hose days on earth cannot be long, whom
have I in this world to live for but you, Sylvan?"

"Other interests in life, I hope, will arise, sister, to give you
happiness," he replied.

Cora shook her head, and as the waiter now entered the parlor with the
bedroom candles, she lighted one, bade her brother good night, and
retired.

The next morning, as but one day of his leave of absence remained, the
young cadet bade good-by to his friends, and left Rockhold for West
Point, where he arrived the next morning just in time to report for
duty, 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 vast
enterprise which the Iron King had planned out while in the city.

And from this day forth. "Rockharrt & Sons" devoted all their energies
to this mammoth speculation, while, as the months passed, it grew into
huge 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, in
effect: "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 late
husband, with extracts from his letters, speeches, and newspaper
articles. In doing this her soul seemed once more joined to his.

In this manner the year of mourning passed, and the month of January was
at hand.

CHAPTER IX.

TURMOIL OF THE WORLD.

The Rockharrts were again in the State capital. It was but thirteen
months since the death of his wife and since the news of the murder of
his grandson-in law had been received--calamities which had doubly
bereaved the family, and thrown them in the deepest mourning--yet the
Iron King, elated by his marvelous financial success, had thrown open
his house to society, and insisted that his granddaughter should do its
honors.

Cora, who, since the death of the grandmother, had deeply pitied the
grandfather, yielded to his wishes in this respect, though much against
her secret inclination. She did not leave off her widow's mourning, but
she modified it when she presided at the head of the Rockharrt table on
those frequent occasions of the sumptuous and unrivaled dinners given by
the Iron King to those whose fortunes he was making, with his own, by
his mammoth en