newly-married husband to hear from his wife on theevening of their wedding day!

He listened in silence, and without moving a muscle of his face or form. When he had heard all he arose from the sofa, stood up, then reeled toan arm chair near at hand and dropped heavily into it, his huge, stalwart frame as weak from sudden faintness as that of an infant. 

"Oh, Rule! Rule! your anger is just! It is just!" cried Cora, wringingher hands in despair. 

He looked at her in great trouble, but his beautiful eyes expressed onlythe most painful compassion. He could not answer her. He could not trusthimself to speak yet. His breast was heaving, working tumultuously. Histawny-bearded chin was quivering. He shut his lips firmly together, andtried to still the convulsion of his frame. 

"Oh, Rule, be angry with me, blame me, reproach me, for I am toblame--bitterly, bitterly to blame. But do not hate me, for I love you, Rule, with a sister's love. And forgive me, Rule--not just now, forthat would be impossible, perhaps. But, oh! do forgive me after a while, Rule, for I do repent--oh, I do repent that treason of the heart--thattreason against one so worthy of the truest love and honor which womangives to man. You will forgive me--after a while--after a--probation?"

She paused and looked wistfully at his grave, pained, patient face. 

He could not yet answer her. 

"Oh, if you will give me time, Rule, I will--I will banish everythought, every memory of my--my--my season in London, and will devotemyself to you with all my heart and soul. No man ever had, or ever couldhave, a more devoted wife than I will be to you, if you will only trustme and be happy, Rule. Oh!" she suddenly burst forth, seeing that he didnot reply to her, "you are bitterly angry with me. You hate me. Youcannot forgive me. You blame me without mercy. And you are right. Youare right. "

Now he forced himself to speak, though in a low and broken voice. 

"Angry? With you, Cora? No, dear, no. "

"You blame me, though. You must blame me, " she sobbed. 

"Blame you? No, dear. You have not been to blame, " he faltered, faintly, for he was an almost mortally wounded man. 

"Ah! what do you mean? Why do you speak to me so kindly, so gently? Icould bear your anger, your reproaches, Rule, better than thistenderness, that breaks my heart with shame and remorse!" cried Cora, bursting into a passion of sobs and tears. 

He did not come near her to take her in his arms and comfort her asbefore. A gulf had opened between them which he felt that he could notpass, but he spoke to her very gently and compassionately. 

"Do not grieve so bitterly, dear, " he said. "Do not accuse yourself sounjustly. You have done no wrong to me, or to any human being. You havedone nothing but good to me, and to every human being in your reach. Tome you have been more than tongue can tell--my first friend, my muse, myangel, my inspiration to all that is best, greatest, highest in humanlife--the goal of all my earthly, all my heavenly aspirations. That Ishould love you with a pure, single, ardent passion of enthusiasm wasnatural, was inevitable. But that you, dear, should mistake yourfeelings toward me, mistake sisterly affection, womanly sympathy, intellectual appreciation, for that living fire of eternal love whichonly should unite man and woman, was natural, too, though mostunfortunate. I am not fair to look upon, Cora. I have no form, nocomeliness, that any one should--"

He was suddenly interrupted by the girl, who sprang from her seat andsank at his feet, clasped his knees, and dropped her head upon his handsin a tempest of sobs and tears, crying:

"Oh, Rule! I never did deserve your love! I never was worthy of you! AndI long have known it. But I do love you! I do love you! Oh, give me timeand opportunity to prove it!" she pleaded, with many tears, saying thesame words over and over again, or words with the same meaning. 

He laid both his large hands softly on her bowed head and held themthere with a soothing, quieting, mesmeric touch, until she had sobbed, and cried, and talked herself into silence, and then he said:

"No, Cora! No, dear! You are good and true to the depths of your soul;but you deceive yourself. You do not love me. It is not your fault. Youcannot do so! You pity, you esteem, you appreciate; and you mistakethese sentiments as you mistook sisterly affection for such love as onlyshould sanctify the union of man and woman. "

"But I will, Rule. I will love you even so! Give me time! A little time!I am your own, " she pleaded. 

"No, dear, no. I am sure that you would do your best, at any cost toyourself. You would consecrate your life to one whom yet you do notlove, because you cannot love. But the sacrifice is too great, dear--asacrifice which no woman should ever make for any cause, which no manshould ever accept under any circumstances. You must not immolateyourself on my unworthy shrine, Cora. "

"Oh, Rule! What do you mean? You frighten me! What do you intend to do?"exclaimed Cora, with a new fear in her heart. 

"I will tell you later, dear, when we are both quieter. And, Cora, promise me one thing--for your own sake, dear. "

"I will promise you anything you wish, Rule. And be glad to do so. Gladto do anything that will please you, " she earnestly assured him. 

"Then promise that whatever may happen, you will never tell any humanbeing what you have told me to-night. "

"I promise this on my honor, Rule. "

"Promise that you will never repeat one word of this interview betweenus to any living being. "

"I promise this, also, on my honor, Rule. "

"That is all I ask, and it is exacted for your own sake, dear. The fairname of a woman is so white and pure that the smallest speck can be seenupon it. And now, dear, it is nearly eleven o'clock. Will you ring foryour maid and go to your room? I have letters to write--in thelibrary--which, I think, will occupy me the whole night, " he said, as hetook her hand and gently raised her to her feet. 

At that moment a servant entered, bringing a card. 

Mr. Rothsay took it toward the portiere and read it by the light of thechandelier in the front room. 

"Show the gentleman to the library, and say that I will be with him in afew minutes, " said Rothsay. 

"If you please, sir, the lights are out and the library locked. I didnot know that it would be wanted again to-night. But I will light up, sir. "

"Wax candles? It would take too long. Show the gentleman into this frontroom, " said the governor-elect. 

The servant went to do his bidding. 

Then Rothsay turned to Cora, saying:

"I must see this man, dear, late as it is! I will bid you good nightnow. God bless you, dear. "

And without even a farewell kiss, Rothsay passed out. 

And Cora did not know that he had gone for good. 

She rang for her maid and retired to her room, there to pass asleepless, anxious, remorseful night. 

What would be the result of her confession to her husband? She dared notto conjecture. 

He had been gentle, tender, most considerate, and most charitable to herweakness, never speaking of his own wrongs, never reproaching her forinconstancy. 

He had said, in effect, that he would come to an understanding with herlater, when they both should be stronger. 

When would that be? To-morrow?

Scarcely, for the ceremonies of the coming day must occupy every momentof his time. 

And what, eventually, would he do?

His words, divinely compassionate as they had been, had shadowed forth aseparation between them. Had he not told her that to be the wife of ahusband she could not love would be a sacrifice that no woman shouldever make and no man should ever accept? That she should not so offer upher life for him?

What could this mean but a contemplated separation?

So Cora lay sleepless and tortured by these harrassing questions. 

When Rule Rothsay entered the front drawing room he found there a youngmerchant marine captain whom he had known for many years, though notintimately. 

"Ah, how do you do, Ross?" he said. 

"How do you do, Governor? I must ask pardon for calling so late, but--"

"Not at all. How can I be of use to you?"

"Why, in no way whatever. Don't suppose that every one who calls to seeyou has an office to seek or an ax to grind. Though, I suppose, most ofthem have, " said the visitor, as he seated himself. 

Rothsay dropped into a chair, and forced himself to talk to the youngsailor. 

"Just in from a voyage, Ross?"

"No; just going out, Governor. "

Rothsay smiled at this premature bestowal of the high official title, but did not set the matter right. It was of too little importance. 

"I was going to explain, Governor, that I was just passing through thecity on my way to Norfolk, from which my ship is to sail to-morrow. So Ihad to take the midnight train. But I could not go without trying for achance to see and shake hands with you and congratulate you. "

"You are very kind, Ross. I thank you, " said Rothsay, somewhat wearily. 

"You're not looking well, Governor. I suppose all this 'fuss andfeathers' is about as harassing as a stormy sea voyage. Well, I will notkeep you up long. I should have been here earlier, only I went first tothe hotel to inquire for you, and there I learned that you were here inold Rockharrt's house, and had married his granddaughter. Congratulateyou again, Governor. Not many men have had such a double triumph as you. She is a splendidly beautiful woman. I saw her once in Washington City, at the President's reception. She was the greatest belle in the place. That reminds me that I must not keep you away from her ladyship. This isonly hail and farewell. Good night. I declare, Rothsay, you look quiteworn out. Don't see any other visitor to-night, in case there should beanother fool besides myself come to worry you at this hour. Nowgood-by, " said the visitor, rising and offering his hand. 

"Good-by, Ross. I wish you a pleasant and prosperous voyage, " saidRothsay, rising to shake hands with his visitor. 

He followed the young sailor to the hall, and seeing nothing of theporter, he let the visitor out and locked the door after him. 

Then he returned to the drawing room. Holding his head between his handshe walked slowly up and down the floor--up and down the floor--up anddown--many times. 

"This is weakness, " he muttered, "to be thinking of myself when I shouldthink only of her and the long life before her, which might be so joyousbut for me--but for me! Dear one who, in her tender childhood, pitiedthe orphan boy, and with patient, painstaking earnestness taught him toread and write, and gave him the first impulse and inspiration to ahigher life. And now she would give her life to me. And for all the goodshe has done me all her days, for all the blessings she has brought me, shall I blight her happiness? Shall I make her this black return? No, no. Better that I should pass forever out of her life--pass forever outof sight--forever out of this world--than live to make her suffer. Makeher suffer? I? Oh, no! Let fame, life, honors, all go down, so that sheis saved--so that she is made happy. "

He paused in his walk and listened. All the house was profoundlystill--all the household evidently asleep--except her! He felt sure thatshe was sleepless. Oh, that he could go and comfort her! even as amother comforts her child; but he could not. 

"I suppose many would say, " he murmured to himself, "that I owe my firstearthly duty to the people who have called me to this high office; thatprivate sorrows and private conscience should yield to the public, andthey would be right. Yet with me it is as if death had stepped in andrelieved me of official duty to be taken up by my successor just thesame--"

He stopped and put his hand to his head, murmuring:

"Is this special pleading? I wonder if I am quite sane?"

Then dropping into a chair he covered his face with his hands and weptaloud. 

Does any one charge him with weakness? Think of the tragedy of a wholelife compressed in that one crucial hour!

After a little while he grew more composed. The tears had relieved theoverladen heart. He arose and recommenced his walk, reflecting with morecalmness on the cruel situation. 

"I shall right her wrongs in the only possible way in which it can bedone, and I shall do no harm to the State. Kennedy will be a bettergovernor than I could have been. He is an older, wiser, more experiencedstatesman. I am conscious that I have been over-rated by the people wholove me. I was elected for my popularity, not for my merit. And now--Iam not even the man that I was--my life seems torn out of my bosom. Oh, Cora, Cora! life of my life! But you shall be happy, dear one! free andhappy after a little while. Ah! I know your gentle heart. You will weepfor the fate of him whom you loved--as a brother. Oh! Heaven! but yourtears will come from a passing cloud that will leave your future lifeall clear and bright--not darkened forever by the slavery of a unionwith one whom you do not--only because you cannot--love. "

He walked slowly up and down the floor a few more turns, then glanced atthe clock on the mantel piece, and said:

"Time passes. I must write my letters. "

There was an elegant little writing desk standing in the corner of theroom and filled with stationery, mostly for the convenience of theladies of the family when the Rockharrts occupied their town house. 

He went to this, sat down and opened it, laid paper out, and then withhis elbow on the desk and his head leaning on the palm of his hand, hefell into deep thought. 

At length he began to write rapidly. He soon finished and sealed thisletter. Then he wrote a second and a longer one, sealed that also. One--the first written--he put in the secret drawer of the desk; theother he dropped into his pocket. 

Then he took "a long, last, lingering look" around the room. This wasthe room in which he had first met Cora after long years of separation;where he had passed so many happy evenings with her, when his officialduties as an assemblyman permitted him to do so; this was the room inwhich they had plighted their troth to each other, and to which, onlysix hours before, they had returned--to all appearance--a most happybride and groom. Ah, Heaven!

His wandering gaze fell on the open writing desk, which in his misery hehad forgotten to close. He went to it and shut down the lid. 

Then he passed out of the room, took his hat from the rack in the hall, opened the front door, passed out, closed it behind him, and left thehouse forever. 

Outside was pandemonium. The illuminations in the windows had died down, but the streets were full of revelers, too much exhilarated as yet toretire, even if they had any place to retire to; for on that summernight many visitors to the inauguration chose to stay out in the openair until morning rather than to leave the city and lose the show. 

Once again the hum and buzz of many voices was broken by a shrill cryof:

"Hooray for Rothsay!" which was taken up by the chorus and echoed andre-echoed from one end to the other of the city, and from earth to sky. 

Poor Rothsay himself passed out upon the sidewalk, unrecognized in theobscurity. 

An empty hack was standing at the corner of the square, a few hundredfeet from the house. 

To this he went, and spoke to the man on the box:

"Is this hack engaged?"

"Yes, sah, it is--took by four gents as can't get no lodgings at none ofthe hotels, nor yet boarding houses--no, sah. Dere dey is ober yonder indat dere s'loon cross de street--yes, sah. But it don't keep open, dats'loon don't, longer'n twelve o'clock--no, sah. It's mos' dat now, sodey'll soon call for dis hack--yes, sah!"

Rothsay left the talkative hackman and passed on. 

A hand touched him on the arm. 

He turned and saw old Scythia, clothed in a long, black cloak of somethin stuff, with its hood drawn over her head. 

Rothsay stared. 

"Come, Rule! You have tested woman's love to-day, and found it fail you;even as I tested man's faith in the long ago, and found it wrong me!Come, Rule! You and I have had enough of falsehood and treachery! Let usshake the dust of civilization off our shoes! Come, Rule!"

CHAPTER VI. 

THE WIDOWED BRIDE. 

The amazement and confusion that followed the discovery of themysterious disappearance of Governor-elect Regulas Rothsay, on themorning of the day of his intended inauguration, has been alreadydescribed in an earlier chapter of this story. 

The most searching inquiries were made in all directions without anysatisfactory result. 

Then advertisements were put in all the principal newspapers in all thechief towns and cities throughout the country, offering large rewardsfor any information that should lead to the discovery of the missing manor of his fate. 

These in time drew forth letters from all points of the compass frompeople anxious to take a chance in this lottery of a reward, and whofabricated reports of the lost governor having been seen in this, that, or the other place, or of his body having been found here, there orelsewhere. 

Prompt investigation proved the falsehood of these fraudulent letters inevery instance. 

No one really knew the fate of the missing man. No one but Cora Rothsayhad even the clew to the cause of his disappearance; and she--from hersensitive pride, no less than from her sacred promise not to reveal thesubject of her communicaton to her husband on that fatal evening of hisflight or of his death--kept her lips sealed on that subject. 

Days, weeks and months passed away without bringing any authentic newsof the lost ruler. 

At length hope was given up. The advertisements were withdrawn from thepapers. 

Still occasionally, at long intervals of time, vague rumors reached hisfriends--a sailor had seen him in the streets of Rio de Janeiro; a furtrader had found him in Washington Territory; a miner had met him inCalifornia--but nothing came of all these reports. 

One morning, late in December, there came some news, not of the actualfate of the governor, but of the long-lost man who had seen the last ofhim alive. 

Despite the bitter pleading of the poor, bereaved bride, who dreaded thecrowded city and desired to remain in seclusion in the country, oldAaron had removed his whole family to their town house for the winter. 

They had been settled there only a few days, and were gathered aroundthe breakfast table, when a card was brought in to Mr. Rockharrt. 

"'Captain Ross!' Who, in the fiend's name, is Captain Ross? And whatdoes he want at this early hour of the morning?" demanded the Iron King, after he had read the name on the card. Then, as he scrutinized it, hesaw faintly penciled lines below the name and read:

"The late visitor who called on Governor-elect Rothsay on the evening ofhis disappearance. "

"Show the man in the library, Jason, " exclaimed old Aaron Rockharrt, rising, leaving his untasted breakfast, and striding out of the room. 

In the library he found a young skipper, tall, robust, black bearded andsun burned. 

"Captain Ross?" said the old man, interrogatively. 

"The same, at your service, sir--Mr. Rockharrt, I presume?" said thevisitor with a bow. 

"That's my name. Sit down, " said the Iron King, pointing to one chairfor his visitor and taking another for himself. 

"So you were the last visitor to Mr. Rothsay, eh?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Well, can you give any information regarding the disappearance of mygrandson-in-law?"

"No, sir; but learning that I had been advertised for, I have comeforward. "

"At rather a late date, upon my soul and honor! Where have you been allthis time?"

"At sea. When I called upon Mr. Rothsay, it was to congratulate him onhis position and to bid him good-by. I was on the eve of sailing forIndia, and, in fact, left the city by the night's express and sailed thenext morning. I think we must have been out of sight of land before thenews of the governor's disappearance was spread abroad. "

"What explanation can you give of his sudden disappearance?"

"None whatever, sir. "

"Then, in the demon's name, why have you come forward at all at thistime?"

"Because I was advertised for. "

"That was months ago. "

"But months ago I was at sea and knew nothing of the matter. I have butjust returned from a long voyage, and hearing among other matters thatGovernor Rothsay had been missing since the day of his inauguration, that Governor Kennedy reigned in his stead, and that the latest visitorof the missing man had long been wanting, I have come. "

"Do you appreciate the gravity of your own position, sir, under thecircumstances?" sternly demanded the Iron King. 

"I--don't--understand you, " said the skipper, in evident perplexity. 

"You don't? That is strange. You are the last man--the last person--whosaw Governor-elect Rothsay alive, at eleven o'clock on the night of hisdisappearance. After that hour he was missing, and you had run away. "

The young sailor smiled. 

"Steamed away, and sailed away, you should say, sir. I see the suspicionto which your words point, and will answer them at once: On that nightin question I was a guest of the Crockett House. I was absent from thathouse only half an hour--from a quarter to eleven to a quarter aftereleven--during which time I walked to this house, saw thegovernor-elect, and walked back to the hotel, only to pay my bill, takea hack and drive to the railway station. Do you think that in half anhour I could have done all that and murdered the governor, and made awaywith his body besides, Mr. Rockharrt?"

"You would have to prove the truth of your words, sir, " replied the IronKing. 

"That is easily done by the people at the hotel. I did not tell themwhere I was going. I never even thought of telling them. But they knowI was only gone half an hour; for before going out, or just as I wasgoing out, I ordered the carriage to be ready to take me to the depot ata quarter past eleven. "

"They may have forgotten all about you. "

"Not at all. I am an old customer, though a young man. They know me verywell. "

"Then it is very strange that when every anxious inquiry was made forthis latest visitor of the governor-elect, these hotel people did notcome forward and name you. "

"But I repeat, sir, that they did not know that I was that latestvisitor. I did not think of telling any one that I was going to seeRothsay before I went, or of telling them that I had been to see himafter I went. They had no more reason to identify me with that latecaller than any other guest at the hotel, or, in fact, any other man inthe world. Come, Mr. Rockharrt, you have complimented me with one of theblackest suspicions that could wrong an honest man, but I will notquarrel with you. I know very well that the last person seen with amissing man is often suspected of his taking off. As for me, I invitethe most searching investigation. "

"Why did you come here, after so long an interval?" demanded the IronKing, in no way mollified by the moderation of his visitor. 

"As I explained to you, I come now because I have just heard that I hadbeen advertised for; and after this long interval because I have beenfor months at sea. I had, however, another motive for coming--to tellyou of the strange manner of Regulas Rothsay during my interview withhim--a manner that does not seem to have been observed by any one else, for all speak and write of his health and extraordinarily good spiritson the evening of his arrival in the city only a few hours before I sawhim, when he seemed very far from being in good health or good spirits. In fact, a more utterly broken man I never saw in my life. "

"Ah! ah! What is this you tell me? Give me particulars! Give meparticulars!" said the Iron King, rising and standing over his visitor. 

"Indeed, I do not think I can give you particulars. The effect he seemedto produce was that of a general prostration of body and mind. On cominginto the room where I waited for him, he looked pale and haggard; hetottered rather than walked; he dropped into his chair rather than satdown in it; his hands fell upon the arms rather than grasped them; hewas gloomy, absent-minded, and when he spoke at all, seemed to speakwith great effort. "

"Ah! ah! ah!" exclaimed the Iron King. 

"I thought the fatigue and excitement of the day had been too much forhim. I made my visit very short, and soon bade him good-night. He wishedme a prosperous voyage, but did not invite me to visit him on myreturn--a kindness that he had never before omitted. "

"Ah, ah ah!" again exclaimed old Aaron Rockharrt. 

"Then I thought his manner and appearance only the effect of excessivefatigue and excitement. Now, seen in the light of future events, Iattach a more serious meaning to them. "

"What! what! what!" demanded the Iron King. 

"I think that some fatal news, from some quarter or other, had reachedhim; or that some heavy sorrow had fallen upon him; or, worse than all, sudden insanity had overtaken him! That, under the lash of one oranother, or all of these, he fled the house and the city, and--made awaywith himself. "

"Now, Heaven forbid!" exclaimed old Aaron Rockharrt, dropping into hischair. 

"One favor I have to ask you, Mr. Rockharrt, and that is, that the mostsearching investigation be made of my movements on that fatal evening ofthe governor's disappearance. "

"It shall be done, " said the Iron King. 

"I shall remain at the David Crockett until all the friends of the lategovernor are satisfied so far as I am concerned. And now, having saidall I have to say, I will bid you good morning, " concluded the visitoras he arose, took up his hat, bowed, and left the room. 

Old Aaron Rockharrt returned to the breakfast table, where hissubservient family waited. 

The coffee, that had been sent to the kitchen to be kept hot, wasbrought up again, with hot rolls and hot broiled partridges. 

The old man resumed his breakfast in silence. He did not think proper tospeak of his visitor, nor did any member of the family party venture toquestion him. 

And this was well, so far as Cora was concerned. 

Any allusion to the agonizing subject of her husband's mysteriousdisappearance was more than she could well bear; and to have hinted inher presence that some hidden sorrow had driven him to self-destructionmight almost have wrecked her reason. 

Cora now never mentioned his name; yet, as after events proved, he wasnever for a moment absent from her mind. 

The old grandmother, who could not speak to Cora on the subject, and whodared not speak to her lord and master on any subject that he did notfirst broach, and yet who felt that she must talk to some one of thatwhich oppressed her bosom so heavily, at length confided to her youngestson. 

"I do think Cora's heart is breaking in this suspense, Clarence! If Rulehad died there would have been an end of it, and she would have knownthe worst and submitted to the inevitable! But this awful suspense, anxiety, uncertainty as to his fate, is just killing her! I wish wecould do something to save her, Clarence!"

"I wish so, too, mother! I see how she is failing and sinking, and I ownthat this surprises me! I really thought that Cora was fascinated bythat fellow in London. " (This was the irreverent manner in which Mr. Clarence spoke of his grace the Duke of Cumbervale. ) "And I thought thatshe only married Rothsay from a sense of duty, keeping her word, and allthat sort of thing! I can't understand her grieving herself to death forhim now!"

"Oh, Clarence! she was fascinated by the rank and splendor and personalattractions of the young duke! Her fancy, vanity, ambition andimagination were fired; but her heart was never touched! She had notseen Rothsay for so long a time that his image had somewhat faded in hermemory when this splendid young fellow crossed her path and dazzled herfor a time! It was a brief madness--nothing more! But you can see foryourself how really she loved Rothsay when you see that anxiety for hisfate is breaking her heart. "

"I see, mother dear; but I don't understand! And I don't know what onearth we can do for her! If my father does not think proper to suggestsomething, we must not, for if we should do so it would make mattersmuch worse. "

"Yes, " sighed the old lady; and the subject was dropped. 

Clarence had said that he did not understand Cora's state of mind. No;nor did old Mrs. Rockharrt. How could they, when Cora had not understoodherself, until suffering brought self-knowledge?

From her childhood up she had loved Rule Rothsay as a sister loves afavorite brother. In her girlhood, knowing no stronger love, on thestrength of this she accepted the offered hand of Rothsay, and wasengaged to be married to him. She meant to have been faithful to him;but it was a long engagement, during which she traveled with hergrandparents for three years, while the memory of her calmly lovedbetrothed husband grew rather dim. Then came her meeting with thehandsome and accomplished young Duke of Cumbervale, and the infatuation, the hallucination that enslaved her imagination for a period. Then beganthe mental conflict between inclination and duty, ending in herresolution to forget her English lover and to be true to Rule. 

Up to the very wedding day she had suppressed and controlled herfeelings with heroic firmness, but on the evening of that day, whilewaiting for her husband, the long, severe tension of her nerves utterlygave way, and when found in a paroxysm of tears and questioned by him, in her wretchedness and misery she had confessed the infidelity of herheart and pleaded for time to conquer it. 

She had expected bitter reproaches, but there were none. She had dreadedfierce anger, but there was none. She had anticipated obduracy, butthere was none. There was nothing but intense suffering, divinecompassion, and infinite renunciation. He pitied her. He soothed her. Hedefended her from the reproaches of her own conscience. He protected herby an imposed provision that for her own sake she should not tell otherswhat she had told him. And then--

He laid down all the honors that his life-long toil and self-denial hadwon for her sake, and he went out from his triumphs, went out from herlife--out, out into the outer darkness of oblivion, to be seen no moreof men, to be heard of no more by men. All for her sake. And before themajesty of such infinite love, such infinite renunciation, her wholesoul bowed down in adoration. Yes, at last, in the hour of losing himshe loved him as he longed to be loved by her. She had but one desire onearth--to be at his side. But one prayer, and that was her "vitalbreath"--for his return. 

She felt herself to be unworthy of the measureless love that he hadgiven her--that he still gave her, if he still lived, for his love hadknown no shadow of turning, nor ever would suffer change. 

But, oh! where in space was he? How could she reach him? How could shemake him hear the cry of her heart?

One message, like a voice from the grave, had, indeed, come to her fromhim since his disappearance, but it had been sent before he left thehouse; it was in the letter he had written and placed in the secretdrawer of her writing desk before he went forth that fatal night, a"wanderer through the world's wilderness. "

She had found it on that day, about three weeks after his loss, when shehad come into the parlor for the first time since her illness, and when, left alone for a few minutes by her grandmother, she had gone to herwriting desk, and in the idleness of misery had begun carelessly, aimlessly, to turn over her papers. In the same mood she pressed thespring of the secret drawer, and it sprang open and projected the letterbefore her. She recognized his handwriting, seized the paper and openedit. It contained only a few words of farewell, with a prayer for herhappiness and a parting blessing. 

There was no allusion made to the cause of their separation. ProbablyRule had thought of the letter falling into other hands than hers; so hehad refrained from referring to her secret, lest she should sufferreproach from her family. 

Cora read this letter with deep emotion over and over again, until shefound herself staring at the lines without gathering their meaning, andthen she felt herself growing giddy and faint, for she was still veryweak from recent illness, and she hastily dropped the letter into thedesk and shut down the lid, only just before a film came over her eyes, a muffled sound in her ears, and oblivion over her senses. This is theswoon in which she was found by Mrs. Rockharrt, and for which she couldgive no satisfactory reason. 

When Cora recovered from that swoon her first care, on the firstopportunity, was to go to her writing desk to look for her preciousletter--Rothsay's last letter to her. No one had opened her desk ordisturbed its contents. 

She found her letter; pressed it to her heart and lips many times; thenmade a little silken bag, into which she put it; then tied it around herneck with a narrow ribbon. 

And from that day it rested on her heart. It was her priceless treasureto be cherished above all others, "the first to be saved in fire orflood. " It was the only relic of her lost love with his last good-by, and prayers and blessings. It was her magic talisman, still connectingher in some occult way with the vanished one. It was her anchor of hope, still promising in some mysterious manner the final return of her losthusband. 

While Cora mourned and dreamed away these first days of the family'sreturn to their town house, old Aaron Rockharrt was sifting the evidenceof the story told by Captain Ross; he proved the truth of the skipper'saccount; and he failed to connect the young man's late visit on thatfatal night with the almost simultaneous disappearance of Rothsay. 

The season passed on. Mr. And Mrs. Rockharrt gave dinner parties andsupper parties; and received and accepted invitations to similarentertainments in return; but no persuasions nor arguments could prevailon Cora to go into any society. Not even the iron will of the Iron Kingcould conquer in this matter. His granddaughter was his own personalproperty, and one of the attractions of his house; it was in her placeto wear her best clothes and costliest jewels, and to show herself tohis guests; and her persistent refusal to do this put him in a gloomy, teeth-grinding, impotent rage. 

"Cora is of age! She has a very sufficient provision. And now if shedoes not return to her duty and render herself amenable to my authorityand obedient to my commands, I shall order her to find another home; forI mean to be master of my own house and of everybody in it!" he said, savagely, to his timid wife, one evening when she was doing valet's dutyby dressing his hair for a dinner party. 

"Oh, Aaron! Aaron! have pity on the poor, heartbroken girl!" pleaded theold lady, falling into a fit of trembling that interfered with her task. 

"Hold your tongue and heed my words, for I shall do as I say. And mindwhat you are about now! You have scratched my ear with the bristles ofthe brush. "

"I beg your pardon, Aaron, but my hand shakes so. "

"If that young woman don't submit herself to my will, and obey myorders, I will pack her out of this house. And then, perhaps, yournerves will be quieter! I'll do it, for I am not particularly fond ofhaving grass widows about me, " he growled. 

She made no reply. She could not trust herself to speak. It required allher self-control to steady her hands so as to complete her master'stoilet. 

Then she had to dress herself in haste and agitation to be ready intime to accompany her husband to the dinner party at the executivemansion, which was now occupied by Lieutenant-Governor KenelmKennedy--and from which the Iron King would not allow his wife to absentherself. 

Old Aaron Rockharrt was the lion of the evening, as he was the lion ofevery party in the State capital, probably because he owned the lion'sshare of the State's wealth, and had more money, perhaps, than theState's treasury. He enjoyed this beast worship, and came to his townhouse every season and went into general society to receive it. 

Mrs. Rockharrt was very anxious to have a talk with her granddaughter, to warn her of impending danger and to implore her to obey the wishes ofher grandfather, but the poor old lady had no opportunity. 

Cora sat up for her grandparents, in case they should need any of herservices on their return. 

They came in very late, and then the exactions of the domestic tyrantkept his wife in attendance on him until they were all in bed. 

CHAPTER VII. 

NEWS OF THE MISSING MAN. 

The next morning, while Aaron Rockharrt slept the sleep of thedead-in-selfishness, his wife arose and crept into the bedroom of hergranddaughter. 

Cora was awake, but not yet up. 

"Oh, grandma, you will get your death of cold! walking about the housein your night gown. What is it? What do you want? Can I do anything foryou?" cried the girl, springing out of bed to turn on the heat of theregister, and then wrapping a large shawl around the old lady, andputting her into the cushioned easy chair. 

"Now what is it, dear grandma? What can I do for you?" she inquired, asshe drew on her own wadded dressing gown and sat on the side of the bednear the old lady. 

"You can do something to set my mind at ease, my dear; but it will bepainful for you, and I do not know whether you will do it, " said the oldlady with timid hesitation. 

"I can do this, dear? Then, of course, I will do it, " replied the girl. 

"It is almost too much to ask of you, my child. "

"There is nothing, nothing that I would not do to give you peace--you, poor dear, who have so little peace, " said Cora, tenderly, smoothing thesilver hair away from the wrinkled brow of the old lady, who began todrop a few weak tears of self-pity, excited by Cora's sympathy. 

"Well, my child, " she said, "your grandfather is going to have a littletalk with you soon--on the subject of your self-seclusion. Oh! my poorchild, do not resist him, do not provoke, do not disobey him. Oh! for mysake, Cora, for my sake, do not!"

"Dearest dear, I will leave undone anything in the world you wish me notto do. I will no longer rebel against my grandfather's authority, evenwhen he exercises it in such a despotic manner, " said Cora, raising theclasped hands of the old lady and pressing them to her lips. 

Mrs. Rockharrt gathered the girl in her arms and kissed her, with a fewmore weak tears, but with no more words. 

She did not tell Cora of the cruel threat made by the tyrant to turnher out of doors if she failed to obey him, and she hoped that the girlmight never hear of it, lest in her wounded pride she might forestallthe threat and leave the house of her own accord. 

"Now be at ease, dear, " said Cora, soothingly. "No more trouble--"

A bell rang sharply and cut off the girl's speech. 

"Oh, there he is awake! I must go to him, " exclaimed the timid oldcreature. 

Cora made her toilet, and then went down to the breakfast parlor, whereshe found the two old people about to sit down to the table. She badeher grandfather good morning and then took her place. 

During breakfast Aaron Rockharrt said:

"Mrs. Rothsay, you will come to me in the library as soon as we leavethe table. I have something to say to you that must be said at once andfor the last time. "

"Very well, sir, " replied the girl. 

Half an hour later she was closeted with her grandfather. 

"Madam, I do not intend to waste much time over you this morning. Imerely mean to put a test question, whose answer shall decide my futurecourse in regard to you. "

"Very well. "

"I must preface my question by reminding you that you have constantlydisregarded my wishes and disobeyed my orders by refusing to see myguests or to go out in company with me. "

"Yes. "

"When honored with an invitation to the state dinner at the executivemansion you declined to go, even though I expressed my will that youshould accompany me. "

"Yes. "

"But for the future I intend to be master of my own house and of everyliving soul within it. Now, then, for my test question. You havereceived cards to the ball to be given at the house of the chief justiceto-morrow evening. I wish you to attend it, and my wish should be acommand. "

"Of course. "

"What is your answer? Think before you speak, for on your answer mustdepend your future position in my house. "

Cora was silent for a few moments. 

"Sir, " she began at length, "you are a just man, at least, and you willnot refuse to hear and consider my reasons for seclusion. "

"I will consider nothing! I know them as well as you do. Morbidsensitiveness about your peculiar position; morbid dread of facing theworld; morbid love of indulging in melancholy. And I will have none ofit! None of it! I will be obeyed, and you shall go out into society, orelse--"

"'Or else' what will be the alternative, sir?"

"You leave my house! I will have no rebel in my family!"

Had Cora followed the impulse of her proud and outraged spirit, shewould have walked out of the library, gone to her room, put on herbonnet and cloak, and left the house, leaving all her goods to be sentafter her; but the girl thought of her poor, gentle, sufferinggrandmother, and bore the insult. 

"Sir, " she said, with patient dignity, "do you think that it would havebeen decorous, under the peculiar circumstances, for me to appear inpublic, and especially at a state dinner at the executive mansion?"

"Madam, I instructed you to accept that invitation and to attend thatdinner! Do you dare to hint that I would counsel you to any indecorousact?"

"No, sir; certainly not, if you had stopped to think of it; butweightier matters occupied your mind, no doubt. "

"Let that go. But in the question of this ball? Do you mean to obey me?"

"Grandfather, please consider! How can I mix with gay scenes while thefate of my husband is still an awful mystery?"

"You must conquer your feelings, and go, or--take the consequences!"

"Even if I could forget the tragedy of my wedding day, and mix with thegay world again, what would people say?"

"What would people say, indeed? What would they dare to say of mygranddaughter?"

"But, sir, it would be contrary to all the laws of etiquette andconventionality. "

"My granddaughter, madam, should give the law to fashion and society, not receive it from them!" said the Iron King, throwing himself back inhis arm chair as if it had been his throne. 

Cora smiled faintly at this egotism, but made no reply in words. 

"To come to the point!" he suddenly exclaimed--"Will you obey me andattend this ball, or will you take the other alternative?"

Cora's heart swelled; her eyes flashed; she longed to defy the despot, but she thought of her meek, patient, long-suffering grandmother, andanswered coldly:

"I will go to the ball, sir, since you wish it. "

"Very well. That will do. Now leave the room. I wish to read the morningpapers. "

Cora went out to find her grandmother and to relieve the lady'sanxiety; old Aaron Rockharrt threw himself back in his arm chair withgrim satisfaction at having conquered Cora and set his iron heel uponher neck. Yes; he had conquered Cora through her love for her poor, timid, abused grandmother. But now Fate was to conquer him. 

But Fate had decided that Cora should not attend that ball, or any otherplace of amusement, for a long time. And he was just on the brink ofdiscovering the impertinent interference of Fate in human affairs, andespecially those of the Iron King. 

He took up a Washington paper--a government organ--and read, opening hiseyes to their widest extent as he read the following head-lines:

 A MYSTERY CLEARED UP. 

 _THE FATE OF GOVERNOR REGULAS ROTHSAY_. 

 Killed by the Comanches on November 1st. 

 A dispatch from Fort Security to the Indian Bureau, received this morning, announces another inroad of the Comanches upon the new settlement of Terrepeur, in which the inhabitants were massacred and their dwellings burned. Among the victims who perished in the flames in their own huts was Regulas Rothsay, late Governor-elect of ----, and at the time of his death a volunteer missionary to this treacherous and bloodthirsty tribe. 

Another man, under the circumstances, might have been unnerved by suchsudden and awful news, and let fall the paper, but not the Iron King. He grasped it only with a firmer hand, and read it again with keenereyes. 

"What under the heavens took that man out there? Had he gone suddenlymad? That seems to be the only possible explanation of his conduct. Toabandon his bride on the day of his marriage--to abandon his highofficial position as governor of this State on the day of hisinauguration, and without giving any living creature a hint of hisintention, to fly off at a tangent and go to the Indian country andbecome a missionary to those red devils, and be massacred for hispains--it was the work of a raving maniac. But what drove him mad?Surely it was not his high elevation that turned his head, for if it hadbeen, his madness would never have taken this particular direction offlying from his honors. No! it is as I have always suspected. He heard, in some way, of the girl's English lover, and he, with his besotteddevotion to her, was just the man to be morbidly, madly jealous, and todo some such idiotic thing as he has done, and get himself murdered andburned to ashes for his pains! Yes; and it serves him right!--it serveshim--right!"

He sat glowering at the paragraph, and growling over his news for sometime longer, but at length he took it up and walked over to the backparlor, where he felt sure he should find his two women. 

Mrs. Rockharrt and Cora, who sat at a table before the gloomy coal fire, and were engaged in some fancy needlework, looked up uneasily as heentered; not that they expected bad news, but that they feared badtemper. 

"Cora, " he began, "I shall not insist on your going to the ballto-morrow. "

She looked up in surprise, and a grateful exclamation was on her lips, but he forestalled it by saying:

"I suppose the news is all over the city by this time. I am going outto hear what the people are saying about it, and to see if thegovernment house and the public offices are to be hung in mourning. There--there it is told in the first column of this paper. "

And with cruel abruptness he laid the newspaper on the table between thetwo women, and pointed out the fatal paragraph. 

Then he stalked out of the room, and called his man-servant to help himon with his heavy overcoat. 

That house, on the previous night, had been one blaze of light in honorof the State dinner. Now, as well as he could see dimly through thefalling snow, it was all closed up, and men on ladders were festooningevery row of windows with black goods. 

"Yes, of course. It is as I expected. The news has gone all over thetown already, " said old Aaron Rockharrt, as he strode through thesnowstorm to the business center of the city. 

Every acquaintance whom he met stopped him with the same question inslightly different words. 

"Have you heard?" and so forth. 

Every intimate friend he encountered asked:

"How does Mrs. Rothsay bear it?" or--

"What on earth ever took the governor out there?"

To all questions the Iron King gave curt answers that discourageddiscussion of the subject. He walked on, noticing that the stores andoffices of the city were being festooned with mourning, and thatnotwithstanding the severity of the storm the street corners wereoccupied by groups talking excitedly of the fatal news. 

He went into the editorial rooms of all the city newspapers and wishedand attempted to dictate to the proprietors the manner in which theyshould write of the tragic event which was then in the minds and on thetongues of all persons. 

As he spent an hour on the average at each office, it was late in thewinter afternoon when he got home. It was not yet dark, however, and hewas surprised to see a man servant engaged in closing the shutters. 

He entered and demanded severely why the servant shut the windows beforenight. 

The old man looked nervous and distressed, and answered vaguely:

"It is the missus, sah. "

The idea that his wife should take the liberty of ordering the house tobe closed for the night at this unusual hour of the afternoon, withouthis authority, enraged him:

"Help me off with my ulster, " he said. 

When the servant had performed this office the master said:

"Serve dinner at once. "

And then he strode into the back parlor, which was the usual sittingroom of his wife and granddaughter. The room was empty and darkened. More than ever infuriated by fatigue, hunger, and the supposed disregardof his authority, he came out and walked up stairs to look for his wifein her own room. He pushed open the door and entered. That room was alsodark, only for the faint red light that came from the coal fire in thegrate. By this he dimly perceived a female form sitting near the bed, and whom he supposed to be his wife. 

"Why, in the fiend's name, is the whole house as dark as pitch?" heroughly demanded, as he went to a front window and threw open theshutters, letting in the white light of the snow storm. 

"Grandfather!"

It was the voice of Cora that spoke, and there was a something in itstone that struck and almost awed even the Iron King. 

He turned abruptly. 

Cora had risen from her chair and was now standing by the bed. But onthe bed lay a little, still, fair form, with hands folded over itsbreast, with the eyes shut down forever, and all over the fair, wan, placid face was "the peace of God which passeth all understanding. "

"What is this?" demanded Old Aaron Rockharrt, as he came up to the bed. 

"Look at her. She rests at last. I have been with her twenty years, andthis is the first time I have ever seen her rest in peace. "

Old Aaron Rockharrt stood like a stone beside the bed, gazing down onthe dead. 

"She is safe now, never more to be startled, or frightened, or torturedby any one. 'Safe, where the wicked cease from troubling, and the wearyare at rest, '" continued Cora. 

Still Old Aaron stood like a stone beside the bed and gazed down on thedead. 

Suddenly, without moving or withdrawing his gaze from where it rested, he asked in a low, gruff tone:

"How did this happen?"

"She fainted in her chair, and died in that faint. "

"When? where? from what?"

"Within an hour after you had left us together in the back parlor, withthe paper containing the news of my husband's death, " answered Cora, speaking in a tone of most unnatural calmness. 

"Had that excitement anything to do with her swoon?"

"I do not know. "

"Give me the particulars. "

"We--or, rather, she--first took up the paper, and without knowing whatthe news was that you told us to look at, gave it to me, and asked me toread it. I, as soon as I saw what it was--I lost all control overmyself. I do not know how I behaved. But she took the paper, to see whatit was that had so disturbed me, and then, she, too, became very muchagitated; but she tried to console me, tried for a long while to comfortme, standing over my chair, and caressing and talking. At last she leftme, and sat down and leaned back in her own chair. I was trying to bequiet, and at last succeeded, and then I arose and went to her, meaningto tell her that I would be calm and not distress her any more. When Ilooked at her, I found that she had fainted. I rang and sent off for adoctor instantly, and while waiting for him did all that was possible torevive her, but without effect. When the doctor came and examined hercondition he pronounced her quite dead. "

"This must have occurred four or five hours ago. Why was I not sentfor?"

"You were sent for immediately. Messengers were dispatched in everydirection. But you could nowhere be found. They did not, indeed, knowwhere to look for you. "

"Now close the window again, and then go and leave me alone; and do notlet any one disturb me on any account, " said the old man, who had notonce moved from the bedside, or even lifted his gaze from the face ofthe dead. 

"I have telegraphed to North End for Uncle Fabian and Clarence, also toWest Point for Sylvanus. Sylvan cannot reach here before to-morrow, butmy uncles will be here this evening. Shall I send you word when theyarrive?"

"No. Let no one come to me to-night. "

"Shall I send you up anything, grandfather?"

"No, no. If I require anything I will ring for it. Go now, Cora, andleave me to myself. "

The girl went away, closing the door behind her. As she descended thestairs she heard the key turned, and knew that her grandfather had soshut out all intruders. 

He who had come home hungry and furious as a famished wolf neverappeared at the dinner that he had so peremptorily ordered to be servedat once, but shut himself up fasting with his dead. If his eyes were nowopened to see how much he had made her suffer through his selfishness, cruelty, and despotism all her married life--if his late remorseawoke--if he grieved for her--no one ever knew it. He never gaveexpression to it. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

"THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING. "

In the late dawn of that dark winter day Mr. Clarence came down into theparlor, and found Cora still there, with one gas jet burning low. 

"Up so early, my dear child?" he said, as he took her hand and gave herthe good morning kiss. 

"I have not been in bed, " she replied. 

"Not in bed all night! That was wrong. How cold your hands are? Go tobed now, dear. "

"I cannot. I do not wish to. "

"My poor, doubly bereaved child, how much I feel for you!" he said, in atender tone, and still holding her hand. 

"Do not mind me, Uncle Clarence. I do not feel for myself. I am numb. Ifeel nothing--nothing, " she replied. 

Mr. Clarence, still holding her hand, led her to a large easy chair, andput her in it. 

Then he went and rang the bell. 

"Tell the cook to make a strong cup of coffee as quickly as she can, andbring it up here to Mrs. Rothsay, " he said to the man who answered thecall. 

The latter touched his forehead and left the room. 

Mr. Clarence had tact enough not to worry his niece with any more words. He went and opened one of the front windows to look out upon the wintrymorning. The ground was covered very deeply with the snow, which was nowfalling so thickly as to obscure every object. 

When the servant entered with the coffee, Mr. Clarence himself took itfrom the man's hand, and carried it to his niece and persuaded her todrink it. 

The servant meanwhile, mindful of the proprieties, when he saw the frontwindow open, went and closed it, and then passed down the room andopened both the back windows, which gave sufficient light to the wholearea of the apartment. 

Finally he turned off the gas, and taking up the empty coffee service, left the room. 

Presently after Mr. Fabian came in, and greeted his niece and hisbrother in a grave, muffled voice. 

A little later breakfast was served. 

"Some one should go up to see if grandpa will have anything sent to him. Will you, Uncle Fabian?" inquired Cora, as they seated themselves at thetable. 

Mr. Fabian left his chair for the purpose, but before he had crossed theroom they heard the heavy footsteps of the Iron King coming down thestairs. 

He entered the dining room, and all arose to receive him. He came upand shook hands with each of his sons in turn and in silence. Then hetook his place at the table. The three younger members of the familylooked at him furtively, whenever they could do so without attractinghis attention, and, perhaps, awakening his wrath. 

Some change had come over him, but not of a softening nature. His hard, stern, set face was, if possible, more stony than ever. 

Neither Mr. Clarence nor Cora dared to speak to him; but Mr. Fabian, feeling the silence awkward and oppressive, at length ventured to say:

"My dear father, in this our severe bereavement--"

But he got no further in his speech. Old Aaron Rockharrt raised his handand stopped him right there, and then said:

"Not one word from any one of you to me or in my presence on this event, either now or ever. It happened in the course of nature. Drop thesubject. Fabian, how are matters going on at the works?"

"I do not know, sir, " replied Mr. Fabian, speaking for the first andlast and only time, abruptly and indiscreetly to his despotic father. 

But the Iron King took no notice of the words, nor did he repeat thequestion. He drank one cup of coffee, ate half a roll, and then aroseand left the table, without a word. He did not return to his dead wife'schamber, which he probably knew would now have to be given up todressers of the dead and to the undertakers. 

He went and locked himself in the library, and was seen no more thatday. 

Cora, with her woman's intuition, understood the accession of hardnessthat was worn as a mask to conceal grief and remorse. 

"Be patient with him, Uncle Fabian. He is your father, after all. Andhe suffers! Oh, he suffers! Yes; much more than any of us do, " she said. 

"Do you think so, Cora?" inquired Mr. Fabian, looking at her insurprise. 

"I know he does, " she answered. 

"Well, he has good reason to!" concluded Mr. Fabian. Then, after apause, he added: "But I am sorry I spoke roughly to my father! I willmake it up to him, or try to do so, by extra deference. "

Then they all arose from the table. 

Mr. Fabian and Mr. Clarence to attend to the business of the mournfuloccasion, which Old Aaron Rockharrt, in his proud, reserved, absorbedsorrow, seemed to have ignored or forgotten. 

Cora stepped away to her grandmother's room, to have a quiet hour besidethe beloved dead before the undertaker should come in and takepossession. 

"It is only her body that is dead, I know. But the hands had caressed meand the lips kissed me; and, right or wrong, I love that body as well asthe heavenly soul that lived within it! The flesh cleaves to the flesh. And so long as we are in the flesh we will, we must, haunt the shrinesthat contain the bodies of those we love, " she thought, as reverentlyshe entered the chamber of death, closed the door, and went up to thebed whereon lay the tenantless temple in which so lately lived the mostloving, the most patient spirit she had ever known!

But what is this! Into what strange sphere of ineffable peace has Coraentered? She could not understand the change that came over her. She hada gentle impulse to close her eyes to all visible matters and yieldherself up to the sweetness of this sphere. Her dear one was living, wasyoung again, was happy, was sleeping, watched by angels, who wouldpresently awaken her to the eternal life. 

Cora knelt down by the bed and lifted up her heart to the Lord of lifein silent, wordless, thoughtless, profoundly quiet aspiration. She didnot wish to move or speak, or form a sentence even in her mind. Shefound her state a strange one, but she did not even wonder at it, sodeep was the calm that enveloped her spirit. 

Not long had she knelt there in this rapt serenity, when she wasconscious that some one was rapping softly at the door. This did notdisturb her. She arose from her knees, still in deep peace, went to thedoor, and said:

"Presently. I will open presently. Wait a moment. "

Then she went back to the bed, turned down the sheet, and gazed upon thebeloved face. How placid it was, and how beautiful. Death had smoothedevery trace of age and care from that little fair old face. She lay asif sleeping, and almost smiling in her sleep--

 "As though by fitness she had won The secret of some happy dream. "

Cora stooped and kissed the placid brow, then covered the face, and wentto open the door. 

The gray-haired old Jason was waiting outside. 

"If you please, ma'am, it is the--"

"I know, I know, " said Cora, quietly. "Show them in. "

And she passed out and went to her own room. 

Her front windows were closed; but through the slats of the shutters shesaw that it was still snowing fast. 

"What a winding sheet this will make for her grave, " she thought, as shelooked out upon the wintry scene. 

There was no wind, the fine white snow fell softly and steadily, givingonly the dimmest view of the government house on the opposite side ofthe square draped in mourning. 

The funeral of Mrs. Rockharrt took place on the third day after herdeath. The snow had ceased, and the winter sun was shining brightly froma clear blue sky on a white world, whose trees wore pendent diamondsinstead of green leaves, and as every house in the city was hung inblack for the dead governor, the effect of all this glare and glitterand gloom was very weird and strange, as the funeral cortege passed fromthe Rockharrt home to the Church of the Lord's Peace. 

After the rites were over, the family returned to their city home, butonly for the night; for preparation had been already completed for theirremoval to Rockhold, there to pass the year of mourning. 

Old Aaron Rockharrt never changed from his look of stony immobility. Ifhe mourned for his patient wife of more than half a century, no outwardsign betrayed his feelings. If his spirit suffered with suppressedgrief, his strong frame bore up under it without the slightestweakening. 

On the afternoon of his return from his wife's funeral he shut himselfup in his library and remained there all the evening, refusing to cometo dinner, calling for a bottle of wine and a sandwich and desiringafterward to be left alone. 

Later in the evening he sent for Mr. Fabian to come to him, and thereopened to his eldest son and partner, in whose business talents he hadgreat confidence, a scheme of speculation so venturous, so gigantic thatthe younger man was shocked and staggered, and began to lose faith inthe sound intellect of the Iron King. 

"This will make us twice told the wealthiest men in the United States, if not in the whole world, " concluded Old Aaron Rockharrt. 

"If it should succeed, " said Mr. Fabian, dubiously. 

"It shall succeed; I say it. We shall go down to Rockhold to-morrowmorning and the next day to the works, and there I shall give my wholemind to this matter and make it succeed, do you hear? Make it succeed!And place my name at the head of the list of wealthy men of this age. "

Mr. Fabian did not dare to raise any objection. 

"I am pleased, sir, " he said, "that you find in this new enterprise anobject of so much interest to engage your mind. Employ me in any way youthink fit. I am quite at your service, as it is my bounden duty to be. "

"Very well; that is as it should be. Now I am going to bed. Good night, "said the Iron King, abruptly dismissing his son, then rising and ringingfor his valet, whose office, since the patient old lady's death, was nowno longer a sinecure. 

It seems passing strange that a man of seventy-six years, who had justlost his life-long and beloved companion--for in his own selfish way heloved her after a sort, and perhaps more than he loved any human beingin the world--and who must expect before many years to follow her, should be so full of this world's avarice and ambition; so eager to makemore, and more, and more money, and to stand at the head of the list ofall the wealthiest men in the land. Strange, yet the name of such a oneis legion. But in the case of Old Aaron Rockharrt there might have beenthis additional motive--the necessity to seek refuge from the pains ofgrief and remorse in the anxieties and activities of speculation. So hewas very eager to get back as soon as possible to business and to enterat once upon the enterprise he had planned. 

Cora was also anxious to leave the city, which she knew was in a freshferment of gossip and conjecture on the subject of her lost husband, thedeceased governor-elect. The news from the Indian Territory had renewedall the public interest in the mystery of his disappearance. 

For some months before this news arrived, the community had settled downto the conviction that the missing governor had been murdered and hisbody made away with, although, as there was no proof to establish thefact of their theory, there was no thought of inaugurating thelieutenant-governor as chief magistrate of the State. 

Yet, now, when the startling news came that the missing statesman hadbeen killed by the Comanches in the wilds of the Indian Reservation, farfrom any agency, and that he had been living and preaching there as avolunteer missionary for many months before the massacre, the mystery ofhis sudden and unexplained disappearance from the State capital on theday of his inauguration was not cleared up and made intelligible, butdarkened and rendered more inscrutable. 

It was easy enough to understand why a missing man might have been luredaway from his dwelling by some false letter or plausible message, andmurdered in some secret place where his body lay buried in earth orwater, for such crimes were not unfrequent. 

But that a bridegroom should secretly depart on the evening of hiswedding day, that a governor should take flight on the evening beforehis inauguration, was a course of action only to be explained on theground of insanity; and yet Regulas Rothsay was always considered one ofthe most level-headed and mentally well balanced among the rising youngstatesmen of the country. 

Conjecture had once been wild as to the cause of his disappearance--hadhe been murdered, or kidnapped, or both? Those were the questions then. 

Conjecture was now rampant as to the cause of his sudden flight and selfexpatriation to the Indian Territory. Had he suddenly gone mad? Orcommitted a capital crime which was on the eve of discovery? These werethe questions now. 

Every newspaper was full of the problem, which none but one could solve, and she was bound to secrecy. 

But it gave her inexpressible pain to know that his motives and hischaracter were being discussed and censured for that course of conductfor which only herself was to be blamed, and which only she couldexplain. A word from her would show him in a very different light beforehis critics. But she must not speak that word to save his reputation. 

So Cora was anxious to leave the city. 

The next morning the whole family set out on their return journey toRockhold, where they arrived early in the afternoon. They foundeverything in good order, for Cora had taken the precaution to write tothe housekeeper, and warn her of the return of the family. 

The grief of the servants for the loss of their kind and gentle oldmistress broke out afresh at the sight of the young lady. And it waslong before the latter could soothe and quiet them. 

Fortunately Mr. Rockharrt had gone at once to his room, and so heescaped annoyance from their loud lamentations, and they escaped sternrebuke for their want of self-control. 

The two young Rockharrts had left the family party at North End, toinspect the condition of the works, and were to remain there overnight. Old Aaron Rockharrt, Sylvanus Haught, and Cora Rothsay were, therefore, the only ones who sat down at the once full dinner table. 

The meal passed in almost utter silence, for neither Sylvan nor Coraventured to address one word to the hard old man who, whenever they hadspoken to him since his loss of his wife, had replied in short, harshwords, or not replied at all. The brother and sister, therefore, onlyspoke in suppressed tones, at intervals, to each other. 

After dinner the old man bade them an abrupt good night, and left theroom to retire to his own chamber. Cora felt sorry for him, despite allhis harshness. She stepped after him and asked:

"Grandfather, can I be of any service to you at all? Help you at your--"

He stopped her by turning and bending his gray brows over the fierceblack eyes which fixed her motionless. He stared at her for an instantand then said:

"No. Certainly not, " and turned and went up stairs. 

Cora walked slowly back into the drawing room, at the open door of whichstood Sylvan, who had heard all that passed. 

"You had better let the old man alone, Cora. Or you'll have your headbitten off. I don't want to break the fifth commandment by sayinganything irreverent of our grandfather, but indeed, indeed, indeed it isas much as one's life, or at least as one's temper, is worth to speak tohim, " said the young man. 

"I never reverenced my grandfather as much as I do now, Sylvan, " gravelyreplied the young lady. 

"That is all right! Reverence him as much as you please; but don't gotoo near the old lion in his present mood. Come and sit down on the sofaby me, sister, and let us have a pleasant talk--"

"Pleasant talk! Oh, Sylvan!"

"Well, then, Cora, dear sister, a cozy, confidential talk. Do you knowwe have not had one for years and years and years?"

They sat down side by side holding each other's hands in silence for alittle while, when Cora said:

"Do you think you will graduate next year, Sylvan?"

"Yes, Cora, certainly. "

"And then you will come home for a long visit. "

"For a short one, on leave. "

"And afterward, Sylvan?"

"Well, afterward I shall be ordered out to 'The Devil's Icy Peak. '"

"What!"

"That was Aunt Cassy's name for all remote parts, you know. 'Devil's IcyPeak, ' which in my destination means some remote frontier fort, amonghostile Indians, border ruffians, grizzly bears, buffaloes, rattlesnakes, mosquitoes, malaria, and other wild beasts. There is wherethey send all the new-fledged military officers from West Point, andthere they may spend the best part of their lives, " said Sylvan. 

"Unless they have influence with the higher authorities. If they havesuch influence, they may be sent to choice posts near the great cities, in reach of all the best society, best libraries, and all the luxuriesand advantages of the highest civilization. "

"Yes, I know; but--" said the young cadet, hesitatingly. 

"You, or rather our grandfather, has influence enough to have youordered to Washington, New York, Portsmouth--any place. "

"Yes, I know; but--"

"But what, Sylvan?"

"Cora, our grandfather's influence is that of wealth--great wealth--andit is a mighty power in this world at this age; but, you see, AaronRockharrt would not use it in such a way. He would not consider ithonest to do so. Nor would I have it either. No; since the governmenthas given me a free military education, I think it my duty to go exactlywherever they may order me, without attempting to evade orders throughthe influence of friends or money. "

"You are entirely right, dear brother. And I tell you this: Though Imust and will remain with my grandfather so long as he shall need me--solong as he shall live--yet, when he departs, if you should be stationedat one of those border posts, I will go out and join you, Sylvan, " saidCora Rothsay, taking both his hands and pressing them warmly. 

"No, dear sister; you shall not make such a sacrifice for me, " heanswered. 

"But after my aged grandfather, whose days on earth cannot be long, whomhave I in this world to live for but you, Sylvan?"

"Other interests in life, I hope, will arise, sister, to give youhappiness, " he replied. 

Cora shook her head, and as the waiter now entered the parlor with thebedroom candles, she lighted one, bade her brother good night, andretired. 

The next morning, as but one day of his leave of absence remained, theyoung cadet bade good-by to his friends, and left Rockhold for WestPoint, where he arrived the next morning just in time to report forduty, and save his honor. 

Old Aaron Rockharrt went up to North End, where his sons awaited him;there to inspect the works, and commence proceedings toward that vastenterprise which the Iron King had planned out while in the city. 

And from this day forth. "Rockharrt & Sons" devoted all their energiesto this mammoth speculation, while, as the months passed, it grew intohuge and huger proportions, and great and greater success. 

Old Aaron Rockharrt's spirits rose with the splendor of his fortune. 

He was nearly seventy-seven years of age, yet he said to himself, ineffect: "Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years. "

Cora, meanwhile, living a secluded and almost solitary life at Rockhold, occupied herself with a labor of love, in writing the life of her latehusband, with extracts from his letters, speeches, and newspaperarticles. In doing this her soul seemed once more joined to his. 

In this manner the year of mourning passed, and the month of January wasat hand. 

CHAPTER IX. 

TURMOIL OF THE WORLD. 

The Rockharrts were again in the State capital. It was but thirteenmonths since the death of his wife and since the news of the murder ofhis grandson-in law had been received--calamities which had doublybereaved the family, and thrown them in the deepest mourning--yet theIron King, elated by his marvelous financial success, had thrown openhis house to society, and insisted that his granddaughter should do itshonors. 

Cora, who, since the death of the grandmother, had deeply pitied thegrandfather, yielded to his wishes in this respect, though much againsther secret inclination. She did not leave off her widow's mourning, butshe modified it when she presided at the head of the Rockharrt table onthose frequent occasions of the sumptuous and unrivaled dinners given bythe Iron King to those whose fortunes he was making, with his own, byhis mammoth enterprise. 

The old man was certainly the lion of the season. He had steadily goneon from step to step on the ladder of fame (for enormous wealth), untilnow he was quoted as not only the richest man of his State, but as oneof the ten richest men in the world. 

It was at this time that Mr. Fabian bethought himself of taking a wife. It was indeed quite time that he should marry, if he ever intended to doso. He was nearly fifty-two years of age, though looking no more thanforty; his erect and active figure, his fresh and smooth complexion, hiscurling brown hair and beard, his smiling countenance and cheerfuldemeanor, rendered him quite an attractive man to young ladies, whocredited him with fully twenty years less than his due. 

There was, at this time, among the lovely "rosebuds" opening in thefashionable drawing rooms of the city, a sweet "wood violet, " otherwiseViolet Wood; a perfect blonde, with perfect features and a petitefigure. Her beauty was peculiar; she was very small, very dainty; herhair the palest yellow, her face so white that almost the only color onher features were her deep blue eyes and crimson lips. 

She was an orphan heiress, without any near relation in the world. Though but eighteen years of age, and just from school, she had alreadyentered on the possession of her fortune by the terms of her father'swill. She lived with her former guardians, the Chief Justice Pendletimeand his wife. 

They had given a grand ball to introduce their ward into society. TheRockharrts had been invited, of course. And they had all been present. The Wood Violet, as admirers transposed her name, was equally, ofcourse, the belle of the evening. 

The tall, towering sunflower, Mr. Fabian, fell instantly andirrecoverably in love with this tiny white wood violet. Many others fellin love with her, but none to the depth of Mr. Fabian. He resolved to"take time by the forelock, " "not to let the grass grow under his feet"in this love chase. 

The very next morning he said to his father:

"You have lately expressed a wish to see me married, sir. I have been, in obedience to your commands, looking out for a wife. I think I havefound a woman to suit me, and, what is more to the purpose, to suit you, sir. However, if I should be mistaken in your taste, I shall, of course, give up the thought of proposing to her, " added artful Mr. Fabian, whofelt perfectly sure that his father would approve his choice. 

"Who is she?" demanded the Iron King. 

"Miss Violet Wood, the ward of Chief Justice Pendletime. "

"You could not have made a wiser choice. You have my full approval. Andthe sooner you are married, the better I shall like it. "

Mr. Fabian bowed in silence. 

"And you remember that we were planning to send a confidential agent toEurope to establish syndicates for our shares in the principal cities. Now you can utilize your wedding tour by taking your bride to Europe andlooking after this business in person. "

"Yes, of course, " assented Mr. Fabian. 

"Other details may be thought of afterward. You had better begin to callon the lady. It is well to be the first in the market. "

"Of course, sir. "

This ended the conference. 

Mr. Fabian groomed himself into as charming a toilet as a gentleman'smorning suit would admit. He then set forth in his carriage and made theround of the three conservatories of which the town could boast beforehe could find a cluster of white wood violets to pin on the lapel of hiscoat. He also got a splendid and fragrant bouquet, and armed with thesefascinators he drove to the house of the chief justice and sent in hiscard. 

The ladies were at home. He was shown into the drawing room, where, oh!beneficence of fortune, he found his inamorata alone. 

In a pale blue cashmere home dress trimmed with swan's down and lace, she looked fairer, sweeter, daintier, more suggestive of a wood violetthan ever. 

She left her seat at the piano and came to meet him, saying simply:

"Good morning, Mr. Rockharrt. Mrs. Pendletime will be down presently. She is not in good health, and so she slept late this morning after theball. Oh! what lovely, lovely flowers! For me? Oh! thank you so much, Mr. Rockharrt, " she added, as Mr. Fabian, with a deep bow and a sweetsmile, presented his offering. 

Mr. Fabian made good use of his time, and had advanced considerably inthe good graces of his fair little love before the lady of the houseentered. 

Mrs. Chief Justice Pendletime greeted Mr. Fabian most graciously, inquiring after the health of his father. 

A little small talk, a few compliments, and the delightful chat wasbroken into by the arrival of other callers, fine youths, admirers ofViolet Wood and secret aspirants to her favor. Even most amiable Mr. Fabian felt a strong desire to kick them all out of the drawing room, through the front door and into the street. 

He made himself doubly agreeable to the beauty and her chaperon, andfinally offered them a box at the opera for the next evening, and whenit was accepted he at last took leave. 

"I have got the inside track and mean to keep it!" he said to himself, as he drove homeward. And he did keep it. He was really a veryfascinating man when he chose to be so, and he generally did choose tobe so. And he could "make love like an angel. " Now, whether he reallywon the affections of Violet Wood by his charms of person and address, or whether he only dazzled the girl's imagination by the splendor of hiswealth and position, or whether her guardians advocated his cause withthe beauty, or whether there was something of all these influences atwork upon her will, I do not quite know. But certain it is that when Mr. Fabian, after two weeks' courtship, offered his heart, hand, and fortuneto the little beauty, she accepted them, and not only accepted, butseemed very happy in doing so. 

The betrothed lover pleaded for an early wedding day. Violet Woodanswered that she would consult her chaperon and abide by her decision. Mr. Fabian then took the precaution to see Mrs. Pendletime, and praythat the marriage might take place early in February. The lady answeredthat she would consult her young protegee and be governed by her wishes. 

Mr. Fabian bowed, thanked her warmly, shook hands with her cordially andleft the house. He went straight home, took from his safe a casket ofdiamonds he had bought for his bride, and saying to himself:

"I can get Violet another and twice as costly a set; and what I need nowis to save time. " He called Jason and dispatched him with this casketand his card done up in a neat parcel, and directed to Mrs. ChiefJustice Pendletime. So prompt had been his action that the chaperonreceived this silent bribe before she had spoken to her protegee on thesubject of fixing a day for her marriage. 

Now the fire of these diamonds threw such a radiant light on the matterthat Mrs. Pendletime saw at once, and quite clearly, that February, early in February, was the very best time for the wedding. 

She sent for her protegee, and had a talk with her. Now Violet Wood wasby nature a simple-hearted, good-humored girl, who loved to be welldressed, well housed, well served, and, above all, to be much petted, especially by such a charming master of the art as was Mr. Fabian. Shealso loved to oblige her friends. 

So she yielded to the arguments of Mrs. Pendletime and consented to bemarried in February--only not during the first week in February, butabout the middle of the month--the fourteenth, say. Saint Valentine'sday, the birds' bridal day, would be a very appropriate time for a woodviolet to wed. 

When Mr. Fabian came to pay his usual visit the next morning, Mrs. Pendletime received him, thanked him profusely for his munificent gift, telling him at the same time that she should certainly never haveaccepted such a costly present from any one who was not connected orabout to be connected with her family. Mr. Fabian bowed deprecatinglyand asked if he might be permitted to see Miss Wood. Surely he might, she had only intercepted him to thank him for his gift. Then she toldhim that he would find Violet alone in the drawing room. He went in, andfound the little creature perched upon the music stool, before the openpiano, trying a new piece of music. She lighted down like a little birdfrom a twig and came to meet him. He greeted his betrothed with morewarmth of love than a younger man might have ventured upon--but, then, Mr. Fabian was no freshman in the college of love. And Violet, thoughshe did not like to be squeezed so tight and kissed so much, thought itwas all right, since he was her first lover and her betrothed husband. She was not sufficiently in love with him to be afraid of him. This wasas if one of her school girl friends had hugged and kissed her so much. When they were seated side by side on the sofa, Mr. Fabian told her thatimmediately after their wedding breakfast they should take the train forNew York and thence sail for Liverpool. They should reach London nearthe beginning of the fashionable season, which is not winter, as withus, but spring. 

Violet listened in the rapture of anticipation. 

"And at the end of the London season we will make a leisurely tourthrough England--see the monuments of its great old history; palaces andcastles of kings and chieftains who have been dust for ages. Then thehomes and haunts of the great poets and painters. "

The door opened, and the servant announced a visitor. Mr. Fabian, securenow of his prize, arose and said good morning, leaving Violet toentertain one of her young adorers. Mr. Fabian went home and sought hisfather in the library, where the old man now passed much of his time. 

"Well, my dear sir, it is all settled. With your approbation, we--MissViolet Wood and myself--will be married on the fourteenth proximo, andleave for Europe immediately afterward, " said Mr. Fabian, seatinghimself. 

"That is right. I am glad that you will sail in February. You willthereby escape the winds of March and the tempests of the springequinox, " said the Iron King, sententiously. 

"I am very glad you approve, " said Mr. Fabian. 

Old Aaron Rockharrt nodded in silence. 

Fabian looked at him; saw that the old man looked grave, depressed, yetstern and strong as adamant. He felt very sorry for his father. His ownpresent happiness rendered good-natured Mr. Fabian very compassionatetoward the lonely old widower. He had something, inspired by thiscompassion, to suggest to the old man, yet he feared to do sostraightforwardly. 

"Father, " he said at length, for he didn't mind lying the least in theworld--"Father, I heard a strange report about you this morning. "

"Indeed! What was it? That I had failed in business, or quadrupled myfortune?" inquired the egotist, who was always interested when thequestion concerned himself. 

"Neither, sir. I heard you were going to be married. "

"Fabian!" sternly exclaimed the Iron King, darkly gathering his brows. 

"Yes, sir, " said the benevolent Mr. Fabian, who, now that the ice wasbroken, could go on lying glibly with the best intentions and withoutthe slightest scruple; "yes, sir; you know such rumors must necessarilyget afloat about such a fine-looking, marriageable man as yourself. "

"Ah! and since the community have made so free, pray what lady's namehave they honored me by associating with mine?" inquired the Iron Kingsomewhat sarcastically, yet not ill-pleased to learn that he was stillto be considered a great prize in the matrimonial market. 

"Why, of course there could be but one lady in the question; andequally, of course, you will be able to place her, " said Mr. Fabian, smiling. 

"Upon my soul, I am not. "

"Well, then, the lady to whom you are reported to be engaged is thebeautiful Mrs. Bloomingfield. "

"Who?"

"The beautiful and accomplished Mrs. Bloomingfield, with whom you satand talked during the whole evening of the governor's State dinnerparty. "

"Oh, the widow of General Bloomingfield, who died three years ago. Yes, I remember her--a very fine creature, most certainly--but I neverdreamed of her in the light of a wife. In fact, I never dreamed ofmarrying again, " said the Iron King, speaking with unusual gentleness. 

Mr. Fabian laughed in his sleeve. He thought of the soft place in thehard head of the Iron King, a weak part in the strong character of oldAaron Rockharrt--personal vanity. 

"With all possible respect and submission, my dear father, I wouldsuggest that if you never thought of marrying again, you should do sonow. "

"Fabian, I am seventy-seven years old. "

"In years, yes; but that is nothing to you. You are not half that age inhealth, strength, vigor, and activity of mind and body. What man offorty do you know who has anything approaching your energy?"

"None that I know of, indeed, Fabian, " said the Iron King, softeninginto complacency. 

"No, none, " assented Mr. Fabian. "Men die of old age at almost any timein their lives--at forty, fifty, sixty, seventy--but you in yourstrength of manhood are likely to reach your hundredth year and to be ahale old man then. Now, and for many years to come, you will not be oldat all. "

"Yes; I think I have twenty-five or thirty years longer to live. "

"And will you live those years in loneliness? Cora will be sure tomarry. A young woman like Cora will not wear the willow long, believeme. And when Cora leaves you, what then will you do? You have no otherdaughter or granddaughter. As for my promised wife, you yourself made ita condition of our marriage that we should have an establishment of ourown. "

"For the dignity of the house of Rockharrt. Yes, Fabian. "

"And when Cora shall have left you, you will be alone--you who requirethe gentle ministrations of woman more than any man I ever knew. "

"Fabian!" exclaimed old Aaron Rockharrt, suddenly and suspiciously, bringing his strong black eyes to bear pointedly upon the face of hisson. "What is your motive in wishing me to marry?"

"Heaven bear me witness, sir, that my motive, my only motive, is yourown comfort and happiness, " said Fabian, and this time he spoke thetruth. 

"I believe you, Fabian. But this lady with whom the world associates myname is too young for me. She cannot be more than twenty-five, " said OldAaron Rockharrt reflectively. 

"Well, sir! What did the sages and prophets recommend to David? A youngwoman to comfort the king. I am not very well posted in Bible history, but I think that is the story, " said Mr. Fabian. 

CHAPTER X. 

ANOTHER FINE WEDDING. 

The marriage of Mr. Fabian Rockharrt and Miss Violet Wood was to be thegreat event of the winter. 

When the approaching wedding was announced in the newspapers of the day, it caused a sensation, I assure you. Mr. Fabian Rockharrt, the eldestson of the renowned millionaire, the confirmed bachelor, for whom "caps"had been "set" for the last twenty-five years; who had flirted withmaidens who were now wives of elderly men and mothers of grown-updaughters, and in some cases even grandmothers of growing boys andgirls--Mr. Fabian Rockharrt to be won at last by a little wood violet!Preposterous!

The fourteenth of February, Saint Valentine's Day, the Birds' WeddingDay, dawned in that Southern climate like a May day. The snow hadvanished weeks before; the ground was warm and moist; the grass wasspringing; the trees were budding; the wood violets were opening theirsweet eyes in sheltered nooks of the forest. 

I do not know in what mood Violet Wood arose on that momentous morningof her life--probably in a very pleasant one. Her chaperon confided toan intimate friend that the child was not in love; that she had neverbeen in love in her life, and did not even know what being in lovemeant; but that she was rather fond of the fine fellow who adored her, flattered her, petted her, promised her everything she wanted, and whoseenormous wealth constituted him a sort of magician who could command theriches, the splendors, the luxuries, and all the delights of life! Shewas full of rapturous anticipations of extravagant enjoyments. 

Mr. Fabian Rockharrt, utterly unprincipled as he was, yet had the graceto recognize the purity of the young being whom he was about to make hiswife. He was very kind hearted and good humored with every one; hereally loved this girl, as he had never loved any one in all his life;and it was his pleasure to indulge her in every wish and whim--even tosuggest and create in her mind more wishes and more whims, such as shenever could have imagined, so that he might have the joy of gratifyingthem. 

Before starting to church that morning his father called him into thelibrary for a private interview, and lectured him as if he had been alad of twenty-one, who was about to contract marriage--lectured him onthe duties of a husband, of the master of a household and the head of afamily. 

The arrival of Mr. Clarence from North End, and of Mr. Sylvan from WestPoint by the same train, to be present at the wedding, interrupted thebridegroom's reflections. 

"It is now nine o'clock, boys. You have just time to get your breakfastcomfortably and dress yourselves properly before we leave for thechurch. So look sharp, " was the greeting of Mr. Fabian, as he shookhands with his brother and his nephew. 

At ten o'clock the carriage containing Mr. Rockharrt, Mrs. Rothsay andCadet Haught left the house for the church, which they entered by thecentral front door, from which they were marshaled up the center aisleto their seats in the right hand front pew. 

At a quarter past ten the bridegroom, with his best man, ClarenceRockharrt, followed in another very handsome carriage. 

They drove around to the side of the church, and passed in through therector's door to the vestry on the left of the chancel, where theyawaited the arrival of the bride's party, and through the open door ofwhich they looked in upon the splendidly decorated and crowded church. An affluence of rare exotic flowers everywhere. The green-houses of theState capital and of three neighboring cities had been laid undercontribution by Mr. Fabian, and had yielded up their sweetest treasuresfor this occasion. Floral arches spanned the center aisle from side toside, all the way up from the door to the chancel; festoons of flowerswere looped from the galleries on three sides of the church; wreaths offlowers were wound around the pillars from floor to ceiling; the railingaround the chancel was covered with flowers; the pulpit and reading deskwere hidden under flowers. The pews were filled with the beauty, fashion, and aristocracy of the capital, and a splendid crowd theyformed. Every lady held a rich bouquet; every gentleman wore a rareboutonniere. 

Mr. Fabian looked at his watch from moment to moment. We have scarcelyever seen a more impatient bridegroom than Mr. Fabian Rockharrt. But, then, childish disorders go hard with elderly folks. Just as the clockstruck eleven, with dramatic punctuality, the gentlemanlywhite-satin-badged ushers threw open the double doors, and the bride'sprocession entered. She wore a trained dress of rich white satin, withan overskirt, berthe and veil, all of duchess lace, looped, fastened andfestooned here and there and everywhere with orange buds; and amagnificent set of diamonds, consisting of a coronet, necklace, ear-drops, brooch, and bracelets--too much for the littlecreature--lighting her up like fireworks as she passed under the blazeof the sunlit windows. She carried in her white-gloved hand a bouquet ofwhite wood violets, with her monogram in purple violets in the center. She was leaning on the arm of her guardian, the chief justice, followedby eight bridesmaids. 

The bishop, with two other clergymen, in their white vestments, enteredand took their places at the altar. The choir struck up Mendelssohn'swedding march. The bride's procession came slowly up under all thefloral arches of the center aisle to the floral hedge around thechancel. 

The bridegroom came gayly out of the vestry room to meet her, smiling, radiant, tripping as if he had been a slim young lover of twenty, instead of a tall and heavy giant of fifty odd. He took her hand, liftedit to his lips, and led her to the altar, where both knelt. Thebridesmaids grouped behind them. The best man stood on the groom'sright. Old Aaron Rockharrt, Mrs. Rothsay and Cadet Haught came out oftheir pew and formed a group behind the bridegroom. 

Mrs. Chief Justice Pendletime, and a few intimate friends, came out ofher pew and grouped behind the bride and her maids. 

The rest of the congregation remained in their pews, but stood up, andthose in the rear raised on tiptoes and craned their necks to witnessthe proceedings. As soon as the bridegroom and the bride had knelt underthe floral arch, from the high center of which hung a wedding bell ofwhite wood violets, the bishop and his assistants stepped down from thehigh altar steps, and opened their books. 

The rites commenced, and went on without any unusual disturbance oftheir course until they came to the question:

"Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?"

Her guardian, the chief justice, a portly, ponderous person, was movingsolemnly forward to perform this duty, when--

Old Aaron Rockharrt--not from officiousness, but out of pure simpleegotism--took the bride's hand and placed it in that of the groom, saying:

"I do. "

You may judge the effect of this. The bride was mildly amazed; thebridegroom was deeply annoyed; the chief justice, the rightful owner ofthe thunder, was highly offended, and withdrew back in solemn dignity. Meanwhile the ceremony went on to its end. The benediction waspronounced, and congratulations were in order. 

The marriage feast was a great success, like most other affairs of thekind. The chief justice had not got over the affront given him at thechurch, but he could not show resentment in his own house, and on theoccasion of his young ward's wedding breakfast. As for Old AaronRockharrt, he had not the faintest idea that he had committed any breachof propriety. The deuce, you say! Was it not his own eldest son'swedding? Had he not a right to give away the bride? He never even askedhimself the question. He took it for granted as a matter of course. Besides, was not he the greatest man present? And should not he do justas he thought fit? So in utter ignorance of any offense given to anyone, the Iron King unbent his stiffness for once, and was very genial toevery one, especially to the chief justice, who, secretly offended as hewas, could not but respond to this friendliness. 

Among the wedding guests around the board was the beautiful widow, Mrs. Bloomingfield. Mrs. Pendletime had requested Mr. Rockharrt to take herto the table, and he had offered her his arm, placing her at the board, and seated himself beside her. The Iron King looked at the lady withmore interest than he would have felt had not Mr. Fabian invented arumor to the effect that he, Aaron Rockharrt, was addressing her. 

He looked at the lady on his left critically. Yes; she was verybeautiful--very beautiful indeed! And, of course, she would accept himat once if he should offer her his hand! Very beautiful! A tall, finelyrounded, radiant blonde, with a suit of warm auburn hair, which she worein a mass of puffs and coils high on her head; a brilliant, bloomingcomplexion, damask rose cheeks, redder lips, blue eyes, and a pure, fine Roman profile--that means, among the rest, a hooked nose--a veryelegant and aristocratic nose indeed, but still a hooked nose. Shecarried her head high, and her well turned chin a little forward, herlip a little curled. All that meant a high spirit, intolerance ofauthority, and danger, much danger, to a would-be despot. Oh! veryhandsome, and very willing to marry the old millionaire. But--no! theIron King thought not! She would give him too much trouble in theprocess of subjugation. He would none of her. 

Cadet Haught, watching this pair from the opposite side of the table, whispered to his sister, who sat on his right:

"As I live by bread, Cora, there is the aged monarch flirting with thehandsome widow! A thing unparalleled in human history. Or is it dreamingI am?"

Cora lifted her languid dark eyes, looked across the table and answered:

"She is trying to flirt with him, I rather fancy. "

"Wasted ammunition, eh, Cora?"

"I do not know, " replied the young lady. 

And then the increasing talk and laughter all around the table renderedany tete-a-tete difficult or impossible. And now began the toastdrinking and the speech making. It need not be told how Mr. Rockharrttoasted the bride, how the chief justice responded in behalf of his lateward, how Mr. Fabian toasted the bridesmaids, how Mr. Clarence respondedon the part of the young ladies, how with this and that and the otherobservance of forms, the breakfast came to an end and the bishop gavethanks. 

The bride retired to change her dress for a traveling suit of navy bluepoplin, with hat and feather to match, and a cashmere wrap. Then camethe leave-taking, and the jubilant bridegroom handed his bride into theelegant carriage, while his best man, Clarence, gave the last order. 

"To the railway station. "

This was the final farewell, for Mr. Fabian had asked as a particularfavor that no one of the wedding party should attend them to the depot. Their luggage had been sent on hours before, in charge of the maid andthe valet. Half an hour's drive brought them to the station in time tocatch the 3:30 train East. 

"At last, at last I have you away from all those people and all tomyself!" exulted Fabian, as he seated his wife in the corner of the car, and turned the opposite seat that they might have no near fellowpassenger. For as yet palace cars were not. 

The maid and valet were seated on the opposite side of the car. 

The train started. 

The speed was swift, yet seemed slow. It was the way train they were on, and it stopped at every little station. They could not have got anexpress before midnight, and that would have been perilous to theirchance of catching the steamer on which their passage to Europe wasengaged. 

The journey was made without events until about sunset, when the trainreached the little mountain station of Edenheights, where it stoppedtwenty minutes for refreshments. 

"What a lovely scene!" said the bride, looking down from the window onher left, into the depths of a small valley lighted up by the last raysof the setting sun streaming through the opening between two woodedhills. 

"Yes, dear, lovely, if I can think anything lovely besides yourself, " hereplied. 

"Look, what a sweet cottage that is almost hidden among the trees. Anelegant cottage of white freestone built after the Grecian order. Howstrange, Fabian, to find such a bijou here in this wild, remotesection. "

"Probably the residence of some well-to-do official connected with ourworks, " said Mr. Fabian, carelessly; then--"Will you come out to therefreshment rooms and have some tea? See, they are on the opposite sideof the train. "

Violet turned and looked on a very different scene. No wooded andsecluded valley with its one lovely cottage, but a row of open saloonsand restaurants, crowded and noisy. 

"No; I think I will not go in there. It is not pretty. You may send me acup of tea. I will sit here and enjoy this beautiful valley scene. Andoh, Fabian! Look there, coming up the hillside, what a beautiful woman!"

Mr. Fabian looked out and saw and recognized Rose Stillwater and sawthat she had recognized him. She was coming directly toward the train. 

"Sit here, my love; I will go and bring you some refreshments. Don'tattempt to get out, dearest; to do so might be dangerous. I will not belong, " he said, hastily, and rising, he hurried after the otherpassengers out of the car. 

But instead of going into the railway restaurant he went back to therear of the train, placed himself where he stood out of sight of hiswife and of all his fellow passengers, yet in full view of theapproaching woman. 

"What devil brings that serpent here?" he muttered to himself. "I mustintercept her. She must not go on board the train. She must not approachmy little wood violet. Good heavens, no!"

But the woman turned aside voluntarily from her course to the stationarytrain and walked directly toward himself. 

"Well, Rose, " he said, in as pleasant a voice as his perturbation ofmind would permit him to use. 

"Well, Fabian, " she answered. 

She was as white and hard as marble; her lips when she ceased to speakwere closed tightly, her blue eyes blazed from her hard, white face. 

"What brings you here?" he inquired. 

"What brings me here, indeed! To see you. Only this morning I heard ofyour intended business. Only this morning, after the morning train hadleft. If there had been another train within an hour or two, I shouldhave taken it and gone to the city and should have been in time to stopthe wicked wedding. "

"What a blessing that there was not! You could not have stopped themarriage. You would only have exposed yourself and made a row. "

"Then I should have done that. "

"I don't think so. It would not have been like you. You are too cool, too politic to ruin yourself. Come, Rose, " looking at his watch, "thereare but just sixteen minutes before the train starts. I have justfifteen to give you, because it will take me one minute to reach myseat. Therefore, whatever you have to say, my dear, had better be saidat once. "

"I have not come here to reproach you, Fabian Rockharrt, " she said, fixing him with her eyes. 

"That is kind of you at all events. "

"No; we reproach a man for carelessness, for thoughtlessness, forforgetfulness; but for baseness, villainy, treachery like yours it isnot reproach, it is--"

"Magnanimity or murder! I suppose so. Let it be magnanimity, Rose. Ihave never done you anything but good since I first met your face, nowtwenty years ago. You were but sixteen then. You are thirty-six now, and, by Jove! handsomer than ever. "

"Thank you; I quite well know that I am. My looking glass, that neverflatters, tells me so. "

"Then why, in the name of common sense, can you not be happy? Look you, Rose, you have no cause to complain of me. When even in your childhood, you--"

"How dare you throw that up to me!" she exclaimed. 

He went on as if he had not heard her. 

"Were utterly lost and ruined through the villainy of your firstlover--what did I do? I took you up, got a place for you in my father'shouse as the governess of my niece. "

"Well, I worked for my living there, did I not? I gave a fair day's workfor a fair day's wages, as your stony old father would say. "

"Certainly, you did. But you would not have had an opportunity of doingso in any honest way if it had not been for me. "

"How dare you hit me in the teeth with that!"

"Only in self-defense, my Rose. "

"It was with an ulterior, a selfish, a wicked end in view. You know it. "

"I know, and Heaven knows that I served you from pure benevolence andfrom no other motive. Gracious goodness! why, I was over head and earsin love with another woman at that time. But you, Rose, you made a deadset at me. You did not care for me the least in life, but you cared forwealth and position, and you were bound to have them if you could. "

"Coward!" she hissed, "to talk to me in this way. "

"I am not finding fault with you the least in the world. You actednaturally on the principles of self-interest and self-preservation. Youwanted me to marry you, but I could not do that under the circumstances. By Jove! though, I did more for you than I ever did for any other livingwoman and with less reward--with no reward at all, in fact. When yourtime was up at Rockhold I settled an income on you, and afterward, inaddition to that, I gave you that beautiful cottage, elegantly furnishedfrom basement to roof. And what did I ever get in return for all that?Flatteries and fair words--nothing more. You were as cold as a stone, Rose. "

"I would not give my love upon any promise of marriage, but only formarriage itself. "

"And that you know I could not offer you, and you also knew why I couldnot. "

"Poltroon! to reproach me with the great calamity of my childhood. "

"I repeat that I do not reproach you at all. I am only stating thefacts, for which I do not blame you in the least, though they preventedthe possibility of my ever thinking of marriage with you. I gave you ahouse furnished, land, and an income to insure you the comforts, luxuries, and elegances of life. I did not bargain with you beforehand. I thought surely you would, as you led me to believe that you would, give me love in return for all these. But no. As soon as you were securein your possessions you turned upon me and said that I should not evenvisit you at your house without marriage. Now, what have you to complainof?"

"This! that you have broken faith with me!"

"In what way, pray you?"

"You swore that, if you did not marry me, no more would you ever marryany woman. "

"If you would love me. Not if you would not. Besides, I had not seen mysweet wood violet then, " he added, aggravatingly. 

She turned upon him, her eyes flashing blue fire. 

"I will be revenged!" she said. 

"Be anything you like, my dear, only do not be melodramatic. It's badform. Come, now, Rose, you have your house and your income. You arestill young, and much handsomer than ever. Be happy, my dear. And now Ireally must leave you and run to the train. "

"Go. I will not detain you. I came here only to tell you that I will berevenged. I have told you that and have no more to say. "

She turned and went down the hill toward the cottage in the dell. 

Mr. Fabian hurried to the train and sprang on board just as it began tomove. 

"Fabian! Oh, Fabian!" cried the alarmed bride, "you were almost knockedunder the wheels!"

"All right, my dear little love. I am safe now, " he laughed. 

"Where is my tea?"

"Oh, my dear child, " exclaimed the conscience-stricken man. "I am sovery sorry! But the tea was detestable--perfectly detestable! I couldnot bring you such stuff. I am so very sorry, Violet, my precious. "

"Well, never mind. Bring me a glass of ice water from the cooler. "

He obeyed her, and when she had drank, took back the tumbler. 

A porter came along and lighted the lamps in the cars, for it was nowfast growing dark. 

The train sped on. 

Our travelers reached Baltimore late at night, changed cars at midnightfor New York, and reached that city the next morning in time to securethe passage they had engaged. 

At noon they sailed in the Arctic for Liverpool. 

CHAPTER XI. 

THE WILES OF THE SIREN. 

When the bridal pair had started on their journey the wedding guestsdispersed. 

Old Aaron Rockharrt and his family returned to their town house. 

The next morning Mr. Clarence went back to North End to look after theworks. Cadet Haught left for West Point. 

Mr. Rockharrt and Mrs. Rothsay were alone in their city home. 

Old Aaron Rockharrt continued to give dinners and suppers to notedpoliticians until the end of the session and the adjournment of thelegislature. 

The family returned to Rockhold in May. Here they lived a verymonotonous life, whose dullness and gloom pressed very heavily upon theyoung widow. 

Mr. Rockharrt and Mr. Clarence rode out every day to the works andreturned late in the afternoon. 

Cora occupied herself in completing the biography of her late husband, which had been interrupted by the season in the city. 

Mr. Clarence often spent twenty-four hours at North End looking afterthe interests of the firm, and eating and sleeping at the hotel. 

Mr. Rockharrt came home every evening to dinner, but after dinnerinvariably shut himself up in his office and remained there untilbedtime. 

Cora's evenings were as solitary as her mornings. But a change was athand. 

One evening, on his return home, Mr. Rockharrt brought his own mail fromthe post office at North End. 

After dinner, instead of retiring to his office as usual, he came intothe drawing room and found Cora. 

Dropping himself down in a large arm chair beside the round table, anddrawing the moderator lamp nearer to him, he drew a letter from hisbreast pocket and said:

"My dear, I have a very interesting communication here from Mrs. Stillwater--Miss Rose Flowers that was, you know. "

"I know, " said Cora, coldly, and wondering what was coming next. 

"Poor child! She is a widow, thrown destitute upon the cold charities ofthe world again, " he continued. 

Cora said nothing. She was marveling to hear this harsh, cruel, relentless man speaking with so much pity, tenderness, and considerationfor this adventuress. 

"But I will read the letter to you, " he said, "and then I will tell youwhat I mean to do. "

"Very well, sir, " she replied, with much misgiving. 

He opened the letter and began to read as follows:

 WIRT HOUSE, BALTIMORE, MD. , May 15, 18--

 MY MOST HONORED BENEFACTOR: I should not presume to recall myself to your recollection had you not, in the large bounty of your heart, once taken pity on the forlorn creature that I am, and made me promise that if ever I should find myself homeless, friendless, destitute, and desolate, I should write and inform you. 

 My most revered friend, such is my sad, hopeless, pitiable condition now. 

 My poor husband died of yellow fever in the West Indies about a year ago, and his income and my support died with him. 

 For the last twelve months I have lived on the sale of my few jewels, plate, and other personal property, which has gradually melted away in the furnace of my misfortunes, while I have been trying with all my might to obtain employment at my sometime trade as teacher. But, oh, sir! the requirements of modern education are far above my poor capabilities. 

 Now, at length, when my resources are well nigh exhausted--now, when I can pay my board here only for a few weeks longer, and at the end of that time must go forth--Heaven only knows where!--I venture, in accordance with your own gracious permission, to make this appeal to you! Not for pecuniary aid, which you will pardon me if I say I could not receive from any one, but for such advice and assistance as your wisdom and benevolence could afford me, in finding me some honest way of earning my bread. Feeling assured that your great goodness will not cast this poor note aside unnoticed, I shall wait and hope to hear from you, and, in the meanwhile, remain, Your humble and obedient servant, ROSE STILLWATER. 

"That is what I call a very pathetic appeal, Cora. She is a widow, poorchild! Not such a widow as you are, Cora Rothsay, with wealth, friends, and position! She is a widow, indeed! Homeless, friendless, penniless--about to be cast forth into the streets! My dear, I got thisletter this morning. I answered it within an hour after its reception! Iinvited her to come here as our guest, immediately, and to remain aslong as she should feel inclined to stay--certainly until we couldsettle upon some plan of life for her future. I sent a check to pay hertraveling expenses to North End, where I shall send the carriage to meether. You will, therefore, Cora, have a comfortable room prepared forMrs. Stillwater. I think she may be with us as early as to-morrowevening, " said the Iron King. 

And he arose and strode out of the parlor, leaving his granddaughterconfounded. 

Rose Stillwater the widow of a year's standing! Rose Stillwater comingto Rockhold as the guest of her aged and widowed grandfather! What acondition of things! What would be the outcome of this event? Corashrank from conjecturing. 

She felt that there had been two factors in bringing about thesituation: first, the death of her grandmother; second, the marriage ofher Uncle Fabian. The field was thus left open for the operations ofthis scheming adventuress and siren. 

Cora had been so dismayed at the communication of her grandfather thatshe had scarcely answered him with a word. But he had been too deeplyabsorbed in his own thoughts and plans to notice her silence andreserve. 

He had expressed his wishes, given his orders, and gone out. That wasall. 

What could Cora do?

Nothing at all. Too well she knew the unbending nature of the Iron Kingto delude herself for a moment with the idea that any opposition, argument, or expostulation from her would have so much as a feather'sweight with the despotic old man. 

If he had asked Mrs. Stillwater to Rockhold under present circumstances, Mrs. Stillwater would come, and he would have her there just as long ashe pleased. 

Cora was at her wits' end. She resolved to write at once to her UncleFabian. Surely he must know the true character of this woman, and hemust have broken off his very questionable acquaintance with her beforemarrying Violet Wood. Surely he would not allow his father to be sodangerously deceived in the person he had invited to his house--to thesociety of his granddaughter. He would unmask her, even though in doingso he should expose himself. 

She would also write to Sylvan, who from the very first had disliked anddistrusted "the rose that all admire. " And she thanked Heaven that CadetHaught would graduate at the next exhibition at West Point and comehome on leave for the midsummer holidays. 

While waiting answers from the two absent men she would consult herUncle Clarence. Truth to tell, she had but little hope of help in thisaffair from her younger uncle. Mr. Clarence was so far from thinkingevil of any one. He was so loath to give pain or have any disturbance inthe domestic circle. He would be sure to feel compassion for RoseStillwater. He would be sure to recall her pretty, helpful, pleasantways, and the comfort both his father and his mother used to take in herplayful manners and affectionate ministration. Mr. Clarence was much toobenevolent to wish to interfere with any arrangement that was likely tomake the house pleasant and cheerful to his aged father, and give acomfortable home and support to a desolate young widow. And that theIron King should ever be seriously taken in by the beautiful andbewitching creature he would never believe. Yet Cora knew from all pastexperience that Rose Stillwater was more esteemed by old Aaron Rockharrtand had more influence over him than any living creature. Strange that aman so hard headed as the Iron King, and so clear brained on alloccasions when not blinded by his egotism, should allow himself to be sodeceived in any one as he was in Rose Stillwater. 

But, then, she knew how to flatter this egotism. She was beautiful andattractive in person, meek and submissive in manner, complimentary andcaressing in words and tones. 

Cora asked herself whether it would be right, proper, or expedient forher to give information of that secret interview between Mr. Fabian andMrs. Stillwater, to which she herself had been an accidental and mostunwilling witness, on that warm night in September, in the hotel parlorat Baltimore. 

She could not refer to it in her intended letter to her Uncle Fabian. Todo so would be useless and humiliating, if not very offensive. Her UncleFabian knew much more about that interview than she could tell him, andwould be very much mortified and very indignant to learn that she knewanything of it. He might accuse her of being a spy and an eavesdropper, or he might deny and discredit her story altogether. 

No. No good could come of referring to that interview in her letter toher Uncle Fabian. She would merely mention to him the fact that Mrs. Stillwater had written to Mr. Rockharrt an appealing letter declaringherself to be widowed and destitute, and asking for advice andassistance in procuring employment; and that he had replied by invitingher to Rockhold for an indefinite period, and sent her a check to payher traveling expenses. She would tell Mr. Fabian this as a mere item ofnews, expressing no opinion and taking no responsibility, but leavingher uncle to act as he might think proper. 

She could not tell her brother Sylvan of that secret interview, for shewas sure that he would act with haste and indiscretion. Nor could shetell her Uncle Clarence, who would only find himself distressed andincapable under the emergency. Least of all could she tell hergrandfather, and make an everlasting breach between himself and his sonFabian. 

No. She could tell no one of that secret interview to which she had beena chance witness--a shocked witness--but which she only half understood, and which, perhaps, did not mean all that she had feared and suspected. On that subject she must hold her peace, and only let the absent membersof the family know of Mrs. Stillwater's intended visit as an item ofdomestic news, and leave any or all of them to act upon their ownresponsibility unbiased by any word from her. 

Cora's position was a very delicate and embarrassing one. She did notbelieve that this former nursery governess of hers was or ever had beena proper companion for her. She herself--Cora Rothsay--was now a widowwith an independent income, and was at liberty to choose her owncompanions and make her home wherever she might choose. 

But how could she leave her aged and widowed grandfather, who had noother daughter or granddaughter, or any other woman relative to keephouse for him? And yet how could she associate daily with a woman whosepresence she felt to be a degradation?

As we have seen, she knew and felt that it would be vain to oppose hergrandfather's wish to have Mrs. Stillwater in the house, especially ashe had already invited her and sent her the money to come--unless sheshould tell him of that secret interview she had witnessed between Mr. Fabian and Mrs. Stillwater. That, indeed, might banish Rose fromRockhold, but it would also bring down a domestic cataclysm that mustbreak up the household and separate its members. 

No, she could say nothing, do nothing that would not make matters worse. She must let events take their course, bide her time and hope for thebest, she said to herself, as she arose and rang the bell. 

John, the footman, answered the call. 

"It is Martha whom I want. Send her here, " said the lady. 

The man went out and the upper housemaid came in. 

"You wanted me, ma'am?"

"Yes. Do you remember the room occupied by my nursery governess yearsago?"

"Yes, ma'am; the front room on the left side of the hall on the thirdstory. "

"Yes; that is the room. Have it prepared for the same person. She willbe here to-morrow evening. "

"Good--Lord!" involuntarily exclaimed old Martha; "why, we haven't heardof her for a dozen years. What a sweet creeter she was, though, MissCora. I thought as she'd a married a fortin' long ago. "

"She has been married and widowed. At least she says so. "

"A widow, poor thing! And is she comin' to be a companion or anything?"

"She is coming as a guest. "

"Oh! very well, Miss Cora; I will have the room ready in time. "

When the old woman had left the room Cora sat down to her writing deskand wrote two letters--one to Mr. Fabian Rockharrt, Hotel Trois Freres, Paris; the other to Cadet Sylvanus Haught, West Point, N. Y. 

When she had finished and sealed these she put them in the mail bag thatwas left in the hall to be taken at daybreak by the groom to North Endpost office. Then she retired to rest. 

The next morning she breakfasted tete-a-tete with her grandfather, Mr. Clarence having remained over night at North End. While they were stillat the table the man John entered with a telegram, which he laid on thetable before his master. 

"Who brought this?" inquired the Iron King, as he opened it. 

"Joseph brought it when he came back from the post office. It had justcome, and Mr. Clarence gave it to Joseph to fetch to you, sir. Yes, sir!" replied John. 

"It is from Mrs. Stillwater. That lady is a perfect model of promptitudeand punctuality. She says--but I had better read it to you. John, youneed not wait, " said Mr. Rockharrt. 

The negro, who had lingered from curiosity to hear what was in thetelegram, immediately retired. 

Old Aaron Rockharrt took up the long slip, adjusted his spectacles andread:

 WIRT HOUSE, BALTIMORE, MD. , May 16th, 18--

 A thousand heartfelt thanks for your princely munificence and hospitality. I avail myself of both gladly and at once. I shall leave Baltimore by the 8:30 a. M. , and arrive at the North End Station at 6:30 p. M. 

"That is her message. Now I wish you to have everything in readiness forher. I shall go in person to the depot and bring her home with me when Ireturn in the evening. Of course it will be two hours later than usualwhen I get back here. You will, therefore, have the dinner put backuntil nine o'clock on this occasion. "

Cora bowed. She could scarcely trust her voice to answer in words. 

Mr. Rockharrt, absorbed in his own thoughts and plans, never noticed hercoldness and silence. He soon finished breakfast, left the table, and afew minutes later entered his carriage to drive to North End. 

"'Pears to me old marse is jes' wonderful, Miss Cora. To go to hisbusiness every day like clock work, and he 'bout seventy-seven yearsold. And jes' as straight and strong as a pine tree! Yes, and as hard asa pine knot! He's wonderful, that he is!" said old Jason, the grayhaired negro butler, when he came in from seeing his master off andbegan to clear away the breakfast service. 

"Yes; your master is a fine, strong man, Jason--physically, " repliedCora, who was beginning to doubt the mental soundness of hergrandfather!

"Physicking! No, indeed! 'Tain't that as makes the old g'eman sostrong. He nebber would take no physic in all his life. It'sconsternation, that's w'at it is--his good, healthy consternation!"

"Very likely!" replied Cora, who was too much disturbed to set the oldman right. 

She left the breakfast parlor, and went up stairs to superintend inperson the preparation for the comfort of the expected guest. 

CHAPTER XII. 

THE SIREN AND THE DESPOT. 

That May night was clear and cool. The sky was brilliant with stars, sparkling and flashing from the pure, dark blue empyrean. 

In the house it was chilly, so Cora had caused fires to be built in allthe grates. 

The drawing room at Rockhold presented a very attractive appearance, with its three chandeliers of lighted wax candles, its cheerful fire ofsea coal, its warm crimson and gold coloring of carpets and curtains, and its luxurious easy chairs, sofas and ottomans, its choice pictures, books, bronzes and so forth. In the small dining room the table was setfor dinner, in the best spare room all was prepared for its expectedoccupant. 

Cora, in her widow's cap and dress, sat in an arm chair before thedrawing room fire, awaiting the arrival. Half past eight had been thehour named by her grandfather for their coming. But a few minutes afterthe clock had struck, the sound of carriage wheels was heard on theavenue approaching the house. 

Old Jason opened the hall door just as the vehicle drew up and stopped. 

Mr. Rockharrt alighted and then gave his hand to his companion, whotripped lightly to the pavement, and let him lead her up stairs and intothe house. Cora stood at the door of the drawing room. Mr. Rockharrt ledhis visitor up to his granddaughter, and said:

"Mrs. Stillwater is very much fatigued, Cora. Take her at once to herroom and make her comfortable; and have dinner on the table by the timeshe is ready to come down. "

He uttered these words in a peremptory manner, without waiting for theusual greeting that should have passed between the hostess and thevisitor. 

Cora touched a bell. 

"Oh! let me embrace my sweet Cora first of all! Ah! my sweet child! Youand I both widowed since the last time we met!" cooed Rose, in her mostdulcet tones, as she drew Cora to her bosom and kissed her before thelatter could draw back. 

"How do you do?" was the formal greeting that fell from the lady's lips. 

"As you see, dearest--'Not happy, but resigned, '" plaintively repliedthe widow. 

"You quote from a king's minion, I think, " said Cora, coldly. 

Rose took no notice of the criticism, but tenderly inquired. 

"And you, dearest one? How is it with you?"

"I am very well, thank you, " replied the lady. 

"After such a terrible trial! But you always possessed a heroic spirit. "

"We will not speak of that, Mrs. Stillwater, if you please, " was thegrave reply. 

Mr. Rockharrt looked around, as well as he could while old Jason wasdrawing off his spring overcoat, and said:

"Take Mrs. Stillwater to her room, Cora. Don't keep her standing here. "

"I have rung for a servant, who will attend to Mrs. Stillwater's needs, "replied the lady, quietly. 

The Iron King turned and stared at his granddaughter angrily, but saidnothing. 

The housemaid came up at this moment. 

"Martha, show Mrs. Stillwater to the chamber prepared for her, and waither orders there. "

The negro woman wiped her clean hand on her clean apron--as a mereuseless form--and then held it out to the visitor, saying, with thescorn of conventionality and the freedom of an old family servant:

"How do Miss Rose! 'Deed I's mighty proud to see you ag'in--'deed I is!How much you has growed! I mean, how han'some you has growed! You allerswas han'some, but now you's han'somer'n ever! 'Deed, honey, you'smons'ous han'some!"

This hearty welcome and warm admiration, though only from the negroservant, helped to relieve the embarrassment of the visitor, who feltthe chill of Cora's cold reception. 

"Thank you, Aunt Martha, " she said, and followed the woman up stairs. 

"Why did you not attend Mrs. Stillwater to her room?" sternly demandedthe Iron King, fixing his eyes severely on his granddaughter, as soon asthe visitor was out of hearing. 

"It is not usual to do anything of the sort, sir, except in the case ofthe guest being a very distinguished person or a very dear friend. Myex-governess is neither. She shall, however, be treated with all duerespect by me so long as she remains under your roof, " quietly repliedCora. 

"You had best see to it that she is, " retorted the Iron King, as hestalked up stairs to his own room, followed by his valet. 

Cora returned to the drawing room, and seated herself in her arm chair, and put her feet upon her foot-stool, and leaned back, to appearancequite composed, but in reality very much perturbed. Had she acted wellin her manner to her grandfather's guest? She did not know. She couldnot, therefore, feel at ease. She certainly did not treat Mrs. Stillwater with rudeness or hauteur; she was quite incapable of doingso; yet, on the other hand, neither had she treated her ex-governesswith kindness or courtesy. She had been calm and cold in her receptionof the visitor; that was all. But was she right? After all, she knew nopositive evil of the woman. She had only strong circumstantial evidenceof her unworthiness. She recalled an old saying of her father's:

"Better trust a hundred rogues than distrust one honest man. "

Yet all Cora's instincts warned her not to trust Rose Stillwater. 

After all, she could do nothing--at least at present. She would wait thedevelopments of time, and then, perhaps, be able to see her duty moreclearly. Meanwhile, for family peace and good feeling, she would becivil to Rose Stillwater. Half an hour passed, and her meditations wereinterrupted by the entrance of the guest. Mrs. Stillwater seemeddetermined not to understand coldness or to take offense. She came in, drew her chair to the fire, and spread out her pretty hands over itsglow, cooing her delight to be with dear friends again. 

"Oh, darling Cora, " she purred, "you do not know--you cannot evenfancy--the ineffable sense of repose I feel in being here, after all theturbulence of the past year. You read my letter to your dearestgrandfather?"

"Yes, " answered Mrs. Rothsay. 

"From that you must have seen to what straits I was reduced. Think!After having sold everything I possessed in the world--even all myclothing, except two changes for necessary cleanliness--to pay my board;after trying in every direction to get honest work to do; I was in dailyfear of being told to leave the hotel because I could not pay my board. "

"That was very sad! but was it not very expensive--for you--living atthe Wirt House? Would it not have been better, under your circumstances, to have taken cheaper board?"

"Perhaps so, dear; but Captain Stillwater had always made his home atthe Wirt House when his ship was in port, and had always left me therewhen his ship sailed, so that I felt at home in the house, you see. "

"Yes, I see, " said Mrs. Rothsay. 

"Oh, my fondly cherished darling--you, loved, sheltered, caressed--you, rich, admired, and flattered--cannot understand or appreciate the trialsand sufferings of a poor woman in my position and circumstances. Think, darling, of my condition in that city, where I was homeless, friendless, penniless, in daily fear of being sent from the house for inability topay my board!"

"I am sorry to hear all this, " said Cora. And then she was prompted toadd: "But where was Mr. Fabian Rockharrt? He was your earliest friend. He first introduced you to my grandfather. He never lost sight of youafter you left us, but corresponded with you frequently, and gave usnews of you from time to time. Surely, Mrs. Stillwater, had he knownyour straits, he would have found some way of setting you up in somebusiness. He never would have allowed you to suffer privation andanxiety for a whole year. "

While Cora spoke she fixed her eyes on the face of her listener. ButRose Stillwater was always perfect mistress of herself. Without theslightest change in countenance or voice, she answered sweetly:

"Why, dear love, of course I did write to Mr. Fabian first of all, andtold him of the death of my dear husband, and asked him if he could helpme to get another situation as primary teacher in a school or as anursery governess. "

"And he did not respond?"

"Oh, yes; indeed he did. He replied very promptly, writing that he had asituation in view for me which would be better suited to my needs thanany I had ever filled, and that he should come to Baltimore to explainand consult with me. "

"Well?"

"The next day, dear, he came, and--I hate to betray his confidence andtell you. "

"Then do not, I beg you. "

"But--I hate more to keep a secret from you. In short, he asked me tomarry him. "

"What!" exclaimed Cora, in surprise and incredulity. 

"Yes, my love; that was what he had to explain. The position of his wifewas the situation he had to offer me, and which he thought would suit mebetter than any other I had ever filled. "

"When was this proposal made?"

"About five months ago, and about seven months after the death of mydear husband. He said that he would be willing to wait until the year ofmourning should be over. "

"Oh, that was considerate of him. "

"But I was still heart-broken for the loss of my dear husband. I couldnot think of another marriage at any time, however distant. I told himso. I told him how much I esteemed and respected him and even loved himas a dear friend, but that I could not be faithless to the memory of myadored husband. I was very sorry; for he was very angry. He called mecold, silly and even ungrateful, so to reject his hand. I began to thinkthat it was selfish and thankless in me to disappoint so good a friend, but I could not help it, loving the memory of my sainted husband as Idid. I was grieved to hurt Mr. Fabian, though. "

"I do not think he was seriously injured. At least I am sure that hiswounds healed rapidly; for in a very few weeks afterward he proposed toMiss Violet Wood, and was accepted by her. They were married on thefourteenth day of February, and sailed for Europe the next day, " saidMrs. Rothsay. 

"Yes; I know. Disappointed men do such desperate deeds; commit suicideor marry for revenge. Poor, dear girl!" murmured Rose Stillwater, with adeep sigh. 

"Why poor, dear girl?" inquired Cora. 

"Oh, you know, she caught his heart in the rebound, and she will notkeep it. But let us talk of something else, dear. Oh, I am so happyhere. So free from fear and trouble and anxiety. Oh, what ineffablepeace, rest, safety I enjoy here. No one will pain me by presenting abill that I cannot pay, or frighten me by telling me that my room willbe wanted for some one else. Oh, how I thank you, Cora. And how I thankyour honored grandfather for this city of refuge, even for a few days. "

"You owe no thanks to me, " replied Cora. 

"A thousand thanks, my darling!" said Rose, and hearing the heavyfootsteps of the Iron King in the hail, she added--as if she heard themnot: "And as for Mr. Rockharrt, that noble, large brained, great heartedman, I have no words to express the gratitude, the reverence, theadoration with which his magnanimous character and munificentbenevolence inspires me. He is of all men the most--"

But here she seemed first to have caught sight of the Iron King, who wasstanding in the door, and who had heard every word of adulation that shehad spoken. 

"Cora, is not dinner ready?" he inquired, coming forward. 

"Yes, sir; only waiting for you, " answered the lady, touching a bell. 

The gray haired butler came to the call. 

"Put dinner on the table, " ordered Mr. Rockharrt. 

The old butler bowed and disappeared; and after awhile reappeared andannounced:

"Dinner served, sir. "

Mr. Rockharrt gave his arm to Mrs. Stillwater, to take her to the table. 

"Will not my Uncle Clarence be home this evening?" inquired Cora, as thethree took their seats. 

"No; he will not be home before Saturday night. Since Fabian went awaythere has been twice as much supervision over the foremen andbookkeepers needed there, and Clarence is very busy over the accounts, working night and day, " replied the Iron King, as he took a plate ofsoup from the hands of the butler and passed it to Mrs. Stillwater, whoreceived it with the beaming smile that she always bestowed on the IronKing. 

She was the life of the little party. If she was a broken hearted widow, she did not show it there. She smiled, gleamed, glowed, sparkled incountenance and words. The moody Iron King was cheered and exhilarated, and said, as he filled her glass for the first time with Tokay, "Thoughyou do not need wine to stimulate you, my child. You are full of joyouslife and spirits. "

"Oh, sir, pardon me. Perhaps I ought to control myself; but I am sohappy to be here through your great goodness; so free from care andfear; so full of peace and joy; so safe, so sheltered! I feel like astorm beaten bird who has found a nest, or a lost child who has found ahome, and I forget all my losses and all my sorrows and give myself upto delight. Pardon me, sir; I know I ought to be calmer. "

"Not at all, not at all, my child! I am glad to see you so gay. Iapprove of you. You have suffered more than either of us, for you havenot only lost your life's companion, but home, fortune, and all yourliving. My granddaughter here, as you may see, is a monument of morbid, selfish sorrow, which she will not try to throw off even for my sake. But you will brighten us all. "

"I wish I might; oh, how I wish I might! It seems to me it is easy to behappy if one has only a safe home and a good friend, " said Rose. 

"And those you shall always have in me and in my house, my child, " saidthe Iron King. 

Cora listened in pure amazement. Her grandfather sympathetic! Hergrandfather giving praise and quoting poetry! What was the matter withhim? Not softening of the heart; he had never possessed such acommodity. Was it softening of the brain, then? As soon as they hadfinished dinner and returned to the drawing room, the Iron King said tohis guest:

"Now, my child, I shall send you off to bed. You have had a very longand fatiguing journey and must have a good, long night's sleep. "

And with his own hands he lighted a wax taper and gave it to her. Rosereceived it with a grateful smile, bade a sweet toned good night to Mr. Rockharrt and Mrs. Rothsay, and went tripping out of the room. 

"I shall say good night, too, Cora; I am tired. But let me say thisbefore I go: Do you try to take pattern by that admirable child. See howshe tries to make the best of everything and to be pleasant under allher sorrows. You have not had half her troubles, and yet you will nottry to get over your own. Imitate that poor child, Cora. "

"'Child, ' my dear grandfather! Do you forget that Mrs. Stillwater is awidow thirty-six years old?" inquired Cora. 

"'Thirty-six. ' I had not thought of it, and yet of course I knew it. Well, so much the better. Yet child she is compared to me, and child sheis in her perfect trust, her innocent faith, her meekness, candor andsimplicity, and the delightful abandon with which she gives herself tothe enjoyment of the passing hour. This will be a brighter house for thepresence of Rose Stillwater in it, " said the Iron King, as he took uphis taper and rang for his valet and left the room. 

Cora sat a long time in meditation before she arose and followed hisexample. When she entered her chamber, she was surprised and annoyed tofind Rose Stillwater there, seated in the arm chair before the fire. OldMartha was turning down the bed for the night. 

"Cora, love, it is not yet eleven o'clock, though the dear master didsend us off to bed. But I wanted to speak to you, darling Cora, just afew words, dear, before we part for the night; so when I met my oldfriend, Aunt Martha, in the hall, I asked her to show me which was yourroom, so I could come to you when you should come up; but Aunt Marthatold me she was on the way to your room to prepare your bed for thenight, and she would bring me here to sit down and wait for you. So hereI am, dear Cora. "

"You wished to speak to me, you say?" inquired Mrs. Rothsay, drawinganother chair and seating herself before the fire. 

"Yes, darling; only to say this, love, that I have not come here tosponge upon your kindness. I will be no drone. I wish to be useful toyou, Cora. Now you are far away from all milliners and dress makers andseamstresses, and I am very skillful with my needle and can doeverything you might wish to have done in that line--I mean in the wayof trimming and altering bonnets or dresses. I do not think I could cutand fit. "

"Mrs. Stillwater, " interrupted Cora, "you are our guest, and you mustnot think of such a plan as you suggest. "

"Oh, my dear Cora, do not speak to me as if I were only company. I, yourold governess! Do not make a stranger of me. Let me be as one of thefamily. Let me be useful to you and to your dear grandfather. Then Ishall feel at home; then I shall be happy, " pleaded Rose. 

"But, Mrs. Stillwater, we have not been accustomed to set our guests towork. The idea is preposterous, " said the inexorable Cora. 

"Oh, my dear, do not treat me as a guest. Treat me as you did when I wasyour governess. Make me useful; will you not, dear Cora?"

"You are very kind, but I would rather not trouble you. "

"Ah, I see; you are tired and sleepy. I will not keep you up, but I mustmake myself useful to you in some way. Well, good night, dear, " said thewidow, as she stooped and kissed her hostess. Then she left the room. 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

THE SPELL WORKS. 

Rose Stillwater was very near overdoing her part. She rose early thenext morning and came down in the drawing room before any of the familyhad put in an appearance. She had scarcely seated herself before thebright little sea coal fire that the chilly spring morning rendered veryacceptable, if not really necessary, when she heard the heavy, measuredfootsteps of the master of the house coming down the stairs. Then sherose impulsively as if in a flutter of delight to go and meet him; butchecked herself and sat down and waited for him to come in. 

"How heavily the old ogre walks! His step would shake the house, if itcould be shaken. He comes like the statue of the commander in theopera. "

She listened, but his footsteps died away on the soft, deep carpet ofthe library into which he passed. 

"Ah! he does not know that I am down!" she said to herself, complacently, as she settled back in her chair. Cora came in and greetedRose with ceremonious politeness, having resolved, at length, to treatMrs. Stillwater as an honored guest, not as a cherished friend or memberof the household. 

"Good morning, Mrs. Stillwater. I hope you have had a good night's restand feel refreshed after your journey, " she said. 

Rose responded effusively:

"Ah, good morning, dear love! Yes; thank you, darling, a lovely night'srest, undisturbed by the thoughts of debts and duns and a doubtfulfuture. I slept so deeply and sweetly through the night that I wokequite early this morning. The birds were in full song. You must havemillions of birds here! And the subtile, penetrating fragrance of thehyacinths came into the window as soon as I opened it. How I love theearly spring flowers that come to us almost through the winter snows andbefore we have done with fires. "

Cora did not reply to this rhapsody. Then Rose inquired:

"Does your grandfather go regularly to look after the works as he usedto do?"

"Mr. Rockharrt drives to North End every day, " replied Cora. 

"It is amazing, at his age, " said Rose. 

"Some acute observer has said that 'age is a movable feast. ' Age, nomore than death, is a respecter of persons or of periods. Men grow old, as they die, at any age. Some grow old at fifty, others not before theyare a hundred. I think Mr. Rockharrt belongs to the latter class. "

"I am sure he does. "

Cora did not confirm this statement. 

Rose made another venture in conversation:

"So both the gentlemen go every day to the works?"

"Mr. Rockharrt goes every day. Mr. Clarence usually remains there fromMonday morning until Saturday evening. "

"At the works?"

"Yes; or at the hotel, where he has a suite of rooms which he occupiesoccasionally. "

"Dear me! So you have been alone here all day long, every day butSunday! And now I have come to keep you company, darling! You shall notfeel lonely any longer. And--what was that Mary Queen of Scots said toher lady hostess on the night she passed at the castle in her sadprogress from one prison to another:

"'We two widows, having no husbands to trouble us, may agree verywell, ' or words to that effect. So, darling, you and I, having nohusbands to trouble us, may also agree very well. Shall we not?"

"I cannot speak so lightly on so grave a subject, Mrs. Stillwater, " saidCora. 

Old Mr. Rockharrt came in. 

"Good morning, Cora! Good morning, Mrs. Stillwater! I hope you feelquite rested from your journey. "

"Oh, quite, thank you! And when I woke up this morning, I was sosurprised and delighted to find myself safe at home! Ah! I beg pardon!But I spent so many years in this dear old house, the happiest years ofmy life, that I always think of it as home, the only home I ever had inall my life, " said Rose, pathetically, while tears glistened in her softblue eyes. 

"You poor child! Well, there is no reason why you should ever leave thishaven again. My granddaughter needs just such a bright companion as youare sure to be. And who so fitting a one as her first young governess?"

"Oh, sir, you are so good to me! May heaven reward you! But Mrs. Rothsay?" she said, with an appealing glance toward Cora. 

"I do not need a companion; if I did, I should advertise for one. Theposition of companion is also a half menial one, which I should neverassociate with the name of Mrs. Stillwater, who is our guest, " repliedCora, with cold politeness. 

"You see, my dear ex-pupil will not let me serve her in any capacity, "said Rose, with a piteous glance toward the Iron King. 

"You have both misunderstood me, " he answered, with a severe glancetoward his granddaughter, "I never thought of you as a companion toMrs. Rothsay, in the professional sense of that word, but in the sensein which daughters of the same house are companions to each other. "

"I should not shrink from any service to my dear Cora, " said RoseStillwater, and she was about to add--"nor to you, sir, " but she thoughtit best not to say it, and refrained. 

When breakfast was over, and the Rockhold carriage was at the door toconvey the Iron King to North End, the old autocrat arose from the tableand strode into the hall, calling for his valet to come and help him onwith his light overcoat. 

"Let me! let me! Oh, do please let me?" exclaimed Rose, jumping up andfollowing him. "Do you remember the last time I put on your overcoat? Itwas on that morning in Baltimore, years ago, when we parted at theMonument House; you to go to the depot to take the cars for this place, I to remain in the city to await the arrival of my husband's ship? Nineyears ago! There, now! Have I not done it as well as your valet could?"she prattled, as she deftly assisted him. 

"Better, my child, much better! You are not rough; your hands are daintyas well as strong. Thank you, child, " said Mr. Rockharrt, settlinghimself with a jerk or two into his spring overcoat. 

"Oh, do let me perform these little services for you always! It willmake me feel so happy!"

"But it will give you trouble. "

"Oh, indeed, no! not the least! It will give me only pleasure. "

"You are a very good child, but I will not tax you. Good morning! I mustbe off, " said Mr. Rockharrt, shaking hands with Rose, and then hurryingout to get into his carriage. 

Rose stood in the door looking after him, until the brougham rolledaway out of sight. 

At luncheon Rose Stillwater seemed so determined to be pleasant that itwas next to impossible for Cora Rothsay to keep up the formal demeanorshe had laid out for herself. 

"It is very lonely for you here, my dear. How soon does your grandfatherusually return? I know he must have been later than usual last night, because he had to go to the depot to meet me, " Rose said. 

"Mr. Rockharrt usually returns at six o'clock. We have dinner athalf-past, " replied Cora. 

"And this is two! Four hours and a half yet!"

"The afternoon is very fine. Will you take a walk with me in thegarden?" inquired Cora, as they left the dining room, feeling somecompunction for the persistent coldness with which she had treated hermost gentle and obliging guest. 

"Oh, thank you very much, dear. With the greatest pleasure! It will bejust like old times, when we used to walk in the garden together, you alittle child holding on to my hand. And now--But we won't talk of that, "said Rose. 

And she fled up stairs to get her hat and shawl. 

And the two women sauntered for half an hour among the early roses andspring flowers in the beautiful Rockhold garden. 

Then they came in and went to the library together and looked over thenew magazines. Presently Cora said:

"We all use the library in common to write our letters in. If you haveletters to write, you will find every convenience in either of thoseside tables at the windows. "

"Yes. Just as it used to be in the old times when I was so happy here!When the dear old lady was here! Ah, me! But I will not think of that. She is in heaven, as sure as there is a heaven for angels such as she, and we must not grieve for the sainted ones. But I have no letters towrite, dear. I have no correspondents in all the world. Indeed, dearCora, I have no friend in the world outside of this house, " said Rose, with a little sigh that touched Cora's heart, compelling her tosympathize with this lonely creature, even against her better judgment. 

"Is not Mr. Fabian friendly toward you?" inquired Cora, from mixedmotives--of half pity, half irony. 

"Fabian?" sweetly replied Rose. "No, dear. I lost the friendship of Mr. Fabian Rockharrt when I declined his offer of marriage. You refuse aman, and so wound his vanity; and though you may never have given himthe least encouragement to propose to you, and though he has not theshadow of a reason to believe that you will accept yet will he takegreat offense, and perhaps become your mortal enemy, " sighed Rose. 

"But I think Uncle Fabian is too good natured for that sort of malice. "

"I don't know, dear. I have never seen him since he left me in anger onthe day I begged off from marrying him. Really, darling, it was morelike begging off than refusing. "

But little more was said on the subject, and presently afterward the twowent up stairs to dress for dinner. 

Punctually at six o'clock Mr. Rockharrt returned. And the evening passedas on the preceding day, with this addition to its attractions: Mrs. Stillwater went to the piano and played and sang many of Mr. Rockharrt'sfavorite songs--the old fashioned songs of his youth--Tom Moore's Irishmelodies, Robert Burns' Scotch ballads, and a miscellaneous assortmentof English ditties--all of which were before Rose's time, but which shehad learned from old Mrs. Rockharrt's ancient music books during herfirst residence at Rockhold, that she might please the Iron King bysinging them. 

Surely the siren left nothing untried to please her patron andbenefactor. 

When he complained of fatigue and bade the two women good night, shestarted and lighted his wax candle and gave it to him. The next day shewas on hand to help him on with his great coat, and to hand him hisgloves and hat, and he thanked her with a smile. 

So went on life at Rockhold all the week. 

On Saturday evening Mr. Clarence came home with his father and greetedRose Stillwater with the kindly courtesy that was habitual with him. 

There were four at the dinner table. And Rose, having so excellent acoadjutor in the younger Rockharrt, was even gayer and more chatty thanever, making the meal a lively and cheerful one even for moody AaronRockharrt and sorrowful Cora Rothsay. 

After dinner, when the party had gone into the drawing room, Mrs. Stillwater said:

"Here are just four of us. Just enough for a game at whist. Shall wehave a rubber, Mr. Rockharrt?"

"Yes, my child! Certainly, with all my heart! I thank you for thesuggestion! I have not had a game of whist since we left the city. Ah, my child, we have had very stupid evenings here at home until you cameand brought some life into the house. Clarence, draw out the card table. Cora, go and find the cards. "

"Let me! Let me! Please let me!" exclaimed Rose, starting up withchildish eagerness. "Where are the cards, Cora, dear?"

"They are in the drawer of the card table. You need not stir to findthem, thank you, Mrs. Stillwater. "

"No; here they are all ready, " said Mr. Clarence, who had drawn thetable up before the fire and taken the pack of cards from the drawer. 

The party of four sat down for the game. 

"We must cut for partners, " said Mr. Rockharrt, shuffling the cards andthen handing them to Mrs. Stillwater for the first cut. 

"The highest and the two lowest to be partners?" inquired Rose, as shelifted half the pack. 

"Of course, that is the rule. "

Each person cut in turn, and fortune favored Mrs. Stillwater to Mr. Clarence, and Cora to Mr. Rockharrt. Then they cut for deal, and fortunefavored Mr. Rockharrt. 

The cards were dealt around. 

Rose Stillwater had an excellent hand, and she knew by the pleased looksof her partner, Mr. Clarence, that he also had a good one; and by theannoyed expression of Mr. Rockharrt's face that he had a bad one. Cora'scountenance was as the sphnix's; she was too sadly preoccupied to carefor this game. 

However, Rose determined that she would play into the hand of herantagonist and not into that of her partner. 

Pursuing this policy, she watched Mr. Rockharrt's play, always returnedhis lead, and when her attention was called to the error, she wouldflush, exhibit a lovely childlike embarrassment, declare that she was nowhist player at all, and beg to be forgiven; and the very next momentshe would trump her partner's trick, or purposely commit some otherblunder that would be sure to give the trick to Mr. Rockharrt. 

Mr. Clarence was the soul of good humor, but it was provoking to havehis own "splendid" hand so ruined by the bad play of his partner thattheir antagonists, with such very poor hands, actually won the oddtrick. 

In the next deal Rose got a "miserable" hand; so did her partner, as shediscovered by his looks, while Mr. Rockharrt must have had a magnificenthand, to judge from his triumphant expression of countenance. 

Rose could, therefore, now afford to redeem her place in the esteem ofher partner by playing her very best, without the slightest danger oftaking a single trick. 

To be brief, through Rose's management Mr. Rockharrt and Cora won therubber, and the Iron King rose from the card table exultant, for whatold whist player is not pleased with winning the rubber?

"My child, " he said to Rose Stillwater, "this is altogether thepleasantest evening that we have passed since we left the city, and allthrough you bringing life and activity among us! I do not think we canever afford to let you go. "

"Oh, sir! you are too good. Would to heaven that I might find some placein your household akin to that which I once filled during the happiestyears of my life, when I lived here as your dear granddaughter'sgoverness, " said Rose Stillwater, with a sigh and a smile. 

"You shall never leave us again with my consent. Ah, we have had a verypleasant evening. What do you think, Clarence?"

"Very pleasant for the winners, sir, " replied the young man, with a goodhumored laugh, as he lighted his bed room candle and bade them all goodnight. 

Soon after the little party separated and retired for the night. 

As time passed, Rose Stillwater continued to make herself more and moreuseful to her host and benefactor. She enlivened his table and hisevenings at home by her cheerful conversation, her music and her games. She waited on him hand and foot, helped him on and off with his wrapswhen he went out or came in; warmed his slippers, filled his pipe, driedhis newspapers, served him in innumerable little ways with a childlikeeagerness and delight that was as the incense of frankincense and myrrhto the nostrils of the egotist. 

And he praised her and held her up as a model to his granddaughter. 

Rose Stillwater was a proper young woman, a model young woman, allindeed that a woman should be. He had never seen one to approach herstatus in all his long life. She was certainly the most excellent of hersex. He did not know what in this gloomy house they could ever dowithout her. 

Such was the burden of his talk to Cora. 

Mrs. Rothsay gave but cold assent to all this. She had too muchreverence for the fifth commandment to tell her grandfather what shethought of the situation--that Rose Stillwater was making a notable foolof him, either for the sake of keeping a comfortable home, or gaining aplace in his will, or of something greater still which would include allthe rest. 

She tried to treat the woman with cold civility. But how could shepersevere in such a course of conduct toward a beautiful blue eyed angelwho was always eager to please, anxious to serve?

Cora felt that this woman was a fraud, yet when she met her lovely, candid, heaven blue eyes she could not believe in her own intuitions. Cora, like some few unenvious women, was often affected by other women'sbeauty. The childlike loveliness of her quondam teacher really touchedher heart. So she could not at all times maintain the dignified reservethat she wished toward Rose Stillwater. 

Meantime the day approached when it was decided that they should all goto West Point to the commencement, at which Cadet Sylvan Haught wasexpected to graduate. 

Mr. Rockharrt had invited Mrs. Stillwater to be of their party, andinsisted upon her accompanying them. 

Rose demurred. She even ventured to hint that Mrs. Rothsay might notlike her to go with them; whereupon the Iron King gathered his brow sodarkly and fearfully, and said so sternly:

"She had better not dislike it, " that Rose hastened to say that it wasonly her own secret misgiving, and that no part of Mrs. Rothsay'sdemeanor had led her to such a supposition. 

And she resolved never again to drop a hint of her hostess' too evidentsuspicion of herself to the family autocrat, for it was the last mistakethat Mrs. Stillwater could possibly wish to make--to kindle angerbetween grandfather and granddaughter. Her policy was to forbear, to bepatient, to conciliate, and to bide her time. 

"Cora, " said the Iron King, abruptly, to his granddaughter, at thebreakfast table, on the morning after this conversation, and in thepresence of their guest, "do you object to Mrs. Stillwater joining ourtraveling party to West Point?"

"Certainly not, sir. What right have I to object to any one whom youmight please to invite?"

"No right whatever. And I am glad that you understand that, " replied Mr. Rockharrt. 

Rose was trembling for fear that her benefactor would betray her as thesuggester of the question, but he did not. 

Cora had received no letter from her Uncle Fabian in answer to hersannouncing the fact of Mrs. Stillwater's presence at Rockhold. 

Mr. Fabian wrote no letters, except business ones to the firm, andthese were opened at the office of the works, and never brought toRockhold. 

If Cora should ever inquire of her grandfather whether he had heard fromMr. And Mrs. Fabian Rockharrt, his answer would be brief--

"Yes; they are both well. They are at Paris. They are at Berne. They areat Aix, " or wherever the tourists might then chance to be. 

Sylvan was a better correspondent. He answered her letters promptly. Hiscomments on the visit of Rose Stillwater were characteristic of the boy. 

"So you have got the Rose 'that all admire' transplanted to theconservatories of Rockhold. Wish you joy of her. She is a rose without asingle thorn, and with a deadly sweet aroma. Mind what I told you longago. It contains the wisdom of ages. 'Stillwater runs deep. ' Mind itdoes not draw in and submerge the peace and honor of Rockhold. I shallsee you at the exhibition, when we can talk more freely over thiscomplication. If Mrs. Stillwater is to remain as a permanent guest atRockhold, I shall ask my sister to join me wherever I may be ordered, after my leave of absence has expired. You see I fully calculate onreceiving my commission. "

Cora looked forward anxiously to this meeting with her brother. Only thethought of seeing him a little sooner than she should otherwise havedone could reconcile her to the proposed trip to West Point, where shemust be surrounded by all the gayeties of the Military Academy at itsannual exercises. 

Cora had yielded to her grandfather's despotic will in going a littleinto society while they occupied their town house in the State capital. But she took no pleasure--not the least pleasure--in this. 

To her wounded heart and broken spirit the world's wealth was dross andits honors--vapor!

The only life worth living she had lost, or had recklessly thrown away. Her soul turned, sickened, from all on earth, to seek her lost lovethrough the unknown, invisible spheres. 

She still wore around her neck the thin gold chain, and suspended fromit, resting on her bosom, the precious little black silk bag thatcontained the last tender, loving, forgiving, encouraging letter that hehad written to her on the night of his great renunciation for her sake, when he had left all his hard won honors and dignities, and gone forthin loneliness and poverty to the wilderness and to martyrdom. 

Oh, she felt she was never worthy of such a love as that; the love thathad toiled for her through long years; the love that had died for her atlast; the love that she had never recognized, never appreciated; thelove of a great hearted man, whom she had never truly seen until he waslost to her forever. 

So long as he had lived on earth Cora had cherished a hope to meet him, "sometime, somehow, somewhere. "

But now he had left this planet. Oh! where in the Lord's universe washe? In what immeasurably distant sphere? Oh! that her spirit could reachhim where he lived! Oh, that she could cause him to hear her cry--herdeep cry of repentance and anguish!

But no; he never heard her; he never came near her in spirit, even inher dreams, as the departed are sometimes said to come and comfort theloved ones left on earth. 

During these moods of dark despair Cora was so gloomy and reserved thatshe seemed to treat her unwelcome guest worse than ever, when, in truth, she was not even seeing or thinking of the intruder. 

The Iron King, however, noticed his granddaughter's coldness andreserve, and he deeply resented it. 

One very rainy, dismal Sunday they were all at home and in the drawingroom. Cora had sat for hours in silence, or replying to Mrs. Stillwater's frequent attempts to draw her into conversation in briefmonosyllables, until at last the visitor arose and left the room, nothurt or offended, as Mr. Rockharrt supposed, but simply tired of stayingso long in one place. 

But the Iron King turned on his granddaughter and demanded:

"Corona Rothsay! why do you treat our visitor with such unladylikerudeness?"

Cora, brought roughly out of her sad reverie, gazed at the old manvaguely. She scarcely heard his question, and certainly did notunderstand it. 

"Father, " ventured Mr. Clarence, "I do not believe Cora could treat anyone with rudeness, and surely she could never be unladylike. But you seeshe is absent-minded. "

"Hold your tongue, sir! How dare you interfere?" sternly exclaimed thedespot. "But I see how it is, " he added, with the savage satisfaction ofa man who has power to crush and means to do it--"I see how it is! Thatoppressed woman will never be treated by either of you with properrespect until I give her my name and make her my wife and the mistressof my house. "

CHAPTER XIV. 

IN THE WEB. 

"Yes, sir and madam, you may stare; but I mean to place my guest in aposition from which she can command due honor. I mean to give her myname and make her the mistress of my house, " said old Aaron Rockharrt;and he leaned back in his chair and drew himself up. 

Had a thunderbolt fallen among them, it could hardly have caused greaterconsternation. 

The shock was more effective because both his hearers knew full wellthat old Aaron Rockharrt never used vain threats, and that he would doexactly what he said he would do. Having said that he meant to marry theunwelcome guest, he would marry her. 

But what unutterable amazement fell upon the two people! Both had felt avague dread of evil from the presence of this siren in the house; buttheir darkest, wildest fears had never shadowed forth this unspeakablefolly. The Iron King, a man of seventy-seven, strong, firm, upright, honored, to fall into the idiocy of marrying a beautiful adventuressmerely because she waited on him, ran his errands, warmed his slippers, put on his dressing gown or his overcoat, as he would come in or go out, and generally made him comfortable; but above all perhaps, because sheflattered his egotism without measure. And yet the Iron King wasconsidered sane, and was sane on all other subjects. 

So thought Clarence and Cora as they gasped, glanced at the old man, gazed at each other, and then dropped their eyes in a sort of shame. 

Neither spoke or could speak. 

The dreadful silence was broken at last by Rose Stillwater, who burstinto the room like a sunbeam into a cloud, and said with her childisheagerness:

"I have got such a lovely piece of music. I ran out just now to look forit. I was not sure I could find it; but here it is. It may be calledsacred music and suitable to the day, I hope. Here is the title. 

 "'Glad life lives on forever. '

"Shall I play and sing for you, Mr. Rockharrt? Would you like me to doso, dear Cora? And you, Mr. Clarence?"

"Certainly, my dear, " promptly responded the Iron King. 

"As you please, " coldly replied Cora. 

"I--yes--thank you; I think it would be very nice, " foolishly observedMr. Clarence, who was just now reduced to a state of imbecility by thestunning announcement of his father's intended marriage. 

But all three had spoken at the same time, so that Rose Stillwater heardbut one voice clearly, and that was the Iron King's. 

Mr. Clarence, however, went and opened the piano for her. Then old Mr. Rockharrt arose, went to the instrument slowly and deliberately, put hisyoungest son aside, wheeled up the music stool, seated her and then--

 "The monarch o'er the siren hung And beat the measure as she sung, And pressing closer and more near, He whispered praises in her ear. "

"It is 'The Lion in Love, ' of Æsop's fable. He will let her draw histeeth yet, " said Mr. Clarence, in a low tone, quite drowned in thejoyous swell of the music. 

"No, it is not. A man of his age does not fall in love, I feel sure. Andshe will never gain one advantage over him. He likes her society and herservitude and her flatteries. He will take them all, and more than all, if he can; but he will give nothing, nothing in return, " murmured Cora. 

"But why does he give her this attention to-day? It is unusual. "

"To show us that he will do her honor; place her above us, as he said;but that will not outlast their wedding day, if indeed they marry. "

"They will marry unless something should happen to prevent them. I dowish Fabian was at home. "

"So do I, with all my heart. "

The glad bursts of music which had drowned their voices, slowly sankinto soft and dreamy tones. 

Then Clarence and Corona ceased their whispered conversation. 

Soon the dinner bell rang and the family party went into the diningroom. 

On Monday morning active preparations were commenced for their journeyto New York. Not one more word was spoken about the marriage of June andJanuary, nor could either Clarence or Corona judge by the manner of theill sorted pair whether the subject had been mentioned between them. 

On Wednesday of that week Mr. Rockharrt, accompanied by Mrs. Stillwaterand Mrs. Rothsay, left Rockhold for New York, leaving Mr. Clarence incharge of the works at North End. 

They went straight through without, as before, stopping overnight atBaltimore. Consequently they reached New York on Thursday noon. 

Mr. Rockharrt telegraphed to the Cozzens Hotel at West Point to secure asuite of rooms, and then he took his own party to the Blank House. 

When they were comfortably installed in their apartments and had haddinner, he said to his companions:

"I have business which may detain me in the city for several days. Weneed not, however, put in an appearance at the Military Academy beforeMonday morning. Meanwhile you two may amuse yourselves as you please, but must not look to me to escort you anywhere. Here are fine stores, art galleries, parks, matinees and what not, where women may be trustedalone;" and having laid down the law, his majesty marched off to bed, leaving the two young widows to themselves, in the private parlor oftheir suite. 

They also retired to the double-bedded chamber, which, to Cora'sannoyance, had been engaged for their joint occupancy. She detested tobe brought into such close intimacy with Rose Stillwater, and longed forthe hour of her brother's release from the academy, and his appointmentto some post of duty, however distant, where she might join him, and soescape the humiliation of her present position. However, she tried tobear the mortification as best she might, thankful that she and herunwelcome chum, while occupying the same chamber, were not obliged tosleep in the same bed. 

Truly, Rose Stillwater felt how unpleasant her companionship was to herformer pupil, but she showed no consciousness of this. She comportedherself with great discretion--not forcing conversation on her unwillingroom mate, lest she should give offense; and it was the policy of thiswoman to "avoid offenses, " nor yet did she keep total silence, lest sheshould seem to be sulky; for it was also her policy always to seemamiable and happy. So, though Cora never voluntarily addressed one wordto her, yet Rose occasionally spoke sweetly some commonplace about theweather, their room, the bill of fare at dinner, and so on; to all ofwhich observations she received brief replies. 

Both were relieved when they were in their separate beds and the gas wasturned off--Rose that she need act a difficult part no more that night, but could lie down, and, under the cover of the darkness, gather herfeatures in a cloud of wrath, and silently curse Corona Rothsay; Cora, that she was freed from the sight of the deceitful face and the sound ofthe lying tongue. 

Fatigued by their long journey, both soon fell asleep, and slept well, until the horrible sound of the gong awakened them--the gong in thosedays used to summon guests to the public breakfast table. 

Cora sprang out of bed with one fear--that her grandfather was up andwaiting for his breakfast, though that gong had really nothing to dowith any of their meals, which were always to be served in their privateparlor. 

Cora and her room mate quickly dressed and went to the parlor, wherethey were relieved to find no Mr. Rockharrt and no table set. 

Presently, however, the Iron King strode into the room, a morning paperin his hand. 

"Breakfast not ready yet?" he sharply demanded, looking at Corona. 

Then she suddenly remembered that whenever they had traveled before thistime, her grandmother had ordered the meals, as she had done everythingelse that she could do to save her tyrant trouble. 

"I--suppose so, sir. Shall I ring for it?" she inquired. 

"Let me! Let me! Oh, please let me wait on you!" exclaimed Rose, as shesprang up, ran across the room, and rang a peal on the bell. 

The waiter came. 

"Will you also order the breakfast, Mrs. Stillwater, if such is yourpleasure?" inquired Cora, who could not help this little bit of illhumor. 

"Certainly I will, my dear, if you like!" said the imperturbable Rose, who was resolved never to understand sarcasm, and never to takeoffense--"Waiter, bring me a bill of fare. "

The waiter went out to do his errand. 

Old Aaron Rockharrt glared sternly at his granddaughter; but his firedid not strike his intended victim, for Cora had her back turned and waslooking out of the window. 

The waiter came in with the breakfast bill of fare. 

"Will you listen, Mr. Rockharrt, and you, dear Cora, and tell me what tomark, as I read out the items, " said Rose, sweetly, as she took the cardfrom the hands of the man. 

"Thank you, I want nothing especially, " answered Cora. 

"Read on, my dear. I will tell you what to mark, and you must be surealso to mark any dish that you yourself may fancy, " said Mr. Rockharrt, speaking very kindly to Rose, but glaring ferociously toward Cora. 

Rose read slowly, pausing at each item. Mr. Rockharrt named his favoritedishes, Rose marked them, and the order was given to the waiter, whotook it away. 

Breakfast was soon served, and a most disagreeable meal it must havebeen but for Rose Stillwater's invincible good humor. She chatted gaylythrough the whole meal, perfectly resolved to ignore the cloud that wasbetween the grandfather and the granddaughter. 

As soon as they arose from the table old Aaron Rockharrt ordered acarriage to take him down to Wall Street, on some business connectedwith his last great speculation, which was all that his granddaughterknew. 

Before leaving the hotel, he launched this bitter insult at Cora, through their guest:

"My dear, " he said to Mrs. Stillwater, as he drew on his gloves, "I mustleave my granddaughter under your charge. I beg that you will look afterher. She really seeds the supervision of a governess quite as much nowas she did years ago when you had the training of her. "

Corona's wrath flamed up. A scathing sarcasm was on her lips. Sheturned. 

But no. She could not resent the insult of so aged a man; even if he hadnot been her grandfather. 

Rose Stillwater said never a word. It was not--it would not have beenprudent to speak. To treat the matter as a jest would have offended theIron King; to have taken it seriously would most justly and unpardonablyhave offended Corona Rothsay. Truly, Rose found that "Jordan am a hardroad to trabbel!" And here at least was an apt application of the oldproverb:

"Speech is silver, silence is golden. " So Rose said never a word, butlooked from one to the other, smiling divinely on each in turn. 

Old Aaron Rockharrt having discharged his shot, went down stairs, entered his carriage and drove to Wall Street. 

Corona went to her room, or to the room she jointly occupied with Mrs. Stillwater, wishing from the depths of her heart that she could getentirely away from the sight and hearing of the woman who grew morerepugnant to her feelings every day. At one time Cora thought that shewould call a carriage, drive to the Hudson River railway station, andtake the train for West Point, there to remain during the exercises ofthe academy. She was very strongly tempted to do this; but she resistedthe impulse. She would not bring matters to a crisis by making a scene. So the idea of escaping to West Point was abandoned. Next she thought oftaking a carriage and driving out to Harlem alone; but then sheremembered that the woman Stillwater was, after all, her guest, so longas she herself was mistress, if only in name, of her grandfather'shouse; she could not leave her alone for the whole day; and so the ideaof evading the creature's company by driving out alone was also givenup. 

Truly, Cora was bound to the rack with cords of conventionality as fineas cobwebs, yet as strong as ropes. 

She did nothing but sit still in her chamber and brood; dreading theentrance of her abhorrent room-mate every moment. 

But Rose Stillwater--who read Cora Rothsay's thoughts as easily as shecould read a familiar book--acted with her usual discretion. As long asCora chose to remain in their joint chamber, Rose forbore to exerciseher own right of entering it. 

Not until the afternoon did Corona come out into the parlor. Then shefound Rose seated at the window, watching the busy scene on the Broadwaypavement below, the hurried promenaders jostling as they passed eachother on going up and coming down; the street peddlers, the walkingadvertisements, and all other sights never noticed by a citizen of thetown, but looked at with curiosity by a stranger from the country. 

Rose turned as Corona entered, and ignoring all reserve, said sweetly:

"I hope you have been resting, dear, and that you feel refreshed. ShallI ring and order luncheon? I wish to do all I can, dear, to prove myappreciation of all the kindness shown me; yet not to be officious. "

Now, how could Cora repulse the advances of so very good humored awoman? She believed her to be false and designing. She longed with allher heart and soul to be rid of the woman and her insidious influence. Yet she could not hear that sweet voice, those meek words, or meet thosesoft blue eyes, and maintain her manner of freezing politeness. 

"If you please, " she answered, gently, and then said to herself:"Heavens! what a hypocrite this unwillingness to hurt the woman'sfeelings does make me!"

Rose rang the bell and ordered the luncheon. 

They sat down in apparent amity to partake of it. 

The afternoon waned and evening came, but brought no Iron King back tothe hotel. 

"Have you any idea at what hour Mr. Rockharrt will return, dear?"inquired Mrs. Stillwater, in her most dulcet tones. 

"Not the slightest. "

"I think he said something about going down to Wall Street to see afterthe forming of a syndicate in connection with his grand speculation. What is a syndicate, dear?"

"I don't know--it may be an agency or a company--"

"Or it may be something connected with the building of the newsynagogue, which it is said is to be constructed of iron. "

Cora was surprised into the first laugh she had had in two years. Butthe mirth was very short-lived. It came and passed in an instant, andthen a pang of remorse seized her heart that she could have laughed atall. She was thinking of her lost Rule, and of her own guilty share inhis tragic fate. If she had not let her fancy and imagination become sodazzled by the rank and splendor of the British suitor as to blind herheart and mind for a season, as to make her think and believe that shereally loved this new man, and that she had never loved, and could neverlove, Ruth Rothsay, though she must keep her engagement with him andmarry him--had she not broken down and given way to her emotions on thatfatal evening of their wedding day--then Rule would never have made hisgreat renunciation for her sake--would never have wandered away into thewilderness to meet his death from murderous hands. How could she everlaugh again? she asked herself. 

"What is the matter with you, dear?" inquired Rose, surprised at thesudden change in Cora. 

But before she could be answered the door opened and old Aaron Rockharrtcame in, looking weary and careworn. 

"How have you amused yourselves to-day?" he inquired of the two youngwomen. 

Cora was slow to speak, but Rose answered discreetly:

"I do not think we either of us did much but loll around and rest fromour journey. "

"Not been out?"

"No; I did not care to do so; nor did Cora, I believe. "

Dinner was served. Afterward the evening passed stupidly. 

Aaron Rockharrt sat in the large arm chair and slept. Cora, looking athim, thought he was aging fast. 

As soon as he waked up he bade his companions good night and went to hisapartment. The two others soon followed his example. 

As this day passed, so passed the succeeding days of their sojourn inthe city. 

Mr. Rockharrt went out every morning on business connected with thatgreat scheme which was going to quadruple his already enormous wealth. He came home every evening quite worn out, and after dinner sat anddozed in his chair until bedtime. 

Cora watched him anxiously and wondered at him. He was aging fast. Shecould see that in his whole appearance. But what a strange infatuationfor a man of seventy-seven, possessed already of almost fabulous wealth, to be as hotly in pursuit of money as if he were some poor youth withhis fortune still to make! And what, after all, could he do with so muchmore money? Why could he not retire on his vast riches, and rest fromhis labors, leaving his two stalwart sons to carry on his business, andso live longer? Cora mournfully asked herself. 

On Sunday a strange thing happened. Old Aaron Rockharrt announced at thebreakfast table his intention of going to a certain church to hear acelebrated preacher, whose piety, eloquence and enthusiasm was thesubject of general discussion; and he invited the two ladies to go withhim. Both consented--Cora because she never willingly absented herselffrom public worship on the Sabbath; Rose because it was her cue to beamiable and to agree to everything that was proposed. 

"We need not take a carriage. The church is only two blocks off, " saidMr. Rockharrt, as he arose from the table. 

The party was soon ready, and while the bell was still ringing, they setout to walk. As they reached the sacred edifice the bell ceased ringingand the organ pealed forth in a grand voluntary. 

"You see we are but just in time, " said Mr. Rockharrt, as he led hisparty into the building. 

The polite sexton conducted the strangers up the center aisle and putthem into a good pew. The church was not full, but was filling rapidly. Our party bowed their heads for the preliminary private prayer, and sodid not see the great preacher as he entered and stood at the readingdesk. He was an English dean of great celebrity as a pulpit orator, nowon a visit to the United States, and preaching in turn in every pulpitof his denomination as he passed. He was a man of about sixty-five, tall, thin, with a bald head, a narrow face, an aquiline nose, blue eyesand a gray beard. He began to read the opening texts of the service. 

"'If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth isnot in us. '"

At the sound of his voice Rose Stillwater started violently, looked upand grew ghastly white. She dropped her face in her hands on thecushioned edge of the pew before her, and so sat trembling through thereading of the texts and the exhortations. Afterward followed theritualistic general confession and prayer, during which all knelt. 

When at the close all arose Mrs. Stillwater was gone from her seat. Mr. Rockharrt looked around him and then stared at Cora, who very slightlyshook her head, as if to say:

"No; I know no more about it than you. "

How swiftly and silently Rose Stillwater had left the pew and slippedout of the church while all the congregation were bowed in prayer!

Old Aaron Rockharrt looked puzzled and troubled, but the minister waspronouncing the general absolution that followed the general confession, and such a severe martinet and disciplinarian as old Aaron Rockharrtwould on no account fail in attention to the speaker. 

Nor did he change countenance again during the long morning service. 

At its close he drew Cora's arm within his own and led her out of thechurch. 

As they walked down Broadway he inquired:

"Why did Mrs. Stillwater leave the church?"

"I do not know, " answered his granddaughter. 

"Was she ill?"

"I really do not know. "

"When did she go?"

"I do not know that either, except that she must have slipped out whilewe were at prayers. "

"You seem to be a perfect know-nothing, Cora. "

"On this subject I certainly am. I did not perceive Mrs. Stillwater'sabsence until we rose from our knees. "

"Well, we shall find her at the hotel, I suppose, and then we shall knowall about it. "

By this time they had reached the Blank House. 

They entered and went up into their parlor. 

Rose was not there. 

"Bless my soul, I hope the poor child is not ill. Go, Cora, and see ifshe is in her room, and find out what is the matter with her, " said oldAaron Rockharrt, as he dropped wearily into the big arm chair. 

Cora had just come from church, from hearing an eloquent sermon onChristian charity, so she was in one of her very best moods. 

She went at once into the bedroom occupied jointly by herself and hertraveling companion. She found Rose in a wrapper, with her hair down, lying on the outside of her bed. 

"Are you not well?" she inquired in a gentle tone. 

"No, dear; I have a very severe neuralgic headache. It takes all mystrength of mind and nerve to keep me from screaming under the pain, "answered Rose, in a faint and faltering voice. 

"I am very sorry. "

"It struck me--in the church--with the suddenness of a bullet--shotthrough my brain. "

"Indeed, I am very, very sorry. You should have told me. I would havecome out with you. "

"No, dear. I did not--wish to disturb--anybody. I slipped outnoiselessly--while all were kneeling. No one heard me--no one saw meexcept the sexton--who opened--the swing doors--silently to let mepass. "

"You should not have attempted to walk home alone in such a condition. It was not safe. But I am talking to you, when I should be aiding you, "said Cora; and she went to her dressing case and took from it a certainfamily specific for neuralgic headaches which had been in great favorwith her grandmother. This she poured into a glass, added a littlewater, and brought to the sufferer. 

"Put it on the stand by the bed, dear. I will take it presently. Thankyou very much, dear Cora. Now will you please close all the shutters andmake the room as dark as a vault--and shut me up in it--I shall go tosleep--and wake up relieved. The pain goes as suddenly as it comes, dear, " said Rose, still in a faint, faltering and hesitating voice. 

Cora did all her bidding, put the tassel of the bell cord in her reach, and softly left the room. 

The chamber was not as dark as a vault, however. Enough of light camethrough the slats of the shutters and the white lace curtains to enableRose to rise, take the medicine from the stand, cross the floor and pourit in the wash basin, under a spigot. Then she turned on the water towash it down the drain. Then she turned off the water and went back tobed--not to sleep--for she had too much need to think. 

Had the minister in that pulpit recognized her, as she had certainlyrecognized him? She hoped not. She believed not. As soon as she hadheard the voice--the voice that had been silent for her so manyyears--she had impulsively looked up. And she had seen him! A specterfrom the past--a specter from the grave! But his eyes were fixed uponthe book from which he was reading, and she quickly dropped her headbefore he could raise them. No; he had not seen her. But oh! if she hadheard his name before she had gone to hear him preach, nothing on earthwould ever have induced her to go into the church. But she had not heardhis name at all. She had heard of him only as the Dean of Olivet. He wasnot a dean in those far-off days when she saw him last; only a poorcurate of whose stinted household she had grown sick and tired. But hewas now Dean of Olivet! He had come to make a tour of the United States. Should she have the mischance to meet him again? Would he go up to WestPoint for the exercises at the military academy? But of course hewould! It was so convenient to do so. West Point was so near and easy tosee. The trip up the Hudson was so delightful at this season of theyear. And the dean was bound to see everything worth seeing. And whatwas better worth seeing by a foreigner than the exercises at ourcelebrated military academy? What should she do to avoid meeting, faceto face, this terrible phantom from the grave of her dead past?

She could make no excuse for remaining in New York while her party wentup to West Point--make no excuse, that is, which would not also maketrouble. And it was her policy never to do that. She thought and thoughtuntil she had nearly given herself the headache which before she hadonly feigned. At length she decided on this course: To go to West Pointwith her party, and as soon as they should arrive to get up a return ofher neuralgic headache, as her excuse for keeping her room at the hoteland absenting herself from the exercises at the academy. 

As soon as she had formed this resolution she got up, opened one of thewindows, washed and dressed herself and went out into the parlor. 

She entered softly. 

Old Aaron Rockharrt was sound asleep in his big arm chair. 

Cora was seated at the table engaged in reading. She arose to receivethe invalid. 

"Are you better? Are you sure you are able to be up?" she kindlyinquired. 

"Oh, yes, dear! Very much better! Well, indeed! When it goes, it goes, you know! But had we better not talk and disturb Mr. Rockharrt?"inquired Rose. 

"We cannot disturb him. He sleeps very soundly--too soundly, I think, and too much. "

"Do you know by what train we go to West Point to-morrow?"

"By the 7:30 a. M. So that we may arrive in good time for thecommencement. We must retire very early to-night, for we must be upbetimes in the morning. But sit down; you really look very languid, "said Cora, and taking the hand of her companion, she led her to the sofaand made her recline upon it. Then Cora resumed her own seat. 

"Thank you, darling, " cooed Rose. 

There was silence in the room for a few moments. Mr. Rockharrt slept on. Cora took up her book. Rose was the first to speak. 

"I wonder if the new lion, the Dean of Olivet, will go to West Pointto-morrow, " she said in a tone of seeming indifference. 

"Oh, yes! It is in all the papers. He is to be the guest of thechaplain, " replied Cora. 

"I wonder what train he will go by. "

"Oh, I don't know that. He may go by the night boat. "

"The Dean of Olivet would never travel on Sunday night. "

"But he might hold service and preach on the boat. "

"Oh, yes; so he might. "

"What on earth are you talking about? When will dinner be ready?"demanded old Aaron Rockharrt, waking up from his nap. Straighteninghimself up and looking around, he saw Rose Stillwater. 

"Oh, my dear, are you better of your headache?"

"Yes, thank you, Mr. Rockharrt. "

"You look pale, as if you had gone through a sharp siege, if a shortone. You should have told me in the pew, and allowed me to take youhere, not ventured out alone, when you were in such pain. "

"But I did not wish to attract the least attention, so I slipped outunperceived while everybody's heads were bent in prayer. "

"All very well, my dear; but pray don't venture on such a step again. Iam always at your service to attend you. Now, Cora, ring for dinner tobe served. It was ordered for five o'clock, I think, and it is fiveminutes past, " said Mr. Rockharrt, consulting his watch. 

Cora arose, but before she could reach the bell, the door was opened, and the waiter appeared to lay the cloth. 

After dinner the Iron King went into a little room attached to thesuite, which he used as a smoking den. 

The two young women settled themselves to read. 

They all retired at nine o'clock that night so as to rise very earlynext day. 

CHAPTER XV. 

AT THE ACADEMY. 

It was a splendid May morning. Our travelers were out of bed athalf-past four o'clock. The sun was just rising when they sat down totheir early breakfast. 

Mr. Rockharrt seemed stronger and brighter than he had been since hisarrival in New York. 

The Sabbath day's complete rest had certainly refreshed him. 

Immediately after breakfast they left the hotel, entered the carriagewhich had been engaged for them and drove to the Hudson River depot. 

"There's the dean!" exclaimed Mr. Rockharrt, as they entered the waitingroom. "He must be going on the same train with us. "

Rose Stillwater did not start or change color this time. She hadprepared herself for contingencies by taking a dose of morphine justbefore she left the hotel. But she drew her veil closely over her face, murmuring that the brightness of the sun hurt her eyes. 

Cora looked up and saw the tall, thin form of the church dignitarystanding with a group of gentlemen near the gate leading to the train. 

The waiting room was crowded; a multitude was moving toward West Point. 

"It is well I engaged our rooms a week ago, or we might not have foundaccommodations, " said Mr. Rockharrt, as he pressed with his party behindthe crowd. 

Among the group of gentlemen surrounding the dean, was a Wall Streetbroker with whom old Aaron Rockharrt had been doing business for thelast few days. 

This man was standing beside the dean, and both stood immediately infront of Mr. Rockharrt and his party. 

Presently the broker turned and saw the Iron King. 

"Oh, Mr. Rockharrt. Happy to meet you here. Going to the Point, aseverybody else is? Fine day. "

"Yes; a fine day, " responded the Iron King. 

At this moment the dean happened to turn his head. 

"You know the Dean of Olivet, of course, Mr. Rockharrt?"

"No; I have not that pleasure. "

"Let me present you. Dean of Olivet, Mr. Rockharrt. "

Both gentlemen bowed. 

The Iron King held out his hand. 

"Happy to welcome you to America, Dean. Went to hear you preachyesterday morning. One of the finest sermons I ever heard in my life, Ido assure you. "

The dean bowed very gravely. 

"Let me present you to my granddaughter, Mrs. Rothsay, " said the oldman. 

The dean bowed gravely to the young lady, who bent her head. 

"And to our friend, Mrs. Stillwater, " continued the old gentleman, waving his hand again. "Why, where is she? Why, Cora, where is Mrs. Stillwater?" demanded the Iron King in amazement. 

"I do not know. I have just missed her, " said the young lady. 

"Well, upon my soul! For the power of vanishing she excels all livingcreatures. Pray, Cora, does she carry a fairy cap in her pocket, and putit on when she wishes to make herself invisible?"

"I think, sir, that she has been pressed away from us in the crowd. Weshall find her when we get through the gate into more space. "

"Well, I hope so. "

"She is quite able to take care of herself, sir. Pray do not be alarmed. She will be sure to find us. "

"Well, I hope so. Yes; of course she will. "

At this moment the gates were opened. 

"Take my arm. Don't let me lose you in the crowd. I suppose Mrs. Stillwater cannot fail to join us. Oh! of course not! She knows thetrain, and there is but one. "

He drew Cora's hand close under his arm, and holding it tightly, followed the multitude through the gate, looking all around in search ofRose Stillwater. 

But she was nowhere to be seen. 

"She may have gotten ahead of us, and be on the train. Come on!" saidMr. Rockharrt, as he hurried his granddaughter along and pushed her uponthe platform. 

The cars were rapidly filling. 

Mr. Rockharrt seized upon four seats, in order to secure three. He putCora in one and told her to put her traveling bag on the other, to holdit for Mrs. Stillwater. Then he took possession of the seat in front ofher. 

"As soon as this crowd settles itself down and leaves something like afree passageway, I will go through the train and find Mrs. Stillwater. She is bound to be on board. She is no baby to lose herself, " said Mr. Rockharrt, and though his words were confident, his tone seemed anxious. 

The people all got seated at last and the long train moved. 

Mr. Rockharrt left his seat, and stooping over his granddaughter, hewhispered:

"I am going now to look for Mrs. Stillwater and fetch her here. "

He passed slowly down the car, looking from side to side, and then outthrough the back door to the rear cars, and so out of Cora's sight. 

He was gone about fifteen minutes. At the end of that time hereappeared, and came up the car and stopped to speak to Cora: "She isnot in any of the rear cars. I am going forward to look for her. Thiscomes of traveling in a crowd. "

He went on as before, looking carefully from side to side, passed out ofthe front door and again out of Cora's sight. This time he was gonetwenty minutes. When he come back his face wore an expression of thegreatest anxiety. 

"She is not on the train. She has been left behind! Foolish woman, tolet herself be separated from us in this stupid way!" testily exclaimedthe Iron King, as he dropped himself heavily into his seat. 

"What can be done?" exclaimed Cora, now seriously uneasy about herunwelcome companion, because she feared that Rose might have been seizedwith one of her sharp and sudden headaches and had stepped away fromthem as she had done in the church. 

"I hope she has had the presence of mind, on finding herself left, toreturn to the hotel and wait for the next train. This is the express, and does not stop until we reach Garrison's. But when we get there Iwill telegraph to her and tell her what train to take. It is all aninfernal nuisance--this being jostled about by a crowd. "

Cora was consulting a time table. She looked up from it and said:

"It will all come right, sir. There is another train at half-past eight. If she should take that, she will reach West Point in full time for theopening of the exercises. We started unnecessarily early. "

"I always take time by the forelock, Cora. That habit is one of thefactors of my success in life. "

The express train flew on, and in due time reached Garrison's, oppositeWest Point. The ferry boat was waiting for the train. As soon as itstopped, Mr. Rockharrt handed his granddaughter out. The otherpassengers followed, and made a rush for the boat. 

"Let it go, Cora. We must take time to telegraph to Mrs. Stillwater, andwe can wait for the next trip, " said Mr. Rockharrt, still keeping a firmgrip on his granddaughter's arm, lest through woman's inherent stupidityshe should also lose herself, as he marched her off to the telegraphwindow of the station. 

The telegram, a very long-winded one, was sent. Then they sat down towait for the coming boat, which crossed the going one about midstream, and approached rapidly. 

In a few minutes they were on board and steaming across the river. 

They reached the opposite bank, and Mr. Rockharrt led his granddaughterout, and placed her in the carriage he had engaged by telegraph to meetthem, for carriages would be in very great demand, he knew. 

They drove up to the hotel in which he had taken rooms. Here they wentinto their parlor to rest and to wait for an answer to the telegram. 

"It is no use going over to the academy now. We could not get sight ofSylvan. The rules and regulations of the military school are as strictand immutable as the laws of the Medes and Persians, " said old AaronRockharrt, as he dropped heavily into a great armchair, leaned back andpresently fell asleep. 

Cora never liked to see him fall into these sudden deep slumbers. Shefeared that they were signs of physical decay. 

She sat at a front window, which, from the elevated point upon which thehotel stood, looked down upon the brilliant scene below, where crowds ofhandsomely dressed ladies were walking about the beautiful grounds. Shesat watching them some time, and until she saw the tide of strollersturning from all points, and setting in one direction--toward theacademy. 

Then she glanced at her grandfather. Oh! how old and worn he looked whenhe lost control of himself in sleep. She touched him lightly. He openedhis eyes. 

"What is it? Has the telegram come from Mrs. Stillwater?" he inquired. 

"No, sir; but the visitors are pouring into the academy, and I amafraid, if we do not go over at once, we shall not be able to find aseat, " said Cora. 

"Oh, yes, we shall. Strange we do not get an answer from Mrs. Stillwater, " said the old man anxiously, as he slowly arose and began todraw on his gloves and looked for his hat. 

Cora went and found it and gave it to him. 

Then she put on her bonnet. 

Then they went down together, crossed the grounds, and entered thegreat hall, which was densely crowded. Good seats had been reserved forthem, and they found themselves seated next the Dean of Olivet on Cora'sright and the Wall street broker on Mr. Rockharrt's left. 

I do not mean to trouble my readers with any description of this by-goneexhibition. They can read a full account of such every season in everymorning paper. Merely to say that it was late in the afternoon when theexercises were over for the day. 

Mr. Rockharrt and Cora Rothsay returned to the hotel to a very latedinner. 

The first question that the Iron King asked was whether any telegram hadcome for him. He was told that there was none. 

"It is very strange. She could not have received mine, " he said, and hewent directly to the telegraph office of the hotel and dispatched a longmessage to the clerk of the Blank House, telling him of how Mrs. Stillwater had been separated from her party by the pressure of thecrowd, and how she had thereby missed their train, and inquiring whethershe had returned to the hotel, whether she had got his message, and ifshe were well. Any news of her, or from her, was anxiously expected byher friends. 

Having sent off this dispatch, Mr. Rockharrt went in to dinner. Thedinner was long. The courses were many. Mr. Rockharrt and hisgranddaughter were still at table when the following telegram was placedin his hands:

 BLANK HOUSE, New York, May, 18--

 Mrs. Stillwater is not here, and has not been seen by any of our people since she left the house with your party for the Hudson River Railway depot. We have made inquiries, but have no news. 

 M. MARTIN. 

CHAPTER XVI. 

THE SEARCH. 

"This is intolerable, " muttered old Aaron Rockharrt, in a tone as whoshould say: "How dare Fate set herself to baffle ME?"

He then took tablets and pencil from his pocket and wrote the followingtelegram:

 COZZENS HOTEL, WEST POINT, May ----, 18--

 To M. MARTIN, ESQ. , Blank House, New York City:

 Just received your dispatch. There has been foul play. Report the case at police headquarters. Set private detective on the track of the missing lady. Last seen at the gate of the Hudson River Railway depot, waiting for 7:30 a. M. Train for West Point yesterday morning, but not seen on train. Give me prompt notice of any news. 

 AARON ROCKHARRT. 

He beckoned a waiter and sent the message to be dispatched from theoffice of the hotel. 

Then he set himself to finish his dinner. 

After dinner he went out on the piazza. 

Cora followed him. There was quite a number of people out there, seeingwhom, he walked out upon the open grounds. 

"May I come with you, grandfather?" inquired Cora. 

"If you like, " was the short answer. 

As they walked on he said:

"I think it possible that Mrs. Stillwater, after missing our train, leftfor North End. "

"Yes, it is possible, " assented Cora. 

No more was said. They walked on for half an hour and then returned tothe hotel and bade each other good night. 

The next morning they met in the parlor. 

Old Aaron Rockharrt was reading a New York morning paper. Cora went upand bade him good morning. 

He merely nodded and went on reading. Presently he burst out with:

"By ----! This must be Mrs. Stillwater!"

"Who? What?" eagerly inquired Cora, going to his side. 

"Here! Read!" exclaimed the Iron King, handing her the sheet andpointing out the paragraph. 

Cora took the paper with trembling hands and read as follows:

 "A MYSTERY. --Yesterday morning at six o'clock an unknown young woman of about twenty-five or thirty years of age, of medium height, plump form, fair complexion and yellow hair, clothed in a rich suit of widow's mourning, was found in a state of coma in the ladies' dressing room of the Hudson River Railway station. She was taken to St. L----'s Hospital. There was nothing on her person to reveal her name or address. "

"That must have been Mrs. Stillwater, " said old Aaron Rockharrt. 

"I think there is no question of it, " replied Cora. 

"No doubt the poor child was suddenly seized with one of her terribleneuralgic headaches, caused by the pressure of that infernal crowd atthe gate, and she stole away, as before, lest she should disturb us andprevent our journey; the most self-sacrificing creature I ever met. Nodoubt she meant to telegraph to us, but was prevented by the suddenreaction from agony to stupor. Ah! I hope it is not a fatal stupor. "

"I hope not, sir. "

"Cora!"

"Yes, sir. "

"We must leave for New York by the next train. If Sylvanus is not freeto go with us, he can follow us. Come, let us go down and get somebreakfast. "

Cora arose and went with her grandfather down to the breakfast room. 

When they had taken their places at one of the tables and given theirorders to one of the waiters, old Aaron Rockharrt drew a time table fromhis pocket and consulted it. 

"There is a down train stops at Garrison's at 10:50. We will take that. "

As soon as they had breakfasted, and as they were leaving the table, another telegram was handed to Mr. Rockharrt. He opened it and read asfollows:

 BLANK HOUSE, New York, May ----, 18--

 The missing lady is in St. L----'s Hospital. 

 M. MARTIN. 

"It is true, then! true as we surmised. Mrs. Stillwater was the unknownlady found unconscious in the dressing room of the Hudson River Railroadand taken to St. L----'s. Cora!"

"Yes, sir. "

"Go and pack our effects immedately. I will go down and settle the billand leave a letter of explanation for Sylvanus. Get your bonnet on andbe ready. The carriage will be at the door in twenty minutes. "

Cora hurried off to her room and to her grandfather's room, whichadjoined hers, to prepare for the sudden journey. She quickly packed andlabeled their traveling bags, and rang for a porter to take them downstairs. 

Then she put on her bonnet and duster and went down and joined hergrandfather in the parlor. 

"Come, " he said, "the carriage is at the door and our traps on the box. I have written to Sylvanus, telling him to join us at the Blank House, where we will wait for him. "

He turned abruptly and went out, followed by Cora. 

They entered the waiting carriage and were rapidly driven down to theferry. 

The boat was at the wharf. They alighted from the carriage and went onboard. 

Old Aaron Rockharrt's hot haste did not avail them much. The boatremained at the wharf for ten minutes, during which the Iron Kingsecretly fumed and fretted. 

"Does this boat connect with the 10:50 train for New York?" he inquired. 

"Yes, sir, " was the answer. 

"Then you will miss it. "

"Oh, no, sir. "

The five remaining minutes seemed hours, but they passed at length andthe boat left the shore, and old Aaron Rockharrt walked up and down thedeck impatiently. 

As they neared the other side the whistle of a down train was heardapproaching. 

"There! I said you would miss it!" exclaimed the Iron King. 

"That train does not stop here, sir, " was the good humored answer. 

The boat touched the wharf at Garrison's, and the passengers got off. 

Old Aaron Rockharrt led his granddaughter up to the platform to wait forthe train; but no train was in sight or hearing. 

Mr. Rockharrt looked at his watch. 

"After all, we have seven minutes to wait, " he growled, as if time andtide were much in fault at not being at his beck and call. 

"Had we not better go into the waiting room?" suggested Cora. 

"No, we will stand here, " replied the Iron King, who on generalprinciples never acted upon a suggestion. 

So there they stood--the old man growling at intervals as he looked upthe road; Cora gazing out upon the fine scenery of river and mountain. 

Presently the whirr of the coming train was heard. In a minute more itrushed into the station and stopped. There were no other down passengersexcept Mr. Rockharrt and Mrs. Rothsay. 

He handed her up, and took her to a seat. The car was not half full. Thetide of travel was northward, not southward at this season. 

They were scarcely seated when the train started again. They reached NewYork just before noon. 

"Carriage, sir? Carriage, ma'am? Carriage? Carriage? Carriage?" screameda score of hackmen's voices, as the passengers came out on the sidewalk. 

Mr. Rockharrt beckoned the best-looking turnout and handed hisgranddaughter into it. 

"Drive to St. L----'s Hospital, " he said. 

The hackman touched his hat and drove off. In less than fifteen minuteshe drew up before the front of St. L----'s. 

The hackman jumped down, went up and rang the bell. Then he came back tothe carriage and opened the door. 

Mr. Rockharrt got out, followed by his granddaughter. 

"Wait here!" he said to the hackman, as he went to the door, which waspromptly opened by an attendant. 

"I wish to see the physician in charge here, or the head of thehospital, or whatever may be his official title, " said the Iron King. 

"You mean the Rev. Dr. ----"

"Yes, yes; take him my card. "

"Walk in the parlor, sir. "

The attendant conducted the party into a spacious, plainly furnishedreception or waiting room, saw them seated, and then took away Mr. Rockharrt's card. 

A few minutes passed, and a tall, white haired, venerable form, clothedin a long black coat and a round skull cap, entered the room, lookingfrom side to side for his visitor. 

Mr. Rockharrt got up and went to meet him. 

"Mr. Rockharrt, of North End?" courteously inquired the venerable man. 

"The same. Dr. ----, I presume. "

"Yes, sir. Pray be seated. And this lady?" inquired the venerabledoctor, courteously turning toward Cora. 

"Oh--my granddaughter, Mrs. Rothsay. "

The aged man shook hands kindly with Cora, and then turned to Mr. Rockharrt, as if silently questioning his will. 

"I came to inquire about the lady who was found in an unconscious stateat the Hudson River Railway depot. How is she?" The old man's anxietybetrayed itself even through his deliberate words. 

"She is better. You know the lady?"

"More than know her--have been intimate with her for many years. She isour guest and traveling companion. She got separated from us in thecrowd which was pressing through the railway gate to take the trainyesterday morning. I surely thought when I missed her that she had foundher way to some car. But it appears that she was seized with vertigo, orsomething, and so missed the train. "

"Yes; a lady, one of our regular visitors, found her there, byProvidence, in a state of deep stupor, and being unable to discover herfriends, or name, or address, put her in a carriage and brought herdirectly here. "

"She is better, you say? I wish to see her and take her back to ourapartments, " said Mr. Rockharrt. 

"I will send for one of the nurses to take you to her room. You willexcuse me. I am momentarily expecting the Dean of Olivet, who is on avisit to our city, and comes to-day to go through the hospital, " saidthe doctor, and he rang a bell. 

"The dean here? Why, I thought we left him at West Point, " said Mr. Rockharrt. 

"He came down by a late train last night, I understand. He makes but aflying tour through the country, and cannot stay at any one place, " thevenerable doctor explained. And then he touched the bell again. 

The same man who had let our party in came to the door to answer thecall. 

"Say to Sister Susannah that I would like to see her here, " said thedoctor. 

The man went out and was presently succeeded by a sweet faced, middleaged woman in a black dress and a neat white cap. 

"Here are the friends of the young lady who was brought in yesterdaymorning. Will you please to take them to the bedside of your patient?"

The Protestant sister nodded pleasantly and led off the visitors. 

As they went up the main staircase they heard the front door bell ring, the door opened, and the Dean of Olivet, with some gentlemen in hiscompany, entered the hall. 

Our party, after one glance, passed up the stairs, through an upper halland a corridor, and paused before a door which Sister Susannah opened. 

They entered a small, clean, neat room, where, clothed in a whitewrapper, reclining in a white easy chair, beside a white curtainedwindow, and near a white bed, sat Rose Stillwater. She was looking, notonly pale, but sallow--as she had never looked before. 

Rose Stillwater held out one hand to Mr. Rockharrt and one to CoraRothsay, in silence and with a faint smile. 

The sister, seeing this recognition, set two cane bottomed chairs forthe visitors and then went out, leaving them alone with the patient. 

"Good Lord, my dear, how did all this come about?" inquired old AaronRockharrt, as he sank heavily upon one of the chairs, making it creakunder him. 

"It was while we stood in the crowd. I was pressed almost out of breath. Then the terrible pang shot through my head, and I ceased to struggleand let everybody pass before me. I dropped down on one of the benches. I had taken a morphia pellet before I left the hotel. I had the medicinein my pocket. I took another then--"

"Very wrong, my dear. Very wrong, my dear, to meddle with that drug, without the advice of a physician. "

"Yes; I know it now, but I did not know it then. The second pelletstopped my headache, and I went to the ladies' dressing room to recovermyself a little, so as to be able to write a telegram saying that Iwould follow you by the next train, but there a stupor came over me, andI knew no more until I awoke late last night and found myself here. "

"How perilous, my child! In that stupor you might have been robbed orkidnapped by persons who might have pretended to be your relations andcarried you off and murdered you for your clothing, " said old AaronRockharrt, unconscious in his native rudeness that he was frighteningand torturing a very nervous invalid. 

"But, " urged Rose--who had grown paler at the picture conjuredup--"providentially I was found by the kind lady who sent or ratherbrought me here, and even caused me to be put in this room instead of ina ward. Sister Susannah explained this to me as soon as I was able tomake inquiries. "

"Now, my dear, do you feel able to go back with us to the Blank House, where we are now again staying and waiting for Sylvanus to join us?"

"Oh, yes; I shall be glad to go, though all here are most tender andaffectionate to me. But I would like to see and thank the doctor for allhis goodness. How like the ideal of the beloved apostle he seems tome--so mild, so tender, so reverend. "

"I think you cannot wait for that to-day, my dear. The reverend doctoris engaged with the Dean of Olivet, who is going through the hospital. "

Rose Stillwater's face blanched. 

"Will they--will they--will they--come into this room?"

"Of course not! And if they should, you are up and in your chair. And ifyou were not, they are a party of ministers of the gospel and medicaldoctors, and you would not mind if they should see you in bed. You are anervous child to be so easily alarmed. It is the effect of the reactionfrom your stupor, " said Mr. Rockharrt. 

"I will go with you, however, if I may, " said Rose Stillwater, touchingthe hand bell, that soon brought an attendant into the room. 

"Will you ask Sister Susannah, please, to come to me?" said Mrs. Stillwater. 

The attendant went out and was soon succeeded by the sister. 

"My friends wish to take me away, and I feel quite able to go withthem--in a carriage. Will you please find the doctor and ask him?"inquired Mrs. Stillwater. 

The sister smiled assent and went out. 

Soon the venerable man entered the room. 

"I hope I find you better, my child, " he said, coming to the easy chairin which sat and reclined the patient. 

"Very much better, thank you, sir; so much that I feel quite able to goout with my friends, if I may. "

"Certainly, my child, if you like. "

"I hope I have not detained you from your friends, " said Rose. 

"No. I left the dean in conversation with an English patient from hisold parish. It was an accidental meeting, but a most interesting one. "

"Does--the dean--contemplate a long stay in the city?" Rose forcedherself to ask. 

"Oh, no; he leaves to-night by one of the Sound steamers for Boston andNewport. His English temperament feels the heat of the city even morethan we do. "

Rose felt it in her heart to wish that the climate might "burn as anoven, " if it should drive the British dean away. 

"But I must not leave my visitors longer. So if you will excuse me, sir, " he said, turning to Mr. Rockharrt, "I will take leave of mypatient and her friends here. "

He shook hands all around, receiving the warm thanks of the whole party. 

When the venerable doctor left the room, Mr. Rockharrt withdrew to thecorridor to give the nurse an opportunity to dress the convalescent forher journey. 

He walked up and down the corridor for a few minutes, at the end ofwhich Rose Stillwater came out dressed for her drive, and leaning on thearm of Cora Rothsay. 

Mr. Rockharrt hastened to meet her, and took her off Cora's hands, anddrew her arm within his own. 

So they went down stairs and entered the carriage that was waiting forthem. 

A drive of fifteen minutes brought them to the Blank House. 

"Grandfather, " said Cora, as they alighted and went into the house, Roseleaning on Mr. Rockharrt's arm--"Grandfather, I think, now that the rushof travelers have passed northward, you may be able to get me anotherroom. In Mrs. Stillwater's nervous condition it cannot be agreeable toher to have the disturbance of a room-mate. "

"What do you say, my child?" inquired Mr. Rockharrt of his guest. 

"Sweet Cora never could disturb me under any circumstances, but itcannot be good for her to room with such a nervous creature as I am justat present, " replied Rose. 

"Umph! It appears to me that you two women wish to have separate roomseach only for the welfare of the other. Well, you shall have them. TakeMrs. Stillwater up stairs, Cora, while I step into the office, " said Mr. Rockharrt. 

Cora drew the convalescent's arm within her own, and helped her to climbthe easy flight of stairs, and took her into the parlor, where they werepresently joined by the Iron King. 

"I have also engaged a private sitting room, so that we need not go downto the public table, and dinner will be laid for us there in a fewminutes. You need not lay off your wraps until you go there; and ifthere is any special dish that you would particularly like, my dear, Ihope you will order it at once. Come. " And he offered his arm to Mrs. Stillwater, to whom, indeed, he had addressed all his remarks. 

He led her from the public parlor, followed by his granddaughter. Thelittle sitting room which Mr. Rockharrt had been able to engage was justacross the hall. 

On entering they found the table laid for a party of three. 

Neither Mr. Rockharrt nor Cora had broken fast since their earlybreakfast at West Point. The old gentleman was very hungry. 

Dinner was soon served, and two of the party did full justice to thegood things set before them; but Rose Stillwater could touch nothing. She had not recovered her appetite since her overdose of morphia. Invain her host recommended this or that dish, for the more appetizing theflavor, the more she detested them. 

At last when dinner was over, Mr. Rockharrt recommended her to retire torest. She readily took his advice and bade him good night. 

Cora volunteered to see their guest to her chamber. 

"You will look at both rooms, Mrs. Stillwater, and take your choicebetween them, " she said, as she led the guest into the new chamberengaged for one of the ladies. 

"Oh, my dear Cora, I do not care where I drop myself down, so that I getrest and sleep. Oh, Cora! I have been so frightened! Suppose I had diedin that opium sleep!" exclaimed Mrs. Stillwater, speaking frankly for atleast once in her life. 

"You should not have tampered with such a dangerous drug, " said Mrs. Rothsay. 

"Oh, I took it to stop the maddening pain that seemed to be killing me, "exclaimed Rose Stillwater, as she let herself drop into an easy chair;not speaking frankly this time, for she had taken the morphia to quiether nerves, and enable her to decide upon some course by which she mightavoid meeting with the Dean of Olivet again, and some excuse forwithdrawing herself so suddenly from her traveling party. 

"So you will remain here?" inquired Cora. 

"Oh, yes. I would remain anywhere sooner than move another step. "

"Then I will help to get you to bed. Where is your bag?"

"Bag? Bag? I--I don't know! I have not seen it since I fell into thatstupor! It must be at the depot or at the hospital. "

"Then I will get you a night dress, " said Cora. 

And then she ran off to her own room, and soon returned with a whitecambric gown, richly trimmed with lace. 

When she had prepared her guest for bed, and put her into it, shelowered the gas and left her to repose. Then she went to her own room, satisfied to be alone with her memories once more. Soon after she heardthe slow and heavy steps of her grandfather as he passed into his room. 

CHAPTER XVII. 

"A MAD MARRIAGE, MY MASTERS. "

When the party met at a late breakfast the next morning, Mrs. Stillwaterseemed to have quite recovered her health, and what was still better, inher opinion, her complexion. She was once again a delicately bloomingrose. They were still at breakfast when Sylvanus Haught burst in uponthem, bowed to his grandfather, bowed to Rose Stillwater, and seizedCora Rothsay around the neck and covered her with kisses, all in aminute and before he spoke a word. Old Aaron Rockharrt glared at him. Rose Stillwater smiled on him. But Cora Rothsay put her arms around hisneck and kissed him with tears of pleased affection. 

"Well, sir! You have got through, " said the Iron King with dignifiedgravity. 

"Yes, sir, got through, 'by the skin of my teeth, ' as I might say! Andgot leave of absence, waiting my commission. Hurrah, Cora! Hurrah, theRose that all admire! I shall be your cavalier for the next three monthsat least, and until they send me out to Fort Devil's Icy Peak, to bekilled and scalped by the redskins!" exclaimed the new fledged soldier, throwing up his cap. 

"Will you have the goodness to remember where you are, sir, and endeavorto conduct yourself with some manner approximating toward propriety?"demanded Mr. Rockharrt, with solemn dignity. 

"I beg your pardon, grandfather! I beg your pardon, ladies, " saidSylvanus, assuming so sudden and profound a gravity as to inspire asuspicion of irony in the minds of the two women. 

But old Aaron Rockharrt understood only an humble and suitable apology. 

"Have you breakfasted?" he inquired in a modified tone. 

"No, sir; and I am as hungry as a wolf--I mean I took the first traindown this morning without waiting for breakfast. "

The Iron King, whose glare had cut short the first half of the youngman's reply, now rang, and when the waiter appeared, gave the necessaryorders. 

And soon Sylvanus was seated at the table, sharing the morning meal ofhis family. 

"Now that my brother has joined us shall we leave for North End to-day, grandfather?" inquired Cora, as they all arose from breakfast. 

"No; nor need you make any suggestions of the sort. When I am ready togo home, I will tell you. I have business to transact before I leave NewYork, " gruffly replied the family bear. 

Rose Stillwater took up one of the morning papers and ran her eyes downcolumn after column, over page after page. Presently she came to theitem she was so anxiously looking for:

"The Very Reverend the Dean of Olivet left the city last evening by thesteamer Nighthawk for Boston. "

With a sigh of relief she laid the paper down. 

Mr. Rockharrt came and sat down beside her on the sofa, and began tospeak to her in a low voice. 

Sylvan, sitting by Cora at the other end of the apartment, began to tellall about the exercises at West Point which she had missed. His voice, though not loud, was clear and lively, and quite drowned the sound ofMr. Rockharrt and Mrs. Stillwater's words, which Cora could see wereearnest and important. At last Rose got up in some agitation and hurriedout of the room. Then old Aaron Rockharrt came up to the young peopleand stood before them. There was something so ominous in his attitudeand expression that his two grandchildren looked dismayed even before hespoke. 

"Sir and madam, " he said, addressing the young creatures as if they weredignitaries of the church or state, "I have to inform you that I amabout to marry Mrs. Stillwater. The ceremony will be performed at thechurch to-morrow noon. I shall expect you both to attend us there aswitnesses. "

Saying which the Iron King arose and strode out of the room. 

The sister and brother lifted their eyes, and might have stared eachother out of countenance in their silent, unutterable consternation. 

Sylvan was the first to find his voice. 

"Cora! It is an outrage! It is worse! It is an infamy!" he exclaimed, asthe blood rushed to his face and crimsoned it. 

Cora said never a word, but burst into tears and sobbed aloud. 

"Cora! don't cry! You have me now! Oh! the old man is certainly mad, andought to be looked after. Cora, darling, don't take it so to heart! Athis age, too; seventy-seven! He'll make himself the laughing stock ofthe world! Oh, Cora, don't grieve so! It does not matter after all! Sucha disgrace to the family! Oh, come now, you know, Cora! this is not theway to welcome a fellow home! For any old man to make such a--Oh, I say, Cora! come out of that now! If you don't, I swear I will take my hat andgo out to get a drink!"

"Oh, don't! don't!" gasped his sister; "don't you lend a hand tobreaking my heart. "

"Well, I won't, darling, if you'll only come out of that! It is notworth so much grief. "

"I will--stop--as soon as--I can!" sobbed the young woman, "but when Ithink--of his reverent gray hairs--brought to such dishonor--by a mereadventuress--and we--so powerless--to prevent it, I feel as if--I shoulddie. "

"Oh, nonsense; you look at it too gravely. Besides, old men have marriedbeautiful young women before now!" said Sylvan, troubled by his sister'sgrief, and tacking around in his opinions as deftly as ever did anyother politician. 

"Yes, and got themselves laughed at and ridiculed for their folly!"sighed Cora, who had ceased to sob. 

"Behind their backs, and that did not hurt them one bit. "

"Oh, if Uncle Fabian were only here!"

"Why, what could he do to prevent the marriage?"

"I do not know. But I know this, that if any man could prevent thisdegradation, he would be Uncle Fabian! It would be no use, I fear, totelegraph to Clarence!"

"Clarence!" said Sylvanus with a laugh, "Why he has no more influencewith the Iron King than I have. His father calls him an idiot--and hecertainly is weakly amiable. He would back his father in anything theold man had set his heart upon. But, Cora, listen here, my dear! You andI are free at present. We need not countenance this marriage by ourpresence. I, your brother, can take you to another hotel, or take youoff to Saratoga, where we can stay until I get my orders, and then youcan go out with me wherever I go. There! the Devil's Icy Peak itselfwill be a holier home than Rockhold, for you. "

Cora had become quite calm by this time, and she answered quietly:

"No; you misapprehend me, Sylvan. It was not from indignation orresentment that I cried, and not at all for myself. I grieved for him, the spellbound old man! No, Sylvanus; since we feel assured that nopower of ours, no power on earth, can turn him from his purpose, we mustdo our duty by him. We must refrain from giving him pain or making himangry; for his own poor old sake, we must do this! Sylvan, I must attendhis bride to the altar; and you must attend him--as he desired us todo. "

"'Desired!' by Jove, I think he commanded! I do not remember ever tohave heard his Majesty the King of the Cumberland Mines request anybodyto do anything in the whole course of his life. He always ordered him todo it! Well, Cora, dear, I will be 'best' man to the bridegroom, sinceyou say so! I have always obeyed you, Cora. Ah! you have trained me forthe model of an obedient husband for some girl, Cora! Now, I am goingdown stairs to smoke a cigar. You don't object to that, I hope, Mrs. Rothsay?" lightly inquired the youth as he sauntered out of the room. 

He had just closed the door when Mrs. Stillwater entered. 

She came in very softly, crossed the room, sat down on the sofa besideCora, and slipped her arm around the lady's waist, purring and cooing:

"I have been waiting to find you alone, dearest. I just heard yourbrother go down stairs. Mr. Rockharrt has told you, dear?"

"Yes; he has told me. Take your arms away from me, if you please, Mrs. Stillwater, and pray do not touch me again, " quietly replied the younglady, gently withdrawing herself from the siren's close embrace. 

"You are displeased with me. Can you not forgive me, then?" pleadedRose, withdrawing her arms, but fixing her soft blue eyes pleadinglyupon the lady's face. 

"You have given me no personal offense, Mrs. Stillwater. "

"Cora, dear--" began Rose. 

"Mrs. Rothsay, if you please, " said Cora, in a quiet tone. 

"Mrs. Rothsay, then, " amended Rose, in a calm voice, as if determinednot to take offense--"Mrs. Rothsay, allow me to explain how all thiscame to pass. I have always, from the time I first lived in his house, felt a profound respect and affection for your grandfather--"

"Mr. Rockharrt, if you please, " said Cora. 

"For Mr. Rockharrt, then, as well as for his sainted wife, the late Mrs. Rockharrt. I--"

"Madam!" interrupted Cora. "Is there nothing too holy to be profaned byyour lips? You should at least have the good taste to leave that lady'ssacred memory alone. "

"Certainly, if you wish; but she was a good friend to me, and I servedher with a daughter's love and devotion. In my last visit to Rockhold Ialso served Mr. Rockharrt more zealously than ever, because, indeed, heneeded such affectionate service more than before. He has grown so muchaccustomed to my services that they now seem vitally necessary to him. But, of course, I cannot take care of him day and night, in parlor andchamber, unless I become his wife--'the Abisheg of his age. ' And so, Cora, dear--I beg pardon--Mrs. Rothsay, I have yielded to his pleadingsand consented to marry him. "

"Mr. Rockharrt has already told me so, " coldly replied Cora. 

"And, dear, I wish to add this--that the marriage need make nodifference in our domestic relations at Rockhold. "

"I do not understand you. "

"I mean in the family circle. "

"Oh! thank you!" said Cora, with the nearest approach to a sneer thatever she made. "I have heard all you have to say, Mrs. Stillwater, andnow I have to reply--First, that I give you no credit for any respect oraffection that you may profess for Mr. Rockharrt, or for disinterestedmotives in marrying the aged millionaire. "

"Oh, Cora--Mrs. Rothsay!"

"I will say no more on that point. Mr. Rockharrt is old and worn withmany business cares. I would not willingly pain or anger him. Therefore, because he wills it, for his sake, not for yours, I will attend you tothe altar. Also, if he should desire me to do so, I shall remain atRockhold until the return of Mr. Fabian Rockharrt. "

At the sound of this name Rose Stillwater winced and shivered. 

"Then, knowing that his favorite son will be near him, I shall leave himwith the freer heart and go away with my brother, withersoever he may besent. Mr. Fabian is expected to return within a few weeks, and willprobably be here long before my brother receives his orders. Now, Mrs. Stillwater, I think all has been said between us, and you will pleaseexcuse my leaving you, " said Cora, as she arose and withdrew from theroom. 

Then Rose Stillwater lost her self-command. Her blue eyes blazed, sheset her teeth, she doubled her fist, and shaking it after the vanishedform of the lady, she hissed:

"Very well, proud madam! I'll pay you for all this! You shall nevertouch one cent of old Aaron Rockharrt's millions!"

Having launched this threat, she got up and went to her room. Tenminutes later she drove out in a carriage alone. She did not return toluncheon. Neither did Mr. Rockharrt, who had gone down to Wall Street. Sylvan and Cora lunched alone, and spent the afternoon together in theparlor, for they had much to say to each other after their longseparation, and much also to say of the impending marriage. During thatafternoon many packages and bandboxes came by vans, directed to Mrs. Rose Stillwater. These were sent to her apartment. At dusk Mrs. Stillwater returned and went directly to her room. She probably did notcare to face the brother and sister together, unsupported by theirgrandfather. A few minutes later Mr. Rockharrt came in, looking moodyand defiant, as if quite conscious of the absurdity of his position, orready to crush any one who betrayed the slightest, sense of humor. Thendinner was served, and Rose Stillwater came out of her room and enteredthe parlor--a vision of loveliness--her widow's weeds all gone, herdress a violet brocaded satin, with fine lace berthe and sleevetrimmings, white throat and white arms encircled with pearl necklace andbracelets; golden red hair dressed high and adorned with a pearl comb. She came in smiling and took her place at the table. 

Old Aaron Rockharrt looked up at her in surprise and not altogether withpleasure. Rose Stillwater, seeing his expression of countenance, got anew insight into the mind of the old man whom she had thought she knewso well. During dinner, to cover the embarrassment which covered eachmember of the small party, Sylvan began to talk of the cadets' ball atWest Point on the preceding evening; the distinguished men who werepresent, the pretty girls with whom he had danced, the best waltzers, and so forth, and then the mischievous scamp added:

"But there wasn't a brunette present as handsome as my sister Cora, nora blonde as beautiful as my own grandmamma-elect. "

When they all left the table, Mrs. Stillwater went to her room, and Mr. Rockharrt took occasion to say:

"I wish you both to understand the programme for to-morrow. There is tobe no fuss, no wedding breakfast, no nonsense whatever. "

Sylvan thought to himself that the marriage alone was nonsense enough tostand by itself, like a velvet dress, which is spoiled by additions; buthe said nothing. Mr. Rockharrt, standing on the rug with his back to themantlepiece and his hands clasped behind him, continued:

"Sylvan, you will wear a morning suit; Cora, you will wear a visitingcostume, just what you would wear to an ordinary church service. Rosewill be married in her traveling dress. Immediately after the ceremonywe, myself and wife, shall enter a carriage and drive to the railwaydepot and take the train for Niagara. You two can return here or go toRockhold or wherever you will. We shall make a short tour of the Falls, lakes, St. Lawrence River, and so on, and probably return to Rockhold bythe first of July. I cannot remain long from the works while Fabian isaway. Now, am I clearly understood?"

"Very clearly, sir, " replied Sylvan, speaking for himself and sister. 

"Then, good night; I am going to bed, " said the Iron King, and withoutwaiting for a response, he strode out of the room. 

"Who ever heard of a man dictating to a woman what she shall wear?"exclaimed Cora. 

Sylvan laughed. 

"Why, the King of the Cumberland mines would dictate when you shouldrise from your seat and walk across the room; when you should sit downagain; when you should look out of the window, and every movement ofyour life, if it were not too much trouble. Good night, Cora. "

The brother and sister shook hands and parted for the night, each goingto his or her respective apartment. Early the next morning the littleparty met at breakfast. The Iron King looked sullen and defiant, as ifhe were challenging the whole world to find any objection to hisremarkable marriage at their peril. Mrs. Stillwater, in a pretty morningrobe of pale blue sarcenet, made very plainly, looked shy, humble, anddeprecating, as if begging from all present a charitable construction ofher motives and actions. Cora Rothsay looked calm and cold in her usualwidow's dress and cap. 

Sylvan seemed the only cheerful member of the party, and tried to makeconversation out of such trifles as the bill of fare furnished. All wererelieved when the party separated and went to their rooms to dress forchurch. At eleven o'clock they reassembled in the parlor. Mr. Rockharrtwore a new morning suit. He might have been going down to Wall Streetinstead of to his own wedding. Rose Stillwater wore a navy blue, lusterless silk traveling dress, with hat, veil and gloves to match, allvery plain, but extremely becoming to her fresh complexion and ruddyhair. Cora wore her widow's dress of lusterless black silk with mantle, bonnet, veil and gloves to match. Sylvan, like his grandfather, wore aplain morning suit. 

"Well, are you all ready?" demanded old Aaron, looking critically uponthe party. 

"All ready, sir, " chirped Sylvan for the others. 

"Come, then. "

And the aged bridegroom drew the arm of his bride-elect within his ownand led the way down stairs and out to the handsome carriage that stoodwaiting. 

He handed her in, put her on the back seat and placed himself besideher. 

Sylvan helped his sister into the carriage and followed her. They seatedthemselves on the front seat opposite the bridal pair. 

And the carriage drove off. 

"Oh!" suddenly exclaimed old Aaron Rockharrt, rummaging in the breastpocket of his coat and drawing thence a white envelope and handing it toSylvan; "here, take this and give it to the minister as soon as we comebefore him. "

The young man received the packet and looked inquiringly at the elder. It was really the marriage fee for the officiating clergyman, and a veryostentatious one also; but the Iron King did not condescend to explainanything. He had given it to his grandson with his orders, which heexpected to be implicitly obeyed without question. They reached thechurch, the same church in which they had heard the dean preach on theprevious Sunday. They alighted from the carriage and entered thebuilding, old Aaron Rockharrt leading the way with his bride-elect onhis arm, Sylvan and Cora following. The church was vacant of all exceptthe minister, who stood in his surplice behind the chancel railing, andthe sexton who had opened the door for the party, and was now walkingbefore them up the aisle. 

The church was empty, because this, though the wedding of a millionaire, was one of which it might be said that there was "No feast, no cake, nocards, no nothing. "

The party reached the altar railing, bowed silently to the minister, whonodded gravely in return, and then formed before the altar--thevenerable bridegroom and beautiful bride in the center, Sylvan on theright of the groom, Cora on the left of the bride. The young manperformed the mission with which he had been intrusted, and then theceremony was commenced. It went on smoothly enough until the minister inits proper place asked the question:

"Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?"

There was an awful pause. 

No one had thought of the necessity of having a "church father" to giveaway the bride. 

The officiating clergyman saw the dilemma at a glance, and quietlybeckoned the gray-haired sexton to come up and act as a substitute. ButSylvan Haught, with a twinkle of fun in his eyes, turned his head andwhispered to the new comer:

"'After me is manners of you. '"

Then he took the bride's hand and said mightily:--

"I do. "

The marriage ceremony went on to its end and was over. Congratulationswere offered. The register was signed and witnessed. 

And old Aaron Rockharrt led his newly married wife out of the church andput her into the carriage. Then turning around to his grandchildren hesaid:

"You can walk back to the hotel. See that the porters send off ourluggage by express to the Cataract House, Niagara Falls. They have theirorders from me, but do you see that these orders are promptly obeyed. Now, good-by. "

He shook hands with Sylvan and Cora, and entered the carriage, whichimmediately rolled off in the direction of the railway station. 

The brother and sister walked back to the hotel together. 

"It will be a curious study, Cora, to see who will rule in this newfirm. I believe it is universally conceded that when an old man marriesa pretty young wife, he becomes her slave. But our honored grandfatherhas been absolute monarch so long that I doubt if he can be reduced toservitude. "

"I have no doubts on the subject, " replied his sister. 

"I have been watching them. He is not subjugated by Rose. He is notfoolishly in love with her, at his age. He likes her as he likes otheragreeable accessories for his own sake. I have neither respect noraffection for Rose, yet I feel some compassion for her now. Whatever thedrudgery of her life as governess may have been since she left us, longago, it has been nothing, nothing to the penal servitude of the lifeupon which she has now entered. The hardest-worked governess, seamstress, or servant has some hours in the twenty-four, and some nookin the house that she can call her own where she can rest and be quiet. But Rose Rockharrt will have no such relief! Do I not remember my deargrandmother's life? And my grandfather really did love her, if he everloved any one on earth. This misguided young woman fondly hopes to bethe ideal old man's darling. She deceives herself. She will be hisslave, by day and night seldom out of his sight, never out of hisservice and surveillance. Possibly--for she is not a woman ofprinciple--she may end by running away from her master, and that beforelong. "

Cora's last words brought them to the "Ladies' Entrance" of their hotel. 

"Go up stairs, Cora, and I will step into the office and see if thereare any letters, " said Sylvan. 

Mrs. Rothsay went up into their private sitting room, dropped into achair, took off her bonnet and began to fan herself, for her midday walkhad been a very warm one. 

Presently Sylvan came up with a letter in his hand. 

"For you, Cora, from Uncle Fabian! There is a foreign mail just in. "

"Give it to me. "

Sylvan handed her the letter, Cora opened it, glanced over it, andexclaimed:

"Uncle Fabian says that he will be home the last of this month. "

CHAPTER XVIII. 

A CRISIS AT ROCKHOLD. 

Brother and sister went to Newport and spent a month. The Dean of Olivetwas in the town, but they never met him because they never went intosociety. Toward the last of June, Corona proposed that they should go atonce to Rockhold. 

The next morning brother and sister took the early train for New York. On the morning of the second day they took the express train forBaltimore, where they stopped for another night. And on the morning ofthe third day they took the early train for North End, where theyarrived at sunset. They went to the hotel to get dinner and to engagethe one hack of the establishment to take them to Rockhold. 

Almost the first man they met on the hotel porch was Mr. Clarence, whorushed to meet them. 

"Hurrah, Sylvan! Hurrah, old boy! Back again! Why didn't you write ortelegraph? How do you do, Cora! Ah! when will you get your roses back, my dear? And how is his Majesty? Why is he not with you? Where did youleave him?" demanded Mr. Clarence in a gale of high spirits at greetinghis nephew and niece again. 

"He is among the Thousand Islands somewhere with his bride, " answeredCora. 

"His--what?" inquired Mr. Clarence, with a puzzled air. 

"His wife, " said Cora. 

"His wife? What on earth are you talking about, Cora? You could not haveunderstood my question. I asked you where my father was!" said thebewildered Mr. Clarence. 

"And I told you that he is on his wedding trip with his bride, among theThousand Islands, " replied Cora. 

Mr. Clarence turned in a helpless manner. 

"Sylvan, " he said, "tell me what she means, will you?"

"Why, just what she says. Our grandfather and grandmother are on theSt. Lawrence, but will be home on the first of July, " Sylvan explained. 

But Mr. Clarence looked from the brother to the sister and back again inthe utmost perplexity. 

"What sort of a stupid joke are you two trying to get off?" he inquired. 

They had by this time reached the public parlor of the hotel and foundseats. 

"Is it possible, Uncle Clarence, that you do not know Mr. Rockharrt wasmarried on the thirty-first of last month, in New York, to Mrs. Stillwater?" inquired Cora. 

"What! My father!"

"Why should you be amazed or incredulous, Uncle Clarence? Theincomprehensible feature, to my mind, is that you should not have heardof the affair directly from grandfather himself. Has he really notwritten and told you of his marriage?"

"He has never told me a word of his marriage, though he has written adozen or more letters to me within the last few weeks. "

"That is very extraordinary. And did you not hear any rumor of it? Didno one chance to see the notice of it in the papers?"

"No one that I know of. No; I heard no hint of my father's marriage fromany quarter, nor had I, nor any one else at Rockhold or at North End, the slightest suspicion of such a thing. "

"That is very strange. It must have been in the papers, " said Sylvan. 

"If it was I did not see it, but, then, I never think of looking at themarriage list. "

"I am inclined to think that it never got into the papers. The marriagewas private, though not secret. And you, Sylvan, should have seen thatthe marriage was inserted in all the daily papers. It was your specialduty as groomsman. But you must have forgotten it, and I neverremembered to remind you of it, " said Cora. 

"Not I. I never forgot it, because I never once thought of it. Didn'tknow it was my duty to attend to it. Besides, I had so many duties. Suchawful duties! Think of my having to be my own grandmother's church papaand give her away at the altar! That duty reduced me to a state ofimbecility from which I have not yet recovered. "

"But, " said Mr. Clarence, with a look of pain on his fine, genialcountenance, "it is so strange that my father never mentioned hismarriage in any of his letters to me. "

"Perhaps he did not like to mix up sentiment with business, " kindlysuggested Sylvan. 

"I don't think it was a question of sentiment, " sighed Mr. Clarence. 

"What? Not his marriage?"

"No, " sighed Mr. Clarence. 

"Well, don't worry about the matter. Let us order dinner and engage thecarriage to take us all to Rockhold. How astonished the darkies will beto see us, and how much more astonished to hear the news we have totell! I wonder if they will take kindly to the rule of the newmistress?" said Sylvan. 

"Why did not one of you have the kindness, and thoughtfulness, to writeand tell me of my father's marriage?" sorrowfully inquired Mr. Clarence, utterly ignoring the just spoken words of his nephew. 

"Dear Uncle Clarence, I should certainly have written and told you allabout it at once, if I had not taken for granted that grandfather hadinformed you of his intention, as was certainly his place to do. Andeven if I had written to you on any other occasion, I should assuredlyhave alluded to the marriage. But, you see, I never wrote to any onewhile away, " Cora explained. 

"Now, Uncle Clarence, just take Cora's explanation and apology for bothof us, will you, for it fits me as well as it does her? And now you twomay keep the ball rolling, while I go out and order dinner and engagethe hack, " said Sylvan, starting for the office. 

When he was gone Clarence asked Cora to give him all the details of theextraordinary marriage, and she complied with his request. 

"It will make a country talk, " said the young man, with a sigh, whichCora echoed. 

"And you say they will be home on the first of July?" he inquired. 

"Yes, " said Cora. 

"I wish I had known in time. I would have had old Rockhold Hall preparedas it should be for the reception of my father's bride, though I do sostrongly disapprove the marriage. Do you know, Cora, that old house hasnever had its furniture renewed within my memory? Some of the rooms arepositively mouldy and musty. And whoever heard of a wealthy man like myfather bringing his wife home to a neglected old country house likeRockhold, without first having it renovated and refurnished?"

"I do not believe he ever once thought of the propriety or necessity ofrepairing and refitting. His mind is quite absorbed in his new and vastspeculations. He spent every day down in Wall Street while we stayed inNew York city. "

"Well, Corona, this is the twenty-eighth of June, and we have four daysbefore us; for I do not suppose the newly married pair will arrivebefore the evening of the first of July; so we must do the best we can, my dear, to make the house pleasant in this short time. "

"And Uncle Fabian and his wife will be at Rockhold about the sametime, " added Cora. 

"I knew Fabian would be at North End on the first of July, but I did notknow that he would go on to Rockhold. I thought he would go on to theirnew house. So we shall have two brides to welcome, instead of one. "

"Yes. And now, Uncle Clarence, will you please ring for a chambermaid? Imust go to a bed room and get some of this railroad dust out of myeyes, " said Cora. 

At nine o'clock in the very warm evening, the three were sitting nearthe open windows, when they started at the sound of a hearty, genialvoice in the adjoining room, inquiring for accommodations for the night. 

"It is Fabian!" cried Mr. Clarence, springing up in joy and rushing outof the room to welcome his only and much beloved brother. 

The glad voices of the two brothers in greeting reached their ears, anda moment after the door was thrown open again, and Mr. Clarence entered, conducting Mr. And Mrs. Fabian Rockharrt. 

As soon as they found themselves alone, the two brothers took convenientseats to have a talk. 

"How goes on the works, Clarence?" inquired Mr. Fabian. 

"Very prosperously. You will go through them to-morrow and see foryourself. "

"And how goes on the great scheme?"

"Even better than the works. Last reports shares selling at one hundredand thirty. "

"Same over yonder. When I left Amsterdam shares selling like hot cakesat a hundred and thirty-one seventenths. How is the governor?" inquiredMr. Fabian. 

"As flourishing as a successful financier and septuagenarian bridegroomcan be. "

"Why!--what do you mean?"

"Haven't you heard the news?"

"What is it? You--you don't mean--"

"Has our father written nothing to you of a very important and utterlyunexpected act of his life?"

"No. "

"I advised him to marry--"

"You! You! Fabian! You advised our father to do such an absurd thing athis age?"

"I confess I don't see the absurdity of it, " quietly replied the elderbrother. 

"Oh, why did you counsel him to such an act?" inquired Mr. Clarence, more in sorrow than in anger. 

"Out of pure good nature. I was getting married myself and wantedeverybody to be as happy as I was myself, particularly my old father. Now I wonder he did not write to me of his happiness; but perhaps he hasdone so and the letter passed me on the sea. When did this marriage takeplace?"

"On the last day of May. "

"Whe-ew! Then there was ample time in which to have written the news tome. And I have had at least half a dozen business letters since the dateof his marriage, in any of which he might have mentioned the occurrencehad he so chosen. The lady is no longer young. She must be forty-eight, and she is handsome, cultured, dignified and of very high rank. Aqueenly woman!"

"Do you know whom you are talking about, Fabian?"

"Mrs. Bloomingfield, the lady I recommended, whom father married. "

"Oh, indeed; I thought you didn't know what you were talking about orwhom you were talking of, " said Mr. Clarence. 

"What do you mean by that?"

"Our father never accepted your recommendation; never proposed to thehandsome, high spirited Mrs. Bloomingfield. "

"What!" exclaimed Mr. Fabian. "Whom, then?" "Whom? Whom should he haveselected but

 "'The Rose that all ad-mi-r-r-?'

"Clarence, what, in the fiend's name, do you mean? Whom has my fathermarried?" demanded Mr. Fabian, starting up and staring at his youngerbrother. 

"Mrs. Rose Flowers Stillwater, " replied Mr. Clarence, staring back. 

Mr. Fabian dropped back in his chair, while every vestige of color lefthis face. 

"Why, Fabian! Fabian! Why should you care so much as all this? Speak, Fabian; what is the matter?" inquired the younger brother, rising andbending over the elder. 

"What is the matter?" cried Mr. Fabian, excitedly. "Ruin is the matter!Ruin, disgrace, dishonor, degradation, an abyss of infamy; that is thematter. "

"Oh, come now! see here! that is all wild talk. The young woman was onlya nursery governess, to be sure, in our house, and then widow of someskipper or other; but she was respectable, though of humble position. "

"Clarence, hush! You know nothing about it!" exclaimed Mr. Fabian, wiping his forehead with his handkerchief, and then getting up andwalking the floor with rapid strides. 

"I don't understand all this, Fabian. We were all of us a good deal cutup by the event, but nothing like this!" said Mr. Clarence, uneasily. 

"No; you don't understand. But listen to me: I was on my way to Rockholdto join in the family reunion, and to show the old homestead to my wife;but I cannot take her there now. I cannot introduce her to the new Mrs. Rockharrt--the new Mrs. Rockharrt!" he repeated, in a tone and with agesture of disgust and abhorrence. "I shall turn back, and take my wifeto our new home; and when I go to Rockhold, I shall go alone. "

"Fabian, you make me dreadfully uneasy. What do you know of RoseStillwater that is to her discredit?" demanded Clarence Rockharrt. 

His elder brother paused in his excited walk, dropped his head upon hischest and reflected for a few moments. Then he seemed to recover somedegree of self-control and self-recollection. He returned to his chair, sat down, and said:

"Of my own personal knowledge I know nothing against the woman but justthis--that she is but half educated, deceitful, and unreliable. And thatknowledge I gained by experience after she had first left Rockhold, towhich I had first introduced her for a governess to our niece. I hadnothing to do with her return to the old hall, and would have nevercountenanced such a proceeding if I had been in the country. "

"That is all very deplorable, but yet it hardly warrants your verystrong language, Fabian. I am sorry that you have discovered her to be'ignorant, deceitful, and unreliable, ' but let us hope that now, whenshe is placed above temptation, she will reform. Don't take exaggeratedviews of affairs, Fabian. "

The elder man was growing calmer and more thoughtful. Presently he said:

"You are right, Clarence. My indignation, on learning that that womanhad succeeded in trapping our Iron King, led me into extravagantlanguage on the subject. Forget it, Clarence. And whatever you do, mybrother, drop no hint to any one of what I have said to you to-night, lest our father should hear of it; for if he should--"

Mr. Fabian paused. 

"I shall never drop a hint that might possibly give our father onemoment of uneasiness. Be sure of that, Fabian. "

"That is good, my brother! And we will agree to ignore all faults in ouryoung stepmother, and for our father's sake treat her with all properrespect. "

"Of course. I could not do otherwise. And, Fabian, I hope you willreconsider the matter, and bring Violet to Rockhold to join our familyreunion. "

"No, Clarence, " said the elder brother; "there is just where I must drawthe line. I cannot introduce my wife to the new Mrs. Rockharrt. "

"But it seems to me that you are very fastidious, Fabian. Do you expectalways to be able to keep Violet from meeting with 'ignorant, insincereand unreliable' people, in a world like this?" inquired Mr. Clarence, significantly. 

"No, not entirely, perhaps; yet, so far as in me lies, I will try tokeep my simple wood violet 'unspotted from the world, '" replied Mr. Fabian, who, untruthful and dishonest as he was in heart and life, yetreverenced while he wondered at the purity and simplicity of his youngwife's nature. 

"I am afraid the pater will feel the absence of Violet as a slight tohis bride, " said Mr. Clarence. 

"No; I shall take care that he does not. Violet is in very delicatehealth, and that must be her excuse for staying at home. "

The brothers talked on for a little while longer; and then, when theyhad exhausted the subject for the time being, Mr. Clarence said he wouldgo and look up Sylvan, and he went out for the purpose. FabianRockharrt, left alone, resumed his disturbed walk up and down the room, muttering to himself:

"The traitress! the unprincipled traitress! How dared she do such adeed? Didn't she know that I could expose her, and have her cast forthin ignominy from my father's house? Or did she venture all in the hopethat consideration of my father's age and position in the world wouldshut my mouth and stay my hand? She is mistaken, the jade! Unless shefalls into my plans, and works for my interest, she shall be exposed anddegraded from her present position. "

Mr. Fabian was interrupted by the re-entrance of Mrs. Rothsay. He turnedto meet her and inquired:

"Where did you leave Violet, my dear?"

"She is in her own room, which is next to mine. I went in with her andsaw her to bed, and waited until she went to sleep, " replied Cora. 

"Poor little one! She is very fragile, and has been very much fatigued. I do not think, my dear, that I can take her on to Rockhold to-morrow. Ithink I must let her rest here for a day or two. "

"It would be best, not only on account of Violet's delicacy andweariness, but also on account of the condition of the house atRockhold, which has not been opened or aired for months. "

"That is true; though I had not thought of it before, " said Mr. Fabian, who was well pleased that Cora so readily fell in with his plans. 

"What do you think of the pater's marriage, Cora?' he next inquired. 

"I would rather not give an opinion, Uncle Fabian, " she answered. 

"Then I am equally well answered, for that is giving a very strongopinion!" he exclaimed. 

"The deed is done and cannot be undone!"

"Can it not? Perhaps it can!"

"What do you mean, Uncle Fabian?"

"Nothing that you need trouble yourself about, my dear. But tell methis--what do you mean to do, Cora? Do you mean to stay on at Rockhold?"

"I suppose I must do so. "

"Not at all, if you do not like! You are an independent widow and may gowhere you please. "

"I know that and wish to go; but I do not wish to make a scene or causea scandal by leaving my grandfather's protection so suddenly after hismarriage, which is open enough to criticism, as it is. So I must stay onat Rockhold so long as Sylvan's leave shall last, and until he shallreceive his commission and orders. Then I will go with him wherever hisduty may call him. "

"Good girl! You have decided well and wisely. Though the post of duty towhich the callow lieutenantling will be ordered must, of course, be FortJumping Off Point, at the extreme end of the habitable globe. Well, mydear, I must bid you good night, for, see, it is on the stroke of eleveno'clock, and I am rather tired from my journey, for, you must know, werushed it through from New York to North End without lying over, " saidMr. Fabian, as he shook hands with his niece. 

He retired, and his example was soon followed by all his party. 

CHAPTER XIX. 

A FAMILY REUNION. 

The next morning, after an early breakfast, the travelers assembled inthe hall of the hotel to take leave of each other. Clarence, Sylvan, andCora entered the capacious carriage of the establishment to drive toRockhold, leaving Mr. And Mrs. Fabian Rockharrt on the porch of thehotel, at which they had decided to rest for a few days. 

"We shall go to Rockhold to welcome the king and queen when they return, Cora, " said Mr. Fabian, waving his hand to the departed trio, though hehad not the least intention of keeping his word. He then led his prettyViolet into the house. The lumbering carriage rolled along the villagestreet, passed the huge buildings of the locomotive works, and out intothe road that lay between the fool of the range of mountains and thebanks of the river. 

The ferryboat was at the wharf, and the broad shouldered negro dwarf wasstanding on it, pole in hand. 

His look of surprise and delight on seeing Sylvan and Cora was good tobehold. 

"Why, Lors bress my po' ole soul, young marse an' miss, is yer come sure'nough? 'Deed I's moughty proud to see yer. How's de ole marse? When hecoming back agin?" he queried, as the carriage rolled slowly across thegangplank from the wharf to the deck of the ferryboat. 

"Your ole marse is quite well, Uncle Moses, and will be home on thefirst of the month with his new wife, " said Sylvan, who could not missthe fun of telling this rare bit of news to the aged ferryman. 

The old negro dropped his pole into the water, opened his mouth and eyesto their widest extent and gasped and stared. 

"Wid--w'ich?" he said, at last. 

"With his new wife and your new mistress, " answered Sylvan. 

The old negro dropped his chin on his chest, raised his knobby blackfingers to his head and scratched his gray hair with a look of quaintperplexity, as he muttered, "Now I wunner ef I tuk too heavy a pull on to dat dar rum jug, fo' I lefde house dis mornin'--I wunner if I did. "

His mate stopped and pulled the pole up out of the water and beganhimself to push off the boat until it was afloat. 

They soon reached the opposite shore, drove off the boat and up theavenue between the flowering locust trees that formed a long, green, fragrant arch above their heads, and so on to the gray old house. In avery few moments the door was opened and all the household servantsappeared to welcome the returning party. Most of them looked morefrightened than pleased; but when anxious glances toward the groupleaving the carriage assured them that the family "Boodlejock" was notpresent, they seemed relieved and delighted to see the others. 

With the easy, respectful familiarity of long and faithful service, thenegro men and women crowded around the entering party with lovinggreetings. 

The news of the Iron King's marriage was told by Sylvan. Had a bombshellfallen and exploded among the servants, they could not have been moreshocked. There was a simultaneous exclamation of surprise and dismay, and then total silence. 

At the end of the third day all was ready for the reception of Mr. AndMrs. Rockharrt. 

The next day was the first of July. As soon as Mr. Clarence reached hisprivate office at the works he found a telegram waiting him. He openedit, and read the following:

 CAPON SPRINGS, July 1, 18--

 Shall reach North End by the 6 p. M. Train. Send the carriage to meet that train. Shall go directly to Rockhold. Order dinner there for 8 p. M. 

 AARON ROCKHARRT. 

Mr. Clarence put a boy on horseback and sent him on to Cora, with thismessage inclosed in a note from himself. And then he gave his attentionto the duties of his office. He was still busy at his desk when Mr. Fabian strolled in. 

"Well, old man, good morning. I return to duty to-day, because it is thefirst of the month, you know. "

"And also the first of the financial year. There has been so much to dowithin the last few days, I am glad you have returned to your post. Iwould like the pater to find all right when he comes to inspect. By theway, I have just got a telegram from him. I have just sent it off toCora, so that she may know when to send the carriage, and for what hourto order dinner. You know it would never do to have anything 'gangaglee' in which the pater is interested. "

"No. Well, you and I must go to meet him. We must not fail in anyattention to the old gentleman. "

"Of course not. Oh! what will the people say when they hear the news? Ido not think that the slightest rumor of the mad marriage has got out Iknow that I have not breathed it. "

"Nor I. But of course it will be generally known within twenty-fourhours; and then I hope the pater will do the handsome thing and give hisworkmen a general holiday and jollification. "

"I doubt it, since he has not even refurnished the shabby old drawingroom at Rockhold in honor of the occasion, " said Mr. Clarence. 

Then the brothers separated for the day. 

Whenever the family traveling carriage happened to be sent from Rockholdto the North End railway depot, it always stopped at the North EndHotel to rest and water the horses. So when the afternoon waned, asMessrs. Fabian and Clarence Rockharrt had to remain busy in theirrespective offices up to the last possible minute, Sylvan was stationedon the front porch of the hotel, with the day's newspapers and a case ofcigars to solace him while watching for the carriage. 

It came at a quarter to five o'clock, and while the horses were restingand feeding, Sylvan sent a messenger to summon his two uncles. By thetime the two horses were ready to start again, the two men came up andentered the carriage. Sylvan followed them in. 

"See here, my boy, " said Mr. Fabian, "you can't go, you know. There willbe no room for you coming back. Clarence and myself fill two seats, andyour grandfather and--"

"Grandmother fill up the other, " added Sylvan. "But never mind; incoming back I can ride on the box with the coachman; but go I will tomeet my venerable grandparents! Bless my wig! didn't I give away mygrandmother at the altar, and shall I not pay them the attention ofgoing to meet them on their return from their wedding tour?"

The horses started at a good pace, passed through the village street, entered the main road running miles between the great works, and rolledon into the silent forest road that led to the railway depot in thevalley. 

Here the carriage drew up before the solitary station house. 

Soon the train ran in and stopped. Old Aaron Rockharrt got out andhanded down his wife, before turning to face his sons. A man and maidservant, loaded down with handbags, umbrellas, waterproofs, and shawls, got out of another car. 

"Fabian, put Mrs. Rockharrt into the carriage. I shall step into thewaiting room to speak to the ticket agent, " said old Aaron Rockharrt, ashe strode off to the building. 

Fabian Rockharrt gave his arm to the lady, who during all this time hadremained closely veiled. He led her off, leaving Clarence and Sylvan onthe platform to wait for the return of Mr. Rockharrt. As soon as Fabianand his companion were out of hearing of the rest of their party, heturned to her, and bending his head close to her ear, said:

"Well, Ann White, what have you to say for yourself, eh, Ann White?"

He felt her tremble as she answered defiantly:

"Mrs. Rockharrt, if you please. "

"No; by my life I will never give to such as you my honored mother'sname!"

"And yet I have it with all the rights and privileges it bestows, and Idefy you, Fabian Rockharrt!"

"You know very little of the laws relating to marriage if you think thatyou have legal right to the name and position you have seized, or that Ihave not power to thrust you out of my father's house and into a cell. "

"You are insolent! I shall report your words to Mr. Rockharrt, and thenwe shall see who will be thrust out of his house!"

"I think that you had better not. Listen, and I will tell you somethingthat you do not know, perhaps. "

She turned quickly, inquiringly, toward him. He stooped and whispered afew words. He felt her thrill from head to foot, felt her rock and swayfor a moment, and then--he had just time to catch her before she fell adead weight in his arms. 

CHAPTER XX. 

THE WHISPERED WORDS. 

"Well! what's all this?" abruptly demanded old Aaron Rockharrt, as hecame up, followed by Clarence and Sylvan, just as Fabian was lifting theunconscious woman into the carriage. 

"Mrs. Rockharrt has been over-fatigued, I think, sir, for she hasfainted. But don't be alarmed; she is recovering, " said Mr. Fabian, ashe settled the lady in an easy position in a corner of the carriage, andfound a smelling salts bottle and put it to her nose. 

"'Alarmed?' Why should I be?"

"No reason why, sir, " answered Mr. Fabian, who then stooped to the womanand whispered: "Nor need you be so. You are safe for the present. "

"Will you get out of my way and let me come to my place?" demanded theIron King. 

"Pardon me, sir, " said Fabian, stepping backward from the carriage. 

"Fainting?" said the old man, in a tone of annoyance, as he took hisseat beside his new wife--"fainting? The first Mrs. Rockharrt neverfainted in her life; nor ever gave any sort of trouble. What's thematter with you, Rose? Don't be a consummate fool and turn nervous. Iwon't stand any nonsense, " he said roughly, as he peered into the paleface of his new slave. 

"Oh, it is nothing, " she faltered--"nothing. I was overcome by heat. Itis a very hot day. "

"Why, it is a very cool afternoon. What do you mean?" he demanded. 

"It has been a very hot day, and the heat and fatigue--"

"Rubbish!" he interrupted. "If I were to give any attention to yourfaints, you would be fainting every day just to have a fuss made overyou. Now this fainting business has got to be stopped. Do you hear? Ifyou are out of order, I will send for my family physician and have youexamined. If you are really ill, you shall be put under medicaltreatment; if you are not, I will have no fine lady airs andaffectations. The first Mrs. Rockharrt was perfectly free from them. "

"I would not have given way to the weakness if I could have helpedit--indeed I would not!" said the poor woman, very sincerely. 

"We'll see to that!" retorted the Iron King. 

Ah, poor Rose! She was not the old man's darling and sovereign, as shehad hoped and planned to be. She was the tyrant's slave and victim. 

A man of Aaron Rockharrt's temperament seldom, at the age ofseventy-seven, becomes a lover; and never, at any age, a woman's slave. 

Mr. Fabian now got into the carriage, and sat down on the front cushionopposite his father and step-mother. Mr. Clarence was following him in, when Mr. Rockharrt roughly interfered. 

"What are you about here, Clarence? What are you going to do?"

"Take my seat in the carriage, of course, sir, " answered the young man, with a surprised look. 

"You are going to do nothing of the sort! I don't choose to have thehorses overtasked in this manner. I myself, with Fabian and my coachman, to say nothing of Mrs. Rockharrt, are weight enough for one pair ofhorses, and you can't come in here. Where's Sylvan?"

"On the box seat beside the driver. "

"Really?" demanded the Iron King, in a sarcastic tone, "How many more ofyou desire to be drawn by one pair of horses? Tell Sylvan to come downoff that. "

"But, sir, there is not a single conveyance of any description at thestation, " urged Clarence. 

"Indeed! And pray what do you call your own two pairs of sturdy legs?Are they not strong enough to convey you from here to North End, whereyou can get the hotel hack? And, by the way, why did you not engage thehack to come here and take you back?"

"Because it was out, sir. "

"Then you two should not have come here to over-load the horses. But asyou have come, you must walk back. Has Sylvan got off his perch? Ah, yes; I see. Well, tell the coachman to drive first to the North EndHotel. And do you two long-legged calves walk after it. If the hackshould be still out when we get there, you can stay at the hotel untilit comes in. "

"All right, sir, " said Clarence, good humoredly; and he closed the door, and gave the order to the coachman, who immediately started his horseson the way to North End. 

On the way home Mr. Clarence inquired of his nephew when he expected toreceive his commission and where he expected to be ordered. 

"How can I tell you? I must wait for a vacancy, I suppose, and then besent to the Devil's Icy Peak or Fort Jumping Off Place, or some suchother pleasant post of duty on the confines of terra incognita. But thefarther off, the stranger and the savager it is, the better I shall likeit for my own sake, but it will be rough on Cora, " said the youth. 

"But you do not dream of taking Cora out there?" exclaimed Clarence, inpained surprise. 

"Oh, but I do! She insists on going where I go. She is bent on being avoluntary, unsalaried missionary and school-mistress to the Indiansjust because Rule died a martyred minister and teacher among them. "

"She is mad!" exclaimed Mr. Clarence; "mad. "

"She has had enough to make her mad, but she is sane enough on thissubject, I can tell you, Uncle Clarence. She is the most level-headedyoung woman that I know, and the plan of life that she has laid out forherself is the best course she could possibly pursue under the presentcircumstances. She is very miserable here. This plan will give her themost complete change of scene and the most interesting occupation. Itwill cure her of her melancholy and absorption in her troubled past, andwhen she shall be cured she may return to her friends here, or she maymeet with some fine fellow out there who may make her forget the deadand leave off her weeds. That is what I hope for, Uncle Clarence. "

And for the rest of their walk they trudged on in silence or with butfew words passed between them. It was sunset when they reached NorthEnd. 

That evening when Sylvan and Cora found themselves together for a momentat Rockhold House, the youth said:

"Corona Rothsay, the sooner I get my orders and you and I depart forScalping Creek or Perdition Peak, or wherever I am to be shoveled offto, the better, my dear, " said the young soldier. 

"What do you think of it all now, Sylvan?" she inquired. 

"I think, Cora, that while we do stay here it would be Christian charityto be very good to 'the Rose that all admire. ' Nobody will admire herany more, I think. "

"Why?" inquired Cora, in surprise. 

"Oh, you didn't see her face. She had her mask veil, do you callit?--down, so you couldn't see. But, oh, my conscience! how she ischanged in these last six weeks! She is not a blooming rose any more. She is a snubbed, trampled on, crushed, and wilted rose. Her face lookspale; her hair dull; her eyes weak; her beauty nowhere; her cheerfulnessnowhere else. "

Early the next morning, after a hasty breakfast, Mr. Rockharrt enteredhis carriage to drive to the works. Young Mrs. Rockharrt, under the pleaof fatigue from her long journey, retired to her own room. 

Cora said to her brother:

"Sylvan, I wish you would order the little carriage and take me to theBanks to see Violet. I should have paid her this attention sooner butfor the pressure of work that has been upon me. I must defer it nolonger, but go this morning. "

"All right, Cora!" answered the young man, and he left the room to dohis errand. 

Cora went up stairs to get ready for her drive. 

In about fifteen minutes the two were seated in the little open landau, that had been the gift of the late Mrs. Rockharrt to her belovedgranddaughter, and that the latter always used when driving out in thecountry around Rockhold during the summer. 

They did not have to cross the ferry, as the new house of FabianRockharrt was on the same side of the river as was Rockhold. 

The road on this west side was, however, much rougher, though thescenery was much finer. 

They drove on through the woods, which here clothed the foot of themountain and grew quite down to the water's edge, meeting over theirheads and casting the road into deep shadow. 

They drove on for about three miles, when they came to a point whereanother road wound up the mountain side, through heavy woods, andbrought them to a beautiful plateau, on which stood the handsome houseof Fabian Rockharrt, in the midst of its groves, flower gardens, arbors, orchards and conservatories. 

It was a double, two-storied house, of brown stone, with a fine greenbackground of wooded mountain, and a front view of the river below andthe mountains beyond. There were bay windows at each end and piazzasalong the whole front. 

As the carriage drew up before the door, Violet was discovered walkingup and down the front porch. She looked very fragile, but very prettywith her slight, graceful figure in a morning dress of white muslin, with blue ribbons at her throat and in her pale gold hair. 

She came down to meet her visitors. 

"Oh, I am so glad you have come, Cora and Sylvan!" she said, throwingher arms around the young lady and kissing her heartily, and then givingher hand and offering her cheek for a greeting from the young man. 

"I fear you must be lonely here, Violet, " said Cora. 

"Awfully lonesome after Fabian has gone away in the morning, Cora. Itwould be such a charity in you to come and stay with me for a littlewhile! Come in now and we will talk about it, " said the little lady, asshe led the way back to the house. 

"Sylvan, " she continued, as they paused for a moment on the porch, "sendyour coachman around to the stable to put up your carriage. You and Corawill spend the day with me at the very least. "

"Just as Cora pleases; ask her, " said the young man with a glance towardhis sister. 

"Yes, " she answered. 

"You are a love!" exclaimed Violet as she led the way into the hall andthence into a pleasant morning room. 

Cora laid off her bonnet and sank into an easy chair by the frontwindow. 

"Now, as soon as you are well rested, I wish to show you both over thehouse and grounds. Such a charming house, Cora! Such beautiful grounds, Sylvan!" exclaimed the proud little mistress. 

Cora smiled approval, but did not explain that she herself had gone allthrough the establishment several times, in the course of its fittingup, to see that all things were arranged properly before the arrival ofthe married pair. 

And when, a little later, the trio went through the rooms, she expressedas much pleasure in their appearance as if she had never seen thembefore. 

The brother and sister spent a very pleasant day at Violet Banks, andwhen in the cool of the evening they would have taken leave, the youngwife pleaded with them to stay all night. 

In the midst of this discussion Mr. Fabian Rockharrt came home fromNorth End. 

As he entered the parlor he heard his Wood Violet at her petition. Hegreeted them all, kissed his wife, kissed Cora, and shook hands withSylvan. 

"Now let me settle this matter, " he said, good humoredly, as he threwhimself into a large arm chair. 

"First tell me, Cora, what is the obstacle to your spending the nightwith us?"

"Only that I did not announce even this visit to the family atRockhold. "

"Do you owe any special obligation to do so?"

"It is not a question of obligation, but of courtesy. I should certainlybe remiss in politeness to leave the house for a two days' visit withoutgiving notice of my intention, " she answered. 

"Oh! I see. Well, I can fix all that. You will both remain to dinner. After dinner it will not be too late for Sylvan to take my sure-footedcob and ride back to Rockhold and explain to the family that Cora is toremain here overnight, and that I will myself take her home to-morrowevening if she should wish to go. "

"What do you say, Cora, " inquired the young man. 

"I accept Uncle Fabian's offer and will remain here for the present, "said the young lady. 

"Like the sensible woman that you are!" exclaimed Mr. Fabian. 

Half an hour later the four sat down to dinner in one of the prettiestlittle dining rooms that ever was seen. 

Soon after the pleasant meal was over, Sylvan took leave of his friends, mounted the white cob that stood saddled at the door, and rode down thewooded hill to the river road leading to Rockhold. 

The three left behind spent the remainder of the evening on the frontporch, watching the deep river, the hoary mountains, the starry sky, andlistening to the hum of insects, the whirl of waters and the singing ofthe summer breeze through the pines that clothed the precipice, andtalking very little. 

They retired to rest at a late hour. 

Yet on the next morning they met at an early breakfast, for Mr. Fabianhad to go to the works to make up for much lost time while affairs wereleft under the sole management of Mr. Clarence. 

Cora remained with Violet, who took her into a more interior confidence, and exhibited with equal pride and delight sundry dainty little garmentsof fine cambric and linen richly trimmed with lace or embroidery, allthe work of her own delicate fingers. 

"They tell me, Cora, that I could buy all these things as cheap and asgood as I can make them. But I do take such pleasure in making them withmy own hands. "

Cora kissed her tenderly for all reply. 

Then the little lady began to ask questions about her newstep-mother-in-law. 

"You know, Cora, that I could not ask you yesterday while Sylvan waswith us. He is in your full confidence, no doubt, and I have perfectfaith in him; but for all that we cannot speak freely on all subjectsbefore a third person, however near and dear. At least I could not asksearching questions about Mr. Rockharrt's marriage, before Sylvan. Sucha strange marriage, with such a disparity in years between a man of Mr. Rockharrt's venerable age and Mrs. Stillwater's blooming youth! I sawher once by chance. She looked a perfect Hebe of radiant health andbeauty. "

Cora Rothsay smiled. She might have told this little lady that there wasnot much more difference between the ages of Rose Stillwater atthirty-seven and Aaron Rockharrt at seventy-seven than there was betweenViolet Wood at seventeen and Fabian Rockharrt at fifty-two. But as theyoung wife did not see this fact, Cora refrained from showing it to her. 

Then Violet wanted to know what Cora herself thought of the marriage. 

Cora said she thought it concerned only the parties in question, andonly time could tell how it would turn out. 

In such confidential talk passed the long summer day. 

In the cool of the evening Mr. Fabian came home to dinner. 

He joined his wife in trying to persuade Cora to remain with them yetanother day; but Cora explained that there were many reasons for herreturn to Rockhold. 

Finding her obdurate, Mr. Fabian ordered Mrs. Rothsay's landau to be atthe door at a certain hour. 

And as soon as dinner was over and Cora had put on her bonnet and takenleave of Violet, with a promise to return within a few days, Mr. Fabianplaced her in the Carriage, took his seat beside her, and drove downthe wooded hill to the river road below. 

"It is not altogether for pleasure that I pressed you to stay tillto-night, Cora, although your presence gave great pleasure to my wifeand self. I wished to have a private talk with you. Cora, you ought notto stay at Rockhold. You should come to us, " said Mr. Fabian, as theybowled along the wooded road between the foot of the hills and the banksof the river. 

"Why?" inquired the lady. 

He did not answer at once, but drove slowly on as if to gain time forthought. At length, however, he said:

"I think that a home with Violet and myself at the Banks would be muchmore congenial to you than one with your grandfather and his new wife atRockhold. "

"But, my dear Uncle Fabian, under present circumstances my grandfatheris my natural protector and Rockhold my proper home until my brother hasone to offer me. "

"Cora, you are not frank with me. I know how you feel about staying atRockhold, and also why you feel as you do; though I do not see by whatagency or intuition you could have gained the knowledge you seem topossess. "

"Uncle Fabian, I have no positive knowledge of any cause why I shouldshrink from continuing in my natural home. I have only suspicions, whichperhaps you could clear up or confirm, if you would be frank with me. "

He drove on slowly in silence without answering her. She continued:

"I wrote to you while you were in Europe, informing you that Mrs. Stillwater had been invited by my grandfather to come to Rockhold toremain as long as should be convenient to herself. You never replied tomy letter. "

"I never got such a letter, Cora. It must have been lost with othersthat miscarried among the Continental mails, when they were following mefrom one office to another. But even if I had received such a letter, itcould have made no difference. I could not have prevented Mrs. Stillwater's visit, nor the event that resulted from the visit. I couldnot have written or returned in time. "

"Should you have prevented the visit or the marriage that followed ifyou could have done so?"

"Most certainly I should. "

"Why?"

"For the same reason that you, or Clarence, or Sylvan would have doneso. For the reason of its total unfitness. But, Cora, my dear, I repeatthat you have not been frank with me. You are hiding something from me. "

"And I repeat, Uncle Fabian, that I have no positive knowledge of any--"

"Yes; so you said before, " he exclaimed, interrupting her. "You have nopositive knowledge, but you have very strong suspicions founded uponvery solid grounds! Now, what are these grounds, my dear? I am youruncle. You should give me your confidence. "

If Mr. Fabian had not put the matter in this way, and if they had notbeen driving along the dark and over-shadowed road where the meetingbranches of the trees above almost hid the light of the stars, so thatonly one or two occasionally gleamed through the foliage, Cora wouldnever have been able to reply to her uncle as she did. 

"Uncle Fabian, do you remember a certain warm night in September somefive years ago, when we stopped at the Wirt House in Baltimore?"

"On our way home from Canada--yes, I do. "

"My room was close that night and I could not sleep. A little aftermidnight I got up and put oil my dressing-gown and went into theadjoining room, which was our private parlor, and I sat down in a coolcorner in the shadow of the curtain and in the draught of the window. Ifell asleep, but was soon awakened by the sound of a door opening andsome one whispering. I was about to call out when I recognized yourvoice. The room was pitch dark. I could not see you; but then I wasabout to speak, when I recognized another voice--Mrs. Stillwater's. Youhad let yourself in by your own key, through the door leading from thehall. She had come in through the door leading from her room, which wason the opposite side of the parlor from mine. "

Cora paused to wait for the effect of her words. 

Mr. Fabian drove on slowly in silence. 

"I sat there quite still, too much surprised to speak or move. "

"And so you overheard that interview, " said Mr. Fabian, with a dash ofanger in his usually pleasant voice. 

"I could not escape. I was amazed, spellbound, too confused to know whatto do. "

"Well?"

"I gathered from your words that you and she were either secretlymarried or secretly engaged to be married. "

"That was your opinion. "

"What other opinion could I form? You were providing her with a houseand an income. She was speaking of herself as a daughter-in-law sure tobe acceptable to your father and mother. Of course, I judged from thatthat you were either wedded or betrothed, which was an incomprehensiblething to me, who had been led to believe that the lady was the wife ofCaptain Stillwater, remaining in Baltimore to meet her husband, whoseship was then daily expected to arrive. "

"You were wrong, Cora, " said Mr. Fabian, now speaking in his naturaltone without a shade of anger--quite wrong, my dear; there was nothingof the sort. I was never engaged to Mrs. Stillwater. "

"Then she subsequently refused you. I am telling you what I thoughtthen, not what I think now. I have heard from her own lips that afterher husband's death you proposed to her and she refused you. "

Mr. Fabian shook with silent laughter. When he recovered he asked:

"And you believed her?"

"I do not know. I was in a maze. There were so many contradictory andinconsistent circumstances surrounding the woman that seemed to live andmove in a web of deception woven by herself, " said Cora, wearily, as iftired of the subject. 

"And, after all, she is a very shallow creature, incapable of any deepscheming; there is no great harm. She knows that she is beautiful--stillbeautiful--and her only art is subtle flattery. She flattered yourgrandfather 'to the bent of his humor, ' with no deeper design than tomarry him and gain a luxurious home and an ample dower, as well as anadoring husband. You see she has succeeded in marrying him, poor littledevil! but she has gained nothing but a prison and a jailer and penalservitude. I repeat, there is no great harm in her; and yet, Cora, mydear, I do not permit my wife to visit her, and I do not wish you toremain in the same house with her. "

"Why, Uncle Fabian! you were the very first to introduce her to us! Itwas you who were charged with the duty of finding a nursery governessfor me, and you selected Rose Flowers from a host of applicants. "

"I know I did, my dear. She seemed to me a lovely, amiable, attractivegirl of seventeen, not very well educated, yet quite old enough andlearned enough to be nursery governess to a little lady of sevensummers. And she did her duty and made herself beloved by you all, didshe not?"

"Yes, indeed. "

"And so she always has done and always will do. And yet, my dear, youmust not live in the same house with her now, even if you did live yearstogether when she was your governess. "

"Are you not even more prejudiced against Mrs. Rockharrt than I am?"

"Bah! no, my dear; I have no ill will against the woman, though I willnot let my niece live with her or my wife visit her. 

"I wish, Uncle Fabian, that you would be more explicit and tell me allyou know of Rose Flowers--or Mrs. Stillwater--before she became Mrs. Rockharrt. "

"Have you told me all you know of her, Cora, my dear?"

"I have said several times that I know nothing, and yet--stop--"

"What?"

"In addition to that strange interview that I overheard, yet did notunderstand, there was something else that I saw, but equally did notunderstand. "

"What was that?"

"Something that happened while we were in New York city in May last. "

"Will you tell me what it was?"

"Yes, certainly. We were staying at the Star Hotel. We stayed overSunday, and we went to the Episcopal church near our hotel, to hear anEnglish divine preach. "

"Well?"

"He was the celebrated pulpit orator, the Dean of Olivet--"

"Good Heav--" exclaimed Mr. Fabian, involuntarily, but stopping himselfsuddenly. 

"What is the matter?" demanded Cora, suspiciously. 

"I was too near the edge of the precipice. We might have been in theriver in another moment, " said Mr. Fabian. 

Cora did not believe him, but she refrained from saying so. 

"The danger is past. Go on, my dear. "

"We were shown into the strangers' pew. The voluntary was playing. Weall bowed our heads for the short private prayer. The voluntary stopped. Then we heard the voice of the dean and we lifted our heads. I turned tooffer Mrs. Stillwater a prayer book. Then I saw her face. It wasghastly, and her eyes were fixed in a wild stare upon the face of thedean, whose eyes were upon the open book from which he was reading. Quick as lightning she covered her face with her veil and so remaineduntil we all knelt down for the opening prayer. When we arose from ourknees, Rose was gone. "

Cora paused for a few moments. 

"Go on, go on, " said Mr. Fabian. 

"We did not leave the church. Grandfather evidently took for grantedthat Rose had left on account of some trifling indisposition, and he isnot easily moved by women's ailments, you know. So we stayed out theservices and the sermon. When we returned to the hotel we found thatRose had retired to her room suffering from a severe attack of neuralgicheadache, as she said. "

"What did you think?"

"I thought she might have been suddenly attacked by maddening pain, which had given the wild look to her eyes; but the next day I had goodreason to change my opinion as to the cause of her strange demeanor. "

"What was that?"

"We all left the hotel at an early hour to take the train for WestPoint. Mrs. Stillwater seemed to have quite recovered from her illness. We had arrived at the depot and received our tickets, and were waitingat the rear of a great crowd at the railway gate, till it should beopened to let us pass to our train. I was standing on the right of mygrandfather, and Rose on my right. Suddenly a man looked around. He wasa great Wall Street broker who had dealings with your firm. Seeinggrandfather, he spoke to him heartily, and then begged to introduce thegentleman who was with him. And then and there he presented the Dean ofOlivet to Mr. Rockharrt, who, after a few words of polite greeting, presented the dean to me, and turned to find Rose Stillwater. "

"Well! Well!"

"She was gone. She had vanished from the crowd at the railway gate asswiftly, as suddenly, and as incomprehensibly as she had vanished fromthe church. After looking about him a little, my grandfather said thatshe had got pressed away from us by the crowd, but that she knew her wayand would take care of herself and follow us to the train all right. Butwhen the gates were opened we did not see her, nor did we find her onthe train, though Mr. Rockharrt walked up and down through the twentycars looking for her, and feeling sure that we should find her. Thetrain had started, so we had to go on without her. My grandfatherconcluded that she had accidentally missed it and would follow by thenext one. "

"And what did you think, Cora?"

"I thought that, for some antecedent and mysterious reason, she had fledfrom before the face of the Dean of Olivet at the railway station, evenas she had done at the church. "

"When and where did you find her?"

"Not until our return to New York city. My grandfather was in a finestate; kept the telegraph wires at work between West Point and New York, until he got some clew to her, and then, without waiting for the closingexercises at the military academy, he hurried me back to the city. Wefound the missing woman at St. L----'s hospital, where she had beenconveyed after having been found in an unconscious condition in theladies' room of the railway depot. She was better, and we brought heraway to the hotel. The Dean of Olivet went to Newport, and Mrs. Stillwater recovered her spirits. A few days later she married Mr. Rockharrt at the church where the dean had preached. You know everythingelse about the matter. And now, Uncle Fabian, tell me that woman'sstory, or at least all that is proper for me to know of it. "

"Cora, you read Rose Stillwater aright. She did on both these occasionsfly from before the face of the Dean of Olivet. I will tell you allabout her, for it is now right that you should know; but you mustpromise never to reveal it. "

"I promise. "

CHAPTER XXI. 

WHO WAS ROSE FLOWERS?

"Well, my dear Corona, I must ask you to cast your thoughts back to thatyear when you first came to Rockhold to live, and engrossed so much ofyour grandmother's time and attention that your grandfather grew jealousand impatient, and commissioned me to 'hire' a nursery governess tolook after you and teach you the rudiments of education. You rememberthat time, Cora?" inquired Mr. Fabian, as he held the reins with aslackened grasp, so that the horse jogged slowly along the wooded roadbetween the foot of the mountain and the banks of the river, under thestar-lit sky. 

"I remember perfectly, " answered the girl. 

"Well, business took me to New York about that time, and I thought it agood opportunity to hunt up a governess for you. So I advertised in theNew York papers, giving my address at an uptown office, while my ownbusiness kept me down town. 

"The first letter I opened interested me so much that I gave my wholeattention to that first, and so it happened that I had no occasion totouch the others. It was from one Ann White, who described herself as amotherless and fatherless girl of sixteen, a stranger in this country, who was trying to get employment as assistant teacher, governess, orcopyist, and who was well fitted to take sole charge of a little girlseven years old. 

"Perhaps this might not have impressed me, but she went on to write thatshe had not a friend in the whole country, that she was utterlydestitute and desolate, and begged me for Heaven's mercy not to throwher letter aside, but to see her and give her a trial. She inclosed herphotograph, not, as she wrote, from any vanity, but that I might see herface and take pity on her. 

"Cora, there was an air of childish frankness and simplicity about herletter that was well illustrated by her photograph. It was that of asweet-smiling baby face; a sunny, innocent beautiful face. I answeredthe letter immediately, asking for her address, that I might call andsee her. The next day I received her answer, thanking me withenthusiastic earnestness for my prompt attention to her note, and givingme the number and street of her residence in Harlem. I got on a SecondAvenue car and rode out to Harlem; got off at the terminus, walked up across street and walked some distance to a bijou of a brown cottage, standing in shaded grounds, with sunny gleams and flower beds, and halfcovered by creeping roses, clematis, wisteria, and all that. 

"I went in, and was received by the beautiful being that you have knownas Rose Flowers. She was dressed in some misty, cloud-like pale bluefabric that set off her blonde beauty to perfection. After we wereseated and had talked some time, I telling her what light duties wouldbe required of her--only the care of one good little girl of seven yearsold, and of a very mild old lady who was the only lady in the house, andof the old gentleman who was the head of the family, strict but just inall his dealings; and of our country house in the mountains and our townhouse in the State capital--and she expressing the greatest and frankestanxiety to become a member of such a happy, amiable, prosperous family, and declaring with childish boasting that she was quite competent toperform all the duties expected of her and would perform themconscientiously, I suddenly asked her for her references. 

"'I--I have not a friend in this world, ' she said; and then in a timidvoice, she asked: 'Are references indispensable?'

"'Of course, ' I answered

"'Then the Lord help me! Nothing is left but the river. The river won'trequire references;' and with that she buried her little golden-hairedhead in the cushions of the sofa and burst into a perfect storm of sobsand tears. Now, Cora, what in the deuce was a man to do? I had neverseen anything like that in all my life before. I had never seen a womanin such a fit before. All this was strange and horrible to me. 

"I am a middling strong old fellow, but that beautiful girl's despairupset me, and I never could hear any one hint suicide, and she talked ofthe river. The river would receive her without references. The river waskinder than her own fellow creatures! The river would give her a homeand rest and peace! She only wanted to do honest work for her living, but human beings would not even let her work for them withoutreferences! And I declare to you, Cora, she was not acting, as you mightsuspect. She was in deadly earnest. Her sobs shook her whole frame. 

"At last I myself behaved like an ass. I went and knelt down beside herso as to get quite close to her, and I began to comfort her. I told hernot to mind about the references; that she might have me for a referenceall the days of her life; that she should have the situation atRockhold, where I would convey her and introduce her on my ownresponsibility. 

"While I spoke to her I laid my hand on the little golden-haired headand smoothed it all the time. Out of pity, Cora, I assure you on myhonor, out of pity. After a while her sobs seemed to subside slowly. Itold her that her face was to me a sufficient recommendation in herfavor, and all-sufficient testimonial of character; but that I must haveher confidence in exchange for my own. 

"You see, Cora, I was very sorry for the poor, pretty creature, and wasreally anxious to befriend her; but also my curiosity was keenly piqued. I wished to know her private history, and so I assured her that sheshould have the position she wanted on the condition of telling me herantecedents. 

"At last she yielded, and told me the story of her short, willful life. This, then, was her poor, little, pathetic story. 

"Her name was Ann White. She was the daughter of Amos White, an Englishcurate, living in a remote village in Northumberland, and of his firstwife, who had died during the infancy of her youngest child, Ann, a yearafter which her father had married again. Ann's step-mother was one ofthe most beautiful women in England, and--one of the most discontented, as the wife of a widowed clergyman who was old enough to be her father, who had three sons and two daughters by a former marriage, and who wastrying to support his family on a hundred pounds a year. Yet, so long asher father lived, Ann's childhood was happy. But her father, who hadbeen a consumptive, also died when Ann was about seven years old. Thenthe family was broken up. The three step-sons went to seek theirfortunes in New Zealand. The eldest step-daughter had been married andhad gone to London a few months before her father's death; the youngerstep-daughter went to live with that married sister. Ann and herstep-mother were permitted to remain at the parsonage until thesuccessor of Amos White could be appointed. At last the new curatecame--a handsome and accomplished man--Rev. Raphael Rosslynn. He was abachelor, without near relatives. He called on the Widow White and atonce set her heart at ease by begging her not to trouble herself toleave the parsonage, but to remain there for the present at least, andtake him as a boarder. He was perfectly frank with the lovely widow, andtold her that he was engaged to his own cousin, and that as soon as heshould get a living promised him on the death of the present incumbent, and which was worth twelve hundred pounds a year, he should marry, butthat he could not allow himself to anticipate happiness that must riseon a grave. But in the course of the year that which might have beenexpected happened, the young widow, who had never cared for her elderlyfirst husband, fell desperately in love with her lodger, who was notvery slow to respond, for her grace, beauty and allurements attracted, bewildered, and bedeviled him, so that he forgot or deplored hisplighted vows to his good little cousin. To shorten the story, thecousin released him. In a few days the curate and the widow weremarried. Ann was utterly neglected, ignored, and forgotten. Her lessons, which, before the advent of the handsome curate, had been the widow'scare, were now suspended. Time went on, and these ardent lovers cooledoff. Not that their youth or health or beauty waned; not at all; butthat their illusions were fading. Yet, as often happens, as love cooled, jealousy warmed to life--each one conscious of indifference toward theother, yet resented a corresponding indifference in the other. As yearswent on, six children were born to this unhappy pair, whom not the Lordbut the devil had joined together, and with their increasing family cameincreasing poverty. It was hard to support a growing household on onehundred pounds a year. 

"In the seventh year of their marriage, in desperation, the ReverendRaphael advertised his ability and readiness to 'prepare young men forcollege. ' He obtained but one pupil one Alfred Whyte, the son of aretired brewer. You perceive that he had the same surname with the youngAnn, but it was spelled differently--with a _y_, instead of an _i_, asher name was. He seems to have been a fine, hearty, good natured youngfellow, about twenty years of age, with a short, stout form, a round, red face, and dark eyes and hair. He hated study, but loved children, animals, and out-door sports. It was in the course of nature that heshould fall in love with the fair fifteen-year-old beauty Ann White. 

"She returned his affection because since her father's death he was theonly human being who had ever been kind to her. The first year that hespent at the parsonage was the happiest year Ann had ever known. Beforeit drew to an end, however, their happiness was clouded. The young manhad over and over again assured the girl of his love for her, and atlast he asked her to marry him. She consented. Then he wrote and askedpermission of his father to wed the curate's step-daughter. 

"The answer might have been anticipated. The purse-proud retired brewer, who had dreams of his only son and heir going into Parliament andmarrying some impoverished nobleman's daughter, wrote two furiousletters, one to his son, commanding his immediate return home, andanother to the Rev. Raphael Rosslynn, reproaching him with havingentrapped his pupil into an engagement with his pauper step-daughter. 

"We can judge the effect of these letters upon the peace of theparsonage. 

"The Reverend Raphael commanded his pupil into his presence, and afterseverely censuring him for his conduct in 'betraying the confidence ofthe family who had received him into its bosom, ' he requested thatMaster Whyte should leave the house with all convenient speed. 

"The youth urged that he had meant no harm and had done no harm, that hewas honestly in love with the young lady, and had honestly asked leaveto marry her, and that he certainly would marry her--

 "'Though mammy and daddy and all gang mad. '

"Mr. Rosslynn referred him to his father's letter and ordered him todepart. And then the reverend gentleman went to his wife's room andbitterly reproached her that her forward girl had been the cause of hislosing his pupil and eighty pounds a year. 

"She told him that the fault was his own; that he should never havereceived a young man as a resident pupil in the house where there was ayoung girl. 

"A fierce quarrel ensued, which was ended at last by the reverendgentleman going out and banging the door behind him with a force thatshook the house, and in a state of mind that rendered him singularlyunfit to read the prayers for the sick beside the bed of a dyingparishioner to whom he was urgently summoned. 

"Mrs. Rosslynn immediately hastened to wreak her vengeance on herstep-daughter. She set her teeth as she seized the unlucky girl, whomshe found at work in the kitchen, pushed her roughly on into the narrowpassage up the steep stairs and into the little back loft that the childcalled her own bedroom. 

"Here she took a firmer grip upon the girl, and with a dog whip that shehad hastily snatched from the hat rack in passing, she lashed thehapless creature over back and shoulder. 

"Ann never struggled or cried out, but held her tongue in fierce wrathand stubborn endurance. Could that woman, the victim of all ungovernablepassions, have but known what she did, or foreseen its results!

"At last she ceased, pushed the bruised and wounded child away from her, sank panting to a chair, and as soon as she recovered her breath, beganto insult and abuse the orphan child of her deceased husband, chargingher with disgracing the house by improper conduct, of which the girl hadnever even dreamed; accusing her of causing the loss of their pupil andthe income derived from him, and reproaching her for making discordbetween herself (Mrs. Rosslynn) and her husband. 

"Ann replied by not one word. 

"At length the maddened woman, having talked herself out of breath, gotup, left the room, and locked the door, not on her victim alone, but onall the evil spirits she had raised from Tartarus and left with thegirl. 

"Ann sank upon the bed, weeping, moaning, and grinding her teeth, herbody prostrated by pain, her soul filled with bitter wrath and scorntoward one whom she should rather have been led to love and honor. Inthe fiery torture of her flesh and the humiliation of her spirit sheuttered but these piteous words:

"'Oh, my own mother!--oh, my lost father! do you see your child?'

"For more than an hour she lay there before the fierce smarting andburning of her scourged flesh began to subside. The short Novemberafternoon darkened into night. No one came near her. The hour for supperpassed. No one called her to the meal. She heard the family passing totheir rooms. She heard her mother putting the other children to bed--aduty that she herself had hitherto performed. At last all sounds diedaway in the house, and she knew that all the inmates had retired, andthe lights were out. She was meditating to run away; she did not know inwhat direction, or to what end, farther than to escape from the homethat was hateful to her. 

"Evil spirits were with her, suggesting many desperate thoughts; atlength they infused a deadly, horrible temptation to a deed ofself-destruction so ghastly that its discovery should appal the family, the parish, and the whole world; that should cover her tormentors withshame, reproach and infamy. 

"She sprang up from her bed and went to search in the drawer of a littleold wooden stand, until she found a half page of note paper and a bit oflead pencil. 

"She took them out and wrote to her persecutors, saying that she wasgoing to throw herself--not into the sea, nor from a precipice, becauseboth earth and sea give up their dead--but into the quicksands, whichnever give up anything; they, her tormentors, should never even seeagain the body they had bruised and torn and degraded; and she prayedthat the Lord would ever deal by them as they had dealt with her. 

"It must have been near midnight when she heard a tap at her window, solight that at first she thought it was made by a large raindrop; butpresently her name was softly called by a voice that she recognized. Then she understood it all, and her thoughts of the quicksands vanished. 

"Her room was a small one in the rear of the house, immediately over theback kitchen, and her back window opened upon the roof of the wood shedbehind the kitchen. She went and hoisted the window, and there on theroof of the wood shed stood Alfred Whyte. 

"He told her that he had taken leave of the ogre and the ogress hoursbefore, and they thought he was off to London by the four o'clock mail;but that he had gone no farther than the railway station, where he hadbought a ticket, and had gone on the platform, as if to wait for histrain; but when it came up, instead of taking his place on it, he hadslipped away in the confusion of its arrival and had hidden himself inthe woods on the other side of the road, where he had waited until itwas dark, when he had come back to watch the parsonage until every oneshould have gone to bed, so that he could get speech with Ann. 

"And then he asked her if she were 'game for a bolt?"

"She did not understand him; but when he next spoke plainly, andinquired if she would run away with him and be married, she answeredpromptly that she would. 

"He told her to get ready quickly, and to dress warmly, for the nightwas damp and cold, and to tie up a little bundle of things that shemight need on the journey; but not to take much, because he had plentyof money, and could buy her all she needed. 

"'Much;' Poor little thing, she had not much to take! She put on herbest dress--a well-worn blue serge--a coarse, black cloth walkingjacket, and a little straw hat with a faded blue ribbon. She had nogloves. She tied up a hair brush, worn nearly to the wood, a tooth brushnot much better, the half of a broken dressing comb, and one clean linencollar, in a small pocket handkerchief, and she was all ready for herwedding trip. 

"He told her to bolt her door before she came out, because that wouldtake the ogres some little while to force it open, and would give thefugitives a better start. 

"Ann did everything her boy lover directed, and finally stepped out ofthe window on to the roof below, and joined him. He let down the window, and closed the shutters with a spring that securely fastened them. 

"That, he told her, would certainly give them a longer start, for itwould take an hour at least to force the room open and discover herflight. 

"Then they left the parsonage together. 

"She had forgotten all about the parting note of malediction which shehad left behind her on the stand, as she stepped along the lane leadingto the highway. 

"He asked her to take his arm, and when they reached the public road, heinquired if she were game for a ten mile walk. 

"She told him that she could walk to the end of the world with him, because she was so happy to be beside the only one on earth who had everbeen kind to her--since her father's death. 

"Then he explained the steps that he had taken, and must still take, toelude pursuit; how that he had gone to the railway station and bought afirst class ticket for the four o'clock express to London, andafterward, when the train came up, he had mingled with the crowd gettingoff and getting on, and so eluded observation, and had slipped away andhidden himself in the thicket until dark, so as to make every oneconcerned believe that he had gone off by the mail train alone toLondon. 

"Now he told her that they must trudge straight on ten miles north, totake the train to Glasgow; so that while people were hunting for them inthe south, they would be safe in the north. 

"As they walked on he told her that he wanted to get away from Englandand see the world--the new world across the ocean. He had seen Europesummer after summer, traveling with his father and mother on theContinent. Now he wanted to see America; and asked her if she did notalso. 

"She told him that she wanted to see every place that he wanted to see, and to go everywhere he wanted to go, for that he was the only friendshe had in all the wide world. 

"So they walked on for about three hours, and then, about two o'clock inthe morning, they reached the little railway station of Skelton. Theyhad to wait two hours for the parliamentary train, which came heavilypuffing in about five o'clock on that November morning. 

"Young Whyte took second class tickets, and led his closely veiledcompanion to her seat on the train. And they moved off. 

"They reached Glasgow about ten o'clock the next day, and found thatthere was a steamer bound for New York, to sail at noon. No time was tobe lost, so they both went to the agency together, representedthemselves as a newly married pair, and engaged the only stateroom tobe procured--which happened to be in the second cabin. Their ticketswere filled in with the names of Mr. And Mrs. Alfred Whyte--which indeedconstituted a legal marriage in Scotland, where a marriageable pair oflovers have only to declare themselves man and wife, in the presence ofcompetent witnesses, to be as lawfully married as if the ceremony hadbeen performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury in his own cathedral. 

"They took possession of their stateroom on the Caledonian, which sailedat noon of the same day, and in due time arrived at New York. 

"They spent two days at an uptown hotel, and then took the prettycottage at Harlem, in which they lived for several months. Ann'sboy-husband often told her that she grew prettier every day, and heseemed to grow fonder of her every day. He supplied her with a niceroutfit of clothing and more pocket money than she had ever had in herpoverty-stricken life, and made her much happier every way than she hadever been before, as long as his money lasted. 

"He had left England with nearly one hundred pounds in his pocket--theamount of his half-yearly allowance. 

"On his arrival in New York, he had written to his father and confessedhis marriage with his tutor's step-daughter and begged forgivenessand--remittances. 

"Ann declined to write to her step-mother or the curate, declaring thatshe preferred that they should believe that she had been driven by theircruelty to bury herself in the quicksands, and that they should sufferall the remorse of conscience and reprobation of society that theirconduct toward her deserved. 

"But weeks passed, on and no letter filled with blessings and banknotes came from the offended and obdurate father, though the boyconstantly assured his girl-wife that the expected epistle would surelycome in time, for he was the 'old man's' only son, whom he would not belikely to discard. 

"Meanwhile their money was running low. The youth was anxious to traveland see the new world, and to take his bride with him, but he could notdo so without funds. At the end of six weeks after he had written thefirst letter to his father he wrote a second, but received no answer;later still he wrote a third, with no better success. 

"They had gone a little into debt, in order to eke out their littleready money until the longed-for letters of credit should come fromEngland; but at the end of six months credit and cash were nearlyexhausted. 

"One morning in May the boy-husband took leave of the girl-wife, saying, as he kissed her good-by, that he was going down into the city to see ifhe could get some work to do. 

"Without the least misgiving, she received his farewell kiss, and sawhim depart--watched him all the way down the street, until he got toSecond Avenue and boarded a down-town car. 

"Then she re-entered the little gate, and began to tend the jonquils andhyacinths that were just coming into bloom in her little flower garden. She did not expect to see him until night, nor--did she see him eventhen. When the little gate opened at eight o'clock and a man came up thewalk leading to the front door at which she stood, he was not herhusband, but the letter carrier, who put a letter in her hand and wentaway. 

"She ran into the house, and lighted the gas to read her letter. Thoughit gave her a shock, it did not shake her faith in her boy. 

"The letter told her, in effect, that Alfred Whyte, when he left herthat morning, had started to go to England in the only way by which hecould get there--that is, by working his passage as a deck hand on boardan outward bound ship; that he had decided on this course so as to get apersonal interview with his father, to whom he would go as a penitentprodigal son; for he was sure of obtaining by this means forgiveness, and assistance that would enable him to return and bring his little wifeback to England, where they would thenceforth live in comfort andluxury; that the reason he had not confided to her his intention ofmaking the voyage was because he dreaded opposition from her that mighthave led him to abandon the one plan by which he hoped to better theircondition. 

"He concluded by entreating her not to think for one instant that heintended to desert her, who was dearer to him than his own life, but totrust in him as he trusted in her. In a postscript he told her where tofind the small balance of money they had left, as he had only takenenough for his car fare to the city. In a second postscript he promisedto write by every opportunity. In a third and last postscript he beggedher to keep up her heart. 

"It seemed a frank letter, yet it was reticent upon one point--the nameof the ship on which he had sailed. This omission might have beenaccidental. It certainly did not raise any doubt of the boy's good faithin the mind of the girl. 

"She cried a great deal over the separation from her lad, and she made aconfidant of the elderly Irishwoman who was her sole servant. 

"After two weeks, Ann began to watch daily for the letter carrier, inhope of getting a letter from Alfred; but day after day, week afterweek, passed and none came. But there came news of the wreck of thePorpoise, which had sailed from New York for London on the very day thatAlfred Whyte had left the country--and which had gone down in a storm inmid-ocean with all on board. 

"But as numerous ships had left New York on that day bound for variousBritish ports, it was impossible to discover whether the boy was onboard, or if he shipped under his own name or an assumed one. 

"Ann cried more than ever for a few days, but then seemed to give up herlad for lost, and to resign herself to the 'inevitable. '

"She wrote to Mr. Alfred Whyte, Senior, but got no reply to her letter;again and again she wrote with no better success. The little balance ofmoney left by her boy-husband was all gone. She began to sell off thetrifles of jewelry that he had given her. 

"One morning the letter carrier left a letter with a London postmarkcontaining a bill of exchange for a hundred pounds, and not one wordbesides. 

"Had it come from her boy-husband, or from his father? She could nottell. 

"Well, to be brief, she never saw nor heard of him again. She livedcomfortably with her motherly old servant, enjoyed life thoroughly andgrew more beautiful every day, and this fool's paradise lasted as longas her money did. Before her last dollar was gone, she saw theadvertisement in the _Pursuivant_ for a nursery governess, and answeredit, as has been told. 

"This, my dear Cora, is the substance of the story told me by Ann Whiteon the day that I called on her in answer to her letter. What do youthink of it?" inquired Mr. Fabian when he had finished his narrative. 

"I think the cruel neglect of her step-parents and the sufferings of herchildhood accountable for all her faults, and I feel very sorry forher, notwithstanding that she seems to be a very heartless animal, "replied Corona. 

"That is the secret of the wonderful preservation of her youth andbeauty even up to this present time. Nothing wears a woman out as fastas her own heart. "

"You engaged her as you promised to do, but why did you introduce her atRockhold as a single girl, and why under an alias?" gravely inquiredCorona. 

"I introduced her as a single girl at her own request because of herextreme youth and her timidity. She naturally shrank from being known asa discarded wife or a doubtful widow. Besides, I never did say she was asingle girl. I merely presented her as Rose Flowers, and left it to beinferred from her baby face that she was so. "

"But why Rose Flowers when her name was Ann White?"

"What a cross-questioner you are, Corona! but I will answer you. Againit was by her own desire that I presented her as Rose Flowers, which wasnot an alias, as she explained to me, but a part of her true name. Shehad been baptized as Rose Anna Flowers, which was the maiden name of hergrandmother, her father's mother. "

Cora might have asked another question, not so easily answered, if shehad known the circumstances to which it related, namely: why Mr. Fabianhad fabricated that false story of the young governess which he palmedupon his parents; but, in fact, Cora, at that time a child seven yearsold, had never heard of it. But she made another inquiry. 

"What became of Rose Flowers after she left us? Did she really go toanother place? Who was--Captain Stillwater?"

"Mr. Fabian drove slowly and thoughtfully on without answering herquestion until she had repeated it. Then he said:

"Cora, my dear, that is a story I cannot tell you. Let it be enough forme to say, the Stillwater episode in the life of this lady is the groundupon which I forbid my wife to visit her and object to my nieceassociating with her. "

"Does Violet know the Stillwater story?"

"No; not so much of it even as you have heard. Now, look here, Cora, youthink it inconsistent perhaps that I should have brought this woman toRockhold years ago to become your governess, and now, when she is myfather's wife, object to your intimacy with her. In the first instanceshe has been far, very far, 'more sinned against than sinning;' she hadbeen very imprudent, that was all. She was really the wife, by Scotchlaw, of the boy she ran away with and then lost. I saw nothing in hercase that ought to prevent her entrance into a respectable family, andHeaven knows I pitied her and tried to save her by bringing her toRockhold. I saved her only for a few years. After she left us--butthere, I cannot tell you that story! You must not be intimate with her. "

"Yet she is my grandfather's wife!"

"An irreparable misfortune. I can't expose her life to him; such a blowto his pride might be his death, at his age. No! events must take theircourse; but I hope he will not take her to any place where she is likelyto be recognized. Nor do I think he will. He is aging fast, and will belikely to live quietly at Rockhold. "

"And I think she also would avoid such risks. She was terriblyfrightened when she recognized the Dean of Olivet. Was he really herstepfather, the once poor curate?"

"Yes. You see while they were lionizing him in the Eastern cities, hisportrait, with a short biographical notice, was published in one of theillustrated weeklies, where I read of him, and identified him bycomparing notes with what I had heard. "

"How came he to rise so high?"

"Oh, he was a learned divine and eloquent orator. He was well connected, too. It would seem that a very few months after his step-daughter'sflight he was inducted into that rich living for which he had beenwaiting so many years. From that position his rise was slow indeed, covering a period of twenty years, until a few months ago, when he wasmade Dean of Olivet. "

"To think that a man capable of quarreling with his wife and ill-usingtheir step-child should fill so sacred a position in the church!"exclaimed Cora. 

"Yes; but you see, my dear, the church is his profession, not hisvocation. He is a brilliant pulpit orator, with influential friends; butevery brilliant pulpit orator is not necessarily a saint. And as for hisquarreling with his wife and ill-using their step-daughter, we haveheard but one side of that story. "

When they entered the Rockhold drawing room they found Mrs. Rockharrtalone. She arose and came forward and received them with a smile. 

"Your grandfather, my dear, " she explained to Cora, "came home laterthan usual from North End, and very much more than usually fatigued. Immediately after dinner he lay down and I left him asleep. "

"Where is Uncle Clarence?" inquired Corona. 

"He remains at the works for the night. Will you have this chair, love?"said Rose, pulling forward a luxurious "sleepy hollow. "

"No, thank you. I must go to my room and change my dress. Will youexcuse me for half an hour, Uncle Fabian?" inquired Cora. 

"Most willingly, my dear, " replied Mr. Fabian, with a very pleasedlook. Cora left the room. 

"I will go with you, " exclaimed Rose, turning pale and starting up tofollow the young lady. 

"No. You will not, " said Mr. Fabian, in a tone of authority, as he laidhis hand heavily on the woman's shoulder. "Sit down. I have something tosay to you. "

CHAPTER XXII. 

FABIAN AND ROSE. 

"What do you mean?"

"I should rather ask what do you mean, or rather what did you mean, bydaring to marry any honest man, and of all men--Aaron Rockharrt? It wasthe most audacious challenging of destruction that the most recklessdesperado could venture upon. " Fabian Rockharrt continued, mercilessly:

"Do you not know what, if Mr. Rockharrt were to discover the deceptionyou put upon him, he might do and think himself justified in doing toyou?"

Rose shuddered in silence. 

"The very least that he would do would be to turn you out of his house, without a dollar, and shut his doors on you forever. Then what wouldbecome of you? Who would take you in?"

"Oh, Fabian!" she screamed at last. "Do not talk to me so. You willfrighten me into hysterics. "

"Now don't make a noise. For if you do, you will precipitate thecatastrophe that you fear. Be quiet, I beg you, " said Mr. Fabian, composedly, putting his thumbs in his vest pockets and leaning back. 

"Why do you say such cruel things to me, then? Such inconsistentthings, too. If I was good enough to marry you, I was good enough tomarry your father. "

"But you were never good enough to marry either of us, my dear. If youwill take a little time to reflect on your antecedents, you willacknowledge that you were not quite good enough to marry any honestman, " said Mr. Fabian, coolly. 

"Yet you asked me to marry you, " she said, sobbing softly, with herhandkerchief to her eyes. 

"Beg pardon, my dear. I think the asking was rather on the other side. You were very urgent that we should be married, and that our betrothalshould be formally announced. "

"Yes; because you led me to believe that you were going to marry me. "

"Excuse me. I never led you to believe so, simply allowed you to believeso. What could a gentleman do under the circumstances? He couldn'tcontradict a lady. "

"Oh, what a prevarication, Fabian Rockharrt, when every word, everydeed, every look you bestowed on me went to assure me that you loved meand wished to marry me!"

"Softly, my dear. Softly. I was sorry for you and generous to you. Igave you the use of a pretty little house and a sufficient income duringgood behavior. But you were ungrateful to me, Rose. You were unkind tome. "

"I was not. I would have married you. I could not have done more thanthat. "

"But, my dear, your good sense must have told you that I could not marryyou. I have done the best I could by you always. Twice I rescued youfrom ruin. Once when you were but little more than a child, and yourboy-lover, or husband, had left you alone, a young stranger in astrange land--a girl friendless, penniless, beautiful, and so in deadlyperil of perdition, I took you on your own representation, andintroduced you into my own family as the governess of my niece. I becameresponsible for you. "

"And did I not try my best to please everybody?" sobbed the woman. 

"That you did, " heartily responded Mr. Fabian. "And everybody loved you. So that, at the end of five years' service, when my niece was to enter afinishing school, and you were to go to another situation, you took withyou the best testimonials from my father and mother and from theminister of our parish. But you did not keep your second situationlong. "

"How could I? I was but half taught. The Warrens would have had me teachtheir children French and German, and music on the harp and the piano. Iknew no language but my own, and no music except that of the piano, which the dear, gentle lady, your mother, taught me out of the kindnessof her heart. I was told that I must leave at the end of the term. Andmy term was nearly out when Captain Stillwater became a daily visitor tothe house, and I saw him every evening. He was a tall, handsome man, with a dark complexion and black hair and beard. And I always did admirethat sort of a man. Indeed, that was the reason why I always admiredyou. "

"Don't attempt to flatter me. "

"I am not flattering anybody. I am telling you why I liked CaptainStillwater. And he was always so good to me! I told him all my troubles. And he sympathized with me! And when I told him that I should be obligedto leave my situation at the end of the quarter, he bade me never mind. And he asked me to be his wife. I did consent to be his wife. I was gladof the chance to get a husband, and a home. So all was arranged. Headvised me not to tell the Warrens that we were to be married, however. So at the end of my quarter I went away to a hotel, where CaptainStillwater came for me and took me away to the church where we weremarried. "

"You had no knowledge that Alfred Whyte was dead, and that you were freeto wed!"

"He had been lost seven years and was as good as dead to me! Besides, when a man is missing and has; not been heard of for seven years, hiswife is free to marry again, is she not?"

"No. She has good grounds for a divorce that is all! To risk a secondmarriage without these legal formalities, would be dangerous! Might bedisastrous! The first husband might turn up and make trouble!"

"I did not know that! But, after all, as it turned out, it did notmatter!" sighed Rose. 

"Not in the least!" assented Mr. Fabian, amiably. 

"After all, it was not my fault! I married him in good faith; I did, indeed!"

"Did you tell him of your previous marriage? That is what you have nottold me yet!"

"N-n-no; I was afraid if I did he might break off with me. "

"Ah!"

"And I was in such extremity for the want of a home!"

"Had not my father and mother told you that if ever you should findyourself out of a situation, you should come to them? Why did you nottake them at their word? They had always been very kind to you, and theywould have given you a warm welcome and a happy home. Now, why need youhave rushed into a reckless marriage for a home?"

"Oh, Fabian!" she exclaimed, impatiently, "don't pretend to talk likean idiot, for you are not one! Don't talk to me as if I were a wax dollor a wooden woman, for you know I am not one!"

"I am sure I do not know what you mean!"

"Well, then, I loved the man! There, it is out! I loved him more than Iever loved any one else in the whole world! And I was afraid of losinghim!"

"And so it was because you loved him so well that you deceived him somuch!"

"Didn't he deceive me much more?"

"There were a pair of you--well matched! So well, it seems a pity thatyou were parted!"

"Oh, how very unkind you are to me!"

"Not yet unkind! Only waiting to see how you are going to behave!"

"I have never behaved badly! I was not wicked; I was unhappy! Unhappyfrom my birth, almost! I had no evil designs against anybody. I onlywanted to be happy and to see people happy. I honestly believed I waslawfully married to Captain Stillwater. He took me to the Wirt House andregistered our names as Mr. And Mrs. Stillwater. And we were very happyuntil his ship sailed. He gave me plenty of money before he went away;but I was heartbroken to part with him, and could take no pleasure inanything until I got a little used to his absence. "

"I think you told me that you met him once more before your finalseparation. When was that meeting? Eh?"

"Fabian Rockharrt, are you trying to catch me in a falsehood? You knowvery well that I never told you anything of the sort I told you that Inever saw him again after he sailed away that autumn day! I waited allthe autumn and heard nothing from him, I wrote to him often, but noneof my letters were answered. At length I longed so much to see him thatI grew wild and reckless and resolved to follow him. I took passage inthe second cabin of the Africa and sailed for Liverpool, where I arrivedabout the middle of December. I went to the agency of the Blue StarLine, to which his ship belonged, and inquired where he was to be found. They told me he had sailed for Calcutta and had taken his wife with him!It turned me to stone--to stone, Fabian--almost! I remember I sat downon a bench and felt numb and cold. And then I asked how long he had beenmarried--hoping, if it was true, that my own was the first and thelawful union. They told me, for ten years, but as they had no family, his wife usually accompanied him on all his voyages. So she had now gonewith him to Calcutta. "

"I suspect the people in that office were pretty well acquainted withthe handsome skipper's 'ways and manners, ' and that they understood yourcase at once. "

"I do really believe they did, " said Rose; "for they looked at me sostrangely, and one man, who seemed to be a porter or a messenger, orsomething of that sort, said something about a sailor having a wife atevery port. "

"So after that you came back to New York, and did, at last, what youshould have done at first--you wrote to me. "

"There was no one on earth to whom, under the peculiar circumstances, Icould have written but to you. Oh, Fabian! to whom else could I appeal?"

"And did I not respond promptly to your call?"

"Indeed you did, like a true knight, as you were. And I did not deceiveyou by any false story, Fabian. I told you all--even thing--how basely Ihad been deceived--and you soothed and consoled me, and told me that, as I had not sinned intentionally, I had not sinned at all; and youbrought me with you to the State capital, and established me comfortablythere. "

"But you were very ungrateful, my dear. You took everything; gavenothing. "

"I would have given you myself in marriage, but you would not have me. You did not think me good enough for you. "

"But, bless my wig, child! for your age you had been too much marriedalready--a great deal too much married! You got into the habit ofgetting married. "

"Oh! how merciless you are to me!" Rose said, beginning to weep. 

"No; I am not. I have never been unkind to you--as yet. I don't knowwhat I may be! My course toward you will depend very much upon yourself. Have I not always hitherto been your best friend? Ungrateful, unresponsive though you were at that time, did I not procure for you aninvitation from my mother to accompany her party on that long, delightful summer trip?"

"I had an impression at the time that I owed the invitation to yourfather, who suggested to your mother to write and ask me to accompanythem. "

Mr. Fabian looked surprised, and said--for he never hesitated to tell afib:

"Oh! that was quite a mistake. It was I myself who suggested theinvitation. I thought it would be agreeable to you. Was it not I myselfwho sent you forward in advance to the Wirt House, Baltimore, there toawait the arrival of our party, and join us in our summer travel? Anddidn't you have a long, delightful tour with us through the most sublimescenery in the most salubrious climates on earth? Didn't you return aperfect Hebe in health and bloom?"

"I acknowledge all that. I acknowledge all my obligations to yourfamily; but at the same time I declare that I also did my part. I was asa white slave to your parents. I was lady's maid to your mother, footboy to your father. I don't know, indeed, what the old people would havedone without me, for no hired servant could have served them asfaithfully as I did. "

"Oh, yes; you were grateful and devoted to all the family except to me, your best friend--to me, who gave you the use of a lovely home, and aliberal income, and a faithful friendship; and then trusted in yoursense of justice for my reward. "

"I would have given you all I possessed in the world--my own poor selfin marriage--and you led me on to believe that you wished to marry me, but, finally, you would not have me. You went off and married anotherwoman. "

"Bah! we are talking around in a circle, and getting back to where webegan. Let us come to the point. "

"Very well; come to the point, " said Rose, sulkily. 

"Listen, then: It is not for your reckless elopement with yourstep-father's pupil, when you were driven from home by cruelty; it isnot for your false marriage with Stillwater, when you yourself weredeceived; but because with all these antecedents againstyou--antecedents which constituted you, however unjustly, a pariah, whoshould have lived quietly and obscurely, but who, instead of doing so, took advantage of kindness shown her, and betrayed the family whosheltered her by luring into a disgraceful marriage its revered father, and bringing to deep dishonor the gray head of Aaron Rockharrt, a man ofstern integrity and unblemished reputation--you should be denounced andpunished. "

"Oh, Fabian, have mercy! have mercy! You would not now, after years offriendship, you would not now ruin me?"

"Listen to me! You checkmated me in that matter of the cottage and theincome. Yes, simple as you seem, and sharp as I may appear, youcertainly managed to take all and give nothing. And when you found butthat you could not take my hand and my name, you waylaid me at therailway station, when I was on my wedding tour, and you swore to berevenged. I laughed at you. I advised you to be anything rather thandramatic. I never imagined the possibility of your threatened revengetaking the form of your marriage. Well, my dear, you have your revenge, I admit; but in your blindness, you could not see that revenge itselfmight be met by retribution! One man kills another for revenge, and doesnot, in his blind fury, see the gallows looming in the distance. "

"What do you mean? You cannot hang me for marrying your father, "exclaimed Rose. 

"No; don't raise your voice, or you may be heard. No, Rose, I cannothang you for treachery; but, my dear, there are worse fates than neatand tidy hanging, which is over in a few minutes. I could expose yourpast life to my father. You know him, and you know that he would show noruth, no mercy to deception and treachery such as yours. You know thathe would turn you out of the house without money or character, destituteand degraded. What then would be your fate at your age--a fading rosepast thirty-seven years old? Sooner or later, and very little later, thepoor-house or the hospital. Better a sweet, tidy little hanging and bedone with it, if possible. "

"You are a fiend to talk to me so! a fiend! Fabian Rockharrt, " exclaimedRose, bursting into hysterical sobs and tears. 

"Now, be quiet, my child; you'll raise the house, and then there will bean explosion. "

"I don't care if there will be. You are cruel, savage, barbarous! Inever meant to do any harm by marrying Mr. Rockharrt. I never meant tobe revenged on you or anybody. I only said so because I was so excitedby your desertion of me. I married the old gentleman for a refuge fromthe world. I meant to do my duty by him, though he is as cross as a bearwith a bruised head. But do your worst; I don't care. I would just aslief die as live. I am tired of trying to be good; tired of trying toplease people; tired, oh, very tired of living!"

"Come, come, " said soft-hearted Mr. Fabian; "none of that nonsense. Place yourself in my hands, to be guided by me and to work for myinterests, and none of these evils shall happen to you. You shall liveand die in wealth and luxury, my father's honored wife, the mistress ofRockhold. "

He spoke slowly, tenderly, caressingly, and as she listened to him hersobs and tears subsided and she grew calmer. 

"What is it you want me to do for you? What can I do for you, indeed, powerless as I am?" she inquired at last. 

"You must use all your influence with my father in my interests, and useit discreetly and perseveringly, " he whispered. 

"But I have no influence. Never was the young wife of an old man--and Iam young in comparison to him--treated so harshly. I am not his pet; Iam his slave!" she complained. 

"But you must obtain influence over him. You can do that. You are withhim night and day when he is not at his business. You are hisshadow--beg pardon, I ought to have said his sunshine. "

"I am his slave, I tell you. "

"Then be his humble, submissive, obedient slave; betray nodisappointment, discontent, or impatience at your lot. The harsher heis, the humbler must you be; the more despotic he becomes, the moresubservient you must seem. Make yourself so perfectly complying in allhis moods that he shall believe you to be the very 'perfect rose ofwomanhood, ' more excellent even than he thought when he married you, andso as he grows older and weaker in mind as well as body you will gainnot only influence but ascendency over him, and these you must use in myinterest. "

"But how? I don't understand. "

"Pay attention, then, and you will understand Mr. Rockharrt is aged. Inthe course of nature he must soon pass away. Fie has made no will. Should he die intestate, the whole property, by the laws of thiscommonwealth, would fall to pieces; that is to say, it would be dividedinto three parts--one-third would go to you--"

Rose started, caught her breath, and stared at the speaker; the greed ofgain dilating her great blue eyes. The third of the Rockharrt's fabulouswealth to be hers at her husband's death! Amazing! How many millions ortens of millions would that be? Incredible! And all for her, and shewith, perhaps, half a century of life to live and enjoy it! What avista!

"Why do you stare at me so?" demanded Mr. Fabian. 

"Because I was so surprised. That is not the law in England. In Englandthere are usually what are called marriage settlements, which make asuitable provision for the wife, but leave the bulk of the property togo to the children--generally to the oldest son. "

"And such should be the law here, but it isn't; and so if my fathershould die without having made a will, the great estate would break, asI said, into three parts--one part would be yours, the other two partswould be divided into three shares, to me, to my brother, and to theheirs of my sister. The business at North End would probably be carriedon by Aaron Rockharrt's sons. "

"But would not that be equitable?" inquired Rose, who had no mind tohave her third interfered with. 

"It would not be expedient, nor is such a disposition of his propertythe intention of Aaron Rockharrt. I know, from what he has occasionallyhinted, that he means to bequeath the Great North End Works to me and mybrother Clarence, share and share alike; but he puts off making thiswill, which indeed must never be made. The North End Works should not bea monster with two heads, but a colossus with one head with my head. Sothat I wish my father to make a will leaving the North End Works to meexclusively--to me alone as the one head. "

"I think if I dared to suggest such a thing to him, he would take off myhead!" said Rose, with grim humor. 

"I think he would if you should do so suddenly or clumsily. But you mustinsinuate the idea very slowly and subtlely. Clarence is not for theworks; Clarence is too good for this world--at least for the business ofthis world. I think him half an imbecile! My father does not hesitate tocall him a perfect idiot. Do you begin to see your way now? Clarence canbe moderately provided for, but should have no share in the North EndWorks. "

"The North End Works to be left to you solely; Clarence to be moderatelyprovided for; and what of the two children of the late Mrs. Haught?"

"Oh! my father never intends to leave them more than a modest legacy. They have each inherited money from their father. No; understand meonce for all, Rose. I must be the sole heir of all my father's wealth, with the exceptions I have named, and the sole successor to hisbusiness, without any exception whatever. You must live, serve him andbear with him only to obtain such an ascendency over him as to inducehim to make such a will as I have dictated to you. You can do this. Youcan insinuate it so subtlely that he will never suspect the suggestioncame from you. I say you can do this, and you must do it. The woman whocould deceive and entrap old Aaron Rockharrt, the Iron King, intomatrimony, can do anything else in the world that she pleases to do withhim if only she will be as subtle, as patient, and as complacent to himafter marriage as she had been before marriage. "

"If Clarence is to be so provided for, Cora and Sylvan to have modestlegacies, and you to have the huge bulk of the estate--where is my thirdto come from?"

"Why, my dear, I could never let you have so vast a slice out of themammoth fortune! Your third of the estate must follow Clarence's shareof the business--into nothingness. You must play magnanimity, sacrificeyour third, and content yourself with a suitable provision, " saidFabian, equably. 

"I will never do that! I would not do it to save your life, FabianRockharrt!"

"Oh, yes, you will, my darling. Not to save my life, but to saveyourself from being denounced to Mr. Rockharrt, and turned out of thishouse, destitute and degraded. "

"I don't care if I should be! Do you think me quite a baby in yourhands? I have been reflecting since you have been talking to me. I havebeen remembering that you told me that the law gives the widow one thirdof her late husband's property when he dies intestate, and entitles herto it, no matter what sort of a will he makes. "

"Unless there has been a settlement, my angel, " said Mr. Fabian, composedly. 

"Well, there has been no settlement in my case. So whether AaronRockharrt should die intestate, or whether he should make a will, I amsure of my lawful third. So I defy you, Mr. Fabian Rockharrt. You maydenounce me to your father He may turn me out of doors without a penny, and 'without a character, ' as the servants say, but he cannot divorceme, because I have been faithful to him ever since our marriage. I couldcompel him by law to support me, even though he might not let me sharehis home. He would be obliged by law to give me alimony in proportion tohis income, and, oh! what a magnificent revenue that would be forme--with freedom from his tyranny into the bargain! And at his death, which could not be long coming at his age, and after such a shock as hisdutiful son proposes to give him, I should come in for my third. And, oh, where so rich a widow as I should be! With forty or fifty years oflife before me in which to enjoy my fortune! Ah, you see, my clever Mr. Fabian Rockharrt, though you frightened me out of self-possession atfirst, when I come to think over the situation, I find that you can dome no great harm. If you should put your threats in execution and bringabout a violent separation between myself and my husband, you would dome a signal favor, for I should gain my personal freedom, with ahandsome alimony during his life, and at his death a third of his vastestate, " she concluded, snapping her fingers in his face. 

"I think not. "

"Yes; I would. "

"No; you would not. "

"Indeed! Why would I not, pray?" she inquired, with mockingincredulity. 

"Oh, because of a mere trifle in your code of morals--an insignificantimpediment. "

"Tchut!" she exclaimed, contemptuously. "Do you think me quite anidiot?"

"I think you would be much worse than an idiot if, in case of myfather's discarding you, you should move an inch toward obtainingalimony or in the case of the coveted 'third. '"

"Pshaw! Why, pray?"

"Because you have not, and never can have, the shadow of a right toeither. "

"Bah! why not?"

"Because--Alfred Whyte is living!"

She caught her breath and gazed at the speaker with great dilating blueeyes. 

"What--do--you--mean?" she faltered. 

"Alfred Whyte, your husband of twenty years ago, is still living andlikely to live--a very handsome man of forty years old, residing at hismagnificent country seat, Whyte Hall, Dulwich, near London. "

"Married again?" she whispered, hoarsely. 

"Certainly not; an English gentleman does not commit bigamy. "

"How did you--become acquainted--with these facts?"

"I was sufficiently interested in you to seek him out, when I was inEngland. I discovered where he lived; also that he was looking out forthe best investment of his idle capital. I called on him personally inthe interests of our great enterprise. He is now a member of the Londonsyndicate. "

"Did you speak--of me?"

"Never mentioned your name. How could I, knowing as I did of theStillwater episode in your story?"

"And he lives! Alfred Whyte lives! Oh, misery, misery, misery! Evil fatehas followed me all the days of my life, " moaned Rose, wringing herhands. 

"Now, why should you take on so, because Whyte is living? Would you havehad that fine, vigorous man, in the prime of his life, die for yourbenefit?"

"But I thought he was dead long ago. "

"You were too ready to believe that, and to console yourself. He wasmore faithful to your memory. "

"How do you know? You said my name was never mentioned between you. "

"Not from him, but from a mutual acquaintance, of whom I asked how itwas that Mr. Whyte had never married, I heard that he had grieved forher out of all reason and had ever remained faithful to the memory ofhis first and only love. My own inference was, and is, that the reportof your death was got up by his friends to break off the connection. "

"And you never told this 'mutual friend' that I still lived?"

"How could I, my dear, with my knowledge of your Stillwater affair? No, no; I was not going to disturb the peace of a good man by telling himthat his child-wife of twenty years ago was still living, but lost tohim by a fall far worse than death. No--I let you remain dead to him. "

"Oh, misery! misery! misery! I would to Heaven I were dead to everybody!dead, dead indeed!" she cried, wringing her hands in anguish. 

"Come, come, don't be a fool! You see that you are utterly in my powerand must do my will. Do it, and you will come to no harm; but live anddie in a luxurious home. "

CHAPTER XXIII. 

SYLVAN'S ORDERS. 

While the amiable Mr. Fabian was engaged in soothing the woman whom hewas resolved to make his instrument in gaining the whole of his father'sgreat business bequeathed to him by will, carriage wheels were heardgrating on the gravel of the drive leading up to the front door of thehouse, and a few minutes afterward the master's knock was answered bythe hall waiter, and old Aaron Rockharrt strode into the drawing room. 

"I did not know that you had gone out again. I left you on the librarysofa asleep, " said Rose, deferentially, as she sprang up to meet him. 

"I was called out on business that don't concern you. Ah, Fabian! How isit that I find you here to-night?" inquired the Iron King, as he threwhimself into a chair. 

"I brought Cora home from the Banks, " replied the eldest son. 

"Ah! how is Mrs. Fabian?"

"Still delicate. I can scarcely hope that she will be stronger for someweeks yet. "

"When are you going to bring her to call on my wife?" demanded the IronKing, bending his gray brows somewhat angrily and looking suspiciouslyon his son; for he was not pleased that his daughter-in-law's visit ofceremony had been so long delayed. 

"As soon as she is able to leave the house. Our physician has forbiddenher to take any long walk or ride for some time yet. "

"And how long is this seclusion to last?"

"Until after a certain event to take place at the end of three months. "

"Ah! and then another month for convalescence! So it will be late in theautumn before we can hope to see Mrs. Fabian Rockharrt at Rockhold!"

"I fear so, indeed, sir!"

"I do not approve of this petting, coddling, and indulging women. Itmakes the weak creatures weaker. If you choose to seclude your wife orallow her to seclude herself on account of a purely physiologicalcondition, I will not allow Mrs. Rockharrt to go near her until she goesto return her call. "

 * * * * *

When Cora reached her chamber that evening, she sat down to reflect onall that her Uncle Fabian had told her of the past history of hergrandfather's young wife, and to anticipate the possible movements ofher brother. Her own life, since the loss of her husband--now loved sodeeply, though loved too late--she felt was over. The future had nothingfor herself. What, therefore, could she do with the dull years in whichshe might long vegetate through life but to give them in useful serviceto those who needed help? She would go with her brother to the frontier, and find some field of labor among the Indians. She would found a schoolwith her fortune, and devote her life to the education of Indianchildren. And she would call the school by her lost husband's name, andso make of it a monument to his memory. 

Revolving these plans in her mind, Cora Rothsay retired to rest. Thenext morning she arose at her usual hour, dressed, and went down stairs. 

Old Aaron Rockharrt and his young wife were already in the parlor, waiting for the breakfast bell to ring. 

She had but just greeted them when the call came, and all moved towardthe breakfast room. 

Just as the three had seated themselves at the table, and while Rosewas pouring out the coffee, the sound of carriage wheels was heardapproaching the house, and a few minutes later Mr. Clarence and Sylvanentered the breakfast room with joyous bustle. 

"What--what--what does this unseemly excitement mean?" sternly demandedthe Iron King, while Cora arose to shake hands with her uncle andbrother; and while Rose, fearful of doing wrong, did nothing at all. 

"What is the matter? What has happened? Why have you left the works atthis hour of the morning, Clarence?" he requested of his son. 

"I came with Sylvan, sir, for the last time before he leaves us fordistant and dangerous service, and for an unlimited period. "

"Ah! you have your orders, then?" said Mr. Rockharrt, in a somewhatmollified tone. 

"Yes, sir, " said the young lieutenant. "I received my commission by theearliest mail this morning, with orders to report for duty to ColonelGlennin, of the Third Regiment of Infantry, now at Governor's Island, New York harbor, and under orders to start for Fort Farthermost, on theMexican frontier. I must leave to-night in order to report in time. "

Cora looked at him with the deepest interest. 

Rose thought now she might venture on a little civility without givingoffense to her despotic lord. 

"Have you had breakfast, you two?" she inquired. 

"No, indeed. We started immediately after receiving the orders, " saidSylvan. "And we are as hungry as two bears. "

"Bring chairs to the table, Mark, for the gentlemen, " said young Mrs. Rockharrt, who then rang for two more covers and hot coffee. 

"Cora, " whispered Sylvan, as soon as he got a chance to speak to hissister, "you can never get ready to go with me on so short a notice. Women have so much to do. "

"Sylvan, " she replied, "I have been ready for a month. "

CHAPTER XXIV. 

SOMETHING UNEXPECTED. 

The day succeeding that on which Sylvanus Haught had received hiscommission as second lieutenant in the 3d Regiment of Infantry, then onGovernor's Island, New York harbor, and under orders for FortFarthermost, on the southwestern frontier, was a very busy one for CoraRothsay; for, however well she had been prepared for a sudden journey, there were many little final details to be attended to which wouldrequire all the time she had left at her disposal. 

A farewell visit must be paid to Violet Rockharrt, and--worse thanall--an explanatory interview must be held with her grandfather inrelation to her departure with Sylvanus Haught, and that interview mustbe held before the Iron King should leave Rockhold that morning for hisdaily visit to the works. 

Cora had often, during the last year, and oftener since hergrandfather's second marriage, taken occasion to allude to her intentionof accompanying her brother to his post of duty, however distant anddangerous that post might be. She had done this with the fixed purposeof preparing this autocratic old gentleman's mind for the event. 

Now, the day of her intended departure had arrived; she was to leaveRockhold with her brother that afternoon to take the evening express toNew York. And as she could not go without taking leave of hergrandfather, it was necessary that she should announce her intention tohim before he should start on his daily visit to North End. 

Therefore Cora had risen very early that morning and had gone down intothe little office or library of the Iron King, that was situated at therear of the middle hall, there to wait for him, as it was his custom torise early and go into his study, to look over the papers beforebreakfast. These papers were brought by a special messenger from NorthEnd, who started from the depot as soon as the earliest train arrivedwith the morning's mail and reached Rockhold by seven o'clock. 

She had not sat there many minutes before Mr. Rockharrt entered thestudy. 

"I am going away with my brother, " Cora said, without any prefacewhatever, "to Fort Farthermost, on the southwestern Indian frontier. "

"I think you must be crazy. "

"Dear grandpa, this is no impulsive purpose of mine. I have thought ofit ever since--ever since--the death of my dear husband, " said Cora, ina broken voice. 

"Oh! the death of your dear husband!" he exclaimed, rudely interruptingher. "Much you cared for the death of your dear husband! If you had, youwould never have driven him forth to his death!--for that is what youdid! You cannot deceive me now. As long as the fate of Rule Rothsay wasa mystery, I was myself at somewhat of a loss to account for hisdisappearance--though I suspected you even then--but when the news camethat he had been killed by the Comanches near the boundaries of Mexico, and I had time to reflect on it all, I knew that he had been driven awayby you--you! And all for the sake of a titled English dandy! You neednot deny it, Cora Rothsay!"

"It would be quite useless to deny anything that you choose to assert, sir, " replied the young lady, coldly but respectfully. "Yet I must saythis, that I loved and honored my husband more than I ever did or evercan love and honor any other human being. His departure broke my spirit, and his death has nearly broken my heart--certainly it has blasted myfuture. My life is worth nothing, nothing to me, except as I make ituseful to those who need my help. "

"Rubbish!" exclaimed old Aaron Rockharrt, turning over the leaves of hispaper and looking for the financial column. 

"Grandfather, please hear me patiently for a few minutes, for afterto-day I do not know that we may ever meet again, " pleaded Cora. 

The old man laid his open paper on his knees, set his spectacles up onhis head, and looked at her. 

"What the devil do you mean?" he slowly inquired. 

"Sir, I am to leave Rockhold with my brother this afternoon, to go withhim, first to Governor's Island, and within a few days start with himfor the distant frontier fort which may be his post of duty for manyyears to come. We may not be able to return within your lifetime, grandfather, " said Cora, gravely and tenderly. 

"And what in Satan's name, unless you are stark mad, should take you outto the Indian frontier?" he demanded. 

"I might answer, to be with my only brother, I being his only sister. "

"Bosh! Men's wives very seldom accompany them to these savage posts, much less their sisters! What does a young officer want his sistertagging after him for?"

"It is not that Sylvan especially wants me, nor for his sake alone thatI go. "

"Well, then, what in the name of lunacy do you go for?"

"That I may devote my time and fortune to a good cause--to the educationof Indian girls and boys. I mean to build--"

"That, or something like that, was what Rothsay tried to do when youdrove him away, as if he had been a leper, to the desert. Well, go on!What next? Let us hear the whole of the mad scheme!"

"I mean to build a capacious school house, in which I will receive, board, lodge, and teach as many Indian children as may be intrusted tome, until the house shall be full. "

"Moonstruck mania! That is what your mad husband driven mad byyou--attempted on a smaller scale, and failed. "

"That is why I wish to do this. I wish to follow in his footsteps It isthe best thing I can do to honor his memory. "

"But he was murdered for his pains. "

Cora shuddered and covered her face with her hands for a space; then sheanswered, slowly:

"There may be many failures; but there will never be any success unlessthe failures are made stepping stones to final victory. "

"Fudge! See here, mistress! No doubt you suffer a good many stings ofconscience for having driven the best man that ever lived--except, hem!well--to his death! But you need not on that account expatriate yourselffrom civilization, to go out to try to teach those red devils whomurdered your husband and burned his hut, and who will probably murderyou and burn your school house! You have been a false woman and amiserable sinner, Cora Rothsay! And you have deserved to suffer and youhave suffered, there is no doubt about that! But you have repented, andmay be pardoned. You need not immolate yourself at your age. You are amere girl. You will get over your morbid grief. You may marry again. "

Cora slowly, sadly, silently shook her head. 

"Oh, yes; you will. "

"No, no; no, dear grandpa. I will bear my dear, lost husband's name tothe end of my life, and it shall be inscribed on my tomb. Ah! would toHeaven that at the last, I might lay my ashes beside his, " she moaned. 

"Now don't be a confounded fool, Cora Rothsay! To be sure, all women arefools! But, then, a girl with a drop of my blood in her veins should notbe such a consummate idiot as you are showing yourself to be. You shallnot go out with Sylvan to that savage frontier. It is no place for awoman, particularly for an unmarried woman. You would come to a bad end. I shall speak to Sylvan. I shall forbid him to take you there, " said theold autocrat. 

Cora smiled, but answered nothing. She had firmly made up her mind to gowith her brother, whether her grandfather should approve the action ornot; but she thought it unnecessary to dispute the matter with him justnow. 

"So, mistress, you will stay here, under my guardianship, until youaccept a husband, like a respectable woman, " continued old AaronRockharrt. 

Still Cora remained silent, standing by his chair, with her hand restingon the table, and her eyes cast down. 

The egotist seemed not to object to having all the talk to himself. 

"Come!" he exclaimed, with sudden animation, sitting bolt upright in hischair, "When I found you in this room just now, you said you hadsomething to tell me. And you told it. Naturally, it was not worthhearing. Now, then, I have something to tell you, which is so well worthhearing that when you have heard it your missionary madness may becured, and your Quixotic expedition given up: in fact, all your plans inlife changed--a splendid prospect opened before you. "

Cora looked up, her languor all gone, her interest aroused. Somethingwas rising in her mind; not a sun of hope ah! no--but nebula, obscure, unformed, indistinct, yet with possible suns of hope, worlds ofhappiness, within it. What did her grandfather mean? Had he heardsomething about--Was Rule yet--

Swift as lightning flashed these thoughts through her mind while hergrandfather drew his breath between his utterances. 

"Listen! This is what I had to tell you: I had a letter a few days agofrom an old suitor of yours, " he said, looking keenly at hisgranddaughter. 

Cora's eyes fell, her spirits drooped. The nebula of unknown hopes andjoys had faded away, leaving her prospect dark again. She lookeddepressed and disappointed. She could feel no shadow of interest in herold suitors. 

"I received this letter several days since, and being at leisure justthen. I answered it. But in the pressure of some important matters Iforgot to tell you of it, though it concerned yourself mostly, I mightsay entirely. Shouldn't have remembered it now, I suppose, if it had notbeen for your foolish talk about going out for a missionary to thesavages. Ah! another destiny awaits your acceptance. "

Cora sighed in silence. 

"Now, then. Of course you must know who this correspondent is. "

"Without offense to you, grandfather, I neither know nor care, "languidly replied the lady. 

"But it is not without offense to me. You are the most eccentric andinconsistent woman I ever met in all the course of my life. You are notconstant even to your inconstancy. "

Having uttered this paradox, the old man threw himself back in his chairand gazed at his granddaughter. 

"I am not yet clear as to your meaning, sir, " she said, coldly butrespectfully. 

"What! Have you quite forgotten the titled dandy for whom you were nearbreaking your heart three years ago? For whom you were ready to throwover one of the best and truest men that ever lived! For whom you reallydid drive Regulas Rothsay, on the proudest and happiest day of his life, into exile and death!"

"Oh, don't! don't! grandfather! Don't!" wailed Cora, sinking on anoffice stool, and dropping her hands and head on the table. 

"Now, none of that, mistress. No hysterics, if you please. I won'tpermit any woman about me to indulge in such tantrums. Listen to me, ma'am. My correspondent was young Cumbervale, the noodle!"

"Then I never wish to see or hear or think of him again!" exclaimedCora. 

"Indeed! But that is a woman all through. She will do or suffer anythingto get her own way. She will defy all her friends and relations, allprinciples of truth and honor; she will move Heaven and earth, gothrough fire and water, to get her own way; and when she does get it shedon't want it, and she won't have it. "

"Grandfather!" pleaded Cora. 

"Silence! Three years ago you would have walked over all our deadbodies, if necessary, to marry that noble booby. And you would havemarried him if it had not been for me! I would not permit you to wedhim then, because you were in honor bound to Regulas Rothsay. I shallinsist on your accepting him now, because poor Rothsay is in his grave, and this will be the best thing to do for you to help you out of harm'sway from redskins and rattlesnakes and other reptiles. I don't thinkmuch of the fellow; but he seems to be a harmless idiot, and is goodenough for you. "

Cora answered never a word, but she felt quite sure that not even theiron will of the Iron King could ever coerce her into marriage with anyman, least of all with the man whose memory was identified with herheart's tragedy. The old man continued his monologue. 

"The best thing about the fellow is his constancy. He was after yourimaginary fortune once. I am sure of that. And he was so dazzled by theillumination of that _ignis fatuus_ that he didn't see you, perhaps, anddidn't recognize how much he really cared for you. At all events, in hisletter to me--and, by the way, it is very strange that he should writeto me after the snubbing I gave him in London, " said the Iron King, reflectively. 

Cora did not think that was strange. She, at least, felt sure that itwas as impossible for the young duke to take offense at the rudeness ofthe old iron man as at the raging of a dog or the tearing of a bull. Butshe did not drop a hint of this to the egotist, who never imaginedpassive insolence to be at the bottom of the duke's forbearance. 

"In his letter to me, " resumed old Aaron Rockharrt, "the young fooltells me that, immediately after his great disappointment in beingrejected by you, he left England--and, indeed, Europe--and traveledthrough every accessible portion of Asia and Africa, in the hope ofovercoming his misplaced affection, but in vain, for that he returnedhome at the end of two years with his heart unchanged. There he learnedthrough the newspapers that you had been recently widowed, through themurder of your husband in an Indian mutiny. That's how he put it. Hefarther wrote that, in the face of such a tragedy as that, he felt boundto forbear the faintest approach toward resuming his acquaintance withyou until some considerable time should have elapsed, although, he wascareful to add, he always believed that you had given him your heart, and would have given him your hand had you been permitted to do so. Heended his letter by asking me to give him your address, that he mightwrite to you. He evidently supposed you to be keeping house foryourself, as English widows of condition usually do. Well, my girl, whatdo you think I did?"

"You told me, sir, that, being at leisure just then, you answered hisletter immediately, " coldly replied Cora. 

"Yes; and I told him that you were living with me. I gave him the fulladdress. And I told him that I was pleased with his frankness andfidelity, qualities which I highly approved; and I added that if hewished to renew his suit to you, he need not waste time in writing, butthat he might come over and court you in person here at Rockhold, wherehe should receive a hearty, old-fashioned welcome. "

Cora gazed at the old man aghast. 

"Oh, grandfather, you never wrote that!" she exclaimed. 

"I never wrote that? What do you mean, mistress? Am I in the habit ofsaying what is not true?"

"Oh, no; but I am so grieved that you should have written such aletter. "

"Why, pray?"

"Because I cannot bear that any one should think for a moment that Icould ever marry again. "

"Rubbish!"

"Well, it does not matter after all. If the duke should come on thisfool's errand, I shall be far enough out of his reach, " thought Cora;but she said no more. 

The breakfast bell rang out with much clamor, and the old man arosegrowling. 

"And now you have cheated me out of my hour with the newspapers by yourfoolish talk. Come, come to breakfast and let us hear no more nonsenseabout going on that wild goose chase to the Indian frontier. "

At the end of the morning meal he arose from the table, called his youngwife to fetch him his hat, his gloves, his duster, and other belongings, and he got ready for his daily morning drive to the works. 

"I shall remain at North End to bid you good-by, Sylvan. Call at myoffice there on your way to the depot, " he said, as he left the house tostep into his carriage waiting at the door. 

As the sound of the wheels rolled off and died in the distance, Roseturned to Cora and inquired:

"My dear, does he know that you are going out West with Sylvan?"

"He should know it. I have spoken freely of my plans before you both formonths past, " said Cora. 

"But, my dear, he never took the slightest notice of anything you saidon that subject. Why, he did not even seem to hear you. "

"He heard me perfectly. Nothing passes in my grandfather's presence thathe does not see and hear and understand. "

"Well, then, I reckon he thinks you have changed your mind; for he spokeof meeting Sylvan at North End to bid him good-by, but said not a wordabout you. "

"He will believe that I am going when he sees me with Sylvan, " saidCora. 

And then she touched the bell and ordered her carriage to be brought tothe door. 

"We must go and take leave of Mrs. Fabian Rockharrt, " she said to Rose. 

Twenty minutes later Cora and Sylvan entered the pony carriage. Sylvantook the reins and started for Violet Banks. 

They soon reached the lovely villa, where they found Violet seated in aQuaker rocking-chair on the front porch, with a basket workstand besideher, busily and happily engaged in her beloved work--embroidering aninfant's white cashmere cloak. She jumped up, dropped her work, and ranto meet her visitors as they alighted from the carriage. She kissed Corarapturously, and Sylvan kissed her. 

"How lovely of you both to come! Wait a minute till I call a boy to takeyour chaise around to the stable. And, oh, sit down. You are going tostay all day with me, too, and late into the night--there is a fine moonto-night. Or maybe you will stay a week or a month. Why not? Oh, dostay, " she rattled on, a little incoherently on account of her happyexcitement. 

"No, dear, " said Cora, "we can only stay a very few minutes. The risingmoon will see us far away on our route to New York. "

"W-h-y! You astonish me! How sudden this is! Where are you going?" askedViolet, pausing in her hurry to call a groom. 

"Let me explain, " said Cora, taking one of the Quaker chairs and seatingherself. "Sylvan has just received his commission as second lieutenantin the 3d Regiment of Infantry, now on Governor's Island, New Yorkharbor, but under orders for Fort Farthermost, on the extreme frontierof the Indian Reserve. He leaves by the afternoon express, and I go withhim. "

"Cora!" exclaimed Violet, as she dropped into her chair. "I know youhave talked about this, but I never thought you would do such a wilddeed! Please don't think of going out among bears and Indians!"

"I must, dear, for many reasons. Sylvan and myself are all and all toeach other at present, and we should not be parted. More than that, Iwish to do something in the world. I can not do anything here. I am notwanted, you see. I must, therefore, go where I may be wanted and may dosome good. "

"But what can you do--out there?"

Cora then explained her plan of establishing a missionary home andschool for Indian children. 

"What a good, great, but, oh, what a Quixotic plan! Sylvan, why will youlet her do it?" pleaded Violet. 

"My dear, I would not presume to oppose Cora. If she thinks she is rightin this matter, then she is right. If her resolution is fixed, then Iwill uphold and defend her in that resolution, " said the younglieutenant, loyally. But all the same his secret thought was that somefine fellow in his own regiment might be able to persuade Cora to devoteher time and fortune to him, instead of to the redskins. 

After a little more talk Cora got up and kissed Violet good-by. Sylvanfollowed her example with a little more ardor than was absolutelynecessary, perhaps. 

At Rockhold luncheon was on the table, and young Mrs. Rockharrt waitingfor them. Mr. Clarence was also at home, having determined to risk hisfather's displeasure and to neglect his business on this one day--thislast day, for the sake of the niece and the nephew who were so dear tohis heart. 

After luncheon Sylvan went out to oversee the loading of the farm van, which was drawn by two sturdy mules, with the many heavy trunks andboxes that contained Cora's wardrobe and books--among the latter alarge number of elementary school books. Mr. Clarence stood by his sideto help him in case of need. Cora went up to her room, where nothing wasnow left to be done but to pack her little traveling bag with thenecessaries for her journey, and then put on her traveling suit. She hada quantity of valuable jewelry, but this she put carefully into her handbag, intending to convert it all into money as soon as she should reachNew York, and to consecrate the fund, with the bulk of her fortune, toher projected home school for the Indian children. 

As she sat there, she was by some occult agency led to think of hergrandfather's young wife--to think of her tenderly, charitably, compassionately. Poor Rose! In infancy, from the day of her father'sdeath, an unloved, neglected, persecuted child; in childhood, driven todesperation and elopement by the miseries of her home; in girlhood, deceived and abandoned by her lover; now, in womanhood, as friendlessand unhappy as if she had not married a wealthy man, and was not livingin a luxurious home. Poor Rose! She had lost her sense of honor, or shenever would have married Mr. Rockharrt, even for a refuge. But, throughall her sins and sorrows, she had not lost her tender heart, her sweettemper, or her amiable desire to serve and to please. She had now a hardtime with her aged, despotic husband. He had not gratified her ambitionby taking her into the upper circles of society, for he seemed now tohave given up society; he had not pleased her harmless vanity withpresents of fine dress and jewelry; no, nor even regarded her serviceswith any sort of affectionate recognition. 

Cora sat there feeling sorry that she had ever shown herself cold andhaughty to the helpless creature who had always done all that she couldto win her (Cora's) love, and whom she was about to leave to the tendermercies of a hard and selfish old man, who, though he highly approved ofhis young wife's meekness, humility and subserviency, and held her up asan example to her whole sex, yet did not care for her, did not consulther wishes in anything, did not consider her happiness. 

Cora sat wondering what she could do to give this poor little soul somelittle pleasure before leaving her. Suddenly she thought of her jewels. She resolved to select a set and give it to Rose with some kind partingword. 

She took her hand bag and withdrew from it case after case, examiningeach in turn. There was a set of diamonds worth many thousand dollars; aset of rubies and pearls, worth almost as much; a set of emeralds, verycostly; but none of them as lovely as a set of sapphires, pearls, anddiamonds, artistically arranged together, the sapphires encircled by arow of pearls, with an outer circle of small diamonds; the wholesuggesting the blue color, the foam, and the sparkle of the sea. 

This Cora selected as a parting present to her grandfather's young wife. 

She took them in her hand and hurried to Rose's room, knocked at thedoor and entered. Rose was seated in a white dimity-covered arm chair, engaged in reading a novel. She looked surprised, and almost frightened, at the sight of Cora, who had never before condescended to enter thisprivate room. 

"Have I disturbed you?" inquired Cora. 

"Oh, no; no, indeed. Pray come in. Please sit down. Will you have thisarm chair?" eagerly inquired the young woman, rising from her seat. 

"No, thank you, Rose; I have scarcely time to sit. I have brought you akeepsake which I hope you will sometimes wear in memory of your oldpupil, " said Cora, opening the casket and displaying the gems. 

Rose's face was a study--all that was good and evil in her was arousedat the sight of the rich and costly jewels--vanity, cupidity, gratitude, tenderness. 

"Oh, how superb they are! I never saw such splendid gems! A parure for aprincess, and you give them to me? What a munificent present! How kindyou are, Cora! What can I do? How shall I ever be able to return yourkindness?" said Rose, as tears of delight and wonder filled her eyes. 

"Wear them and enjoy them. They suit your fair complexion very well. Andnow let me bid you good-by, here. "

"No, no; not yet. I will go down and see you off--see the very last ofyou, Cora, until the carriage takes you out of sight. Oh, dear, it mayindeed be the very last that I shall ever see of you, sure enough. "

"I hope not. Why do you speak so sadly?"

"Because I am not strong. My father died of consumption; so did my elderbrothers and sisters, the children of his first marriage, and often Ithink I shall follow them. "

Mrs. Rothsay looked at the speaker. The transparent delicacy ofcomplexion, the tenderness of the limpid blue eyes, the infantilesoftness of face, throat, and hands, certainly did not seem to promisemuch strength or long life; but Cora spoke cheerfully:

"Such hereditary weakness may be overcome in these days of science, Rose. You must banish fear and take care of yourself. Now, I really mustgo and put on my bonnet. "

"Very well, then, if you must. I will meet you in the hall. Oh, my dear, I am so very grateful to you for these precious jewels, and more thanall for the friendship and kindness that prompted the gift, " said Rose;and perhaps she really did believe that she prized the giver more thanthe gift; for such self-deception would have been in keeping with hersuperficial character. 

Cora left the room and hurried to her chamber, where she put on herbonnet and her linen duster. She had scarcely fastened the last buttonwhen her brother knocked at the door, calling out:

"Come, Cora, come, or we shall miss the train. "

Cora caught up her traveling bag, cast

 "A long, last, lingering look"

around the dear, familiar room which she had occupied when at Rockholdfrom her childhood's days, and then went out and joined her brother. 

In the hall below they were met by Rose

"Be good to her, poor thing, " whispered Cora to Sylvan. 

"All right, " replied the young lieutenant. 

Rose's eyes were filled with tears. It seemed to the friendless creaturevery hard to lose Cora, just as Cora was beginning to be friendly. 

"Good-by, " said Mrs. Rothsay, taking the woman's hand. But Rose burstinto tears, threw her arms around the young lady's neck, hugged herclose, and kissed her many times. 

"Good-by, my pretty step-grandmother-in-law, " said Sylvan, gayly, takingher hand and giving her a kiss. "You are still

 'The rose that all admire, '

but the best of friends must part. "

And leaving Rose in tears, he opened the door for his sister to pass outbefore him. But she, at least, passed no farther than the front porch, where she stood looking down the lawn in surprise and anxiety, whileSylvan hurried off to see what was the meaning of that which had sosuddenly startled them. What was it? What had happened?

A crowd of men, silent, but with faces full of suppressed excitement andsurrounding something that was borne in their midst, was slowly marchingup the avenue. 

Cora watched Sylvan as he went to meet them; saw him speak to them, though she could not hear what he said; saw them stop and put thesomething, which they bore along and escorted, down on the gravel; saw aparley between her brother and the crowd, and finally saw her brotherturn and hurry back toward the house, wearing a pale and troubledcountenance. 

"You may take the carriage back to the stables, John, " said thelieutenant to the wondering negro groom, as he passed it in returning tothe porch. 

"What is the matter, Sylvan? What has happened? Why have you sent thecarriage away?" Cora anxiously inquired. 

"Because, my dear, we must not leave Rockhold at present, " he gravelyreplied. "There has been an accident, Cora. "

"An accident! On the railroad?"

"No, my dear; to our old grandfather. "

"To grandfather! Oh, Sylvan! no! no!" she cried, turning white, anddropping upon a bench, all her latent affection for the agedpatriarch--the unsuspected affection--waking in her heart. 

"Yes, dear, " said Sylvan, softly. 

"Seriously? Dangerously? Fatally? Perhaps he is dead and you are tryingto break it to me! You can't do it! You can't! Oh, Sylvan, isgrandfather dead?" she wildly demanded. 

"No, dear! No, no, no! Compose yourself. They are bringing him here, and he is perfectly conscious. He must not see you so much agitated. Itwould annoy him. We do not yet know how seriously he is hurt. He wasthrown from his carriage when near North End. The horses took fright atthe passing of a train. They ran away and went over that steep bank justat the entrance of the village. The carriage was shattered all topieces; the coachman killed outright--poor old Joseph--and the horses soinjured that they had to be shot. "

"Poor old Joseph! I am so sorry! so very sorry! But grandfather!grandfather!"

"He was picked up insensible; carried to the hotel on a mattress laid onplanks, borne by half a dozen workmen, and the doctor was summonedimmediately. He was laid in bed, and all means were tried to restoreconsciousness. But as soon as he came to his senses he demanded to bebrought home. The doctor thought it dangerous to do so. But you know thegrandfather's obstinacy. So a stretcher was prepared, a spring mattresslaid on it, and he has been borne all the way from North End to RockholdFerry by relays of six men at a time, relieving each other at shortintervals, and escorted by the doctor and our two uncles. That, Cora, isall I can tell you. "

He then entered the house, followed by Cora. 

They found Rose still in the front hall, where they had left her a fewminutes before. She was seated in one of the oak chairs wiping her eyes. She had not seen the approaching procession with the burden theycarried. And of course she had not heard their silent movements. 

She looked up in surprise at the re-entrance of Cora and Sylvan. 

"Oh!" she exclaimed "Have you forgotten anything? So glad to see youback, even for half a minute. For, after all, I couldn't see you driveaway. I just shut the door and flung myself into this chair to have agood cry. Can't you put off your journey now, just for to-night andstart to-morrow? You will have to do it anyhow. You can't catch the 6:30express now, " she added, coming toward them. 

"We shall not attempt it, Rose, " said Sylvan, in a kinder tone than heusually used in speaking to her. 

"I am so glad, " she said, but her further words were arrested by thegrave looks of the young man. 

"What is the matter with you?" she suddenly inquired. 

"There has been an accident, Rose. Not fatal, my dear, so don't befrightened. My grandfather has been thrown from his carriage andstunned. But he has recovered consciousness, and they are bringing himhome a deal shaken, but not in serious danger. "

While Sylvan spoke, Rose gazed at him in perfect silence, with her blueeyes widening. When he finished, she asked:

"How did it happen?"

Sylvan told her. 

Rose dropped into a chair and covered her face with her hands. She wasmore shocked than grieved by all that she had heard. If her tyrant hadbeen brought home dead, I think she would only have sighed

 "With the sigh of a great deliverance!"

"Let us go now, Rose, and prepare his bed. Sylvan will stay heretoreceive him, " said Cora. 

The two women went up to the old man's room and turned down thebedclothes, and laid out a change of linen, and many towels in case theyshould be needed, and then went to the head of the stairs and waited andlistened. 

Presently, through the open hall door, they heard the muffled tread andsubdued tones of the men, who presently entered, bearing the stretcheron which was laid the huge form of the Iron King, covered, all excepthis face, with a white bed-spread. Slowly, carefully, and with somedifficulty they bore him up the broad staircase head first--preceded bythe family physician, Dr. Cummins, and followed by Messrs. Fabian andClarence. 

Rose and Cora stood each side the open chamber door, and when the menbore the stretcher in and set it down on the floor, the two womenapproached and looked down on the injured man. 

His countenance was scarcely affected by his accident. He was no palerthan usual. He was frowning--it might be from pain or it might be fromanger--and he was glaring around. Rose was afraid to speak to him, proneon the stretcher as he was, lest she should get her head bitten off. Cora bent over him and said tenderly:

"Dear grandfather, I am very sorry for this. I hope you are not hurtmuch. "

And she had her head immediately snapped off. 

"Don't be a confounded idiot!" he growled, hoarsely. "Go and send oldblack Martha here. She is worth a hundred of you two. "

Rose hurried off to obey this order, glad enough of an excuse to escape. And now the room was cleared of all the men except the family physician, the two sons, and the grandson. 

These approached the stretcher and carefully and tenderly undressed thepatient and laid him on his bed. 

Then the physician made a more careful examination. 

There were no bones broken. The injuries seemed to be all internal; butof their seriousness or dangerousness the physician could not yet judge. The nervous shock had certainly been severe, and that in itself was agrave misfortune to a man of Aaron Rockharrt's age, and might have beeninstantaneously fatal to any one of less remarkable strength. 

Dr. Cummins told Mr. Fabian that he should remain in attendance on hispatient all night. Then, at the desire of Mr. Rockharrt, he cleared thesick room of every one except the old negro woman. 

When the door was shut upon them all, and the chamber was quiet, headministered a sedative to his patient and advised him to close his eyesand try to compose himself. 

Then the doctor sat down on the right side of the bed, with old Marthaon his left. 

There was utter silence for a few minutes, and then old Aaron Rockharrtspoke. 

"What's the hour, doctor?"

"Seven, " replied the physician after consulting his gold repeater. "ButI advise you to keep quiet and try to sleep, " he added, returning histimepiece to his fob. 

As if the Iron King ever followed advice! As if he did not, on generalprinciples, always run counter to it!

"Didn't I see my fool of a grandson among the other lunatics who ranafter me here?" he next inquired. 

"Yes. "

"Where is he now?"

"With the ladies, I think. "

"Send--him--up--to--me!"

The doctor shrugged his shoulders and went to obey the order. Theobstinacy of this self-willed egotist was surely growing into amonomania, and perhaps it would have been more dangerous to oppose himthan to comply with his whim. In a few moments Dr. Cummins re-enteredthe room, followed by Sylvan Haught. 

"I hope you are feeling easier, " said the lieutenant, as he bent overhis grandfather. 

"I have not complained of feeling uneasy yet, have I?" growled the IronKing. 

"You sent for me, sir. Can I do anything for you?"

"For me? No; not likely! But you can do your duty to your country! Howis it that you are not on your way to join your regiment?"

"I had actually bidden good-by and left the house to start on myjourney, when I met men bringing you home. "

"What the demon had that to do with it?"

"I could not go on, sir, and leave you under such circumstances. "

"Look here, young sir!" said the Iron King, speaking hoarsely, faintly, yet with strong determination. "Do you call yourself a soldier or ashirk? Let me tell you that it is the first duty of a soldier to obeyorders, at all times, under all circumstances, and at all costs! If youhad been a married man, and your wife had been dying--if you had been afather, and your child had been dying, it would have been your duty toleave them!"

"But, sir, there was no real need that I should go by this night'sexpress. If I should start to-morrow morning, I shall be in good time toreport for duty. It was only my zeal to be better than prompt whichinduced me to start earlier than necessary. To-morrow will be quite timeenough to leave for New York. "

"Very well; then go to-morrow by the first train, " said the Iron King ina more subdued manner, for the sedative was beginning to take effect. 

At a hint from the doctor the young lieutenant bade his grandfathergood-night and softly stepped out of the room. 

CHAPTER XXV. 

THE SICK LION. 

Early the next morning Dr. Cummins came down stairs and joined thefamily at the breakfast table. 

In answer to anxious inquiries, he reported that Mr. Rockharrt had sleptwell during the night, and had just taken refreshment prepared by oldMartha under the physician's own orders, and had composed himself tosleep again. 

"He would not admit any of us last night. Will he see me this morning?"inquired Rose Rockharrt. 

"Of course, after a little while. It was best that I and the old nurseshould have watched him alone together last night, but the woman nowneeds rest, and I must presently take leave, to look after my otherpatients. You two ladies must take the watch to-day, with one of thesegentlemen within call. I will give you full directions for my patient'streatment, and will see him again in the afternoon. "

"Does my father's present condition admit of my leaving him to go andlook after the works this morning?" inquired Mr. Fabian, who had spentthe night at Rockhold. 

"Yes, " replied the doctor, after some little hesitation. "Yes; I thinkso. If your presence here should be absolutely needed, you can bepromptly summoned, you know; but one of you should remain on guard. "

"Clarence will stay home, then, " replied Mr. Fabian. 

"Doctor, you heard my grandfather order me to leave Rockhold thismorning to join my regiment. Now, what do you think? May I see himbefore I go?" inquired the young lieutenant. 

"I will let you know when he wakes, " said Dr. Cummins. 

"Must you leave us to-day, Sylvan? Could you not be excused under thecircumstances?" inquired Mrs. Rockharrt. 

"No; I could not be excused. I must join my regiment, Rose. "

"But, Cora! Oh, Cora! You will not leave us now? You are not underorders, and--and--I wish you would stay, " pleaded Rose. 

"I shall stay, Rose. It is as much my bounden duty to stay as it is thatof Sylvan to go, " answered Cora. 

"Oh, that is such a relief to my feelings!" exclaimed the other lady. 

Dr. Cummins looked up in surprise, glancing from one woman to the other. 

Sylvan undertook to explain. 

"My sister was going out with me, sir. I am her nearest relative, as sheis mine, and we do not like to be separated. "

"Ah!" said the doctor. "And now, very properly, she decides to stayhere. "

"For a while, Dr. Cummins--until the case of my grandfather shall bedecided. Later I shall certainly follow my brother, " Cora explained. 

Before another word could be uttered the door opened, and VioletRockharrt, in a silver gray carriage dress, entered the room. Mr. Fabiansprang up to meet her. 

"My dear child, why have you come out here against all orders?"

Mrs. Fabian Rockharrt saluted all the company at the breakfast, who hadrisen to receive her, and then replied to her husband's question. 

"I have come to see how our father is. It was twelve o'clock last nightwhen your messenger arrived at the Banks and told me that you would notbe able to return that night, because an accident had happened to Mr. Rockharrt. Not a dangerous one, but yet one that would keep you with himfor some hours. I know very well how accidents are smoothed over inbeing reported to women; so I was not reassured by that clause, and Iwould have set out for Rockhold immediately if it had not been astarless midnight, making the road dangerous to others as well asmyself. But I was up at daybreak to start this morning, and here I am. "

"Sit down, my child; sit down. You look pale and tired. Ah! did not ourgood doctor here forbid you taking long walks or rides?"

"I know, Fabian; but sometimes a woman must be a law to herself. It wasmy duty to come in person and inquire after our father; so I came, evenagainst orders, " said Violet, composedly. 

"Now look at that little creature, doctor. She seems as soft as a dove, as gentle as a lamb; but she is perfectly lawless. She defies me, abusesme, and upon occasion thrashes me. Would you believe it of her?"demanded Mr. Fabian, gazing with pride and delight on his good littlewife. 

"Oh, yes; I can quite believe it. She looks a perfect shrew, vixen, virago! Oh, how I pity you, Mr. Fabian!" said the doctor. 

Cora filled out a cup of coffee and brought it to the visitor, whispering:

"I am glad you came, Violet. I do not believe it will hurt you one bitin any way. "

"Can I see father? I want to see for myself, and to kiss him, and tellhim how sorry I am; and I want to help to nurse him. Say, can I seehim?"

"Not just now, dear. None of us have seen him since he was put to bedlast evening except the doctor and the nurse; but in the course of theday you may. You will spend the day with us?" Cora inquired. 

"I will spend the day and the night, and to-morrow and to-morrow night, and this week and next week, and just as long as I can be helpful anduseful to father, if you and mamma there will permit me. And, by theway, I have not kissed mamma yet. Only shaken hands with her. " And sosaying, Violet put down her untasted cup of coffee, went around thetable, put her arms round Rose's neck, and kissed her fondly, saying:

"You are very sweet and lovely, mamma, and I know I shall love you. Iwanted to come and see you before this, but the doctor there wouldn'tallow it. But now I have come to stay as long as I may be wanted. "

"I should want you forever, sweet wood violet, " cooed Rose, returningher caresses. 

Mr. Fabian turned away, half in wrath, half in mirth. He was much toogood humored to be seriously offended as he said to the doctor:

"Ah! these dove-eyed darlings! How mistaken we are in them! You are anold bachelor, Cummins; but if you should ever take it into your head torepent of celibacy, don't marry a dove-eyed darling, if you don't wantto be defied all the days of your life. "

"I won't, " said the doctor; "but now I must go and see how Mr. Rockharrtis getting on, and take leave to look after my other patients. "

And he left the breakfast room, followed by Mr. Fabian. 

"You and Sylvan will not leave Rockhold for some time, " said Violet, with a little air of triumph. 

"Sylvan must leave this morning. I shall remain until grandfather getswell, " said Cora--"or dies, " she added, mentally. 

In a few minutes Dr. Cummins returned and said that Mr. Rockharrt wouldsee Lieutenant Haught first, and afterward the other members of hisfamily. 

Then the physician bade the family good morning, and left the house. 

Sylvan went up stairs to their grandfather's room. 

There they found Mr. Fabian seated by the bedside. 

Old Martha had gone to her garret to lie down and rest. The windows wereall open, and the summer sun and air lighted and cooled the room. 

"Come here, Sylvan, " said the Iron King, and his voice, though hoarseand feeble, was peremptory. 

"The young lieutenant went up to the bedside and said:

"I hope you are feeling better this morning, sir. "

"I hope so, too; but don't let us waste words in compliments. Cumminstells me that you wished to bid me good-by. "

"Yes, sir. "

"Well, bid good-by, then. "

"Grandfather, have you anything to say to me before I go?" respectfullyinquired the young man. 

"If I had, don't you suppose that I could say it? Well, if you wishadvice, I will give it you very briefly: You are an 'officer and agentleman'--that is the phrase, I believe?"

"I hope so, sir. "

"Then behave as one under all circumstances. Never lie--even to women;never cheat--even the government. That is all. I cannot bless you ifthat is what you want. No man can bless another--not even the Pope ofRome or the Archbishop of Canterbury. No one under heaven can bless you. You can only bless yourself by doing your whole duty under allcircumstances. You will have men in authority over you. Obey them. Youwill have authority over other men. Make them obey you. There, good-by!" said old Aaron Rockharrt, holding out his hand to hisgrandson. 

Sylvan noticed how that hand shook as its aged owner held it up. He tookit, lifted it to his lips, and pressed it to his heart. 

"There, there; don't be foolish, Sylvan! Good-by! Good-by! And you, Fabian! What are you loitering here for, when you should be lookingafter the works?" impatiently demanded the Iron King. 

"The carriage stands at the door, sir, waiting to take Sylvan to histrain. I shall go with him as far as North End and try to do your workthere in addition to my own. "

"Quite right. Where is Clarence?"

"At North End, sir, where he went directly after he saw you safe in bedunder the doctor's care, " said Mr. Fabian, lying as fast as a horsecould trot. 

"Very well. Send the two women here. "

"There happen to be three women below at present, sir. Violet has cometo see you. "

In the morning sitting room below stairs Sylvan and Fabian found thethree ladies with Clarence, all in a state of anxiety to hear from theinjured man. 

Sylvan was more agitated in leaving his sister than any young soldiershould have been. At the last, the very last instant of parting, whenMr. Fabian had left the parlor and was on his way to the carriage, Sylvan turned back and for the third time clasped Cora in his arms. 

"Never mind, Sylvan, as soon as I possibly can, without violating myduty to the only one on earth to whom I owe any duty, I shall go out toyou. I can see now, now in this hour of parting, how very right I was indeciding to go with you. My journey is not abandoned, it is onlypostponed. God bless you, my dear. "

After standing at the front door until they had watched the carriageout of sight, the three went up stairs and softly entered the room ofthe injured man, so softly that he did not hear their entrance. Theystood in a silent group, believing him to be asleep, and afraid to sitdown, lest a chair should creak and wake him up. 

In a few seconds, however, they heard him clear his throat, knew that hewas awake, and went up to his bedside. 

Rose spoke, gently, for all. 

"You sent for us, Mr. Rockharrt. We are all here, and we hope that youare much better, " she said. 

"Oh, you do! Stand there--all three of you at the foot of the bed, sothat I can see you without turning. "

The three women obeyed, placing themselves in line as he had directed, and perceived that he lay upon the flat of his back, looking straightbefore him, because he could not turn on either side without great pain. 

He scanned them and then said:

"Ah, Violet, you are there! You have a proper sense of duty, my girl. Soyou have come to see how it is with me yourself, eh?"

"Yes, father; and also to stay and help to nurse you, it I may bepermitted to do so. "

"Rubbish! My wife can nurse me. It is her place. I don't want a lot ofother women around me! I won't have more than one in the room with me ata time! Violet, get into your carriage and return to your home. "

"Oh, papa, how have I offended you?"

"Not in any way as yet; but you will offend me if you disobey me. Youmust go home at once. You are not in a condition to be of any servicehere. You would only injure your own health, and distract the attentionof these women from me. Wherever there is a lot of women, there is sureto be more talk than duty. So you must go. When I get well, and you getstrong again, you may come and stay as long as you like. So, now, bid megood-by and be off with yourself. "

Violet, feeling much chagrined, went around to the side of the bed, tookthe hand of her father-in-law, bent over and kissed him good-by. 

"Now, Cora, take her out and see her off. "

Violet took leave of her young mother-in-law, and followed Cora from thesick room. 

"Now, Rose, close all the shutters; darken the room and sit beside thehead of my bed. Don't speak until you are spoken to; don't move; don'teven read; but sit still, silent, attentive, while I try to rest. "

Rose obeyed all his orders, and then sat like a dead woman, back in theresting chair beside him. She had noted how weak and husky his voice hadbeen in giving his instructions to his "womankind, " with what pain andeffort he had spoken, while his strong will bore him through theinterview, which, short as it was, had left him prostrate and exhausted. 

Rose wished to offer him the cordial the doctor had left, but he hadordered her not to move or speak until she was spoken to, and Rose darednot disobey. She did not know what might be the result of her passiveobedience to him, nor, to tell the truth, did she very much care. Rosewas weary of life!

Meanwhile, Cora and Violet went down stairs together. 

At six o'clock the doctor came, and made anxious inquiries into thestate of the injured man; but Cora could only report that he seemed tohave passed a quiet day, watched by his wife, but unapproached by anyother member of his family, all of whom he had forbidden to come nearhim unless called. 

"A very wise provision, my dear Mrs. Rothsay. I will go up now and seehim, " said Dr. Cummins. 

A few minutes later Rose came down and entered the parlor, looking veryfaint and white except for two small, deep crimson spots on the cheeks. 

"Here, Rose, take this chair, " said Violet, vacating the mostcomfortable seat in the room, on which she had sat all the afternoon. 

The woman dropped into it, too weak and weary to stand upon ceremony. 

"How did you leave grandfather?"

"I hardly know; but doing well, I should think, for he has been dozingall day, only waking up to ask for iced beef tea, or milk punch, andthen, when he had drank one or the other, going to sleep again. I havebeen fanning him all the time except when I have been feeding him. "

While Rose was sipping some tea which had been promptly brought to her, the doctor came in and reported Mr. Rockharrt as doing extremely well. 

"You will stay to dinner with us, Dr. Cummins, " said Rose. 

"Thank you, my dear lady, but I cannot. I shall just wait to see Mr. Fabian Rockharrt and give my report to him in all its details, as Ipromised, and then hurry home and go to bed. I have had no sleep for thelast twenty-four--no, bless my soul! not for the last thirty-six hours!"replied the physician. He had scarcely ceased to speak when Mr. Fabianentered the room. 

"Oh! home so soon!" exclaimed Violet, starting up to meet him. 

"Yes; how is the father?"

"There is the doctor; ask him. "

"Ah, Dr. Cummins! Good afternoon? How is your patient?"

"Come with me into the library, Mr. Fabian, and I will give you a fullreport. "

"Where is Clarence?" inquired Fabian. 

"Up stairs somewhere. He did not come to luncheon, " replied Cora. 

"Poor Clarence! He is awfully cut up!" said Mr. Fabian, as he left theparlor with Dr. Cummins. As they passed through the hall they werejoined by Mr. Clarence, who had just heard of the doctor's arrival. 

"I left him very comfortable, carefully watched by old Martha, who haswaked up refreshed after a ten hours' sleep and has taken her place byhis bedside. There is no immediate cause for anxiety, my dear Clarence, "said the physician, in reply to the questions put to him. 

"The worst of it is, doctor, that while it was absolutely necessary forme to stay here during Fabian's absence, I dare not go into my father'sroom. He thinks that I am at North End. And he would become very angryif he knew that I was here against his will and his commands. Besideswhich, I hate deception and concealment, " complained Mr. Clarence. 

"It is rather a difficult case to manage, my boy, but it is absolutelynecessary that either yourself or your brother should be on hand hereday and night; it is equally necessary that your father should be keptquiet. So I see nothing better to do than for you to stay here and keepstill until you are wanted, " replied the doctor. 

And then the three went into the little library or office at the rear ofthe hall, and what further was said among them was whispered with closeddoors. At the end of fifteen minutes they came out. The doctor tookleave of all the family and went away. 

Mr. Fabian went up to his father's door and rapped softly. 

Old Martha came to admit him. 

"How is your master? Is he awake? Can I see him?" he inquired. 

"Surely, Marse Fabe! Ole marse wide awake, berry easy, and 'quiringarter you. Come in, sar!"

Mr. Fabian entered the room, which was in some darkness from the closedwindow shutters, and went up to his father's bed. 

"I hope you are better, sir, " he said. 

"I don't know, " said the injured man, in a faint voice. 

"How are the works getting on?"

"Famously, sir! Splendidly! Pray do not feel the least anxiety on thatscore. "

"Where is Clarence?"

"At North End, sir. Of course, he would not think of leaving the workswhile both you and myself are absent. "

"I don't know, " sighed the weary invalid, for the third time. "But youhad better not, either of you, attempt to deceive me while I am lyinghere on my back. "

"Not for the world, my dear father! Pray do not be doubtful or anxious. We are your dutiful sons, sir, and our first--"

"Rubbish!" exclaimed the broken Iron King. "That will do! Go send Roseto me. Why the deuce did she leave? I--I--I--" His voice dropped into aninarticulate murmur. 

Mr. Fabian bent over him, and saw that he had dozed off to sleep. 

"Dat's de way he's been a-goin' on ebber since de doctor lef'. It's detruck wot de doctor give him, " said old Martha. 

Fabian stole on tiptoe out of the room. Dinner was waiting for him downstairs. He would not deliver his father's selfish message to Rose, because he wished the poor creature to dine in peace. He told Clarenceto give her his arm to the dining room. 

While they were all at dinner Violet explained to her husband why Mr. Rockharrt had directed her to return home. Poor Violet was very loth tostir up any ill feeling between the father and son; but she need nothave feared. Mr. Fabian understood the autocrat too well to take offenseat the dismissal of his wife. 

The next morning when the family physician arrived, and visited theinjured man, he found him suffering from restlessness and a risingfever. 

He reported this condition to Mr. Clarence Rockharrt, left veryparticular directions for the treatment of the patient, and then tookleave, with the promise to return in the evening and remain all night. 

Later in the afternoon the doctor, having finished all otherprofessional calls for the day, arrived at Rockhold. He found hispatient delirious. He took up his post by the sick bed for the night, and then peremptorily sent off the worn-out watcher, Rose, to the restshe so much needed. 

The condition of Aaron Rockharrt was very critical. Irritative fever hadset in with great violence, and this was the beginning of the hardstruggle for life that lasted many days, during which delirium, stupor, and brief lucid intervals followed each other with the rise and fall ofthe fever. A professional nurse was engaged to attend him; but the realburden of the nursing fell on Rose. 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

A VOLUNTARY EXPIATION. 

Rose never lost patience. She stayed by the bedside always until thedoctor turned her out of the room. She came back the moment she wascalled, night or day. 

Weeks passed and Mr. Rockharrt grew better and stronger, but Rose grewworse and weaker. The fine autumn weather that braced up theconvalescent old man chilled and depressed the consumptive young woman. 

It was certain that Mr. Rockharrt would entirely regain his health andstrength, and even take out a new lease of life. 

"I never saw any one like your grandfather in all my long practice, "said the doctor to Cora one morning, after he had left his patient; "heis a wonder to me. Nothing but a catastrophe could ever have laid him onan invalid bed; and no other man that I know could have recovered fromsuch injuries as he has sustained. Why in a month from this time he willbe as well as ever. He has a constitution of tremendous strength. "

"But the poor wife, " said Cora. 

"Ah, poor soul!" sighed the doctor. 

"And yet a little while ago she seemed such a perfect picture ofhealth. "

"My dear, wherever you see that abnormally clear, fresh, semi-transparent complexion, be sure it is a bad sign--a sign ofunsoundness within. "

"Can nothing be done for Rose?"

"Yes; and I am doing it as much as she will let me. I advise a warmerclimate for the coming winter. Mr. Rockharrt will be able to travel bythe first of November, and he should then take her to Florida. But, yousee, he pooh-poohs the whole suggestion. Well--'A willful man must havehis way, '" said the doctor, as he took up his hat and bade the ladygood-by. 

A week after this conversation, on the day on which Aaron Rockharrtfirst sat up in his easy chair, Rose had her first hemorrhage from thelungs. It laid her on the bed from which she was never to rise. 

Cora became her constant and tender nurse. Rose was subdued and patient. A few days after this she said to the lady:

"It seems to me that my own dear father, who has been absent from mythoughts for so many years, has drawn very near his poor child in theselast few months, and nearer still in the last few days. I do not seehim, nor hear him, nor feel him by any natural sense, but I do perceivehim. I do perceive that he is trying to do me good, and that he is gladI am coming to him so soon. I am sorry for all the wrong I have done, and I hope the Lord will forgive me. But how can I expect Him to do it, when I can scarcely forgive--even now on my dying bed I can scarcelyforgive--my step-mother and her husband for the neglect and cruelty thatwrecked my life? Oh, but I forget. You know nothing of all this. "

Cora did know. Fabian had told her; but he had also exacted a promise ofsecrecy from her; so she said nothing in reply to this. 

Rose continued, speaking in a low, meditative tone:

"Yes; I am sorry, sorry for the evil I have done. It was not worth whileto do it. Life is too short--too short even at its longest. But, oh! Ihad such a passionate ambition for recognition by the great world! forthe admiration of society! Every one whom I met in our quiet lives toldme, either by words or looks, that I was beautiful--very beautiful--andI believed them; and I longed for wealth and rank, for dress and jewels, to set off this beauty, and for ease and luxury to enjoy life. Oh, whatvanity! Oh, what selfishness! And here I am, with the grave yawning toswallow me up, " she murmured, drearily. 

"No, dear; no, " said Cora, gently laying her hand on the blue-whiteforehead of the fading woman. "No, Rose. No grave opens for any humanbeing; but only for the body that the freed human being has left behind. It is not the grave that opens for you, Rose, but your father's arms. Would you like to see a minister, dear?"

"If Mr. Rockharrt does not object. "

"Then you shall see one. "

Rose's sick room was on the opposite side of the hall from Mr. Rockharrt's convalescent apartment. 

If the Iron King felt any sorrow at his young wife's mortal illness, hedid not show it. If he felt any compunction for having taxed herstrength to its extremity, he did not express it. He maintained hisusual stolid manner, and merely issued general orders that no trouble orexpense must be spared in her treatment and in her interest. He cameinto her room every day, leaning on the arm of his servant, to ask herhow she felt, and to sit a few minutes by her bed. 

Violet could no longer come to Rockhold, because a little Violet bud, only a few days old, kept her a close prisoner at the Banks. But Mr. Fabian came twice a week. The minister from the mission church at NorthEnd came very frequently, and as he was an earnest, fervent Christian, his ministrations were most beneficial to Rose. 

On the day that Mr. Rockharrt first rode out, the end came, rathersuddenly at the last. 

There was no one in the house but Cora and the servants, Mr. Clarencehaving gone back to North End. Cora had left Rose in the care of oldMartha, and had come down stairs to write a letter to her brother. Shehad scarcely written a page when the door was opened by Martha, whosaid, in a frightened tone:

"Come, Miss Cora--come quick! there's a bad change. I'm 'feard to leaveher a minute, even to call you. Please come quick!"

Both went to the bedside of the dying woman, over whose face the darkshadows of death were creeping. Rose could no longer raise her hand tobeckon or raise her voice to call, but she fixed her eyes imploringly onCora, who bent low to catch any words she might wish to say. She wasgasping for breath as in broken tones she whispered:

"Cora--the Lord--has given me--grace--to forgive them. Write to--mystep-mother. Fabian--will tell you--where--"

"Yes; I will, I will, dear Rose, " said Cora, gazing down throughblinding tears, as she stooped and pressed her warm lips on thedeath-cold lips beneath them. 

Rose lifted her failing eyes to Cora's sympathetic face and never movedthem more; there they became fixed. 

The sound of approaching wheels was heard. 

"It is my grandfather. Go and tell him, " whispered Cora to old Marthawithout turning her head. 

The woman left the room, and in a few moments Mr. Rockharrt entered it, leaning on the arm of his valet. 

When he approached the bed, he saw how it was and asked no questions. Hewent to the side opposite to that occupied by Cora, and bent over thedying woman. 

"Rose, " he said in a low voice--"Rose, my child. "

She was past answering, past hearing. He took her thin, chill hand inhis, but it was without life. 

He bent still lower over her, and whispered:

"Rose. "

But she never moved or murmured. 

Her eyes were fixed in death on those of Cora. 

Then suddenly a smile came to the dying face, light dawned in the dyingeyes, as she lifted them and gazed away beyond Cora's form, andmurmuring contented;

"Father, father--" and

 "With a sigh of a great deliverance, "

she fell asleep. 

They stood in silence over the dead for a few moments, and then Mr. Rockharrt drew the white coverlet up over the ashen face, and thenleaning on the arm of his servant went out of the room. 

Three days later the mortal remains of Rose Rockharrt were laid in thecemetery at North End. 

It was on the first of November, a week after the funeral, that Mr. Rockharrt, for the first time in three months, went to the works. 

On that day, while Cora sat alone in the parlor, a card was brought toher--

"The Duke of Cumbervale. "

The Duke of Cumbervale entered the parlor. 

Cora rose to receive him; the blood rushing to her head and suffusingher face with blushes, merely from the vivid memory of the painful pastcalled up by the sudden sight of the man who had been the unconsciouscause of all her unhappiness. Most likely the old lover mistook themeaning of the lady's agitation in his presence, and ascribed it to aself-flattering origin. 

However that might have been, he advanced with easy grace, and bowingslightly, said:

"My dear Mrs. Rothsay, I am very happy to see you again! I hope I findyou quite well?"

"Quite well, thank you, " she replied, recovering her self-control. 

In the ensuing conversation, Cora made known her grandfather's accidentand the death of Rose. 

"I am truly grieved to have intruded at so inopportune a time, " assertedthe visitor, and arose to take leave. 

Then Cora's conscience smote her for her inhospitable rudeness. Here wasa man who had crossed the sea at her grandfather's invitation, who hadreached the country in ignorance of the family trouble; who had comedirectly from the seaport to North End, and ridden from North End toRockhold--a distance of six or seven miles; and she had scarcely givenhim a civil reception. And now should she let him go all the way back toNorth End without even offering him some refreshment?

Such a course, under such circumstances, even toward an utter stranger, would have been unprecedented in her neighborhood, which had always beennoted for its hospitality. 

Yet still she was afraid to offer him any polite attention, lest sheshould in so doing give him encouragement to urge his suit, that shedreaded to hear, and was determined to reject. 

It was not until the visitor had taken his hat in his left hand, andheld out the right to bid her good morning, that she forced herself todo her hostess' duty, and say:

"This is a very dull house, duke, but if you can endure its dullness, Ibeg you will stay to lunch with me. "

A smile suddenly lighted up the visitor's cold blue eyes. 

"'Dull, ' madam? No house can be dull--even though darkened by a recentbereavement--which is blessed by your presence. I thank you. I shallstay with much pleasure. "

And now I have done it! thought Cora, with vexation. 

At length the clock struck two, the luncheon bell rang, and Cora arosewith a smile of invitation. The duke gave her his arm, they went intothe dining room. The gray-haired butler was in waiting. They took theirplaces at the table. Old John had just set a plate of lobster saladbefore the guest when the sound of carriage wheels was heard approachingthe house. In a few minutes more there came heavy steps along the hall, the door opened, and old Aaron Rockharrt entered the room. Cora and hervisitor both arose. 

"Ah, duke! how do you do? I got your telegram on reaching North End;went to the hotel to meet you, and found that you had started forRockhold. Had your dispatch arrived an hour earlier I should have gonein my carriage to meet you, " said the Iron King with pompous politeness. 

Now it seemed in order for the visitor to offer some condolence to thisbereaved husband. But how could he, where the widower himself sodecidedly ignored the subject of his own sorrow? To have said one wordabout his recent loss would have been, in the world's opinion andvocabulary, "bad form. "

"You are very kind, Mr. Rockharrt; and I thank you. I came on quitecomfortably in the hotel hack, which waits to take me back, " was allthat he said. 

"No, sir! that hack does not wait to take you back. I have sent it away. Moreover, I settled your bill at the hotel, gave up your rooms, saw yourvalet, and ordered your luggage to be brought here. It will arrive in anhour, " said the Iron King, as he threw himself into the great leathernchair that the old butler pushed to the table for his master'saccommodation. 

The duke looked at the old man in a state of stupefaction. How on earthshould he deal with this purse-proud egotist, who took the liberty ofpaying his hotel bill, giving up his apartments and ordering hisservants? and doing all this without the faintest idea that he wascommitting an unpardonable impertinence. 

"You are to know, duke, that from the time you entered upon my domain atNorth End, you became my guest--mine, sir! John, that Johannisberg. Fillthe duke's glass. My own importation, sir; twelve years in my cellar. You will scarcely find its equal anywhere. Your health, sir. "

The duke bowed and sipped his wine. 

His future bearing to this old barbarian required mature reflection. Only for the duke's infatuation with Cora, it would have not have neededa minute's thought to make up his mind to flee from Rockhold forthwith. 

When luncheon was over Mr. Rockharrt invited the duke into his study tosmoke. Before they had finished their first cigar the Iron King, withdrawing his "lotus, " and sending a curling cloud of vapor into theair, said:

"You have something on your mind that you wish to get off it, sir. Outwith it! Nothing like frankness and promptness. "

"You are right, Mr. Rockharrt. I do wish to speak to you on a point onwhich my life's happiness hangs. Your beautiful granddaughter--"

"Yes, yes! Of course I knew it concerned her. "

"Then I hope you do not disapprove my suit. "

"I don't now, or I never should have invited you to come over to thiscountry and speak for yourself. The circumstances are different. When Irefused my granddaughter's hand to you in London, it was because I hadalready promised it to another man--a fine fellow, worthy to become oneof my family, if ever a man was--and I never break a promise. So Irefused your offer, and brought the young woman home, and married herto Rothsay, who disappeared in a strange and mysterious manner, as youmay have heard, and was never heard of again until the massacre ofTerrepeur by the Comanche Indians--among whom, it seems, he was amissionary--when the news came that he had been murdered by the savagesand his body burned in the fire of his own hut. But the horror is twoyears old now, and I am at liberty to bestow the hand of my widowedgranddaughter on whomsoever I please. You'll do as well as another man, and Heaven knows that I shall be glad to have any honest white man takeher off my hands, for she is giving me a deal of trouble. "

"Trouble, sir? I thought your lovely granddaughter was the comfort andstaff of your age, and, therefore, almost feared to ask her hand inmarriage. But what is the nature of the trouble, if I may ask?"

"Didn't I tell you? Well, she has got a missionary maggot in her head. It's feeding on all the little brains she ever had. She wants to go outas a teacher and preacher to the red heathen, and spend her life and herfortune among them. She wants to do as Rule did, and, I suppose, die asRule died. Oh, of course--

 "Twas so for me young Edwin did, And so for him will I!'

"And all that rot. I cannot break her will without breaking her neck. Ifyou can do anything with her, take her, in the Lord's name. And joy gowith her. "

The young suitor felt very uncomfortable. He was not at all used to suchan old ruffian as this. He did not know how to talk with him--what toreply to his rude consent to the proposal of marriage. At length hiscompassion, no less than his love for Cora, inspired him to say:

"Thank you, Mr. Rockharrt. I will take the lady, if she will do me thehonor to trust her happiness to my keeping. "

"More fool you! But that is your look-out, " grunted the old man. 

The next morning when they met at breakfast Mr. Rockharrt invited hisguest to accompany him to North End to inspect the iron mines andfoundries, the locomotive works and all the rest of it. 

The duke had no choice but to accept the invitation. 

The two gentlemen left directly after breakfast, and Cora rejoiced inthe respite of one whole day from the society of the unwelcome guest. 

She saw the house set in order, gave directions for the dinner, and thenretired to her own private sitting room to resume her labor of love, thelife of her lost husband. 

Earlier than usual that afternoon the Iron King returned homeaccompanied by their guest and by Mr. Clarence, who had come with themin honor of the duke. The evening was spent in a rubber of whist, inwhich Mr. Rockharrt and the duke, who were partners, were the winnersover Cora and Mr. Clarence, their antagonists. The evening was finishedat the usual hour with champagne and sago biscuits. 

The next morning, when Mr. Rockharrt and Mr. Clarence were about toleave the house for the carriage to take them to North End, the IronKing turned abruptly and said to his granddaughter:

"By the way, Cora, Fabian and Violet are coming to dinner this eveningto meet the duke. It will be a mere family affair upon a familyoccasion, eh, duke! A very quiet little dinner among ourselves. No otherguests! Good morning. "

And so saying the old man left the house, accompanied by his son. 

Cora returned to the drawing room, where she had left the duke. Hearose immediately and placed a chair for her; but she waved her hand inrefusal of it, and standing, said very politely:

"You will find the magazines of the month and the newspapers of the dayon the table of the library on the opposite side of the hall, if youfeel disposed to look over them. "

"The papers of to-day! How is it possible you are so fortunate as to getthe papers of to-day at so early an hour, at so remote a point?"inquired the duke, probably only to hold her in conversation. 

"Mr. Clarence Rockharrt's servant takes them from the earliest mail andstarts with them for Rockhold. Mr. Rockharrt usually reads the morningpapers here before his breakfast. "

"A wonderful conquest over time and space are our modern locomotives, "observed the duke. 

Cora assented, and then said:

"Pray use the full freedom of the house and grounds; of the servantsalso, and the horses and carriages. Mr. Rockharrt places them all atyour disposal. But please excuse me, for I have an engagement which willoccupy me nearly all day. "

The duke looked disappointed, but bowed gravely and answered:

"Of course; pray do not let me be a hindrance to your more importantoccupations, Mrs. Rothsay. "

"Thank you!" she answered, a little vaguely, and with a smile she leftthe room, "Rejoicing to be free!"

The duke anathematized his fate in finding so much difficulty in the wayof his wooing, his ladylove evading him with a grace, a coolness, and acourtesy which he was constrained to respect. 

He strolled into the library, and then loitered along on the pathleading down to the ferry. 

Here he found the boat at the little wharf and old Lebanon on duty. 

"Sarvint, marster, " said the old negro, touching his rimless old felthat. "Going over?"

"Yes, my man, " said the duke, stepping on board the boat. 

"W'ich dey calls me Uncle Lebnum as mentions ob me in dese parts, marster, " the old ferryman explained, touching his hat. 

"Oh, they do? Very well. I will remember, " said the passenger, as theboat was pushed off from the shore. 

"How many trips do you make in a day?" inquired the fare. 

"Pen's 'pon how many people is a-comin' an' goin'. Some days I don'tmake no trip at all. Oder days, w'en dere's a weddin' or a fun'al, Imakes many as fifty. "

The passage was soon made, and the duke stepped out on the west bank. 

"Is there any path leading to the top of this ridge, Uncle--Lemuel?"inquired the duke. 

"Lebnum, young marster, if you please! Lebnum!--w'ich dere is no paffan' no way o' gettin' to de top o' dis wes' range, jes' 'cause 'tis tooorful steep; but ef you go 'bout fo' mile up de road, you'd come to apaff leadin' zigzag, wall o' Troy like, up to Siffier's Roos'. "

"Zephyr's--what?"

"Roos', marster. Yes, sar. W'ich so 'tis call 'cause she usen to roos'up dar, jes' like ole turkey buzzard. W'en you get up dar, you can seeober free States. Yes, sar, 'cause dat p'ints w'ere de p'ints o' boundylines ob free States meets--yes, sah!"

"I think I will take a walk to that point. I suppose I can find thepath?"

"You can't miss it, sah, if you keeps a sharp look-out. About fo' milesup, sah"

"Very well. Shall you be here when I come back?"

"No, sah. Dis ain't my stoppin' place; t'other side is. But I'll be onde watch dere, and ef you holler for me, I'll come. I'll come anyways, 'cause I'll be sure to see you. "

"Quite so, " said the duke, as he sauntered up that very road between thefoot of the mountain and the bank of the river down which the festivecrowd had come on Corona Haught's fatal wedding day. 

An hour's leisurely walk brought him to the first cleft in the rock. 

From the back of this the path ascended, with many a double, to thewooded shelf on which old Scythia's hut had once stood--hidden. When hereached the spot he found nothing but charred logs, blasted trees, andashes, as if the spot had been wasted by fire. 

A ray of dazzling light darted from the ashes at his feet. In somesurprise he stooped to ascertain the cause, and picked up a ring;examined it curiously; found it to be set with a diamond of rare beautyand great value. Then in sudden amazement he turned to the reverse sideof the golden cup that clasped the gem and saw a monogram. 

"I thought so, " he muttered to himself; "I thought that there was notanother such a peculiar setting to any gem in the world but that; andnow the monogram proves it beyond the shadow of a doubt to be the same. But how in the name of wonder should the lost talisman be found here--inthe ashes of some charcoal burner's hut?"

With these words he took out and opened his pocket-book and carefullyplaced the ring in its safest fold, closed and returned the book to hispocket, and arose and left the spot. The duke turned to descend themountain. 

At length, however, he reached the foot, and then, under the shadow ofthe ridge that threw the whole narrow valley into premature twilight, hehurried to the ferry. 

The boat was not there. Indeed, he had not expected to find it afterwhat old Lebanon had told him. It was too obscure in the valley topermit him to see across the river, so he shouted:

"Boat!"

"All wight, young marster, but needn't split your t'roat nor my brainpan, nider! I can hear you! I's coming!" came the voice from mid-stream, for the old ferryman was already half across the river with a chancepassenger. 

In a few minutes more the boat grated upon the shore and the passengerjumped out, tipped his hat to the duke, and hurried up the river roadtoward North End. 

"Dat pusson were Mr. Thomas Rylan', fust foreman ober all de founderies. Dere's a many foremen, but he be de fust. Come down long ob de ole marsdis arternoon arter some 'counts, I reckon, an' now gone back wid a bigbundle ob papers an' doc'ments. Yes, sah. Get in. I's ready to start, "said the ferryman, as he cleared a seat in the stern of the boat for theaccommodation of the passenger. 

"Who used to live in that hut on the mountain before it was burneddown?" inquired the duke as he took his seat. 

"Ole Injun 'oman named Siffier. "

"Where did she come from?"

"Dunno dat nudder. Nobody dunno. "

"Can't you tell me something about such a strange person who lived righthere in your neighborhood?"

"Look yere, marster, leas' said soones' mended where she's 'cerned. Ican't tell you on'y but jes' dis: She 'peared yere 'bout twenty yearago, or mo'. She built dat dere hut wid her own han's, an' she use tomake baskets an' brackets an' sich, an' fetch 'em roun' to de people tosell. She made 'em out'n twigs an' ornimented 'em wid red rose berriesan' hollies an' sich, an' mighty purty dey was, an' de young gals liked'em, dey did. An' she made her libbin outen de money she got for herwares. She use to tell fortins too; an' folks did say as she tole true, an' some did say as she had a tell-us-man ring w'ich, when she wore it, she could see inter de futur; but Lor', young marse, dey was on'ysupercilly young idiwuts as b'leibed dat trash! But she nebber wouldtake no money for tellin' fortins--nebber!--w'ich was curous. De berryday as de gubner-leck was missin' ob, she wanished too. When decons'able went to 'rest her, he foun' her gone an' de hut burnt up. Now, yere we is, young marse, at de lan'in', an' you can get right out yere'dout wettin' your feet, " said the old ferryman, as he pushed the boatup to the dry end of the wharf. 

The passenger astonished the old ferryman by putting a quarter of aneagle in his hand, and then sprang from the boat and ran up the avenueleading toward the house. There was no light visible from the windows ofthe mansion. The dinner party was a strictly private family affair, andnothing but the solitary lamp at the head of the avenue appeared toguide the pedestrian's steps through the darkness of the newly fallennight. 

He reached the house, and was admitted by the old servant. 

When his toilet was complete, the duke went down to the drawing room tojoin the family circle. 

The dinner, quiet as it was, was a success. To be sure, the diners wereall in deep mourning and the conversation was rather subdued; but, then, it was perhaps on that account the more interesting. 

The many courses, altogether, occupied more than an hour. 

When the cloth was drawn and the dessert placed upon the table, at asignal from the Iron King the butler went around the table and filledevery glass with champagne, then returned and stood at his master'sback. Mr. Rockharrt arose and made a speech, and proposed a toast thatgreatly astonished his company and compromised two of them. With hisglass in his hand, he said:

"My sons, daughters, and friend: You all doubtless understand the objectof this family gathering, and also why this celebration of aninteresting family event must necessarily be confined to the members ofthe family. In a word, it is my duty and pleasure to announce to you allthe betrothal in marriage of his grace the Duke of Cumbervale and mygranddaughter, Mrs. Corona Rothsay. I propose the health of thebetrothed pair. "

Cora put down her glass and turned livid with dismay and indignation. All the other diners, the duke among them, arose to the occasion andhonored the toast, and then sat down, all except the duke, who remainedstanding, and though somewhat embarrassed by this unexpected proceedingon the part of the Iron King, yet vaguely supposed it might be a localcustom, and at all events was certainly very much pleased with it. Beingin love and being taken by surprise, he could not be expected to speaksensibly, or even coherently. He said:

"Ladies and gentlemen: This is the happiest day of my life as yet. Ilook forward to a happier one in the near future, when I shall call thelovely lady at my side by the dearest name that man can utter, and Ishall call you not only my dear friends, but my near relatives. Ipropose the health of the greatest benefactor of the human race nowliving. The man who, by his mighty life's work, has opened up theresources of nature, compelled the everlasting mountains to give uptheir priceless treasures of coal and iron ore; given employment tothousands of men and women; made this savage wilderness of rock, andwood, and water 'bloom and blossom as the rose, ' and hum with the stirof industry like a myriad hives of bees. I propose the health of Mr. Aaron Rockharrt. "

All, except Cora, arose and honored this toast. 

Mr. Fabian Rockharrt replied on the part of his father. 

Then the health of each member of the party was proposed in turn. Whenthis was over the two ladies withdrew from the table and went into thedrawing room, leaving the gentlemen to their wine. 

"Oh, my dear, dear Cora! I am so glad! I wish you joy with my whole, whole heart!" exclaimed Violet, effusively, but most sincerely andearnestly, as she clasped Corona to her heart. The next instant she lether go and gazed at Cora in surprise and dismay. 

"Why, what is the matter, Cora? You are as white and as cold as death. What is the matter?" demanded Violet as she led and half supportedCorona to an easy chair, in which the latter dropped. 

"Tell me, Cora. What is it, dear? What can I do for you? Can I get youanything? Is all this emotion caused by the announcement of yourbetrothal to the duke?" demanded Violet, hurrying question uponquestion, and trembling even more than Cora. 

"Sit down, Violet. Never mind me. I shall be all right presently. Don'tbe frightened, darling, " said Cora, as well as she could speak. 

"But let me do something for you!"

"You can do nothing. "

"But what caused this?"

"My feelings have been outraged!--outraged! That is all!"

"How? How? Surely not by Mr. Rockharrt's announcement of your betrothalto the duke? It was rather embarrassing to the betrothed pair, I admit;but surely it was the proper thing to do. "

"'The proper thing to do!' Violet, it was false! false! I am notbetrothed to the duke. I never was. I never shall be. I would not marryan emperor to share a throne. My life is consecrated to good works inthe very field in which my dear husband died. I have said this to mygrandfather and to you all, over and over again. If it had not been forMr. Rockharrt's accident that endangered his life, I should have goneout to the Indian Territory with my brother, and should have been atwork there at this present time. I shall go at the first opportunity. "

Cora spoke very excitedly, being almost beside herself with wrath andshame at the affront which had been put upon her. 

"I thought the duke was an old admirer of yours, and had come over onpurpose to marry you, " said Violet. 

"That is too true. He came against my will. I have never given him theslightest encouragement. How could I when my life is consecrated to thememory of my husband and to the work he left unfinished? I fear Mr. Rockharrt assured the duke of my hand; and when he heard the falseannouncement of our betrothal, he took it for granted that it was allright. He must have done so; though he himself was much taken bysurprise. "

"How very strange of Mr. Rockharrt to do such a thing. If I had beenyou, Cora, I should have got up and disclaimed it. "

"No you would not. You would not have made a scene at the dinner table. I was in no way responsible for the announcement made by my grandfather, and in no way bound by it. The silence that seemed to indorse it wasrendered absolutely necessary under the circumstances. "

"But what shall you do about it?"

"As soon as I can speak of it without making a scene, I shall tell Mr. Rockharrt and the Duke of Cumbervale that a most reprehensible libertyhas been taken with my name. I will say that I never have been, andnever will be, engaged to the Duke of Cumbervale, or to any other man. That is what I shall do about it. "

"It would mortify the duke very much. "

"I do not care if it does. "

"And, indeed, it would put Mr. Rockharrt into a terrible rage. "

"I cannot help it. Here come the gentlemen. "

At that moment the four gentlemen entered the drawing room. The dukecame directly up to Cora, and bending over her, said in a low voiceinaudible to the rest of the party:

"Corona, you have blessed me beyond the power of words to express! Onlythe dedication of a life to your happiness--"

There the ardent lover was suddenly stopped by the cold look of surprisein Cora's eyes. His face took on a disturbed expression. 

"I think there is some serious mistake here, sir, which we may set rightat some more fitting opportunity. Will you have the kindness not torefer to the comedy enacted at our dinner table to-night?"

"I will obey you, although I do not understand you, " said the duke. 

"Oblige me, duke! I want to show you a map of the projected Oregon andAlaska railroad, " said the Iron King, coming toward his guest with aroll of parchment in his hands. 

The duke immediately arose and went off with his host to a distanttable, where the map was spread out, and the two gentlemen sat down toexamine it. Mr. Fabian and Mr. Clarence came over to join Cora andViolet. 

"This is a pretty march you have stolen on us, Cora! I had no more ideaof this than the man in the moon! But I congratulate you, my dear! Icongratulate you! Your present from me shall be a set of the mostsplendid diamonds that can be got together by the diamond merchants ofEurope. No mere set that can be picked up ready set, eh? Diamonds thatshall grace a duchess, my dear!" said Mr. Fabian ostentatiously. 

"Cora, my dear, I was as much surprised as Fabian. But, oh! I was happyfor your sake. The duke is a good fellow, I am sure, and awfully in lovewith you. Ah! didn't he offer a just and heartfelt tribute to thefather! I declare, Cora, I never fully appreciated my father, orrealized what a great benefactor he was to the human race, until theduke made that little speech in proposing his health. How appreciativethe duke is! Really, Cora, dear, you are a very happy woman, and Icongratulate you with all my heart and soul; indeed, I do, " said Mr. Clarence, wringing the young lady's hand, and turning away to hide thetears that filled his eyes. 

"Thank you, Uncle Clarence. Thank you, Uncle Fabian. I am grateful foryour congratulations, on account of your good intentions;but--congratulations are quite uncalled for on this occasion. "

"Why--what on earth do you mean, Cora?" inquired Mr. Fabian, while Mr. Clarence looked full of uneasiness. 

"I mean that I have never been engaged to the Duke of Cumbervale, andnever mean to marry him. Mr. Rockharrt's announcement was unauthorizedand unfounded. It was just an act of his despotic will, to oblige me tocontract a marriage which he favors. "

The two men looked on the speaker in mute amazement. 

"We will not talk more of this to-night. But the matter must be setright to-morrow, " said Cora. 

A little later Mr. And Mrs. Fabian Rockharrt took leave and departed fortheir home. 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

UNREQUITED LOVE. 

The Duke of Cumbervale, weary of a sleepless pillow, arose early andrang his bell, startling his gentlemanly valet from his morningslumbers; dressed himself with monsieur's assistance, and went downstairs with the intention of taking a walk before the family should beup. 

But his intention was forestalled by the appearance of Mr. Rockharrtcoming out of his chamber on the opposite side of the hall. 

The Iron King looked up in some surprise at the apparition of his guestat so early an hour; but quickly composed himself as he gave him thematutinal salutation:

"Ah, good morning, duke. An early riser, like myself, eh? Come downinto the library with me, and let us look over the morning papers. "

A cheerful coal fire was burning in the grate, a very acceptable comforton this chill November morning. 

This was one of the happy days when there is "nothing in thepapers"--that is to say, nothing interesting, absorbing, soul harrowing, in the form of financial ruin, highway robbery, murder, arson, fire, orflood. Everything in the world at the present brief hour seemed going onwell, consequently the papers were very dull, flat, stale andunprofitable, and were soon laid aside by the host and his guest, andthey fell into conversation. 

"You took a long walk yesterday, I hear--went across in the ferry boat, and strolled up to the foot of Scythia's Roost. "

"I did. Can you tell me anything about that curious spot?"

"No; nothing but that it was the dwelling of an Indian woman, whopretended to second sight, and who should have been sent to the State'sprison as a felon, or, at the very least, to the madhouse as a lunatic. She was burned out, or perhaps burned herself out, and vanished on thesame night that Governor Rothsay disappeared. She was in some waycognizant of a plot against him that would prevent him from everentering upon the duties of his office. I, in my capacity as magistrate, issued a warrant for her arrest, but it was too late. She was gone. Itis said by some people that she is a Mexican Indian, who had been verybeautiful in her youth, and who had become infatuated with an Englishtourist who admired her to such a degree that he married her--accordingto the rites of her nation. He was a false hearted caitiff, if he was anEnglish lord. Having committed the folly of marrying the Indian woman, he should have been true to her--made the best of the bad bargain. Instead of which he grew tired of her, and finally abandoned her. "

"Did he return to his native country, do you know?"

"He did not. She never gave him time. She went mad after he left her, followed him to New Orleans and tomahawked him on the steamboat. She wastried for murder, acquitted on the ground of insanity, and sent to alunatic asylum. After a time she was discharged, or she escaped. It isnot known which; most probably she escaped, as she certainly was notcured. She was as mad as a March hare all the time she lived here; butas she was harmless--comparatively harmless--it seemed nobody's businessto have her shut up! And as I said, when at last I thought it was timeto have her arrested on a charge of vagrancy, it was too late. She hadfled. "

"Why do you suspect that she had some knowledge of a plot to make awaywith the governor-elect?"

"I suspect that she was in the plot. Developments have led me to theconclusion. By these I learned that Rothsay was not murdered, as hisfriends feared, nor abducted, as some persons believed, but that he wentaway, and lived for many months among the Indians in the wilderness, without giving a sign of his identity to the people among whom he lived, or sending a hint of his whereabouts, or even of his existence, to hisanxious friends. But that the massacre of Terrepeur--in which he wasmurdered and his hut was burned--occurred when it did, we might neverhave learned his fate. "

"Yet, still, I cannot see the ground upon which you suspect this Indianwoman of complicity in the man's disappearance, " said Cumbervale. 

"But I am coming to that. Scythia was a Mexican Indian. It is well knownto travelers that the Mexican Indians possess the secret of a drugwhich, when administered to a man, will not kill him, or do him anyphysical harm, but will reduce him to a state of abject imbecility, sothat his free will is destroyed, and he may be led by any one who maywish to lead him. This drug administered to Rothsay, by the woman, musthave so deprived him of his reason as to induce him to follow any oneinfluencing him. "

"What interest could she have had in reducing the man to this state ofdementia?"

"She had been like a mother to the young man, and had sheltered him inher hut for years, when he had no other home. She was very much attachedto this adopted son of hers; she was longing to go back to her tribe anddie among her own people. It may be that she wished to take him withher, and so gave him the drug that destroyed his will. Or, she may havebeen the tool of others. All this is the merest conjecture. But thefacts remain that she foretold his fate, and that she vanished on thesame day on which he disappeared, and that he remained in exile, voluntarily, until he was murdered by the Indians. Still--there mighthave been another cause for this self-expatriation. "

"May I inquire its nature?"

"No, duke; it is only in my secret thought. I have no just right tospeak of it to you. But if the question be not indiscreet, will you tellme why you take so deep an interest in the unreliable story of thisIndian woman's life?"

"Certainly; because the wild young blade who married and left her, andpaid down his life for that desertion, was my own uncle, my father'selder brother, Earl Netherby, the heir to the dukedom, by whose death myfather, and subsequently myself, succeeded to the title. "

"You astonish me! Are you sure of this?"

"Reasonably sure. I was but five years old when my uncle came to bid usgood-by, before setting out for America. But I remember his having onhis finger a wonderful ring, a large solitaire diamond with certainflaws in it; but these flaws were very curious; they were faint tracesleft by the hand of nature shaping out a human eye. When ordinarymortals like myself looked at the diamond, they saw the delicate outlineof an eye traced by the flaws in the stone; but it was said thatwhenever a clairvoyant looked into it they could see, not the human eye, but, as through a telescope, they could view the panorama of futureevents. "

"What nonsense!" said Mr. Rockharrt. 

"Nonsense, of course, " assented the duke. "I did not speak of the ringon account of its supposed magic power, but because it was so peculiar ajewel that it would be impossible to mistake it for any other ring, orany other ring for itself; and to lead up to the statement that itsdiscovery enabled me to identify the Mexican Indian woman with themaniac who murdered my uncle, as you will see very soon. When my uncletook leave of us, my father, noticing the family talisman--which, by theway, was picked up by our ancestor, Raoul-de-Netherbie, the greatCrusader, on the battle field of Acre, and was said to have belonged toan Eastern magician, and has remained an heirloom with the head of ourfamily ever since--inquired of his brother whether he was going to wearthat outre jewel in open view upon his finger. My uncle answered that hewas; and half laughing, and wholly incredulous, he added:

"'You know, Hugh, that this stone is a talisman against shipwreck, fires, floods, robbery, murder, illness, and all the perils by land orby sea, and all the ills that flesh is heir to. While I wear this ring Iexpect to be safe from the evils of the world, the flesh, and the devil. So it shall never leave my living hand while I am away; but it shallbring me home safe to live to a patriarchal age and then die peacefullyin my bed, with my children and children's children of many generationsweeping and wailing around me. '

"These or words to this effect he was speaking, while I, standing by thechair in which he sat, toyed with his hand, and gazed curiously upon thetalismanic jewel, and got into my mind an impression of it that neverwas lost. My uncle soon after left the house, and we never saw him aliveagain. "

"He was the victim of this mad woman?"

"I know it. News was slow in those days. We seldom heard from my uncle. His letters were but the mark of the cities he stopped at. We had oneletter from Boston; a month later one from New York; a fortnight later, perhaps--for I only remember these matters by hearing them talked overby my parents--from Philadelphia; later still, and later, Baltimore, Washington, Nashville, New Orleans, and so on as he journeyed southward. Then came a long interval, during which we heard nothing from him, whileall his family suffered the deepest anxiety, fearing that he had fallena victim to the terrible fever that was then desolating the CrescentCity. Then at length came a letter from his valet--a deep black-borderedletter--which announced the terrible news of the murder of his master bya Mexican Indian woman, supposed to be mad. There were no details, butonly the explanation that he, the valet--who had seen the murder, whichwas the work of an instant--was detained in New Orleans as a witness forthe prosecution, and should not be able to return home until after thetrial. It was two months after the latter that the valet came back toEngland in charge of his late master's effects, which had all beensealed by the New Orleans authorities, and reached us intact. Only thefamily talisman was missing, and could nowhere be found. And as thefamily's prosperity, and even continuity, was supposed to depend uponthe possession of that ring, its loss was considered only a lessmisfortune than my uncle's death. Later, my uncle's remains were broughthome from New Orleans and deposited in the family vault at CumbervaleCastle. 

"The ring was never again heard of. On the death of my grandfather, theseventh duke, my father, who was the second son, succeeded to the title. But fortune seemed to have deserted us. By a series of unlucky landspeculations my father lost nearly all his riches, which calamitiespreyed upon his mind so that his health broke down and he sank intopremature old age and died. I came into the title with but little tosupport it. So that when I honestly loved a lady believed to be wealthy, my motives were supposed to be mercenary. "

The Iron King might have felt this thrust, but he gave no sign. The dukecontinued:

"My after life does not concern the story of the ring. On learning, since my return from long travel in the East, that your fairgranddaughter was widowed nearly two years before, you know I wrote toyou asking her address, with a view of renewing my old suit. You repliedby telling me that Mrs. Rothsay made her home with you, and inviting meto visit you. I refer to this only to keep the sequence of events inorder. I came. Yesterday morning I went to Scythia's Roost, climbed fromthat shelf to the top of the mountain and viewed the scene from it. After I came down again to Scythia's Roost I sat down to rest. The sunwas sinking behind the ridge, but through a crevice in the rocks aray--'a line of golden light'--pierced and seemed to strike fire andbring out an answering ray from some living light left in the ashes. Iwent to see what it was, and picked up the magic ring, the familytalisman. There it was, the wonderful stone for which no other couldpossibly be mistaken, the gem of intolerable light and fire that had tobe shaded before it could be steadily looked at and before the delicatelines of its flaws delineating the human eye could be discerned. Here isthe ring, Mr. Rockharrt. Examine it for yourself. "

Mr. Rockharrt took the ring, examined it curiously, turned it toward theclouded window, then toward the blazing sea coal fire; in both positionsit burned and sparkled just like any other diamond. Then he shaded itand looked at it through his eye-glasses; finally he shook his head andreturned it to its owner, saying:

"It is a fine gem, barring a flaw, and I congratulate you on itsrecovery, but I see no human eye in it. I see some indistinct lines, fine as the thread of a spider's web, that is all. There is thebreakfast bell, duke. We will go into the drawing room and find Cora. She must be down by this time. "

Cora was standing at one of the front windows, looking out upon thedriving rain. She turned as the two gentlemen entered the room, andresponded to their greeting. 

"Well, now we will go in to breakfast. Did the fresh venison come intime, Cora?"

"I think so, sir. "

"We cook it on the breakfast table, duke, each one for himself. Put aslice on a china plate over a chafing dish. The only way to eat avenison cutlet, " said old Aaron Rockharrt, as he led the way into thebreakfast room, where his eyes were immediately rejoiced by the sight ofthree chafing dishes filled with ignited charcoal ready for use, and acovered china dish, which he knew must contain the delicate venisoncutlets. 

When breakfast was over and they had all left the table, the Iron King, addressing his guest, said:

"Well, sir, I must be off to North End. I hope you will find some wayof entertaining yourself within doors, for certainly this is not a dayto tempt a man to seek recreation abroad. Nothing but business ofimportance could take me out in such weather. "

"I regret that any cause should take you out, sir, " replied the guest. 

As soon as the noise of the wheels had died away, the duke, who hadlingered in the hall to see his host depart, turned and entered thedrawing room, where he found Cora as before, standing at a windowlooking out upon the dull November day. 

"Will you permit me now to speak on the subject nearest my heart?" hepleaded, taking the hand which had dropped down by her side. 

"I had rather that the subject had never been started, but under thecircumstances, after what was said last night at dinner, I feel that thesooner we come to a perfect understanding the better it will be, " saidCora, leading the way to a group of chairs and by a gesture inviting himto be seated. Then, to prevent him further committing himself andincurring a humiliating refusal, she herself took the initiative andsaid:

"If any other person than Mr. Rockharrt had made the public announcementthat he did yesterday, I should have denounced the act as anunpardonable outrage; but of him I must say that he must have laboredunder some strange hallucination to have made such reckless assertionswithout one shadow of foundation. You yourself must have known thatthere was not one syllable of truth in his announcement. "

"My dearest Mrs. Rothsay, I supposed that Mr. Rockharrt thought, even asI hoped, that our betrothal was but the question of a few days, or evenof a few hours, and that he took the occasion of the family gathering toannounce the fact. He had already given his consent to my suit for theblessing of your hand, and if he committed an indiscretion in thatpremature announcement, I did not know it. I thought such announcementmight be a local custom, and I blessed him in my heart for observing it. Cora!" he said, taking her hand and dropping his voice to a pleadingtone, "dear Cora, it was only premature. "

"Duke of Cumbervale, " she answered, coldly and gravely, withdrawing herhand, "it is not premature. It was utterly false and groundless; it wasthe declaration of an engagement that not only had never taken place, but could never take place--an engagement forever impossible!"

"Oh, do not say that! I have kept my faith. After your grandfather'srejection of me in your name I could rest nowhere in England. I went tothe Continent, and thence to the East; but still could rest nowhere, because I was pursued by your image. When I came back to England, Ilearned that you had been widowed from your wedding day and almost aslong as I had been absent. I determined to renew my suit, for Iremembered that it was not you, but your grandfather in your name, whorejected my proposal. I remembered that you had once given me hope. "

"You refer to a time of sad self-deception on my part, which led me evento unconsciously deceiving you. My imaginary preference for you was abrief hallucination. Let it be forgotten. The memory to me ishumiliating. You must think of me only as the wife of Regulas Rothsay. "

"As the widow, you would say. Surely that widowhood can be no bar to mysuit. "

"I do not call myself the widow of Rule Rothsay, but his wife, " saidCora, solemnly. 

"But, my dear lady, surely death has--"

"Death has not, " said Cora, fervently interrupting him--"death cannotsever two souls as united as ours. I mean to spend the years I have tolive on earth, temporarily and partially separated from my husband, ingood works of which he would approve; with which he would sympathize andwhich would draw his spirit into closer communion with mine; and I hopeat that ascension to the higher life which we miscall death to meet himface to face, to be able to tell him, 'I have finished my work, I havekept the faith, ' and to be with him forever in one of the many mansionsof the Father's kingdom. "

"I see, " said the suitor, with a deep sigh, "that my suit would beutterly useless at present. But I will not give up the hope that is mylife--the hope that you may yet look with favor on my love. I will meritthat you should do so. Cora Rothsay, I will no longer vex you with mypresence in this house. I will take leave of you even now, and only askof your courtesy the use of a dog cart to take me to the North EndHotel. "

"You are good, you are very good to me, and I pray with all my heartthat you may meet some woman much more worthy of your grace than am I, and that you may be very happy. God bless you, Duke of Cumbervale, " saidCora, earnestly. 

He lifted her hand to his lips, kissed it, bowed over it and silentlyleft the room. 

Cora stepped after him and shut the door; then she hastened across thefloor, threw herself down on the sofa, buried her face in the cushionsand gave way to the flood of tears that flowed in sympathy with the painshe had given. Meantime the duke went up to his room and rang for hisvalet. 

That grave and accomplished gentleman came at once. 

"Dubois, go down and order the dogcart to be at the door in half anhour; then return here to assist me. "

The Frenchman bowed profoundly and withdrew. 

"I have come a long way for a disappointment, " murmured the rejectedlover, as he threw himself languidly upon the outside of the bed andclasped his hands above his head. "A fanatic she certainly is. A lunaticalso most probably. Yet I cannot get her out of my head. I would go toCanada--to Quebec--if it was not so abominably cold. Vane is there withthe 110th. But the climate is too severe. I must move southward, notnorthward--southward, through California, and thence to the SandwichIslands, New Zealand, and Australia. That will be a pleasant wintervoyage. Talbot is at Sydney, and the climate, and the scenery, and thefruits and vegetables said to be the finest in the world. It will be anew experience, and if I can't forget her among soldiers and convicts, miners and bushmen--well, then, I will come back and make a thirdattempt. Well, Dubois, what is it?" This question to his valet, who justthen re-entered the room. 

"The carriage will be at the door on time, your grace. "

"Right. Now attend to my directions. I am going immediately to NorthEnd, and shall leave thereby the six o'clock express, en route for SanFrancisco. After I shall have left Rockhold you are to pack up myeffects. I shall send a hack from the hotel to fetch them. Be very sureto be ready. "

The duke went out and entered the dog cart, received his valise from hisvalet, gave the order to the groom and was driven off, without havingagain seen Cora. 

But from behind the screen of her lace-curtained window she watched hisdeparture. 

"I hope he will soon forget me, " she murmured, as she turned away andwent down stairs to the library to look over the morning' papers, whichshe had not yet seen. But before she touched a paper her eyes wereattracted by a letter stuck in the letter rack, directed to herself inher brother's well known handwriting. 

"To think that my grandfather should have neglected to give me myletter, " she complained, as she seized and opened it. 

It was dated Fort Farthermost, and announced the fact of the regiment'sarrival at the new quarters near the boundary line of Texas, "in themidst of a wilderness infested with hostile Indians, half-breeds, wildbeasts, rattlesnakes and tarantulas. Only two companies are to remainhere; my company--B--for one. Two first lieutenants are married men, butthey have not brought their wives. One of the captains is a widower, andthe other an old bachelor. In point of fact, there are only two ladieswith us--the colonel's wife and the major's. And when they heard from methat my sister was coming to join me, they were delighted with the ideaof having another lady for company. All the same, Cora, I do not adviseyou to come here. Will write more in a few days; must stop now to securethe mail that goes by this train--wagon and mule train to Arkansaw City, my dear. "

This was the substance of the young lieutenant's letter to his sister. 

"But 'all the same, ' I shall go, " said Corona. And she sat down toanswer her brother's letter. 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

A DOMESTIC STORM. 

It is a truth almost too trite for reference, that in the experience ofevery one of us there are some days in in which everything seems to gowrong. Such a day was this 13th of November to the Iron King. 

When he reached North End that morning, the first thing that met him inhis private office was the news that certain stocks had fallen. The newscame by telegraph, and put him in a terrible temper. 

This was about ten o'clock. Two hours later it was discovered that oneof the minor bookkeepers, a new employe who had come well recommendedabout a month before, had just absconded with all he could lay his handson--only a few thousand dollars--the merest trifle of a loss toRockharrt & Sons, but extremely exasperating under the circumstances. Sotaking one provocation with another, at noon on that 13th of Novemberold Aaron Rockharrt was about the maddest man on the face of the earth. 

It was his custom to lunch with his sons in the private parlor of Mr. Clarence's suit of rooms at the North End Hotel, every day at twoo'clock. 

To-day, however, he showed no disposition to eat or drink. And althoughthe two younger men were famishing for food they dared not go to lunchwithout him, or even urge him to make an effort to go with them. It wasthen three o'clock, an hour later than their usual hour, that Mr. Rockharrt made a movement in the desired way by rising, stretching hislimbs, and saying:

"We will go over to the hotel and get something to eat. "

The three men crossed the street and went directly to Mr. Clarence'sroom, where the table for luncheon was set out. But there was nothing onit but cut bread, casters, and condiments, for these men alwayspreferred hot luncheon in cold weather, and it was yet to be dished up. 

The Iron King was not in a humor to wait. He hurried the servants. Andat length when the dishes, which had been punctually prepared for twoo'clock, were placed on the table at twenty minutes past three, everything was overdone, dried up, and indigestible. 

It was the Iron King's own fault for not coming to the table when themeal was first prepared to order. But he would not admit that intoconsideration. He ordered the waiter to take everything away and throwit out of doors, declared that he would have a restaurant started on theopposite side of the street where a man could get a decent meal, androse from the table in a rage. 

It was while the Iron King was in this amiable and promising state ofmind that a waiter brought in a card and laid it before him. He took itup and read aloud:

"The Duke of Cumbervale. "

"Show him in, " said Mr. Rockharrt. 

A few minutes later the visitor entered the parlor, bowed to his host, and then shook hands with the two younger men, whom he had not seensince the evening before. 

"So you braved the storm after all, duke? You found the old house toodreary for a long, rainy day. Take a seat, " said Mr. Rockharrt, wavinghis hands majestically around the chairs. 

"No; it was not the weather that made Rockhold insupportable to me. But, sir, I have come a long way for a great disappointment, " said therejected lover. 

"What! what! what! Explain yourself, if you please, sir!" exclaimed theIron King, bending his heavy gray brows over flashing eyes. 

"Mrs. Rothsay has rejected me. "

"What! what! Rejected you! Why, your engagement was declared in thefamily conclave only last night. "

"Mrs. Rothsay states that the declaration was erroneous, and that nosuch engagement ever has been or ever could be made between us. "

"How dare she say that? How dare she try to break off with you in thisscandalous manner? But she shall not! She shall keep faith with you orshe is no granddaughter of mine! I will have nothing to do with falsewomen! How did this breach occur? Tell me all about it!Fabian--Clarence! Go about your business. I want to have some privateconversation with the duke. "

The two younger men, thus summarily dismissed, nodded to the visitor andleft the room, glad enough to go down below to the saloon and getsomething to eat and drink. 

"Now, then, sir, what's the row with my granddaughter?" demanded theIron King, wheeling his chair around to face his visitor. 

"There is no 'row, '" said the young man, with the faintest possible hintof disgust in his tone and manner. "Mrs. Rothsay rejects me, positively, absolutely. She repudiates the announcement of our betrothal asunauthorized and erroneous. "

"But you know, as we all know, that she was engaged to you! Yes; and sheshall keep her engagement. I'll see to that!"

"Pardon me, Mr. Rockharrt, I am grieved to say that you have made amistake. The lady was right. There was no engagement, between Mrs. Rothsay and myself at the time you made that announcement, nor hasthere been one since, nor, I fear, can there ever be. "

"Sir!" exclaimed the Iron King, rising in his wrath. "Did you not cometo this country for the express purpose of asking my granddaughter'shand in marriage? Did I not promise her hand to you in marriage?"

"You did, provi--"

"Then if that did not constitute an engagement, I do not know whatdoes--that is all. But some people have very loose ideas about honor. You ask the hand of my granddaughter; I bestow it on you, and announcethe fact to my family. "

"Pardon me, Mr. Rockharrt, you promised me the hand of yourgranddaughter, provided she should be willing to give it to me. "

"'Provided' nothing of the sort, sir. I gave her hand unconditionally, absolutely, and announced the betrothal to the family. "

"But, my dear Mr. Rockharrt, the lady's consent is a most necessaryfactor in such a case as this, " urged the young man, who began to thinkthat the despotic egotism of the Iron King had in these later yearsgrown into a monomania, deceiving him into the delusion that his powerover family and dependants was that of an absolute monarch over hissubjects. This opinion was confirmed by the next words of the autocrat. 

"Of course her consent would follow my act. That was taken for granted. "

"But, sir, her consent did not follow your act. Quite the contrary; formy rejection followed it. It is of no use to multiply words. The affairis at an end. I have bidden good-by to Mrs. Rothsay. I am here to saygood-by to you. "

"You cannot mean it!"

"I have left Rockhold finally. I shall leave North End by this six p. M. Train, en route for the South, " continued the rejected lover. 

"Then, by ----! if she has driven you out of my house, she shall goherself! I have done the best I could for the woman, and she has repaidme by ingratitude and rebellion. And she shall leave my house at once!"exclaimed the despot in a tone of savage resolution. 

"Mr. Rockharrt, I must beg that you will not visit my disappointment onthe head of your unoffending granddaughter. "

"Duke of Cumbervale, you must not venture to interfere with me in thediscipline of my own family. I don't very much like dukes. I think Isaid that once before. I rejected you for my granddaughter two years agowhen she was bound to Rule Rothsay. Now that she is a widow and is free, I accepted your suit and bestowed her on you, not that I like dukes anybetter now than I did then, but I like you better as a man. "

The young duke bowed with solemn gravity at this compliment, repressingthe smile that fluttered about his lips. At this moment a waiter enteredthe room, and said that "the gentleman's" servant had arrived with hismaster's luggage, and requested to know where it was to be put. 

"Tell him to get his dinner, and then take the luggage in the samecarriage to the station, " said the duke, and the messenger withdrew. 

"Have you lunched, duke?" inquired Mr. Rockharrt, mindful, even in hisrage, of his duties as a host. 

"I have not thought of doing so, " replied the young man. 

"Umph! I suppose not!" grunted the Iron King, as he rang the bell. 

A waiter appeared. 

"Any game in the house?"

"Yes, sir; fine venison. "

"Don't want venison--had it for breakfast. Anything else?"

"A very fine wild turkey, sir. "

"Bother! Takes three hours to dress, and I want a hot lunch got up intwenty-five minutes, at longest. Any small game?"

"Uncommon fine partridges, sir. "

"Then have a dozen dressed and sent up, with proper accompaniments; andlose no time about it! Also put a bottle of Johannisberg on ice. "

"Yes, sir. "

The waiter vanished. 

"I must bid you good-by now, Mr. Rockharrt, " said the duke, rising. 

"No; you must not. Sit down. Sit down. You must lunch with me, and drinka parting glass of wine. Then you will have plenty of time to secureyour train, and I to drive to Rockhold at my usual hour. Say no more, duke. Keep your seat. "

Cumbervale looked at the iron-gray man before him, thought certainlythis must be their last meeting and parting on earth, and that thereforehe would not cross the patriarch in his humor. 

"You are very kind. Thank you. I will break a parting bottle of winewith you willingly. "

In double-quick time the broiled partridges were served, the wineplaced, and all was ready for the two men. 

"Go and tell Mr. Fabian and Mr. Clarence that I wish them to come here. You will find them somewhere in the house, " said Mr. Rockharrt. 

"Beg pardon, sir; both gentlemen have gone over to the works, " repliedthe waiter. 

This was true. Both "boys" had gorged themselves with cold ham, breadand cheese, washed down with quarts of brown stout, and were in noappetite to enjoy partridge and Johannisberg, even if they had beenfound in the hotel. 

"Glad they have found out that they must be attentive to business. Youand I, duke, will discuss the good things on the table before us. Come. "

The two lingered over the luncheon until it was time for the duke tostart for the depot. 

"I will send over for my two sons, that you may bid them good-by, " saidMr. Rockharrt, and he turned to the waiter, and told him to go anddispatch a messenger to that effect. 

Messrs. Fabian and Clarence soon put in an appearance, and expressedtheir surprise and regret at the sudden departure of their father'sguest, and their hope and trust to see him again in the near future. Neither of them seemed to know that the betrothal declared at the dinnertable on the night before had no foundation in fact. The duke thankedthem for their good wishes, invited them to visit him if they shouldfind themselves in England, and then he took a final leave of theRockharrts, entered the carriage, and drove off, through a pouring rain, to the railway station--and out of their lives forever. 

"A fine thing Mistress Rothsay has done!" exclaimed the Iron King, whenhis guest had gone, and he explained Cora's action. 

Corona had spent the day at Rockhold drearily enough. She feltreasonably sure that her rejection of the duke's hand would deeplyoffend her grandfather and precipitate a crisis in her own life. Whenshe had finished her letter to her brother, in which she told him of thedeath of Mr. Rockharrt's wife and added her own resolution soon to setout to join him in his distant fort, she began to make preparations forher journey in the event of having to leave Rockhold suddenly. She knewher grandfather's temper and disposition, and felt that she must holdherself in readiness to meet any emergencies brought about by theirmanifestations. So she set about her preparations. 

She had not much to do. The trunks that she had packed and dispatched tothe North End railway station three months before at the hour when herown journey was arrested by the accident to her grandfather, hadremained in storage there ever since. 

The contents of her large valise, which was to have been her owntraveling companion in her long journey to and through the "GreatAmerican Desert, " and which was well packed with several changes ofclothes and with small dressing, sewing and writing cases, supplied allher wants during the three months of her further sojourn at Rockhold. 

She had only now to collect these together, cause all the soiledarticles to be laundered, and then repack the valise. This occupied herall the afternoon of the short November day. 

At six o'clock she came down into the parlor to see that the lamps weretrimmed and lighted, and the coal fire stirred up and replenished, sothat her grandfather should find the room warm and comfortable on hisreturn home. Then she brought out his dressing gown and slippers, hungthe first over his arm chair and put the last on the warm hearthstones. 

At length the carriage wheels were heard faintly over the soft, wetavenue and under the pouring rain. 

Old John, waiting in the hall to be ready to open the door in aninstant, did so before the Iron King should leave the carriage, andhoisting a very large umbrella, he went out to the carriage door andheld it over his master while they walked back to the house and enteredthe hall. 

"Here! take off my rubber cloak! Take off my overcoat! Now my rubberboots! What a night!" exclaimed the old man, as he came out of hisshell, or various shells. 

Corona had the pitcher of punch on the table now with a cut-glass gobletbeside it. 

"I hope you have not taken cold, grandfather, " she said, drawing hiseasy chair nearer the fire. 

"Hold your tongue! Don't dare to speak to me! Leave the room thisinstant! John! come in here. Pour me out a glass of that punch, andwhile I sip it draw off my boots and put on my slippers, " said the IronKing, throwing himself into his big easy chair and leaning back. 

Corona was more pained than surprised. She had expected something likethis from the Iron King. She replied never a word, but passed into theadjoining dining room and sat down there. Through the open door shecould see the old gentleman reclining at his ease, and sipping hisfragrant hot punch while old John drew off his boots, rubbed his feet, and put on his warm slippers. Presently the waiter brought in the soup, put it on the table, and rang the dinner bell. Mr. Rockharrt put downhis empty glass, and arose and came to the table. Cora took her place atthe head of the board, hardly knowing whether she would be allowed toremain there. But her grandfather took not the slightest notice of her. She filled his plate with soup, and put it on the waiter held by theyoung footman, who carried it to his master. In this manner passed thewhole dinner in every course. Corona carved or served the dishes, filledthe plate for her grandfather, which was taken to him by the footman. At the end of the heavy meal the Iron King arose from the table andsaid:

"I am going to my own room. Mistress Rothsay, I shall have something tosay to you in the morning;" and he went out. 

CHAPTER XXIX. 

CORONA'S OPPORTUNITY. 

Corona Rothsay stood behind her chair at the head of the breakfasttable, waiting for Mr. Rockharrt. He entered presently, and returned noanswer to her respectful salutation, but moodily took his seat, raisedthe cover from the hot dish before him, and helped himself to a broiledpartridge. After the gloomy meal was finished the Iron King arose fromthe table and pushed back his chair so suddenly and forcibly as tonearly upset his servant. 

"Come into the library! I wish to have a decisive talk with you!" hesaid, in a harsh voice, to his granddaughter, as he strode from thedining room. 

Corona, who had finished her own slight breakfast some minutes before, immediately arose and followed him. On reaching the bookery, old AaronRockharrt sank heavily into his big leathern armchair, and pointed, sternly, to an opposite one, on which Corona obediently seated herself. 

"Look at me, mistress!" he said, placing his hands upon the arms of hischair, bending forward and gazing on her with fixed, keen eyes, thatburned like fire beneath the pent roof of his shaggy iron-gray brows. 

Corona looked up at him. 

"Do you know, madam, that in rejecting the hand of the Duke ofCumbervale you have offered me an unpardonable affront?"

"No, grandfather, I did not know it; and certainly I never meant--nevercould possibly have meant--to affront you, " said Corona, deprecatingly. "If I have been so unhappy as to disappoint your wishes, I am verysorry, my dear grandfather, but--"

He harshly interrupted her. 

"Do not you dare to call me grandfather, either now or ever again! Idisclaim forever that relationship, and all relationship with the false, flirting, coquettish, unprincipled creature that you are! Your latesuitor may forgive your treachery to him, beguiling him by your oncepretended preference to pass by all eligible matches and cross the oceanfor your sake! Yes; he may forgive you, because he is a fool (being aduke)! But as for me--I will never pardon the outrageous affront youhave put upon me, in rejecting the man of my choice! Never, as long as Ilive, so help me--"

"Oh!--oh, grandfather!" cried Corona, arresting his half-sworn oath, "don't say that! I am sorry to have crossed your will in this matter, orin any way; but, oh, my dear grandfather--"

"Stop there!" vociferated the Iron King, with a stamp. "I am nograndfather of yours! How dare you insult me with the name when I haveforbidden you to do so?"

"I beg your pardon, sir. It was a mere slip of the tongue. I spokeimpulsively. I had forgotten your prohibition. I shall not certainlyoffend in that way again, " said Corona, quietly. 

"You had better not!"

"I was about to say, when you interrupted me, " resumed Cora, earnestly, "that I am grieved to have been compelled to disappoint you byrejecting the Duke of Cumbervale; but, sir, I could not do otherwise. Icould not accept a man whom I could not love. To have done so would havebeen a great sin. Surely, sir, you must know it would have been a sin, "pleaded Corona. 

"Stuff and nonsense!" roared the Iron King. "Don't dare to talk suchsentimental rubbish to me! You can't love him, can't you? Tell that toan idiot, not to me! When we were in London, two or three years ago, youloved him so well that you were ready to break your engagement with yourbetrothed husband, Regulas Rothsay, in order to marry this duke. Yes;and you would certainly have done so if I had not put a stop to theaffair by having an explanation with the suitor, telling him of yourprior engagement, and also of your want of fortune, and bringing youback home to your forgotten duties. "

"Oh, sir, I deserve all your reproaches for that forgetfulness. I wasvery wrong then, " said Cora, with a sigh. 

"Bosh! You are always wrong!" sneered old Aaron Rockharrt. "And youalways will be wrong! You were wrong when you wished to break yourengagement with Regulas Rothsay to marry the Duke of Cumbervale, and youare wrong, now that you are free, to reject the man. Why, look at it:Now that you have been a widow for more than two years, and Cumbervalehas proved his constancy by remaining a bachelor two years for yoursake, and crossing the ocean and coming down here to propose for youagain, and even after I--I myself--have positively promised him yourhand, and have given a family dinner in honor of the occasion, and haveannounced the engagement, and after speeches have been made and toastshave been drank to the happiness and prosperity of your married life, and all due formalities of betrothal had been observed, then, mistress, what do you do?" severely demanded old Aaron Rockharrt. 

"Only my duty under the circumstances. I was not in the least bound orcompromised by or responsible for anything that was said or done at thatdinner table, " replied Corona. 

"This is what you do: You dare to set me at defiance! You dare to setyour will against mine! You dare to reject the man whom I chose for yourhusband, whom I announced as your betrothed husband! You dare to drivehim away from my house, grieved, disappointed, humiliated, to become awanderer over the face of the earth for your sake, even as you droveRegulas Rothsay from the goal of his ambition into exile, and--"

A sharp cry from Corona suddenly stopped him in full career. 

"Do not, oh! do not speak of that! I--I would have given my life to haveprevented Rule's loss, if I could! As for this man--this duke--he isnothing whatever to me, and never can be!"

"And yet you were ready to fall down and worship him three years ago!"

"It was a brief insanity--a self-delusion. That is past. Cumbervalenever was and never can be anything to me. No man can ever be anythingto me! I could not live Rule's wife, but I will die Rule's widow; and Ido not care how soon--the sooner the better, if it were the Lord'swill!" moaned Corona. 

"Drivel!" angrily exclaimed old Aaron Rockharrt. "I am tired of youridiotic, imbecile hypocrisies! Here are two men driven away by yourunprincipled vacillation--to call your conduct by the lightest name. Onedriven to his death; one driven, it may be, to his ruin. It is quitetime you were sent to follow your victims. Look you! I am just about tostart for North End. I shall return home at my usual time this evening. Do not let me find you here when I arrive, for I never wish to see yourfalse face again!" said the Iron King, rising from his arm chair andstriding from the room. 

Corona started up and ran after him, pleading, imploring--

"Grandfather! Dear grandfather! Oh, I beg pardon! I forgot! Sir! sir!Oh, do not part from me in this way!"

He turned sharply, stared at her mockingly, and then demanded:

"Come! Shall I call Cumbervale back? Tell him that you have changed yourwhirligig mind, and are ready to marry him, if he will only take time bythe forelock and return before you shift around again? I can easily dothat. I can send a telegram that will over-take him and turn him back sopromptly that he may be here in twenty-four hours! Come! Shall I dothat?"

Corona, who had been gazing at the mocking speaker scarcely knowingwhether he spoke in earnest or in irony, now answered despairingly:

"Oh, no, no! not for the world! I have not changed my mind. I could notdo so for any cause. "

"Then don't stop me. I'm in haste. I am going to North End. Don't let mefind you here when I come back. Don't let me ever see or hear from youagain, without your consent to marry the man I have chosen for you. John!"

"Oh, sir, consider--" began Corona, pleadingly. 

"John!" vociferated the Iron King, pushing rudely past her. 

The old servant came hurrying up, helped his master on with his overcoatand with his rubber coat, then gave him his hat and gloves, and finallyhoisted a large umbrella to hold over his master's head as he passedfrom the house to the carriage in front. 

Corona stood watching until the carriage rolled away and old John cameback into the hall and closed the door. Then she returned to the libraryand sank sobbing into the big leathern chair. She now realized for thefirst time what the parting with her grandfather would be--the partingwith the gray old man who had been the ogre of her childhood, the terrorof her youth, and the autocrat of her maturity, and yet whom, by all thelaws of nature, she tenderly loved, and whom by the commandment of Godshe was bound to honor. 

She glanced mechanically toward the card rack, and saw there anotherletter in the handwriting of her brother--a letter that had come in themorning's mail and had been stuck up there, and in the excitement of thehour had been neglected or forgotten. 

She seized it eagerly and tore it open, wondering what could have urgedSylvan to write so soon after his last letter. 

It was dated three weeks later than the one she had received only theday previous, the first one having, no doubt, been delayed somewherealong the uncertain route. 

In this letter Sylvan complained that he had not received a word fromhis dear sister since leaving Governor's Island, and mentioned that hehimself had written all along the line of march and three times sincethe arrival of his regiment at Fort Farthermost. 

But he admitted, also, that the mails beyond the regular United Statesmail roads were very uncertain and irregular. Then he came to the objectof this particular epistle. 

"It is, my dear Cora, to tell you, " he wrote, "that if you should stillbe resolved to come out and join me here, an opportunity for your safeconduct will be offered you this autumn which may never occur again. Oursenior captain--Captain Neville, Company A--has been absent on leave forseveral months. So he did not come out here with the regiment. His leaveexpires on the 30th of November. He will be obliged to start in thelatter part of October in order to have time enough to accomplish thetedious journey by wagon from Leavenworth to Fort Farthermost, which is, as I believe I told you, in the southern part of the Indian Reserve, bordering on Texas. He is to bring his wife with him. 

"But our colonel thinks it is I who want you, and, moreover, I who needyou; for he says that, next to a wife, a sister is the best safeguard ayoung officer can have out in these frontier forts, and he gave me theaddress of Captain Neville and advised me to write to him and ask himand his wife to take charge of my sister on the route. 

"And then, dear, he went further than that. He took my letter after Ihad written it, and inclosed it in one from himself. So now, my dear, all you have to do is to go to Washington, call on Mrs. Neville, atBrown's Hotel, Pennsylvania Avenue, and send up your card. She willexpect you. Then you must hold yourself in readiness to start when thecaptain and his wife do. "

Cora had no time to indulge in reverie. She must be up and doing. 

Her luggage had long been stored in the freight house of the North Endrailway station, and her traveling bags had been packed the day before. The servants knew she was going out to join her brother, though they didnot know that her grandfather had discarded her. She had very little todo for herself on that day, but she resolved to do all that she couldfor the comfort of her grandfather before she should leave the houseforever. 

So she went and ordered the dinner--just such a dinner as she knew hewould like. Then she called old John to her presence and directed him tohave the parlor prepared for his master just as carefully as if sheherself were on the spot to see it done; to have the fire bright; thehearth clean; the lamps trimmed and lighted; the shutters closed and thecurtains drawn; the easy chair, with dressing gown and slippers, beforethe fire, and, lastly, a jug of hot punch on the hearth. 

Old John promised faithfully to perform all these duties. Then Cora wentand wrote two letters. 

One to her brother Sylvan, in which she acknowledged the receipt of hisletter, expressed her thanks to the colonel for his kindness, andassured him that she should gladly avail herself of the escort of theNevilles and go out under their protection to Fort Farthermost. 

This letter she put in the mail bag in the hall ready for the messengerto take to the North End post office. 

The second letter was a farewell to her grandfather, in which sheexpressed her sorrow at leaving him even at his own command; her griefat having offended him, however unintentionally; her prayers for hisforgiveness, and her hope to meet him again in health, happiness andprosperity. 

This letter Corona stuck on the card rack, where he would be sure tofind it. 

Then she ordered her own little pony carriage, and went and put on herbonnet and her warm fur-lined cloak and called Mark to bring her shawlsand traveling bags down to the hall. 

When all this had been done, Corona called all the servants together, made them each a little present, and then bade them good-by. 

Then she stepped into the little carriage and bade the groom to drive onto Violet Banks. 

"I think I shall go no further than that to-night, my friends, andleave for Washington to-morrow morning, " she said, in a broken voice, asthe pony started. 

"Then all ob us wot kin get off will come to bid yer annurrer good-byto-morrow mornin'!" came hoarsely from one of the crowd, and wasrepeated by all in a chorus. 

The carriage rolled down the avenue to the ferry--not that Coronaintended to cross the river, for Violet Banks, it will be remembered, was on the same side and a few miles north of Rockhold--but that shewould not leave the place without taking leave of old Moses, theferryman. Fortunately the boat lay idle at its wharf, and the old mansat in the ferry house, hugging the stove and smoking his pipe. 

He came out at the sound of wheels. Corona called him to the carriage, told him that she did not want to cross the river, but that she wasgoing away for a while and wished to take leave of him. 

Now old Moses had seen too many arrivals and departures to and fromRockhold to feel much emotion at this news; besides he had no idea ofthe gravity of this departure. So he only touched his old felt hat andsaid:

"Eh, young mist'ess, hopes how yer'll hab a monsous lubly time! Countryis dull for de young folks in de winter. Gwine to de city, s'pose, youngmist'ess?"

"Yes, Uncle Moses, I am going to Washington first, " replied Corona. 

"Lors! I hear tell how so many folkses do go to Washintub! Wunner wotdey go for? in de winter, too! Lors! Well, honey, I wish yer a mightyfine time and a handsome husban' afore yer comes home. Lor' bress yer, young mist'ess!"

"Thank you, Uncle Moses. Here is a trifle for you, " said Cora, putting ahalf eagle in his hand. 

"Lor' bress yer, young mist'ess, how I do tank yer wid all my heart! Inebber had so much money at one time in all my life!" exclaimed theoverjoyed old ferryman. 

CHAPTER XXX. 

FAREWELL TO VIOLET BANKS. 

Along the north road, between the thickly wooded east ridge and theswiftly running river, Corona drove on her last journey through thatvalley. Three miles up, the road turned from the river, and, withseveral windings and doublings, ascended the mountain side to theelevated plateau on which were situated the beautiful house and groundscalled Violet Banks. 

As the carriage reached the magnificent plateau, Corona stopped thehorse for a moment to take in the glory of the view. In the midst of heradmiration of this scenery, two distinct thoughts were strongly borne inon the mind of Corona. One was that Violet Rockharrt would never bewilling to leave this enchanting spot to make her home at Rockhold. Shemight consent to do so to please others, but she would suffer throughit. 

The other thought was that old Aaron Rockharrt would never consent tolive in a place which, however beautiful it might be, was too difficultof access and egress for a man of his age. 

What, then, could be done to cheer the old man's solitude at his home?The only hope lay in the chance of Mr. Clarence finding a wife who mightbe acceptable to his father, and bringing her home to Rockhold. 

The carriage drew up before the long, low villa, with its vine-cladporch, where, though the roses had faded and fallen, the still vividgreen foliage and brilliant rose berries made a gay appearance. 

Violet was not sitting on the porch, beside her little wicker workstandbasket, as she always had been found by Cora in the earlier months ofher residence there, but, nevertheless, she saw her visitor's approachfrom the front windows of her sitting room, and ran out to meet her. 

"Oh, so glad to see you! And such a delightful surprise!" were the wordswith which she caught Cora in her arms, as the latter alighted from thecarriage. 

"How well you look, dear. A real wood violet now, in your pretty purplerobe, " said Corona, with assumed gayety, as she returned the littlecreature's embrace, and went with her into the house. 

"I am going to send the carriage to the stable. You shall spend theafternoon and evening with me, whether you will or not, and whether thehandsome lover breaks his heart or not!" exclaimed Violet, as theyentered the parlor. 

"Don't trouble yourself, dear. See, the man is driving around to thestable now, and I have come, not only to spend the afternoon, but thenight with you, " said Cora, sitting down and beginning to unfasten herfur cloak. "Will my uncle be late in returning this evening?"

"Fabian? Oh, no! this is his early day. He will be home very soon now. But where did you leave his grace? Why did he not escort you here?"inquired the little lady. 

"Have you not heard that he has left Rockhold?" asked Corona, in herturn. 

"Why, no. I have heard nothing about him since the night of the dinnergiven in honor of your betrothal. Are you tired, Cora, dear? You looktired. Shall I show you to your room, where you may bathe your face?"inquired Violet, noticing for the first time the pale and weary aspectof her visitor. 

"No; but you may bring the baby here to see me. "

"My baby? Oh, the little angel has just been put to sleep--its afternoonsleep. Come into the nursery, and I will show it to you, " exclaimed theproud and happy mother, starting up and leading the way to the upperfloor and to a front room over the library, fitted up beautifully as anursery. Corona, on entering, was conscious of a blending of many softbright colors, and of a subdued rainbow light, like the changes of theopal. 

Violet led her directly to the cradle, an elegant structure of finelight wood, satin and lace, in which was enshrined the jewel, thetreasure, the idol of the household--a tiny, round-headed, pink-facedlittle atom of humanity, swathed in flannel, cambric and lace, andcovered with fine linen sheets trimmed with lace, little lamb's-woolblankets embroidered with silk, and a coverlet of satin in alternatetablets of rose, azure and pearl tablets. 

The delighted mother and the admiring visitor stood gazing at the babe, and talking in low tones for ten or fifteen minutes perhaps, and werethen admonished by the nurse--an experienced woman--that it was not goodfor such young babies to be looked over and talked over so long whenthey were asleep. 

Violet and her visitor softly withdrew from the cradle, and Corona hadleisure to look around the lovely room, the carpet of tender green, likethe first spring grass, and dotted over with buttercups and daisies; thewall paper of pearl white, with a vine of red and white roses runningover it; the furniture of curled maple, upholstered in fine chintz, incolors to match the wall paper. But the window curtains were the marvelsof the apartment. There were two high front windows, draped in rainbowsilk--that is, each breadth of the hangings was in perfect rainbowstripes, and the effect of the light streaming through them was soft, bright, and very beautiful. 

"It is a creation! Whose?" inquired Corona, as she stood before one ofthe windows. 

"Well, it was my idea, though I am not at all noted for ideas, aseverybody knows, " said Violet, with a smile. "But I wanted my baby'sfirst impressions of life to be serenely delightful through every sense. I wanted her to see, when she should open her eyes in the morning, asphere of soft light and bright, delicate shades of color. So I preparedthis room. "

"But where did you find the rainbow draperies?"

"Oh, them! I designed them for my baby, and Fabian sent the pattern toParis, and we received the goods in due time. I will tell you anotherthing. I have an Æolian harp for her. It is under the front window ofthe upper hall, but its aerial music can reach her here when it is inplace. When she is a little stronger I am going to have a music box forher. Oh, I want my little baby to live in a sphere of 'sweet sights, sweet sounds, soft touches. '"

A brisk, firm footstep, a cheery, ringing voice in the hall below, arrested the conversation of the two women. 

"It is Fabian! Come!" exclaimed Violet, joyfully, leading the way downstairs. 

Mr. Fabian stood at the foot. He embraced his young wife boisterously, and then seeing Cora coming down stairs behind Violet, went and shookhands with his niece, saying:

"Glad to see you! Glad to see you! Has Violet been showing you ourlittle goddess? I tell you what, Cora: everything has changed since thatusurper came. This place is no longer 'Violet Banks' It is the HolyHill. This house is the temple; that nursery is the sanctuary; thatcradle is the altar; and that babe is the idol of the community. Now goalong with Violet. Oh! she is high priestess to the idol. Go along. I'mgoing to wash my face and hands, and then I'll join you. "

Mr. Fabian went up stairs, and Cora followed Violet into the parlor. 

"Here are the English magazines, my dear, come this morning. Will youlook over them, while I go and see to the dinner table? I will not begone more than ten minutes, " said Violet, lifting a pile of pamphletsfrom a side table and placing them on a little stand near the easy chairinto which Corona had thrown herself. 

"Certainly, Violet, love. Don't mind me. Go. "

Violet kissed her forehead and left the room. 

Cora never touched the magazines, but sat with her elbow on the standand her forehead resting on her hand. 

She sat motionless, buried in painful thought until her Uncle Fabianentered the room. 

Then she looked up. 

He came and sat down near her; looked at her inquiringly for a fewmoments; and then, as she did not break the silence, he said:

"Well, Cora?"

"Well, Uncle Fabian?"

"What is up, my dear?"

"I would rather defer all explanations until after dinner, if youplease. "

"Very well, my dear Cora. "

And indeed there was no time for further talk just then, for Violet camehurrying into the room laughing and exclaiming:

"I am the pink of punctuality, Cora, dear. Here I am back again in justten minutes. "

The next moment the dinner bell rang, and they all went into the diningroom. 

Violet--trained by Mrs. Chief Justice Pendletime, who was a greatdomestic manager--excelled in every housekeeping department, especially, perhaps, in the culinary art; so the little dinner was an exquisite one, and thoroughly enjoyed by the master and mistress of the house, andmight have been equally appreciated by their visitor if her sad thoughtshad not destroyed her appetite. 

After dinner, when they adjourned to the parlor, Violet said:

"Again I must beg you to excuse me, Cora, dear, while I go up and putbaby to sleep. It is a little weakness of mine, but I always like to puther to sleep myself, though I have the most faithful of all nurses. Youwill excuse me?"

"Why, of course, darling!" Corona heartily replied; and the happy littlemother ran off. 

"Now then, Cora, what is it? You said you would explain after dinner. Doso now, my dear; for if it is anything very painful I would rather nothave my Wood Violet grieved by hearing it, " said Mr. Fabian, drawing hischair nearer to that of Corona. 

"It is very painful, Uncle Fabian, and I also would like to shieldViolet as much as possible from the grief of knowing it. But--is itpossible that you do not know what has happened at Rockhold?" gravelyinquired Corona. 

"I know this much: That the announcement of an engagement betweenyourself and the Englishman was premature and unauthorized; that youhave finally rejected the suitor--who has since left Rockhold--and by sodoing you have greatly enraged our Iron King. I know no more than that, Cora. "

"What! Has not my grandfather told you anything to day?"

"Not one word. "

"Then I must tell you. He has cast me off forever. "

"Cora! Cora!"

"It is true, indeed. This morning he ordered me to quit his house; notto let him find me still there on his return; never to let him see orhear from me again unless it was with my consent to recall and marry myEnglish suitor. "

"But, Cora, my dear, why can you not come into his conditions? Why canyou not marry Cumbervale? He is a splendid fellow every way, and heloves you as hard as a horse can kick. He is awfully in love with you, my dear. Now, why not marry him and make everybody happy and allserene?"

"Because, Uncle Fabian, I don't happen to be in love with him, " repliedCorona, with just a shade of disdain in her manner. 

"Well, my dear, I will not undertake to persuade you to change yourmind. If you have inherited nothing else from the Iron King, you havehis strength of will. What are you going to do, Cora?"

"I am going to carry out my purpose of going to the Indian Reserve asmissionary to the Indian tribes, to devote all my time and all myfortune to their welfare. "

"A mad scheme, my dear Cora. How are you, a young woman, going to manageto do this? Under the auspices of what church do you act?"

"Under that of the broad church of Christian charity--no other. "

"But how are you going to reach the field of your labors? How are yougoing to cross those vast tracts, destitute of all inhabitants excepttribes of savages, destitute of all roads except the government'trails'?"

"You know, if you have not forgotten, that it was my purpose to join mybrother at his post, and to establish my school near his fort and underits protection. "

"Well, yes; I remember hearing something of the sort; but really, Cora, I thought it was all talk since Sylvan went away. "

"But it is more than that. Some time late in this month I shall go outto Fort Farthermost under the protection of Captain and Mrs. Neville. They are now in Washington, where I am going immediately to join them. When you read this letter, which I received after my grandfather hadleft me in anger this morning, you will understand all about it, " saidCorona, drawing her brother's last letter from her pocket and handing itto her uncle. 

Mr. Fabian took it and read it carefully through; then returned it toher, saying:

"Well, my dear, it does seem as if there were a fate in all this. Butwhat a journey is before you! At this season of the year, too! But, Cora, do not let Violet know that the grandfather has discarded you. Itwould grieve her tender heart too much. Just tell her that you are goingout to your brother. Do not even tell her so much as that to-night. Itwould keep her from sleep. "

"I will not hint the subject this evening, Uncle Fabian. I love Violettoo much to distress her. "

"You will have to explain that your engagement with the Englishman is atan end. "

"Or, rather, that it has never had a beginning, " said Corona. 

"Very well, " assented Mr. Fabian. "And now I must go and dispatch amessenger to North End to fetch Clarence here to spend the night. Ahasty leave-taking at the railway depot would hardly satisfy Clarence, Cora. "

"I know! And I thank you very much, Uncle Fabian, " replied Corona. 

"Ah, Violet! here you are, just in time to take my place. I am going outto send for Clarence to spend the evening with us, " said Mr. Fabian, ashe passed his young wife, who entered the room as he left it. 

Instead of sending a messenger, Fabian put his fastest horse into hislightest wagon, and set off at his best speed himself. He reached NorthEnd Hotel in twenty minutes, and burst in upon Clarence, finding thatgentleman seated in an arm chair before a coal fire. 

"Anything the matter, Fabian?" he inquired, looking up in surprise. 

"Yes! The devil's to pay! The monarch has driven his granddaughter fromcourt!" exclaimed the elder brother, throwing his hat upon the floor, and dropping into a chair. 

"You don't mean to say--"

"Yes, I do! Father has turned Cora out of doors because she refused tomarry the Englishman. "

"Good Heaven!"

"Come! There is no time to talk! Cora is at my house. She leaves forWashington to join Captain and Mrs. Neville, and go out with them toFort Farthermost. "

"But, look here, Fabian. Why do you let her do that?"

"Don't be a fool! Who is to stop her if she is bound to go? Come, hurryup; put on your overcoat and get into my trap, and I will take you backwith me, see Cora, and stay all night with us. "

Mr. Clarence started up, rang for a waiter to see to his rooms, then puton his overcoat, and in five minutes more he was seated beside hisbrother in the light wagon, behind the fastest horse in Mr. Fabian'sstables, bowling out of the village at a rate of speed that I would notdare to state. It was not nine o'clock when they reached Violet Banks. 

Mr. Fabian drove around to the stables, gave his team up to the groom, and walked back to the house with Clarence. 

"You must not drop a word to Violet about Cora's intended journey. Shethinks that Cora has only come to spend the night with her. If she knewotherwise she would be too distressed to sleep. Not until afterbreakfast to-morrow is she to be told that Cora is going away; and neveris she to know that our niece has been driven away. "

"I understand, Fabian. Who is going to Washington with Cora?"

"No one that I know of; but she is quite able to take care of herself, so far. "

"I will not have it so, Fabian. I will go with our niece!" said Mr. Clarence. 

"Are you mad? The monarch would never forgive such misprision oftreason. He would discard you, Clarence!" exclaimed Mr. Fabian, inconsternation. 

"I do not think so. Our father is too just for that. And in any case Ishall take the risk. "

"The Iron King is just in all his business relations; he would not beotherwise to save himself from bankruptcy. But has he been just toCora?"

"From his point of view. He has not been kind; that is all. I must bekind to our niece at all costs. "

This brought them to the door of the house, which Mr. Fabian opened withhis latch key, and the two men entered the parlor together. 

"Why, how soon you have come! I am so glad!" exclaimed Violet, rising towelcome the new visitor. 

"That is because, instead of sending, I went for him, " explained Mr. Fabian. 

"So I suspected when I found that you did not return immediately to theparlor, " said Violet. 

Mr. Clarence meanwhile went to his niece, took her hand and kissed herin silence. He could not trust his voice to speak. She understood him, and returned the pressure of his hand. If it had not been for Violet, the evening would have passed very gloomily; but she, who knew nothingof the domestic tempest that had driven Cora from home, nor even of theimpending separation in the morning, and who heartily enjoyed thepresence of her two favorite relatives in the house, kept the partyenlivened by her own good spirits and gay talk. 

Once during the evening Clarence and Cora found themselves far enoughoff from their friends for a short tete-a-tete, in which there was abrief but perfect explanation between them. 

Then Clarence announced his intention of escorting her to Washington andseeing her safe under the protection of the Nevilles. 

Cora strongly opposed this plan, on the ground that his escort wasunnecessary and might be deeply offensive to Mr. Rockharrt. 

But Clarence was firm. 

"You may turn your back on me, Cora. You may refuse to speak to meduring the whole journey. But you cannot prevent me from going on thesame train with you, and so becoming your guardian on the journey, " saidClarence. 

Cora's answer to this was prevented by the approach of Violet, who said:

"Clarence, it is half past eleven o'clock, and Cora looks tired todeath. Your room is ready whenever you would like to retire. "

Acting upon this very broad hint, Mr. Clarence laughed, kissed his niecegood night, shook hands with his sister-in-law, and left the room, preceded by Mr. Fabian, who offered to show him to his chamber. Violetconducted Cora to the room prepared for her, and, with a warm embrace, left her to repose for the last time in that house. 

CHAPTER XXXI. 

"IT IS THE UNEXPECTED THAT HAPPENS. "

After her exciting and fatiguing day, Corona slept long and heavily, andwhen she reached the family sitting room she found her two uncles therein conversation. 

"I am sorry I kept you waiting, Uncle Fabian, " she said, hurriedly. 

"You have not done so, my dear. The bell has not yet rung. "

"Then I'm glad. Good morning, Clarence, " she said, turning to heryounger uncle. 

"Good morning, Cora. How did you sleep?"

"Perfectly, Clarence dear. I hope you will set out for North Endimmediately after breakfast. I shall not start for Washington untilto-night. I shall spend the day here, so that after telling Violet of myintended journey I may have some little time to reconcile her to it. "

"How good you are, Cora. I do appreciate this consideration for Violet, "said Mr. Fabian earnestly. 

"It is only her due, uncle. Well, Clarence, since you are determined toescort me to Washington, whether or not, you may meet me at the depotfor the 6:30 express. I feel that it is every way better that I shouldgo by the night train; better for Violet, with whom I can thus spend afew more hours, and better for Clarence, who need not by thisarrangement lose this day's work. "

"Quite so, " assented Mr. Fabian. "And now, " he added, as light footstepswere heard approaching the room, "here comes Violet. Not a word aboutthe journey until after breakfast. "

They all went into the breakfast room, where a fragrant, appetizingmorning meal was spread. 

How different this was from the breakfast at Rockhold on thepreceding-day, darkened by the sullen wrath of the Iron King and eatenin the most gloomy silence! Here were affectionate attentions and jestsand laughter. Violet was in such gay spirits that her vivacity becamecontagious, and Fabian and Clarence often laughed aloud, and Corona waswon to smile at her sallies. 

At last Mr. Fabian arose with a sigh, half of satisfied appetite, halfof reluctance to leave the scene, and said:

"Well, I suppose we must be moving. Clarence, will you drive with me toNorth End?"

"Certainly. That is all arranged, you know, " replied the youngerbrother. 

"Mr. Fabian walked out into the hall, saying as he left the breakfastroom:

"Corona, a word with you, my dear. "

Corona went to him, and he said:

"After you have had an explanation with Violet, persuade her toaccompany you to North End. You had better come in your own ponycarriage, my dear; it is so easy and the horse so safe. And then, afteryou have left us, I can drive her home in the same vehicle. And, by theway, my dear, what shall you do with that little turnout? Shall I sendit to Hyde's livery stable for sale? You can get double what was givenfor it. And remit you the price?"

"No, Uncle Fabian; it is not to be sold. And I am glad you reminded meof it. I have intended all along to give it to our minister's wife. Shehas no carriage of any sort, and she really needs one, and she willenjoy this because she can drive the pony herself. So, after I havegone, will you please send it to Mrs. Melville, with my love?"

"Certainly, my dear; with the greatest pleasure. Cora, that is wellthought of. Now I must go up to the nursery and bid good-by to baby, orher mother would never forgive me. "

And high and heavy Mr. Fabian tripped up the stairs like a lamplighter. 

Corona lingered in the hall, talking with Mr. Clarence, who had now comethere to put on his overcoat. Presently Mr. Fabian came hurrying downstairs alone. He had left Violet in the sanctuary. 

"Come, come, Clarence, hurry up! We are late! What if the monarch shouldreach the works before us? I shouldn't like to meet him in his rousedwrath! Should you?

 "Old age ne'er cooled the Douglass blood!"

said Mr. Fabian, hurriedly pulling on his overcoat, seizing hat andgloves, and with a hasty--

"Good-by, Cora, until to-night, " hurried out of the front door. 

He need not have been in such haste--the Iron King was not destined toreach North End in advance of his sons that morning. 

Mr. Clarence kissed Corona good-by, and hurried after his elder brother, and then stopped short at what he saw. 

Mr. Fabian was standing before the carriage door with one foot on thestep. 

Beside him was a horseman who had just ridden up--the horse in a latherof foam, the man breathless and dazed--telling some news in brokensentences; Mr. Fabian listening pallid and aghast. 

"Great Heaven! how sudden! how shocking!" he exclaimed at last, turningback toward the house, and hurrying up the steps. 

"What is it? What is the matter? What has happened, Fabian?" anxiouslydemanded Clarence. 

"The father has had a stroke! No time for particulars now! Take thefastest horse in the stable and go yourself to North End to fetch thedoctor. You can bring him sooner than any servant. I must go directly onto Rockhold. Cora must delay her journey again. Be off, Clarence!" saidMr. Fabian. 

And while the elder brother returned to the house, the younger went toget his horse. 

"Cora!" called Mr. Fabian. 

Corona came out of the parlor. 

"You cannot go away to-day. "

"Why?" inquired the young lady. 

"Don't talk! Listen! Your grandfather is ill--very ill. Old John hasjust come from Rockhold to tell me. "

"Oh! I am very sorry. "

"No time for words! Go put on your bonnet, and come along with me; thecarriage that was to have taken me to North End must take us both toRockhold. Hurry, Cora. "

"But Violet?"

"I will go and tell Violet that the grandfather is not feeling verywell, and has sent for you. I can do this while you are getting ready togo. Then come into the nursery and bid Violet good-by. "

Corona hurried up to her room, and quickly put on her bonnet andfur-lined cloak, and then ran into the nursery, where she found Violetnursing her baby, looking serious but composed, and evidentlyunconscious of old Aaron Rockharrt's danger. Mr. Fabian was standing atthe back of her chair, so that she might not read the truth in his face. 

"So you are going home so suddenly, Cora, dear? I am so sorry the fatheris not feeling well that I cannot even ask you to stay here a momentlonger. Give my love to the father, and tell him if he does not getbetter in a day or two I shall be sure to come and nurse him. "

She could not rise without disturbing her precious baby, but she raisedher head and put up her lips, that Cora might kiss her good-by. ThenCora followed her uncle down stairs, and in five minutes more they wereseated in the carriage, slowly winding their way down the dangerousmountain pass to the river road that led to Rockhold. 

"Uncle Fabian, " said Corona, gravely, "I have been trying to think whatis right for me to do. This sorrowful news took me so completely bysurprise, and your directions were so prompt and peremptory, that I hadnot a moment for reflection; so that I followed your lead automatically. But now, Uncle Fabian, I have considered, and I ask you as I have askedmyself--am I right in going back to Rockhold, after my grandfather hassent me away, and forbidden me ever to return? Tell me, Uncle Fabian. "

"My dear, what do you yourself wish to do?" he inquired. 

"To return to Rockhold and nurse my grandfather, if he will allow me todo so. "

"Then by all means do so. "

"But, Uncle Fabian--against my grandfather's express command?"

"Good Heaven, girl!" Those 'commands' were issued by a well and angryman. You are returning to minister to an ill and perhaps a dying one. "

"Still, Uncle Fabian, would it not seem to be taking advantage of mygrandfather's helpless state to return now, after he had forbidden me toenter his house? I think it would. And the more I reflect upon thesubject, the surer I feel that I ought not to enter Rockhold unbidden. And--I will not. "

"You will not! What! Can you show resentment to your stricken--it may bedying--grandfather?"

"Heaven forbid! But I must not disobey his injunction, now that he istoo helpless to prevent me. No, Uncle Fabian, I must not enter thehouse. But neither will I be far from it. I will remain within call. "

"Where?"

"At the ferryman's cottage. Will you, Uncle Fabian, as soon as you havean opportunity, say that I am deeply grieved for all that has estrangedus. Will you ask him to forgive me and let me come to him?"

"Yes; I will do so, my dear, if there is an opportunity. But, Cora, Ithink you are morbidly scrupulous. I think that you should come to thehouse. He may wish to see you if he should have a lucid interval, andthere may not be time to send for you. "

"I must risk that rather than disobey him in his extremity. "

"As you will, " replied Mr. Fabian. And no more was said on the subject. 

When they reached the foot of the mountain and the level of the riverroad, the horses were put upon their speed, and they soon arrived atRockhold. 

"I will wait in the carriage until you go in and inquire how he is, "said Corona, as the vehicle drew up before the front door. 

Mr. Fabian got out and hurried up the steps. The door stood open, coldas the day was, and all things wore the neglected aspect of a dwellingwherein the master lay stricken unto death. The housekeeper, Martha, was coming down the stairs and crying. 

"How is your master?" breathlessly inquired Mr. Fabian. 

"Oh, Marse Fabe, sir, jes' livin', an' dat's all!" sobbed the woman. "Dunno nuffin. Layin' dere jes' like a dead corpe, 'cept for breavin'hard, " wept the woman. 

"Who is with him?"

"Me mos' times an' young Mark. I jes' come down to speak 'long o' you, Marse Fabe, w'en I see de carriage dribe up. "

"Well, go back to your master. I will speak to my niece, and then comein, " said Mr. Fabian, as he hurried out to the carriage. All hisinterview with the housekeeper had not occupied two minutes, but Corawas pale with suspense and anxiety. 

"How is he?" she panted. 

"Unconscious, my poor girl. Oh, Cora! come in!"

"No, no; I must not. Not until he permits me. I will stop at theferryman's cottage. Oh, if he should recover consciousness--oh, UncleFabian, ask him to let me come to him, and send me word. "

"Yes, yes; I will do it. I must go to him now. Charles, " he said, turning to the coachman, "drive Mrs. Rothsay down to the ferry house, and then take the carriage to the stables. "

And then, with a grave nod to Corona, Mr. Fabian re-entered the house. The coachman drove the carriage down to the ferryman's cottage and drewup. The door was open and the cottage was empty. 

"Boat on t'other side, ma'am, " said Charles. 

"For the doctor, I suppose--and hope, " said Corona, looking across theriver, and seeing a gig with two men coming on to the ferryboat. 

She watched from the door of the ferryman's cottage while Charles droveoff the empty carriage toward the stables and the two ferrymen poledtheir boat across the river. She retreated within the house before theboat touched the land, for she knew that the doctor, if he should seeher there, would wonder why she was not at her grandfather's bedside, and perhaps--as he was an old friend--he might ask questions which shewould find it embarrassing to answer. The boat touched the shore; thegig, containing the doctor and Mr. Clarence, rolled off the boat onalong the drive leading to the house. 

Meanwhile Mr. Fabian had re-entered the hall and hurried up to hisfather's room. He found the Iron King in bed, lying on his right sideand breathing heavily. His eyes were half closed. 

"Father, " said the son, in a low voice, taking his hand and bending overhim. 

There was no response. 

"It ain't no use, Marster Fabe. Yer can't rouse him, do wot yer will. Better wait till de doctor come, young marse. I done been tried all Iknowed how, but it wa'n't no use, " said Martha, who stood on the otherside of the bed watching her insensible master. 

"Tell me when this happened. Come away to the upper end of the room andtell me about it. "

"Might's well tell yer right here, marse. 'Twon't sturve him. Lor!thunder wouldn't sturve him, the way he is in. "

"Then tell me, how was it? When was he stricken?"

"We don't know, marse. He was found jes' dis way by John dismornin'--not jes zackly dis way, howaseber, case he was a-layin' on hislef side, w'ich was berry bad; so me an' John turn him ober jes so likehe is a-layin' now. Den we sent right off for you, marse, to ketch yerat home 'fore yer went to de works. "

"Did he seem well when he came home last night?'

"Jes 'bout as ujual, marse. He came in, an' John he waited on him. An heax, ole marse did, 'was Mrs. Rossay gone?' W'ich John tole him she were. Den he ordered dinner to be fotch up. An' John he had a pitcher ob hotpunch ready. An' ole marse drank some. Den he went in to dinner all byhisself. An' young Mark he waited on de table, w'ich he tell me, w'en Iax him dis mornin', how de ole marse eat much as ujual, wid a goodrelish. Den arter dinner he went to de liberairy and sot dere a longtime. Ole John say it were midnight 'fo' de ole marse walk up stairs an'call him to wait on him. "

"Was John the last one who saw my father before he was found unconsciousthis morning?"

"Hi! yes, young marse, to be sure he were. De las' to see de ole marsein healt' las' night, an' de firs' to fine him dis way dis mornin'. "

"How came he to find his master in this condition?"

"It was dis way. Yer know, young marse, as dere is two keys to olemarser's do', w'ich ole marse keeps one in his room to lock hisse'f in, an' John keeps one to let hisse'f in wen de ole marse rings for him inde mornin'. "

"Yes; I know. "

"Well, dis mornin' de ole marse didn't ring at his ujual hour. An' detime passed, an' de breakfast were ready an' spilin'. So I tole John howhe better go up an' see if ole marse was well, how maybe he didn' feellike gettin' up an' might want to take his breakfas' in bed. But Lor! Inebber participated sich a sarious 'tack as dis. Well, den, John he wentan' rapped soft like. But he didn't get no answer. Den he rap littlelouder. But still no answer. Den John he got scared, awful scared. Las'John he plucks up courage, an' unlocks de do', slow an' saf', an' goesin on tiptoe to de bedside, an'--an'--an'--dis yer is wot he seen. Het'ought his ole marse were dead sure, an' he come howlin' an' tumblin'down to me, an' tole me so, an' I called young Mark to follow me, caseole John wa'n't no good, an' I run up yere, an'--an'--an' dis yer is wotI foun'! O'ly he were a layin' on his lef side, an' I see he werebreavin' an' I turn' him ober on his right, an' did all I could for him, an' sent John arter you. "

"I wish the doctor would come, " said Mr. Fabian, anxiously, as he tookhis father's hand again and tried to feel the pulse. 

The door opened very quietly, and Clarence came into the room. Fabianbeckoned him to approach the bed. 

"How is he?" inquired the younger man. 

"As you see! He was found in this condition by his servant this morning. He has shown no sign of consciousness since, " replied the elder. 

"The doctor is below. Shall he come up now?"

"Certainly. "

Clarence left the room and soon returned with the physician. After avery brief examination of pulse, temperature, the pupils of the eyes ofthe patient, prompt measures were taken to relieve the evident pressureon the brain. The doctor bled the sufferer, who presently opened hiseyes, and looked slowly around his bed. His two sons bent over him. 

He tried to speak. 

They bent lower still to listen. 

After several futile efforts he uttered one word:

"Cora. "

"Yes, father--she is here. Go, Clarence, and fetch her at once. She isat the ferryman's cottage. "

The last sentence was added in a low whisper. Clarence immediately leftthe room to do his errand. A few minutes later the door opened softly, and Clarence re-entered the room with Cora. 

Mr. Fabian went to meet her, saying softly:

"He has called for you, my dear! The only word he has spoken since herecovered consciousness was your name. "

"So Uncle Clarence told me, " she said, in a broken voice. 

"Come to him now, " said Fabian, leading her to the bedside. 

She sank on her knees and took the hand of the dying man and kissed it, pleading:

"Grandfather, dear grandfather, I love you. I am grieved at havingoffended you. Will you forgive me--now?"

He made several painful efforts to answer her, before he uttered the fewdisconnected words:

"Yes--forgive--you--Cora. "

She bathed his hand with her tears. All on her part also was forgottennow--all the harshness and despotism of years was forgotten now, andnothing was remembered but the gray-haired man, always gray-haired inher knowledge of him, who had protected her orphanage and given her ahome and an education. She knelt there, holding his hand, and waspresently touched and comforted because the lingers of that hand closedon hers with a loving pressure that they had never given her in all herlife before. That was the last sign of consciousness he gave for manyhours. 

Mr. Fabian took the doctor aside. 

"Ought I to send for my wife?" he inquired. 

"Yes; I think so, " replied the physician. 

And the son knew that answer was his father's sentence of death. Not oneof the family could be spared from this death bed to go and fetchViolet. So Mr. Fabian went down stairs to the library and wrote a hastynote:

 DEAR VIOLET: You offered to come and help to nurse the father, who is sicker than we thought, but with no contagious fever. Come now, dear, and bring baby and nurse, for you may have to stay several days. 

 FABIAN. 

He inclosed this letter in an envelope, sealed and directed it, and tookit down to the stable, where he found his own groom Charles in thecoachman's room. 

"Put the horses to the carriage again, and return to Violet Banks tobring your mistress here. Give her this note. It will explain all, " saidMr. Fabian, handing the note to the servant. 

He found the same group around the death bed. Clarence and the doctorstanding on the left side, Cora kneeling by the right side, stillholding the hand of the dying man, whose fingers were closed upon hersand whose face was turned toward hers, but with "no speculation" in it. Two hours passed away without any change. The sound of wheels withoutcould be heard through the profound stillness of the death chamber. Mr. Fabian again left the room to receive his wife. 

He met Violet in the hall, just as old John had admitted her. She wasclosely followed by the nurse and the child. 

"How is father?" she inquired. 

"He is very ill, my dear, but resting quietly just at present. Here isMartha; she will take you to your room and make you and the babycomfortable. Then, as soon as you can, come to the father's chamber; youknow where to find it, " said Mr. Fabian, who feared to shock hissensitive wife by telling her that he was sinking fast, and thought thatit would be safer to let her come into the room and join the grouparound the bed, and gradually learn the sad truth by her ownobservation. 

"Yes; I can find my way very well, " answered Violet, as she handed herbag, shawl, and umbrella to Martha, and followed the housekeeper upstairs, with the nurse and baby. 

Mr. Fabian returned to the chamber of the dying man, around whose bedthe group remained as he had left it, and where in a very few minutes hewas joined by Violet. She entered the room very softly, so that herapproach was not heard until she reached the bedside. Then she took andsilently pressed the hands that were silently held out by Cora, andfinally she knelt down beside her. 

More hours passed; no one left the sick room, for no one knew how soonthe end might come. Old John thoughtfully brought in a waiter ofrefreshments and set it down on a side table for any one who mightrequire it. 

Day declined. Through the front windows of the death room the westernsky could be seen, dark, lowering, and stormy. A long range of heavyclouds lay massed above the horizon, obscuring the light of the sinkingsun, but leaving a narrow line of clear sky just along the top of thewestern ridge. 

Presently a singularly beautiful effect was produced. The sun, sinkingbelow the dark cloud into the clear gold line of sky, sent forth a blazeof light from the mountain heights, across the river, and into thechamber of death! Was it this sudden illumination that kindled the fireof life in the dying man into a last expiring flame, or was it indeedthe presence of a spiritual visitant, visible only to the vanishingspirit? Who can tell?

Suddenly old Aaron Rockharrt opened his eyes--those great, strong blackeyes that had ever been a terror to the evil doer--and the well doeralso--and stared before him, held up his hands and exclaimed:

"Deborah! Deborah!"

And then he dropped his arms by his side, and with a long, deep-drawnsigh fell asleep. The name of his old wife was the last word upon hisdying lips. 

No one but the doctor knew what had happened. He bent over the lifelessshell, gazed on the face, felt the pulse, felt the heart, and then stoodup and said:

"All is over, my dear friends. His passage has been quite painless. Inever saw an easier death. "

And he drew up the sheet over the face of the dead. 

Although all day they had hourly expected this end, yet now they couldnot quite believe that it had indeed come. 

The huge, strong man, the rugged Iron King--dead? He who, if not asindestructible as he seemed, was at least constituted of that sternstuff of which centenarians are made, and whom all expected should livefar up into the eighties or nineties--dead? The father who had livedover them like some mighty governing and protecting power all theirlives, necessary, inevitable, inseparable from their lives--dead?

"Come, my dear, " said Mr. Clarence, gently raising Corona and leadingher away. "You have this to console you: he died reconciled to you, holding your hand in his to the last. "

"Ah, dear Uncle Clarence, you have much more to console you, for younever failed even once in your duty to him, and never gave him onemoment of uneasiness in all your life, " replied Corona, as she left himin front of her old room. 

She entered and shut the door and gave way to the natural grief thatoverwhelmed her for a time. 

When she was sufficiently composed she sat down and wrote to herbrother, informing him of what had occurred, and telling him that shestill held her purpose of going out to him with the Nevilles. 

CHAPTER XXXII. 

"SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI. "

If old Aaron Rockharrt, the Iron King, had never been generally loved, he was certainly very highly respected by the whole community. The newsof his sudden death fell like a shock upon the public. Preparations forthe obsequies were on the grandest scale. 

They occupied two days. On the first day there were funeral services atRockhold, performed by the Rev. Luke Melville, pastor of the North EndMission Church, and attended by all the neighboring families, as well asby all the operatives of the works. After these were over, the wholeassembly, many in carriages and many more on foot, followed the hearsethat carried the remains to the North End railway depot, where thecoffin was placed in a special car prepared for its reception, and, attended by the whole family, it was conveyed to the State capital anddeposited in the long drawing room of the Rockharrt mansion, where itremained until the next day. On the second day funeral services wereheld at the town house by the bishop of the diocese, assisted by therector of the church of the Lord's Peace, and attended by a host of thecity friends of the family. 

After these services the long funeral procession moved from the house tothe cemetery of the Lord's Peace, where the body was laid in theRockharrt vault beside that of his old wife. 

On the return of the family to the house they assembled in the libraryto hear the reading of the will of Aaron Rockharrt, which had beenbrought in by his solicitor, Mr. Benjamin Norris. 

There were present, seated around the table, Fabian, Violet, andClarence Rockharrt, Cora Rothsay, the doctor and the lawyer. Standingbehind these were gathered the servants of the family. 

Mr. Norris blew his nose, cleared his throat, put on his spectacles, opened the will and proceeded to read it. 

The testament may be briefly summed up as follows:

First there were handsome legacies left to each of the old servants. Onefull half of the testator's vast estate was left to his elder son, Fabian; one quarter to his younger son, Clarence; and one quarter to bedivided equally between his grandson, Sylvan Haught, and hisgranddaughter, Corona Rothsay. 

Fabian was appointed sole executor. 

The lawyer folded up the document and handed it to Fabian Rockharrt. 

"Clarence, old boy, I hardly think this is altogether fair to you, " saidFabian, good naturedly, and ready to deceive him into the delusion thathe had not schemed for this unequal division of the enormous wealth. 

"It is all right, Fabian. Altogether right. You are the eldest son, andnow the head of the firm, and you have ten times over the businessbrains that I have. I am perfectly satisfied, and even if I were not, Iwould not dream of criticising my father's will, " replied Clarence, withperfect good humor and sincerity. 

The legacies were promptly paid by Fabian Rockharrt. Mr. Clarencedecided to remain as his brother's junior partner in the firm that washenceforth to be known as "Aaron Rockharrt's Sons, " and to leave all hisshare of the money invested in the works. 

When Corona was asked when and how she would receive her own, she alsodeclared that she would leave it for the present where it was investedin the works, and the firm might pay her legal interest for its use, ormake her a small silent partner in the business. Sylvan had yet to beconsulted in regard to the disposal of his capital. 

The month of October was in its third week. It was high time for Coronato go to Washington and make the acquaintance of the Nevilles, if shewished to go to travel west under their protection. She had severaltimes spoken of this purpose in the presence of Violet, so as toaccustom that emotional young woman to the idea of their separation. ButViolet, absorbed in her grief for the dead, paid but little attention toCorona's casual remarks. 

At the end of a few days Fabian Rockharrt began to talk about going backto Violet Banks, and invited Corona to accompany his wife and himself totheir, pleasant country home. 

It was then that Corona spoke decisively. She thanked him for hisinvitation and reminded him of her unalterable resolution to go out toFort Farthermost to join her brother. 

When Fabian Rockharrt tried to combat her determination, she informedhim that she had during the funeral week received a joint letter fromCaptain and Mrs. Neville, inviting her to join their party to thefrontier. This letter had been written at the suggestion of the colonelof Captain Neville's regiment, and had not been mentioned or evenanswered until after the funeral. She said that she had accepted thiskind invitation, and had forwarded all her baggage, which had been solong stored at North End, to Washington to wait her arrival in thatcity. 

"Very well, then, " said Fabian. "If you are set upon this expedition, Icannot hinder you, and shall not try to do so. But I tell you what Iwill do. I will take Violet to Washington with you, and get rooms atsome pleasant house before the rush of winter visitors. We shall not beable to go into general society, but there is a great plenty ofsightseeing in the national capital with which to divert the mind of mypoor little girl. Her old guardians, the Pendletimes, are there also, and it will comfort her to see them. With them she will be able to letyou depart without breaking her poor little heart. "

"Oh, Uncle Fabian, I am so glad you have thought of this! It will be sogood for Violet. She has had a sad time since her home-coming. She needsa change, " said Corona, eagerly. 

"I think she will be very much pleased with the plan. Now, Cora, when doyou wish to go?"

"As soon as possible; but since you are so kind as to accompany me, mywish must wait on yours, Uncle Fabian. "

"Let us go and consult Violet, " said Fabian Rockharrt, rising andleading the way to the nursery, which had been hastily fitted up for theaccommodation of the Rockharrt baby and her nurse, and where he feltsure of finding the young mother, too. 

Violet, when told of the scheme to go immediately to Washington and seeher old friends, was more than "pleased;" she was delighted. To show herbaby to her more than mother, as she often called Mrs. Pendletime, wouldfill her soul with pride and joy. 

Very early the next morning Mr. Fabian and his party left the city bythe express train en route for the national capital, leaving Mr. Clarence to go to North End and take charge of the works. They reachedBaltimore at 11 p. M. , and remained over night. The next day they wenton to Washington, where they arrived about noon, and went directly tothe hotel where Captain and Mrs. Neville were staying. 

Violet, very much fatigued, lay down to rest and to get her baby tosleep at her bosom. Mr. Fabian, as we must continue from habit to callhim, though his rightful style was now Mr. Rockharrt, went down to thereading room to send his own and his wife's cards to Chief Justice andMrs. Pendletime, and to collect Washington gossip. 

Corona changed her traveling dress, went down into the ladies' parlor, and sent her card to the rooms of the Nevilles. And presently thereentered to her a very handsome middle-aged pair. 

The captain was a fine, tall, broad-shouldered, soldierly-looking man, with a bald head and a gray mustache. He was clothed in a citizen'smorning suit. The captain's wife was also rather tall, slender, darkcomplexioned, with a thin face, black eyes, and black hair very slightlytouched with gray, which she wore in ringlets over her ears, and in abraid behind her neck. Her dress was a plain, dark cashmere, with whitecuffs and collar. 

"It is very kind of you to take charge of me, " said Corona to Mrs. Neville, as the three seated themselves on a group of chairs neartogether. 

"My dear, I am very glad to have your company, as well on the long anddreary journey over the plains as at that distant frontier fort. Youwill find life at the fort with your brother a severe test to youraffection for him, " said Mrs. Neville, with her rather doubtful smile. 

"You have some experience of life at Fort Farthermost?" remarked Coronapleasantly. 

"No; not at that particular fort. We have never been quite so far asthat yet. It is a new fort--an outpost really on the extremesouthwestern frontier, as I understand. We shall have to cross what usedto be called the Great American Desert to reach it. We go first toLeavenworth, and, of course, the journey to Leavenworth is easy enough. But from Leavenworth the long, tedious traveling by army wagons over theplains and through the wilderness to the southwestern forts will tryyour endurance, my dear. "

"Come, come!" said the captain, heartily; "it is not all unmitigateddreadfulness. To be sure we have no railroads through the wilderness, nofine city hotels to stay at; but, then, there are some few forts alongthe line of travel, where we can stop a day or two to rest, and havegood sport. And when we have no fort at the end of a day's journey, itis not very awful to bivouac under the shelter of some friendly rock orin the thicket of some forest. The wagons by day make good couches bynight; and as for the bill of fare, a haunch of venison from a deer shotby some soldier on the road, and cooked on a fire in the open air, has avery particularly fine flavor. All civilized condiments we carry withus. As for amusements, though we have no theaters or concerts, yet thereis always sure to be some fellow along who can sing a good song, andsome other fellow who can tell a good story. I rather think you willenjoy the trip as a novelty, Mrs. Rothsay. I observe that most youngpeople do. "

"I really think I shall enjoy it, " assented Corona. 

"I hope that you will be able to endure it, my dear, " added Mrs. Neville. 

"You see the journey is no novelty to my wife, Mrs. Rothsay. She hasspent all her married life on the frontier. Thirty years ago, my dearlady, I received my first commission as second lieutenant in the ThirdInfantry, and was ordered to Okononak, Oregon. I married my sweethearthere, and took her with me, and she has been with me ever since; for weboth agreed that anything was better than separation. We have raisedchildren, and they have married and left us, and we have never beenparted for a week. We have lived on the frontier, and know every fortfrom the confines of Canada to those of Mexico. We have lived amongsoldiers, savages, pioneers, scouts, border ruffians, wild beasts, andvenomous reptiles all the days of our married life. What do you think ofus?"

"I think it is unjust that some military officers have to vegetate alltheir days in those wilds of the West, while others live for all thatlife is worth in the Eastern centers of civilization. "

"Bless you, my dear, we don't vegetate. If nothing else should rouse oursouls the Indians would, and make it lively for us, too! It is not anunpleasant life, upon the whole, Mrs. Rothsay; but you see we aregrowing old, and my wife is tired of it, that is all. "

"How soon shall we leave for the West?" inquired Corona. 

"How soon can you be ready, my dear young lady?"

"I am quite ready now. "

"Then on Monday, I think. What do you say, Mrs. Neville?" inquired thecaptain. 

"Monday will do, " replied the wife. 

"Now here are some people coming in to interrupt us, " said the captainin a vexed tone. 

Corona looked up and said:

"They are Chief Justice and Mrs. Pendletime, come to call on their lateward, Mrs. Fabian Rockharrt. You know them?"

"Not a bit of it. So if you please, my dear, we will retire at once andleave you to receive them, especially as we are both engaged to dine atthe arsenal this afternoon, " said the captain; and he arose, and withhis wife withdrew from the parlor. 

Cora went forward to receive the new visitors. They both greeted hervery warmly, and then expressed the deepest sympathy with her in hersorrow at the loss of her grandfather, and made many inquiries for theparticulars of his illness. 

When Corona had answered all their questions, and they had againexpressed their sympathy, she inquired:

"Have you sent for Violet? Does she know you are here? If not, I will goand call her. "

"Oh, yes; the servant took up our card. And here she comes! And the babyin her arms, by all that is beautiful!" said Mrs. Pendletime, as shearose to meet her favorite, and took the infant from the fond mother andcovered both with caresses. 

"To think of my child coming to a hotel instead of directly to myhouse!" said the elder lady, reproachfully. 

"But I wished to stay a day or two with Corona before she leaves for theWest. And after I meant to go to you and stay as long as you would letme, " Violet replied. 

"Mrs. Rothsay going West!" exclaimed the old lady. 

"Yes; she is, " said Violet, emphatically and impatiently. And then thereensued more explanations, and exclamations, and remonstrances. 

And finally Mrs. Pendletime inquired:

"And when do you leave on this fearful expedition, my dear?"

"On Monday next I go, with Captain and Mrs. Neville, " replied Corona. 

"Well, I am truly sorry for it; but, of course, I cannot help it. OnMonday, therefore, after your friend has taken leave of you, you willremove to my house, Violet?"

"Oh, yes; the thought of going to you is the only comfort I have inparting from Corona, " replied Mrs. Fabian Rockharrt. 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 

CORONA'S DEPARTURE. 

On the Sunday following her arrival in Washington, the last day of hersojourn in the capital, the day before her departure for the frontier, Corona Rothsay rose early in the morning, and soon as she was dressedwent down to the ladies' parlor. Neither her uncle nor his young wifehad yet left their rooms. In fact, so early was it that none of theladies staying in the house had yet come down to the parlor. The placewas vacant. 

Corona went up the long room and sat down by one of the front windows, to look down on the passing life of the avenue below. 

While she sat looking out of the window she heard a movement at thelower end of the room. Some one entered and sat down to wait. And someone else went out again. Corona never turned round to see who was there. She continued to look through the window. She was not interested in thecomers and goers into and out of the hotel. 

Presently some one came in again and said:

"Mrs. Rothsay is not in her room, sir. "

"Then I will wait here until she can be found, " replied the new comer ina familiar voice. 

But then Corona started up and rushed down the length of the room, crying eagerly:

"Uncle Clarence! Oh, Uncle Clarence! Is this you? Is this indeed you? Iam so glad to see you once more before I go! I had thought never to seeyou again! Or, at least, not for many years! And here you are!"

He caught the hands she held out as she reached him, drew her to hisbosom and kissed her as he answered:

"Yes, my dear, it is I, your old bachelor uncle, who was not satisfiedwith the leave taking on last Thursday, but longed to see you againbefore your departure. "

"You dear Uncle Clarence!"

"So yesterday afternoon I telegraphed to Fabian to ask him when you wereto start for the West. He telegraphed back that you expected to leaveWashington on Monday morning. I got this answer about five o'clock inthe afternoon. And, as it was Saturday night and I had a clear day, theblessed Sabbath, before me, I only waited to close the works at sixo'clock, as usual, and then I hurried away, packed a carpet bag andcaught, by half a minute, the six-thirty express for Baltimore andWashington, and came straight through! It was a twelve hours' journey, my dear, without stopping except to change cars, which connectedpromptly, and so you see I have lost no time! I have just arrived, anddid not have to wait five minutes even to see you, for you were here toreceive me! And now that I am here, my dear, I shall stay to see you offwith the Nevilles. You go to-morrow, as I understand? There has been nochange in the programme?"

"We go to-morrow, Uncle Clarence, " replied Corona, in a grave, sorrowfultone, for she was sympathizing with him. 

"By what train, my child?"

"The eight-thirty express, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. "

"Then I need not part with you here in Washington. Our routes are thesame for some hundred miles. I shall travel with you as far as the NorthEnd Junction, and take leave of you there. That will be seeing the verylast of you, up to the very last minute. "

Just at this moment Mr. Fabian entered the parlor, and recognizing hisyounger brother and junior partner, approached him with a shout:

"Clarence! by all that's magical! Pray, did you rise from the earth, orfall from the skies, that I find you here?"

"How do you do, Fabian? I came in the most commonplace way you canimagine--by the night express train--and have only just now arrived, "replied Mr. Clarence. 

"And how goes on the works?" inquired Fabian Rockharrt. 

"Admirably. "

"Glad to hear it. And what brought you here, if it is a civil question?"

"It isn't a civil question, but I'll answer it all the same. I came tosee Cora once more, to spend the last Sabbath with her and to accompanyher as far on the journey to-morrow as our way runs together, which willbe as far as the North End Junction. "

"And you will not reach North End before Monday night! A whole day lostat the works, Clarence! Ah! it is well you have me to deal with insteadof the father--Heaven rest his soul!"

"See here, Fabian, " said Mr. Clarence, "for a very little more I will gowith Cora all the way to Fort Farthermost, as her natural protector andhelper in her missionary work. What, indeed, have I to keep me here inthe East since the father left us? Nothing whatever. You have your wifeand child; I have no one. Cora is nearer to me than any other being. "

"Come! Come down to breakfast. You have been traveling all nightwithout food, I feel sure; and fasting and vigils never were means ofgrace to a Rockharrt. Come!" said Mr. Fabian, with a laugh. 

"I must get a room and go to it first. Look at me!" said Clarence. 

"You do look like the ash man or blacksmith, certainly. Well, comealong; we'll go to the office and get a room, and then you can get someof that dust off you. It won't take ten minutes. After that we will goto breakfast. "

The brothers left the parlor together. 

The next moment Violet entered it, and bade good morning to Corona, whoin turn told her of the new arrival. 

"Clarence! Oh, I am so glad! What an addition he will be to our party, Cora, especially after you have left us, my dear, when we shall miss youso sadly, " said Violet. 

Cora made no reply. She disliked to tell Violet that she, Violet, wouldlose the society of Clarence at the same time that she would lose thatof herself, as her uncle was to leave Washington by the same train. 

While they were still talking the two brothers re-entered the parlor. 

When Fabian demanded whether they were ready to go down to breakfast, and received a satisfactory answer, he drew the arm of his wife withinhis own, and led the way down stairs. Clarence and Corona followed. Whenthey entered the breakfast saloon, the polite waiter came forward andushered them to a table at which Captain and Mrs. Neville were alreadyseated. Morning greetings were exchanged, and Mr. Clarence wasintroduced and welcomed. 

After breakfast all the party went to church. 

Then Clarence and Corona spent the afternoon together at one end of thelong parlor, which was so long and had so many recesses that half adozen separate groups might have isolated themselves there, each withoutfear of their conversation being overheard by the others. 

All the members of our party sat up late that evening to eke out thetime they might spend together before parting. It was after midnightwhen they retired. 

The travelers met at an early breakfast the next morning. Their baggagehad been sent on and checked in advance. They had nothing to do but makethe most of the few remaining minutes. 

When the meal was over they all hastily left the table and went to theirrooms to put on their traveling wraps. 

Fabian and Violet were to accompany the travelers to the railway depotto see them off, so that there was to be no leave taking at the hotelexcept of the baby. 

Corona went into the nurse's room, took the mite in her arms, held it toher bosom, caressed and kissed it tenderly, but dropped no tear on itssweet, fair face or soft white robe. 

The baby received all this love with delight, leaping and dancing inCorona's arms, then gazing at her with intense eyes, and crowing andprattling in inarticulate and unintelligible language, of some happy, incommunicable news, some joyful message it would deliver if it could. 

"Come, Cora. We are waiting for you, my dear, " sounded the voice of Mr. Fabian in the hall outside. 

Corona kissed the baby for the last time, blessed it for the vague sweethope it had infused into her heart, and then laid it in its nurse's armsand left the room. 

"We shall barely catch the train, if we catch it at all. And the captainis as nearly in a 'stew' as an officer and a gentleman permits himselfto get. We have been looking for you everywhere, " said Mr. Fabian. 

"I was in the nurse's room, bidding good-by to the baby, " replied Cora. 

"Oh!"

No more was said. Baby was excuse for any amount of delay, even thoughit had caused the missing of their train and the driving of the captaininto a war dance. 

They hurried down stairs and entered the carriages that were waiting totake them to the depot--Fabian, Violet, Clarence and Corona in one;Captain and Mrs. Neville, and Mrs. Neville's maid, in the other. And sothey drove to the depot, and arrived just in time to take their ticketsand rush to their seats on the train, with no further leave taking thana kiss all around, and a general, heartfelt "God bless you!"

The train was speeding away, leaving Washington City behind, when ourparty first began to realize that they were really "off" and to take intheir surroundings. 

Captain and Mrs. Neville sat together about midway in the car. Clarenceand Corona sat immediately behind them. On the opposite side sat Mrs. Neville's colored maid, Manda, and in the rear corner, on the same side, the captain's orderly--a new recruit. About half the remaining seats inthe car were occupied by other travelers. 

At Harper's Ferry, amid the most beautiful and sublime mountain sceneryof Virginia, the train stopped twenty minutes for dinner, which, inthose ante-bellum days, was well served from the hotel at the depot. After dinner, the train started off again at express speed, stopping butat few stations, until near night, when it reached North End Junction, where Mr. Clarence was to get off. 

"Cora, my darling, we must part here, " said Mr. Clarence, gathering uphis effects, as the train slackened speed. 

"Oh, Uncle Clarence! Dear Uncle Clarence! God bless you! God bless you!"sobbed Corona. 

"Keep up your heart, dear one. You may see me sooner than you dream of. The missionary mania is sometimes contagious. You have it in its mostpronounced form. And I have been sitting by you for eight hours, "replied Mr. Clarence, forgetting his prudent resolution to say nothingto Corona of an incipient plan in his mind. 

"What do you mean, dear Uncle Clarence?" she anxiously inquired. 

"I hardly know myself, Corona. But ponder my words in your heart, dearone. They may mean something. Here we are! Good-by! Good-by! God blessyou!" exclaimed Mr. Clarence. 

"Good-by! God bless you!" cried Corona, and they parted--Clarencejumping off the train just as it started again, at the imminent risk ofhis life, yet with lucky immunity from harm. 

Corona, looking through the side window, saw him standing safely on theplatform waiting a North End train to come up--saw him only for aninstant as her train flashed onward, and "pondered his words in herheart, " and wondered what they meant. 

CHAPTER XXXIV. 

ON THE FRONTIER. 

Traveling in the ante-bellum days, even by steamboats and railwaytrains, was not the rapid transit of the present time. It took one dayfor our travelers to reach Wheeling. There they embarked on a riversteamer for St. Louis. On Monday morning they took a steamboat forLeavenworth, where they arrived early in the evening. 

This was the first and best part of their long journey. The second partmust of necessity be very different. Here their railway and steamboattravel ceased, and the remainder of their course to the far southwesternfrontier must be by military wagons through an almost untroddenwilderness. 

I know that since the days of which I write this section of the countryhas been wonderfully developed, and the wilderness has been made to"bloom and blossom as the rose, " but in those days it was still laiddown on the maps as "The Great American Desert. " And Fort Leavenworthappeared to us as an extreme outpost of civilization in the West, and astopping place and a point of new departure for troops en route for thesouthwestern frontier forts. 

Captain Neville and his party landed at Leavenworth on the afternoon ofa fine November day. The captain led the way to the colonel's quarters. A sentinel was walking up and down the front. He saluted the captain, who passed into the quarters, where an orderly received the party, showed them into a parlor, gave them seats, and then took the captain'scard to the colonel. 

In a few moments Col. ---- entered the parlor, looked around, recognizedCaptain Neville, and greeted him with:

"Ah, Neville! delighted to see you! Mrs. Neville, of course! I rememberyou well, madam! And this young lady your daughter, I presume?" headded, turning from the elders to shake hands with Corona. 

"No; not our daughter, I wish she were; but our young friend, Mrs. Rothsay, who is going with us to Farthermost, " Captain Nevilleexplained. 

"To join her husband! One of the new set of officers turned out by theAcademy! Happy man!" exclaimed the colonel, warmly shaking Corona'shand. 

"No, sir; Mrs. Rothsay is a widow. She goes out to join her onlybrother, Lieutenant Haught!" the captain again explained, in a low andfaintly reproachful tone. 

"Oh! ah! I beg pardon, I am sure. The mistake was absurd, " said thecolonel, with a penitent air. 

"When did you leave Washington?"

"A week ago to-day; but the boats were slow. "

"Pleasant journey, I hope?"

"Oh, yes, so far. "

At this moment the colonel's wife came into the room. She was a tall, gray-haired woman with a fair complexion and blue eyes, and dressed inblack silk and a lace cap. She shook hands with Captain and Mrs. Neville, who were old friends, and who then presented Mrs. Rothsay, whomthe hostess received with much cordiality. 

Meanwhile the colonel and the captain strolled out upon the piazza, tosmoke each a cigar. The former inquired more particularly into thehistory of the beautiful, pale woman who had come out under theprotection of the captain and his wife. 

Captain Neville told him all he knew of Mrs. Rothsay's story--namely, that she was the granddaughter of the famous Iron King, Aaron Rockharrt, lately deceased, and that she was the widow of the late Regulas Rothsay, who so mysteriously disappeared on the evening of his wedding before theday of his expected inauguration as governor of his native State, andwho was afterward discovered to have been murdered by the ComancheIndians. 

In the evening, when a number of officers dropped into the drawing roomof the colonel's quarters, our party were quite able to receive them. 

One unexpected thing happened. Among the callers was a certain Major----, a childless widower of middle age, short, thick-set, black-beardedand red-faced, with a bluff presence and a bluff voice, who fell--yes, tumbled--heels over head in love with Corona at first sight. 

This catastrophe was so patent to all beholders as to excite equalwonder and mirthfulness. 

Only Corona of all the company remained ignorant of the conquest she hadmade; ignorant, that is, until the visitors had all left the quarters, when her hostess said to her in a bantering tone:

"You have subdued our major, my dear, utterly subdued him. This is thefirst case of love at first sight that ever came under my notice, but itis an unmistakable one. And, oh, I should say a malignant, if not afatal, type of the disorder. "

So closed the day of our travelers' arrival at Fort Leavenworth. 

It was Saturday afternoon, on the sixth day of the visitors' stay at thefort, and the ladies were on the parade ground watching the drill, whenthe word came that the steamer was coming up the river with troops onboard. 

"Our raw recruits at last, " said Captain Neville, who was standing withthe ladies. 

"And that means, I suppose, that we are to start for Farthermost atonce, " said Mrs. Neville. 

"Not on the instant, " laughed the captain. 

"This is Saturday afternoon. To-morrow is Sunday. We shall leave onMonday morning. "

"Rain or shine?"

"Fair or foul, of course, " said the captain. 

It was really the steamer with the new recruits on board. Half an hourlater they landed and marched into the fort, under the command of therecruiting sergeant, and they were received with cheers. 

That evening Captain Neville announced his intention to set out forFarthermost on Monday morning. Of course this was expected. And equally, of course, not one word was said to induce him to defer his departurefor one day. Military duty must take precedence of mere politeness. 

The next day being the Sabbath, the ladies attended the morning servicein the chapel of the fort. The irrepressible Major ---- was present, andafter the benediction, attached himself to Captain Neville's party, andwalked home with them to the colonel's quarters, but not next to Cora, who walked with Mrs. Neville. 

As the major paused at the door, Mrs. ---- had no choice but to invitehim to come in and stay to dinner, adding that this was the last day ofthe Nevilles' and Mrs. Rothsay's sojourn at the fort. 

The major thanked the lady, and followed her into the drawing room, where he sat talking to the colonel, while the ladies went to theirrooms to lay off their bonnets and cloaks. They came down only whencalled by the bell to the early Sunday dinner. 

As this was the last day of the guests' stay at Fort Leavenworth, manyof the officers dropped in to say good by; so that the party sat uprather later than usual, and it was near midnight when they retired torest. 

Corona did not go to bed at once. She sat from twelve to one writing aletter to her Uncle Clarence, not knowing how the next was to be mailedto him. 

The next morning was so clear, bright, and beautiful that every onesaid that it must be the perfection of Indian summer. 

On the road outside the walls five strong army wagons, to which stoutmules were harnessed, stood in a line. These were to serve the men ascarriages by day and couches by night. Besides these, there were twocarriages of better make and more comfortable fittings for the captainand the ladies of his party. 

The farewell breakfast at the colonel's quarters partook of the natureof an official banquet. It was unnecessarily prolonged. 

At length the company left the table. 

Mrs. Neville and Mrs. Rothsay went to their rooms to put on hats andcloaks. As soon as they were ready they came down to bid good by to Mrs. ---- and some other ladies who had come to the colonel's quarters to seethem off. 

When these adieus were all said, the colonel gave Mrs. Rothsay his armto lead her to the carriage, which stood in line with the army wagons onthe road outside the walls. 

Captain and Mrs. Neville had gone on before. 

"There, the steamer has landed, and here are some people coming up fromit, " said the colonel, pausing at the gate with Corona on his arm, as aheavy carriage, drawn by a pair of powerful draught horses, came up fromthe steamboat landing and drew up at the gate. 

A tall man, in a long overcoat and a fur cap, jumped down and approachedCorona. 

"Uncle Clarence! Oh, heaven of heavens! Uncle Clarence!" she exclaimed, pale and faint with excess of surprise and joy. 

"Yes, my dear; I am going with you. See, I have my own carriage andhorses, brought all the way by steamer from St. Louis. Our own servants, brought all the way from North End. Now introduce me to your friendhere, and later I will tell you all about it, " said the new comer, witha smile, as he kissed his niece. 

"Oh, Colonel ----, this is my dear Uncle Clarence--Mr. ClarenceRockharrt, I mean, " said Corona, in a rapture of confusion. 

"How do you do, sir? I am very glad to see you. Really going over theplains with this train?" inquired the colonel, as the two gentlemenshook hands. 

CHAPTER XXXV. 

THE NEW COMERS. 

"Yes, colonel, " briskly replied Clarence, "I am really going out to thefrontier! I have not enlisted in the army, nor have I received anyappointment as post trader or Indian agent from the government, normissionary or schoolmaster from any Christian association. But, all thesame, I am en route for the wilderness on my own responsibility, by myown conveyance, at my own expense, and with this outgoing trail--ifthere be no objection, " added Clarence, with a sudden obscure doubtarising in his mind that there might exist some military regulationagainst the attachment of any outsider to the trail of army wagons goingover the plains from fort to fort. 

"'Objections!' What objections could there possibly be, my dear sir? Ifancy there could be nothing worse than a warm welcome for you, " repliedthe colonel. 

At that moment Captain Neville, who had put his wife in their carryall, came up to see what had delayed his guest. 

"My dear Mrs. Rothsay, we are ready to start, " he said. Then seeing Mr. Clarence, whom he had met in Washington and liked very much, he seizedhis hand and exclaimed:

"Why, Rockharrt, my dear fellow! You here! This is a surprise, indeed! Iam very glad to see you! How are you? When did you arrive?" and he shookthe hand of the new comer as if he would have shaken it off. 

"I am very well, thank you, captain, and have just landed from the boat. I hope you and your wife are quite well. "

"Robust, sir! Robust! So glad to see you! But so sorry you did notarrive a few days sooner, so that we might have seen more of you. Youhave come, I suppose, all this distance to bid a last, supplementaryfarewell to your dear favorite niece?"

"I have come to go with her to the frontier, if I may have the privilegeof traveling with your trail of wagons. "

"Why, assuredly. We are always glad of good company on the way, "heartily responded the captain. 

"Oh, beg pardon, and thank you very much; but I did not intend to 'beat'my way. Look there!" exclaimed Clarence, with a brighter smile, as hepointed to the commodious carriage, drawn by a pair of fine draughthorses, that stood waiting for him, and to the covered wagon, drawn by apair of stout mules, that was coming up behind. 

"Oh! Ah! Yes, I see! You are traveling with your retinue. But is notthis a very sudden move on your part?" demanded the captain. 

"So sudden in its impulse that it might be mistaken for the flight of acriminal, had it not been so deliberate in its execution. The fact is, sir, I am very much attached to my widowed niece, and not being able todissuade her from her purpose of going out into the Indian country, andbeing her natural protector and an unincumbered bachelor, I decided tofollow her. And now I feel very happy to have overtaken her in the nickof time. "

"I see! I see!" said the captain with a laugh. 

While this talk was still going on, Corona turned to take a better lookat the great, strong carriage in which her uncle had driven up from thesteamboat landing. There, to her surprise and delight, she saw youngMark, from Rockhold, seated on the box. He was staring at her, trying tocatch her eye, and when he did so he grinned and bobbed, and bobbed andgrinned, half a dozen times, in as many half seconds. 

"Why, Mark! I am so surprised!" said Corona, as she went toward him. "Iam so glad to see you!"

"Yes'm. Thanky'm. So is I. Yes'm, an'dar's mammy an' daddy an' SisterPhebe 'hind dar in de wagon, " jerking his head toward the rear. 

Corona looked, and her heart leaped with joy to see the dear, familiarfaces of the colored servants who had been about her from her childhood. For there on the front seat of the wagon sat old John, from Rockhold, with the reins in his hands, drawing up the team of mules, while on oneside of him sat his middle-aged wife, Martha, the housekeeper, and onthe other his young daughter, Phebe, once lady's maid to Corona Rothsay. 

Corona uttered a little cry of joy as she hastened toward the wagon. Thethree colored people saw her at once, and, with the unconventionally oftheir old servitude, shouted out in chorus:

"How do, Miss C'rona?"

"Sarvint, Miss C'rona!"

"Didn't 'spect to see we dem come trapesin' arter yer 'way out yere, did yer now?"

And they also grinned and bobbed, and bobbed and grinned, between everyword, as they tumbled off their seats and ran to meet her. 

Mr. Clarence hoisted the two women to their seats, one on each side ofthe driver, and then turned to Corona. 

"Come, my dear. Let me put you into our carriage, " he said, as he drewher arm within his own and led her on. 

"Oh! I have not taken leave of Colonel ---- yet. 

"Where is he?" she inquired, looking around. 

"Here I am, my dear Mrs. Rothsay. Waiting at the carriage door to putyou in your seat and to wish you a pleasant journey. And certainly, ifthis initial day is any index, you will have a pleasant one, for I neversaw finer weather at this season of the year, " said the colonel, cheerily, as he received Corona from her uncle's hand, and, with thestately courtesy of the olden time, placed her in her seat. 

"I thank you, colonel, for all the kindness I have received at yourhands and at those of Mrs. ----. I shall never forget it. Good by, " saidCorona, giving him her hand. 

He lifted the tips of her fingers to his lips, bowed, and stepped back. 

Mr. Clarence entered the carriage and gave the order to the youngcoachman. Carriage and covered wagon then fell into the procession, which began to move on. A farewell gun was fired from the fort. 

"Uncle Clarence, " said Corona, after the party had been on the road somehours--"Uncle Clarence, how came you first to think of such a strangemove as to leave the works and come out here? And when did you firstmake up your mind to do it?"

"I think, Cora, my dear, that the idea came vaguely into my mind, as amere possibility, after my father's death. It occurred to me that therewas no absolute necessity for my remaining longer at the works. You see, Cora, however much I might have wished for a change in my life, I nevercould have vexed my father by even expressing such a wish, while helived. After his death I thought of it vaguely. "

"Oh! why didn't you tell me?"

"My mind was not made up; therefore I spoke of the matter to no one. Ionly hinted something to you, when on bidding you good by at North EndJunction I told you that you might possibly see me before you wouldexpect to do so. "

"Yes; I remember that well. I thought you only said that to comfort me. And you really meant that you might possibly follow me?"

"Yes, my dear; that is just what I meant. I could not speak more plainlybecause I was not sure of my own course. I had to think of Fabian. "

"Yes. How, at last, came you to the conclusion of following your poorniece?"

"Fabian and myself could not agree upon a certain policy in conductingour business. There was no longer the father's controlling influence, you see, and Fabian is the head of the firm; and I could not do businesson his principles, " said Mr. Clarence, flushing up to his brow. 

"No; I suppose you could not, " said Cora, meditatively; and then she wassorry that she had said anything that might imply a reproach to thegood-humored uncle she had left behind. 

"Still, I said nothing about a dissolution of partnership until Fabiancomplained that I, or my policy, was a dead weight around his neck, dragging him down from the most magnificent flights to mere sordiddrudgery. Then I proposed that we should dissolve partnership. And hesaid he was sorry. And I believe he was; but also glad, inconsistent asthat seems. For he was sorry I could not come into his policy, and stayin the firm; but since I could not so agree with him, he was relievedwhen I proposed to withdraw from it. We disagreed, my dear Cora, but wedid not fall out; we parted good friends and brothers with tears in oureyes. Poor little Violet cried a good deal. But you know she has such atender heart, poor child!--Look at that herd of deer, Cora, standing onthe top of that swell of the land to the right, and actually gazing atthe trail without a motion or a panic. I hope nobody will shoot atthem!" exclaimed Mr. Clarence, suddenly breaking off in his discourse topoint to the denizens of the thicket and the prairie, until upon somesudden impulse the whole herd turned and bounded away. 

So they fared on through that glorious autumn day--over the vast, rolling, solitary prairie--now rising to a smooth, gradual elevationthat revealed the circle of the whole horizon where it met the sky; nowdescending into a wide, shallow hollow, where the rising ground aroundinclosed them as in an amphitheater; but everywhere along the trail, theprairie grass, dried and burnished by the autumn's suns and winds, burned like gold on the hills and bronze in the hollows, giving asingularly beautiful effect in light and shade of mingling metallichues. 

At noon the captain ordered a halt, and all the teams were drawn up in aline; and all the men got out to feed and water the horses and mules, and to prepare their own dinner. 

They were now beside a clear, deep, narrow stream, a tributary of theKansas River, running through a picturesque valley, carpeted with longgrass, and bordered with low, well-wooded hills on either side. Theburnished gold and bronze of the long dried grass on the river's brim, dotted here and there with a late scarlet prairie flower, the brilliantcrimson and purple of the autumn foliage that clothed the trees, thebright blue of the sky and the soft white of the few downy cloudsfloating overhead, and all reflected and duplicated in the river below, made a beauty and glory of color that must have delighted the soul of anartist, and pleased the eye of even the most careless observer. 

Mike O'Reilly, the captain's orderly, was busy spreading a table clothon the grass, at the foot of a hill on the right, and old John, Mr. Clarence's man, was emulating Mike by spreading a four-yard square ofwhite damask at a short distance behind him. 

Our friends had nearly finished their lunch, when something--she nevercould tell what--caused Corona to look behind her. Then she shrieked!All looked to see the cause of her sudden fright. 

There stood a group of Indians, with blankets around their forms, andgleaming tomahawks about their shoulders. 

"Pawnees--friendly. Don't be afraid. Give them something to eat, " saidthe captain, in a low tone, addressing the first part of hisconversation to Corona and the last part to Mrs. Neville. 

But Corona had never seen an Indian in her life, and could not at onceget over her panic caused by the sight of those bare, keen-edged axesgleaming in the sun. 

Captain Neville spoke to them in their native tongue, and they replied. The conversation that ensued was quite unintelligible to Clarence andCorona, but not to Mrs. Neville, who beckoned to two squaws who stoodhumbly in the rear of the braves. They were both clothed in short, rude, blue cotton skirts, with blankets over their shoulders. The eldersquaw carried a pack on her back; the younger one carried a baby snuglyin a hood made of the loop of her blanket at the back of her neck. 

They both approached the ladies, chattering as they came; the elder onethrew down her pack on the grass and began to open it, and display anumber of dressed raccoon skins stretched upon sticks, and by gibberingand gesticulations expressed her wish to sell them. 

Neither of the ladies wished to buy; but Mrs. Neville give her loaves ofbread and junks of dried beef from the hampers on the grass, and Coronagave her money. 

She put the money in a little fur pouch she carried at her belt, and shepacked the bread and beef in the bundle with the highly flavored raccoonskins. She was not fastidious. 

While Mrs. Neville and Corona were occupied with the squaw, CaptainNeville and Mr. Clarence had been feasting the braves, and theattendants had been washing dishes, repacking hampers, and reloadingwagons for a fresh start. 

When all was ready the wayfarers took leave of the Indians andre-entered their conveyances and resumed their route, leaving thesavages still feasting on the fragments that remained. 

It was now two o'clock in the afternoon, as the long trail of carryallsand army wagons passed up from the beautiful valley and out upon thevast prairie that still rolled on before them in hills and hollows ofgold and bronze, blazing under the bright autumnal sun. 

Men and women, mules and horses, had all been rested and refreshed bytheir mid-day halt and repast. 

The people, however, seemed less inclined to observe and converse thanin the forenoon. 

Even Clarence saw more than one flock of birds sail over their heads, and made no sign; saw a herd of deer stand and gaze, and said not aword. 

At length Clarence took out his cigar and lit it, and as he smoked hewatched the descending sun until it sank below the horizon and sent upthe most singular after-glow that Clarence had ever seen--a shower ofsparks and needle-like flames from the edge of the prairie immediatelyunder the horizon. 

"Looks like de worl' was ketchin on fire ober dere, Marse Clarence, "said young Mark, speaking for the first time since they had resumedtheir march. 

"It is only the light reflected by the prairie, my boy, " kindly repliedMr. Clarence. And then he smoked on in silence, while the after-glowdied out, the twilight faded, and one by one the stars came out. Coronaseemed to be slumbering in her seat. Young Mark crooned low, as if tohimself, a weird, old camp meeting hymn. It was so dark that he couldnot have seen to guide his horses, had not the captain's carryall beenimmediately in front of his own, and the long trail of wagons in frontof the captain's, with lantern carried by the advance guard to show theway. 

"What's the matter?" suddenly called out Mr. Clarence, who was arousedfrom his reverie by the halt of the whole procession. 

"We 'pears to got sumwhurze, " replied Mark, strongly pulling in hishorses, which had nearly run into the back of the captain's stationarycarryall in front. 

"We are at Burley's, " called out Captain Neville from his seat. 

While he spoke Mike O'Reilly brought up a lantern to show their way tothe house. 

Clarence alighted and handed down his niece, took her arm, and followedCaptain and Mrs. Neville past the wagons and mules and groups of menthrough a door that admitted them into a long, low-ceiled room, lightedby tallow candles in tin sconces along the log walls, and warmed by alarge cooking stove in the middle of the floor. Rude, unpainted woodenchairs, benches and tables were the only furniture, if we except therough shelves on which coarse crockery and tinware were arranged andunder which iron cooking utensils were piled. 

Captain Neville and Mr. Clarence returned to the wagons to see forthemselves that their valuable personal effects were safely bestowed forthe night, and that the horses and mules were well cared for. Theproprietor of this place attended them. 

While Mrs. Neville and Corona still walked up and down in the room, asmall dark-haired woman came in and nodded to them, and asked if theywould like to go upstairs and have some water to wash their faces. 

Both ladies thankfully accepted this offer, and followed the landlady upa rude flight of steps that led up from the corner of the room to anopen trap door, through which they entered the garret. 

This was nothing better than a loft, whose rough plank floor formed theceiling of the room below, and whose sloping roof rose from the floorfront and back, and met overhead. 

Here they rested through the night. 

Let us hasten on. It was the thirteenth day out. The trail had crossednearly the whole of the Indian Territory, and were within one day'smarch of Fort Farthermost, on the Texan frontier. 

They had passed the previous night at Fort W. , and at sunrise they hadcrossed the Rio Negro, and before noon they had made nearly a score ofmiles toward their destination. They halted beside a little stream thattook its rise in a spring among the rocks on the right hand of thetrail. Here the party meant to rest for two hours before resuming themarch to Fort Farthermost, which they hoped to reach that same night. 

As usual at the noon rest, mules and horses were unharnessed and leddown to the stream to be watered and fed. Fires were built and rusticcranes improvised to hang the pots and kettles gypsy style. Since thefirst day out old Martha had been constituted cook and old John butlerto our party. 

In a short time Martha had prepared such a hot dinner as was practicableunder the circumstances, and John had laid the cloth. 

When all was ready the party of four sat down on the dry grass topartake of the meal, to every course of which they all did amplejustice. 

"This is our last _al fresco_ feast, " said Captain Neville, afterdinner, as he filled the glasses of the two ladies and of ClarenceRockharrt and proposed the toast:

"Our lasting friendship and companionship. "

It was honored warmly. 

Next Clarence proposed:

"Mrs. Neville, " which was also honored and responded to by the captainin a neat little speech, at the end of which he proposed:

"Mrs. Rothsay. "

This was duly met by Clarence with a brief acknowledgment. Mr. Clarencewas no speechmaker. But he proposed the health of--

"Our gallant captain, " which was drank with enthusiasm. 

The captain responded, and proposed--

"Mr. Clarence Rockharrt, " which was cordially honored. 

Then Mr. Clarence made his last little speech of personal thanks. 

After this the company arose and separated, to wander about the campingground, to stretch their cramped limbs before returning to their seatson their carryalls. 

"Come, Clarence, let us follow this little stream up to its head. Itcannot be far away, " said Corona. 

Mr. Clarence silently drew her arm within his, and they walked on up thelittle valley until it narrowed into a gorge, clothed with stunted treesin brilliant autumn hues, through which the gray rocks jutted. Thetinkling of the spring which supplied the stream could be heard while itwas yet out of sight. 

"Did you bring your drinking cup with you, Clarence? I should like adraught from the spring, " said Corona. 

"Oh, yes, " said her uncle, producing the silver cup. They clambered upthe side of the gorge until they reached the spring--a great jet ofwater issuing from the rock. But there both stopped short, spellbound, in amazement. On a ledge of rock above the spring, and facing them, stood a majestic man, clothed in coat of buckskin, faced and borderedwith fur, leggings of buckskin and sandals of buffalo hide. On his headhe wore a fur cap that half concealed his tawny hair. The face was fine, but sunburnt and half covered with a long, tawny beard. Corona lookedup, and recognized--Regulas Rothsay!

With a cry of terror, she struck her hands to her eyes, as if to dispelan optical illusion, and sank half fainting, to be caught in the arms ofher uncle and laid against the side of the rocks, while he sprinkled herface with water from the spring. 

She recovered her breath, opened her eyes, and looked anxiously, fearfully, all around her. 

There was no one in sight anywhere. The apparition had vanished. Coronaand her uncle were alone. 

CHAPTER XXXVI. 

THE MEETING ON THE MOUNT. 

"What is this? Am I mad? Have I seen a spirit? Oh, Clarence, what isit?" cried Corona, in a tumult of emotion in which her life seemedthrobbing away as she clung to her uncle for support. 

"Try to compose yourself, dear Cora, " he answered, as he gently laid herdown on the mossy rocks, and went and brought her water from the springin his pocket cup. 

She raised herself and drank it at his request, and then staring wildlyat him, repeated her questions:

"Oh, what was it? Who was here just now? Or was it--or was it--wasit--delusion?"

"For Heaven's sake, Cora, calm yourself. It was Regulas Rothsay whostood here a moment ago. "

"Rule himself, and no delusion! But, oh! I knew it! I knew it all thetime!" she exclaimed, still trembling violently. 

"My darling Cora, try--"

"Where did he go? Where?" she cried, staggering to her feet and clingingto her uncle. "Where? Oh, take me to him!"

"Do you see that log cabin on the plateau above us, Cora, to the right?"he said, pointing in the direction of which he spoke. 

Her eyes followed his index, and she saw a cottage of rough-hewn logsstanding against the rocky steep at the back of the broad ledge abovethem. 

"What do you mean? Is he up there? Is he up there?" she breathlesslydemanded. 

"Yes; he is in that hut. I saw him climb the rocks and enter it, andclose the door. But, for Heaven's sake! compose yourself, my dear. Youare shaking as with an ague, and your hands are cold as ice, " saidClarence. 

"In that hut, did you say? So near? So near?"

"Yes, dear Cora; but be calm. "

"Take me there! Take me there! Oh, give me your arm, Uncle Clarence, andhelp me. My limbs fail now, when I need them more than ever before. Ah!and my heart fails, too!" she moaned, growing suddenly pale and fainteras she leaned heavily against her uncle. 

"Cora, darling! Cora, rouse yourself, my girl! This weakness is not likeyou. Take courage; all will be well, " said Mr. Clarence, caressingly, laying his hand on her head. 

She sighed heavily as she asked:

"How will he receive me? Oh, how will he receive me? Will he have menow? But he must! Oh, he must! For I will never, never, never go downthis mountain side again without him! I will perish on its rocks sooner!Oh, come, come! Help me to reach that hut, Clarence. "

There was no resisting her wild and passionate appeal. Clarence put hisarm around her waist, to sustain her more effectually, as he said:

"Now lean on me, Cora, and step carefully, for the path is almosthidden, and very rugged. "

"Oh, Clarence, did he recognize me? did he, Clarence? did he?" sheeagerly inquired. 

"Yes, Cora, he did, " gravely answered the young uncle. 

"And turned and went away! And turned and went away! Went away and leftme without one word!" she wailed, in doubt and distress. 

"Cora, my dear, pray control yourself, " said Clarence, uneasily. 

"Did he speak to you?" she suddenly inquired. 

"Not one word. "

"Did you speak to him?"

"No; for he was gone in an instant, before I recovered from myastonishment at his appearance. "

"How did he look?--how did he look when he recognized me? In anger?"

"No, Corona; but in much sorrow, pity, and tenderness, " gravely repliedClarence. 

"Then, why did he leave me? Oh, why did he turn away from me?"

"My dear, he had every reason to think that his sudden appearance hadfrightened you, and that his presence grieved and distressed you. "

"Why, oh, why should he have thought so?" she demanded, with increasingagitation. 

"My dear girl, you were frightened. I might say appalled. You saw himsuddenly, and with a half-smothered scream threw your hands to your eyesas if to shut out the sight, and then sank to the ground. Now what couldthe man think but that you feared and hated the sight of him?"

"Just as he thought before! Just as he thought before!"

"And he turned sorrowfully away and walked up to his cabin on the mount, entered, and shut the door. I saw him do it. "

"Just as he did before! Just as he did before! Oh, Rule! what afatality! That appearances should always be false and disastrous betweenus!" she moaned. 

"Not in this case, Cora. At least not from this hour. Come, we are onthe ledge now!" said Clarence, as he helped his niece, who with one morehigh step stood on the top of the plateau, her back to one of the mostglorious prairie scenes in nature, her face to a rocky, pine-dottedprecipice, against which stood a double log cabin, with a door in themiddle and a window on each side. 

"There is the hut! Now, shall I take you there, or shall I wait here andlet you go alone?" he inquired, as they stood side by side gazing on thehut. 

She did not answer. Her eyes were riveted on the door of the cabin, while she leaned heavily on the arm of her uncle. 

"I see how it is: you are weakening, losing courage. Let me support youto the door, " said Clarence, putting his arm around her waist. 

But she drew herself up suddenly. 

"Oh, let me go alone, dear Uncle Clarence. My meeting with Rule shouldbe face to face only, " she replied, still trembling, but resolute. 

"Are you sure you can do it?"

"Oh, yes, yes! My limbs shall no longer refuse their office!"

Clarence threw himself down at the foot of a pine tree to sit and awaitevents. 

He took out his watch and looked at the time. 

"It is one o'clock, " he said to himself. "At two sharp the trail willmove, or ought to do so. Perhaps Neville might give us half an hour'sgrace, though. At any rate, I will wait here three-quarters of an hour, and if in that time I hear nothing from Rothsay or Cora, I shall go downthe mountain to explain the situation to Neville. "

So saying, Mr. Clarence took out his pipe, filled and lighted it, andsmoked. 

Corona, like a somnambulist or a blind woman, went slowly toward the logcabin, holding out her hands before her. She soon reached it, leaned fora moment against the log wall to recover her breath and her courage, andthen knocked. 

The door was instantly opened, and Regulas Rothsay stood on thethreshold, still clothed in his hunter's suit of buckskin, but withoutthe fur cap--the same Rule, unchanged except in habiliments and in thelength of his untrimmed, tawny hair and beard. 

In the instant of meeting she raised her eyes to his, and read in themthe undying love of his heart. 

With a cry of rapture, of infinite relief and infinite content, she sankupon his doorstep, clasped his knees, and laid her beautiful head downprone on his feet. Only for a second. 

He instantly raised her in his arms, pressed her to his heart, kissedher, and kissed her again and again, bore her into the cabin, placed herin the only chair, and knelt down beside her. 

She turned and threw her arms around his neck, and dropped her head uponhis bosom. 

And not a word was spoken between them. The emotions of both were toogreat for utterance, too great almost for endurance. 

They were bathed in a flood of light from the noonday sun pouring itsrays through the open door and windows of the cabin. It was theapotheosis of love. 

Rule was the first to speak. 

"You are welcome, oh, welcome, as life to the dead, my love! But I donot understand my blessedness--I do not, " he said, dropping his head onher shoulders, while she still lay on his bosom, in a dream, a trance ofperfect contentment. 

"Oh, Rule, my husband, my lord, my king! I have come to you, unconsciously led by the Divine Providence! But I have come to you, tostay forever, if you will have me! I have come, never, never, never toleave you, unless you send me away!" she said. 

"I send you away, dear? I send away my restored life from me? Ah, youknow, you know how impossible that would be! But if I should try to tellyou, dear, all that I feel at this moment, I should fail, and talkfolly, for no human words can utter this, dear! But I am amazed--amazedto see you here with me, as the dead to the material world might be, onawaking amid the splendors of Paradise!"

"You wish to know how I came?"

"No! I do not! Amazed as I may be, I am content to know that you arehere, dear--here! But, " he said, looking around on the rudeness of hishut, "oh, what a place to receive you in! I left you in a palace, surrounded by all the splendors and luxuries of civilization! I receiveyou in a log cabin, bare of even the necessaries and comforts of life!"he added, gravely. 

"But you left me a discarded, broken-hearted woman, and you receive me arestored and happy wife!" she exclaimed. 

"But, oh, Cora! can you live with me here, here? Look around you, dear!Look on the home you would share!--the walls of logs, the chimney ofrocks, the floor of stone, the cups and dishes of earthenware, pewterand iron, the--"

She interrupted him, passionately:

"But you are here, Rule! You! you! And the log hut is transfigured intoa mansion of light! A mansion like the many in our Heavenly Father'sHouse! Oh, Rule! you, you are all, all to me! life, joy, riches, splendor, all to me! Am I all to you, Rule?"

"All of earth and heaven, dear. "

"Oh, happy I am! Oh, I thank God, I thank God for this happiness! Rule, we will never part again!--never for a single day! But be together, to-day and

 'To-morrow and to-morrow and to-morrow, To the last syllable of recorded time, '

and through the endless ages of eternity! Oh, Rule, how could we everhave mistaken our hearts? How could we ever have parted?"

"The mistake was mine only, dear. After what you told me on our marriageday, I lost all hope, all interest and ambition in life. I had toiledand striven and conquered, for the one dear prize; all my battle of lifewas fought for you; all my victories were won for you, and were laid atyour feet. But when I found that all my love and hope had brought onlygrief and despair to you--then, dear, all my triumphs turned into DeadSea fruit on my lips! Then I left all and came into the wilderness; leftno trace behind me; effaced myself from your life, from the world, aseffectually as I could do it; and so--believing it to be for your goodand happiness--died to the world and died to you!"

"Oh, Rule! Miserable woman that I was! I wrecked your life! I wreckedyour career!"

"No, dear, no; the mistake, I said, was mine! I should have trusted yourheart. I should have given you the time you implored; I should not havefled in the madness of suddenly wounded affection. "

"Oh, Rule? if you could have only looked back on me after you went away, only known the anguish your disappearance caused me and the inconsolablesorrow of the time that followed it. "

"If I could have supposed it possible even, I would have hastened toyou, from the uttermost parts of the earth!"

"And then they reported you dead, murdered by the Comanches, in themassacre of La Terrepeur, and sorrow was deepened to despair. "

"Yes; I heard of that massacre. The report of my death must have arisenin this way: I had lived at La Terrepeur for many months, but had leftand come to this place some days before the massacre. Some otherunfortunate was murdered and burned in the deserted hut, whose boneswere found in ashes. I did not return to contradict the report. I wishedto be dead to the world, as I was dead to hope, dead to you, dead tomyself!"

"Oh, Rule! in all that time how I longed, famished, fainted, died, foryour presence! Yes, Rule; died daily. "

"My own, dear Cora, how could I have mistaken you? Oh! if I had onlyknown!"

"Ah, yes! if you had only known my heart, or I had only known yourwhereabouts! In either case we should have met before, and not lost fouryears out of our lives! But now, Rule, " she said, with suddenanimation--"now 'We meet to part no more, ' as the hymn says. I willnever, never, never, leave you for a day! I will be your very shadow!"

"My sunshine, rather, dear!"

"And are you content, Rule?"

"Infinitely. "

"And happy?"

"Perfectly. "

"Thank God! So am I. But why, oh, why when we met by the spring justnow, why, when I was crazed with joy and fear at the sudden sight ofyou, why did you turn away and leave me?" she passionately demanded. 

He looked at her serenely, incisively, and answered, calmly, quietly:

"Dear, because you shrank from me, threw your hands up before your eyes, as if to shut out the sight of me. Dear, your own sudden appearancebefore me at the spring, to which I had gone for my noonday draught ofwater, nearly overwhelmed me; but I readily recovered myself andunderstood it, connected it with the trail below, and concluded that youwere on your way to Farthermost to join your brother, whom I had heardof as one of the officers of the new fort. Then, believing that mypresence distressed you, I went away. "

"Oh, Rule!"

After a little while Rothsay inquired:

"Was not that Mr. Clarence Rockharrt whom I saw with you by the spring?"

"Yes; Uncle Clarence. He helped me up to this ledge, and then he stayedoutside while I came in here to look for you. "

"Let us go and bring him in now, dear, " said Rule. 

And the two walked out together. 

But no one was to be seen on the plateau; only, on the ground under thepine tree where Mr. Clarence had rested was a piece of white paper, keptin place by a small stone laid upon it. 

Rule picked up the stone, and handed the paper to Cora. 

It proved to be a leaf from Mr. Clarence's pocket tablets, and on it waswritten:

 "I am going down the mountain to tell Captain Neville that my party will camp here to-night, and join him at the fort to-morrow, so that he may go on with his train at once, if he should see fit. CLARENCE. "

"He saw you receive me; he knew it was all right; then he grew tired ofwaiting for me. He thought I had forgotten him, and so I had, and heleft this paper and went down to the trail, " Corona explained with asmile. 

"Shall we go down and see your friends, Cora? Tell me what you wish, dear, " said Rothsay. 

Corona looked at her watch, and then replied:

"Courtesy would have required me to go down and take leave of Captainand Mrs. Neville before leaving them, but it is too late now. Theircaravan is on the march by this time. They were to have resumed theirroute at two o'clock. It is after three now. "

"We can go to Farthermost later, dear. It is but half a day's ride fromhere. Shall we go down the mountain and join Clarence? Is it your wish, Cora?"

"No, not yet. He is very well as he is. He can wait for us. Let us sitdown here together. I have so much to tell, and so much to hear, " saidCorona. 

"Yes, dear; and I also have 'so much to tell, and so much to hear, '"assented Rothsay, as they sat down at the foot of the young pine tree, with their backs to the rising cliffs and their faces to the descendingmountain, the brook at its foot, and the vast, sunlit prairie, in itsautumn coat of dry grass, rolling in smooth hills and hollows of goldand bronze off to the distant horizon. 

"Tell me, dear, of all that has befallen you in these dark years thathave parted us. Tell me of your grandparents. Do they still live?"inquired Rothsay. 

"Ah, no!" replied Corona. And then she entered upon the family historyof the last four years and four months, since Rule had disappeared, andtold him of the sudden death of her dear old grandmother on the very dayon which the false report of Rothsay's murder reached them. 

She told him of her Uncle Fabian's marriage to Violet Wood a year later. 

Of her widowed grandfather's second marriage to Mrs. Stillwater, whomRothsay had known in his childhood as Miss Rose Flowers. 

Of the recent death of this second wife, followed very soon after bythat of the aged widower. 

And finally she told him of her own resolution to follow her brotherSylvan to his post of duty at Fort Farthermost, to open a mission homeschool for Indian children, and to devote her life and fortune to theirservice; and of the good opportunity offered her by the kindness ofColonel Z. In procuring for her the escort of Captain and Mrs. Neville, who were on their way to Farthermost with a party of recruits. 

"And Clarence? How came he to be of the company?" inquired Rothsay. 

"Uncle Clarence could not agree with Uncle Fabian in business policy. Sothey dissolved partnership very amicably and with mutual satisfaction. This was after I had left Rockhold. Clarence gathered up his wealth, brought three devoted servants with him, and set out to follow me. AtSt. Louis he purchased wagons, tents, horses, mules, and everyconvenience for crossing the plains. He overtook and surprised us atFort Leavenworth on the very day of our intended departure forFarthermost. "

"Clarence came for your sake. "

"Yes; and he has enjoyed the journey. On the free prairie he has beenlike a boy out of school--so buoyant, so joyous--the life of the wholecompany. "

"What will he do now?"

"I think he will go on to Farthermost for this season. After this I donot know what he will do or where he will go. "

"He will remain in this quarter, which offers a grand field for a manlike Clarence Rockharrt, " said Rothsay. 

"I should think it might--in the future, " replied Corona. 

"In the near future. The tide of emigration is pouring into this sectionso fast that very soon the ground will be disputed with the Mexicangovernment, and true men and brave men will be much wanted here. "

"Yes, " said Corona, indifferently, for she cared very little at thismoment for public interests. "But tell me of yourself, Rule. I long tohear you talk of yourself. "

Rothsay was no egotist. He never had been addicted to speaking ofhimself or of his feelings. 

Now, at her urgent request, he told her in brief how he had renouncedall his honors in the country for the sake of the woman for whose sake, also, he had first striven to win them and had won them. 

"Dear, " he said, "from the time you first noticed me, when you were asweet child of seven summers and I a boy of twelve--yes, winters--forwhile all your years had been summers, dear--summers of love, shelter, comfort, luxury--all my years had been winters of loss, want, orphanage, and destitution--you were my help, support, inspiration. I longed to beworthy of your friendship, your interest, your sympathy. And for allthese things I toiled, endured, and struggled. "

"I know! Oh, I know!" said Corona, earnestly. 

"Yes, dear, you know it all. For who but you were with me in the spiritthrough all the struggle, helping, supporting, encouraging, until youseemed to me my muse, my soul, my inner and purer and higher self. Dear, I wronged you when I connected your love with this world's pride. Iwronged you bitterly, and I have suffered for it and made you suffer--"

"Oh, no, no, no, Rule! The fault was all my own! I am not so good andwise as you!" exclaimed Corona. 

"Hush, dear! Hush! Hear me out!" said Rothsay, laying his hand gently onher head. 

"Well, go on, but don't blame yourself. Oh, '_chevalier sans peur etsans reproche_, '" said Corona, fervently. 

He resumed very quietly:

"When I had reached a position in this world's honor to which I dared toinvite you, then I laid my victory at your feet and prayed you to shareit. And, Corona, when the bishop had blessed our nuptials, I dreamedthat we were blessed indeed. You know, dear, what a miserable awakeningI had from that dream on the evening of our wedding day. "

"It was my fault! It was my fault! Oh, vain, foolish, infatuated womanthat I was!" cried Corona. 

"No, dear; you were not to blame. You were true, candid, natural throughit all. Our betrothal, dear, was on your part the betrothal of friends. You did not know your own heart then. You went abroad with yourgrandparents, and, after two years of travel, you were thrown in thecourt circles of London, and exposed to all the splendors, temptationsand fascinations of rank, culture and refinement, such as you had nevermet at home in your rural neighborhood. You were caught, dazzled, bewildered. You thought you loved the English duke who sought yourhand--"

"But I never did, Rule. Oh, Heaven knows I never did. It was allself-delusion, " broke in Corona. 

"No; you never did. I saw that in the first instant that I met your eyesin the log cabin up yonder. You never did! It was a self-delusion. Yetyou were under the influence of that self-delusion when I found you onour wedding evening in such a paroxysm of grief and despair thatI--astonished and amazed at what I saw--shared your delusion andimagined that you loved this duke when you married me. What could I do, my own dear Cora, for whom I would have lived or died at bidding--whatcould I do but efface myself from your life?"

"Oh! you could have given me time--time to recover from my mentalillness, since I had done no evil willingly. Since I had kept my trothas well as I could. Since I had vowed to love and serve you all the daysof my life. You should have given me time, Rule, to recover my sensesand keep my vow. "

"Yes; I should have done so! But, you see, I did not know. How could Iknow? Oh, my dear Cora! It cost me little to lay down all the honors Ihad won, for they were worthless to me if not shared by you, for whomthey were won. But it cost my life almost to resign you. Mine was 'notthe flight of a felon' or a coward, but the retirement of one sick, sickunto death of the world and of all the glory of the world. Some men inmy case might have sought relief in death, but I--I knew I must liveuntil the Lord of life should himself relieve me of duty. So I left thecity on the night of my wedding day, the night also before myinauguration day. "

"Oh, Rule! and as if it required that supreme act of renunciation totear the veil from my eyes and let me see you as you were, and see myown heart as it was--from that hour I knew how much, how deeply, howeternally I loved you!" said Corona. 

Rothsay raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. Then he resumed:

"I wrote two letters--one to you, explaining my motives for leaving, andadvising you not to repeat to any one the subject or substance of ourlast interview, lest it should be misunderstood or misrepresented, andshould do you unmerited injury with an evil-thinking world--"

"Yes, Rule. See! See! I have that letter yet!" exclaimed Corona, hastilyunbuttoning the front of her bodice and pulling up the little black silkbag which she wore next her heart, suspended from the silken cord aroundher neck, and taking from it the old, yellow, broken paper whichcontained the last lines he had written to her. 

"You kept that all this time, dear?" he inquired, gently taking thepaper and looking at it. 

"Yes. Why not? It was the last relic I possessed of you. And it hasnever left me. I never showed it to a human being, because you did notwish me to do so. But you said you had written two letters. To whom wasthe other? We never heard of it. "

Rothsay looked at her in surprise for a moment and answered:

"The other letter? Why, of course it was my letter of resignation. "

"Then it was never found! Never! If it had been, it would have savedmuch trouble. No one knew what had become of you, Rule. Not even I, except that you had left me on account of that last conversation betweenus, which you adjured me never to divulge. And oh! what amazement yourdisappearance caused! and what conjectures as to your fate! Many thoughtthat you had been assassinated and your body sunk in the river. Oh, Rule! Many others thought that you had been abducted by some politicalenemy--as if any force could have carried you off, Rule!"

Rothsay laughed for the first time during the interview. Coronacontinued:

"Advertisements were placed in all the papers, offering large rewardsfor information that should lead to the discovery of your fate orwhereabouts, living or dead. And, oh! how many impostors came forward toclaim the money, with information that led to nothing at all. A sailorreturning from Rio de Janeiro swore that you had shipped as a man beforethe mast and gone out with him, and that he had left you in the capitalof Brazil. A fur trader from Alaska reported you killing seals in thatterritory. A returned miner swore that he had left you gold digging inCalifornia. A New Bedford sailor made his affidavit that he had seenyou embark on a whaling ship for Baffin's Bay. These were the mosthopeful reports. But there were others. There was never the body of anunknown man found anywhere that was not reported to be yours. Oh, Rule!think of the anguish all these rumors cost your friends!"

"Cost you, my poor Corona! I doubt if they cost any other human being asingle pang. "

"But all these rumors proved to be false, and your fate remained amystery until it was apparently cleared up by the report of your murderby the Comanches in the massacre of La Terrepeur. "

"A report as false as any of the others, as you see, yet with a betterfoundation in probability than any of those, as I have explained. Buthow my letter of resignation should have been lost I cannot conjecture. I posted it with my own hand, " said Rothsay, reflectively. 

"Why, letters are occasionally lost in the mail! But, Rule, how was itthat you never heard of all the amazement and confusion that followedyour flight, for the want of your letter to explain it?"

"Because, dear, from the time I left the State capital to this day Ihave never seen a newspaper or spoken to a civilized being. "

"Rule!"

"It is true, dear! Look at me. Have I not degenerated into a savage?"

"No, no, no, Regulas Rothsay! you could never do that! Ah! how muchnobler you look to me in that rude forest garb than ever in the finedress of the drawing room! But tell me about your journey from the cityinto the wilderness, and of your life since. "

"I have been trying to do so, Cora, but every time I try to begin mynarrative by reverting to the hour of my flight, I seem spellbound tothat hour and cannot escape from it. But I will try again, " he said, and he began his story. 

He told her, in brief, that on leaving the Rockhold house and going outupon the sidewalk, he found the streets still alight with illuminatedhouses and alive with the orgies of revelers who had come to theinauguration. 

In moving through the crowd he was unrecognized, for who could suspectthe black-coated figure passing alone along the street at midnight to bethe governor-elect of the State, in whose honor the assembled multitudeswere getting drunk?

His first intention had been to take a hack, drive to the railway depot, and board the first train going West. But the hacks were all engaged assleeping berths by men who could not get accommodations in any of thehouses of the overcrowded city. 

So he set off to walk, and almost immediately came face to face with oldScythia, the friend of his childhood. 

"Old Scythia!" exclaimed Corona, interrupting the narrative. 

"Yes, dear; the old seeress of Raven Roost, as they used to call her. Ofcourse, I never, even as a boy, believed in the supernatural powers ofdivination ascribed to her, but I must credit her with wonderfulintuitions. She had divined the very crisis that had come, and in thathour of my agony and humiliation she exercised a strange power over me, "said Rothsay; and then he took up the thread of his narrative again. 

He told her that on leaving the State capital he had taken neitherrailway carriage nor river steamboat, but had tramped, with old Scythiaby his side, all the way from the Cumberland Mountains to theSouthwestern frontier. 

The journey had taken them all the summer, for they traveled veryslowly--sometimes walking no more than ten miles a day, sometimessleeping on pallets made of leaves under the trees of the forest, sometimes reaching a pioneer's log hut, where they could get a hotsupper and a night's lodging. Sometimes stopping over Sunday in somesettlement where there was no church, and where Rule, though not anordained minister, would on Christian principles hold a service andpreach a sermon. 

So they journeyed over the mountains, and through the valleys andforests, until at length, in the end of October, they arrived at thepoorest, loneliest, and most forlorn of all the pioneer settlements theyhad seen. 

This was La Terrepeur, on the borders of the Indian Reserve. It was asettlement of about twenty log huts, in a small valley shut in bydensely wooded hills, and watered by a narrow brook. It was too near thecountry of the Comanches for safety, and too far from the nearest fortfor protection. There was neither church nor school house within ahundred miles. 

The travelers were hospitably received by the pioneers, and here, as theautumn was far advanced, and travel difficult, they determined to haltfor the winter, at least, and in the spring to go farther south insearch of Scythia's tribe, the Nez Percees, who had been moved away fromtheir former hunting grounds. 

They were feasted and lodged by the hutters that night. The next morningthe men turned out in a body, felled trees and cleared a spot on theslope of a wooded hill, sawed logs and built two huts, one for Rothsay, and one for old Scythia. They were finished before night. And then thesettlers had a house-warming, which was a breakdown dance to the musicof the one fiddle in the settlement, and a supper of such eatables anddrinkables as the place could afford. 

But there was no furniture in these two primitive dwellings. So oncemore these wayfarers had each to sleep on a bed of leaves. 

On the second day the man who owned the only mule and cart, and was theonly expressman and carrier to the settlement, offered to go to thenearest post trader's station--a distance of fifty miles--and purchaseanything that the strangers might need, if said strangers had the moneyto buy. 

Rothsay had money in notes, hardly thought of, and never looked at, except when, on their long journey, he had to take out his pocket bookto pay for accommodations at some log cabin, or to purchase a change ofunder clothing at some post trader's. 

Also old Scythia had a pouch of silver and gold coin, saved from themoney that had been regularly sent to her by Rule from the time when hefirst began to earn wages to the time when they set out for thewilderness in company. 

Of this money they gave the frontier expressman all that he required topurchase the plainest furniture for the log cabins--bedding, cookingutensils, crockery ware, and some groceries. 

"Yer can't buy bed or mattresses at the post trader's; but yer can buyticking, and we can sew it up for yer, and the men will stuff withstraw. There's plenty of straw, " said one of the kindly women, speakingfor all her neighbors. 

And the expressman set out with his list. 

In three days he was back again with a satisfactory supply. The womenmade the straw beds and pillows and hemmed the sheets. The men filledthe ticks and "knocked together" a pine table and a few rude, three-legged stools. And so Rothsay and old Scythia were settled for thewinter. 

Rothsay took upon himself the office of teacher and preacher. Among thearticles brought from the post trader's were a few Bibles, hymn books, and elementary school books, slates and pencils. 

He began his labors by holding a religious service in his own cabin onthe first Sabbath of his sojourn at La Terrepeur, which--perhaps for itsrarity--was attended by the whole of the little community. And on thenext day he opened his little school in his hut, where he taught thechildren all day, and where he slept at night. Old Scythia's cabin waskitchen and dining room. 

All that autumn, winter and spring Rule labored among the pioneers of LaTerrepeur. It was not true, as had been reported, that he was amissionary and schoolmaster to the Indians; for no one of the savageswho occasionally came into the settlement could be induced to approachthe "school. "

It was in June that old Scythia became restless and anxious to find hertribe--the wandering Nez Percees. 

Rothsay gave his school a vacation and set out with Scythia to find thevalley where they were reported to be in camp. 

"This valley below, Cora, dear, " said Rothsay, interrupting the courseof the narrative. "But when we reached it, the Nez Percees haddisappeared. A lonely old hunter, who had built this hut, was the onlyhuman being in the place, and he was slowly dying, and he would havedied alone but for the opportune arrival of old Scythia and myself. Hetold us that the Nez Percees had crossed the river about two weeksbefore, and were far on their migration west. "

"Old Scythia sat down flat on the floor, drew up her knees, folded herhands upon them, dropped her head, and died as quietly as a tired childfalls to sleep. "

"Oh!" exclaimed Corona, "how sad it was. "

"Yes; it was sad; age, fatigue and disappointment did their work. Iburied her body under that pine tree where your Uncle Clarence sat down. The old hunter's struggle with dissolution was longer. He lingered fivedays. I waited on him until death relieved him, and then laid his bodyto rest beside old Scythia's. I was then preparing to return to LaTerrepeur, when a wandering scout brought me the news of the massacre ofthe inhabitants and the destruction of the settlement. Since that time, dear Corona, I have lived alone on this mountain. That is all. Come, shall we go down and see your uncle?"

"Yes, " said Corona. 

And they arose and walked down into the valley. 

They soon found the wagon camp of Clarence Rockharrt and his followers. 

The horses and mules, which had been unharnessed, watered and fed, werenow tethered to the scattered tree trunks, and were nosing about underthe dried leaves in search of the tender herbage that was stillspringing in that genial soil beneath the shelter of the fallen foliage. The wagons had been drawn up under cover of the thicket and prepared assleeping berths. 

On the grass was spread a large white damask table cloth, and on thatwas arranged a neat tea service for three. 

Martha was busy at a gypsy fire boiling coffee and broiling venisonsteaks. 

"You are just in time, Rule. How do you do?" exclaimed Mr. Clarence, emerging from among the horses, and coming forward to shake hands withRothsay as if they had been in the daily habit of meeting for the lastfour years. 

The two men clasped hands cordially. 

"I always had a secret conviction that you were living, Rule, andalways secretly hoped to meet you again, 'somehow, somewhere;' and nowmy prescience is justified in our meeting to-day. "

"Clarence, " gravely replied Rothsay, "you ask me no questions, yet now Ifeel that you are entitled to some explanation of my strange flight andlong sequestration. And I will give it to you to-morrow. "

"My dear Rothsay, I have divined much of the mystery, but you may tellme what you like, when you like. And now supper is ready, " saidClarence, heartily, as the four servants came up, each with a dish toset on the cloth, quite an unnecessary pageantry where one would havebeen enough, but that they all wanted to see the long-lost man. And withthe warmth and freedom of their race they quickly set down their dishesand gathered around the stranger to give him a warm welcome, expressingloudly their surprise and delight in seeing him. 

"Dough 'deed I doane wonner at nuffin' wot turns up in dis yere newcountry!" old Martha declared. 

Then followed a gay and happy _al fresco_ supper. 

By the time it was over the sun had set, and the autumn evening air, even in that southern clime, was growing very chilly. 

So the three friends arose from the table. 

Rothsay and Corona turned to go up the hill. Clarence escorted them, carrying Corona's bag. 

They parted at the door of the log cabin. 

"I shall have our tent pitched at the foot of the mountain earlyto-morrow morning, and breakfast prepared. You will come down and joinme, " said Mr. Clarence, as he bade the reunited pair good night. 

The wagon camp did not break up the next day, nor the day after that. 

On the third day who should arrive but Lieut. Haught, absent on leave, and come to look up his relations. His meeting with them was a jubilee. His sister wept for joy; his brother-in-law and his uncle would haveembraced him if they had expressed their emotions as continentalEuropeans do; even the negroes almost hugged and kissed him. 

On Lieut. Haught's representations and at his persuasions the littlecamp broke up, and with Rothsay and Cora in company, marched off to FortFarthermost, where they were cordially received by the commandant andthe officers, and where the reunited pair commenced life anew. 

My story opened with the marriage and mysterious separation of the newlymarried pair. It should close with their reunion. 

The later life of my young hero belongs to history. It would require apen more powerful than mine to pursue his career, which was as grand, heroic and romantic as that of any knight, prince, or paladin in thedays of old. 

His pure name and fame became identified with the rise and progress of agreat State in that Southwestern wilderness. Soldier, statesman, patriot, benefactor, all in one, his memory will be honored as long ashis country shall last. And yet, perhaps, the crowning glory of hischaracter was his power of self-renunciation--proved in every act of hispublic life, but shown first, perhaps, when, to leave the life of onebeloved woman free, he renounced not only the hand of his adored bride, but

 "The kingdoms of the world and the glory. "