t her out of my head. I would go to
Canada--to Quebec--if it was not so abominably cold. Vane is there with
the 110th. But the climate is too severe. I must move southward, not
northward--southward, through California, and thence to the Sandwich
Islands, New Zealand, and Australia. That will be a pleasant winter
voyage. Talbot is at Sydney, and the climate, and the scenery, and the
fruits and vegetables said to be the finest in the world. It will be a
new experience, and if I can't forget her among soldiers and convicts,
miners and bushmen--well, then, I will come back and make a third
attempt. Well, Dubois, what is it?" This question to his valet, who just
then 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 North
End, and shall leave thereby the six o'clock express, en route for San
Francisco. After I shall have left Rockhold you are to pack up my
effects. I shall send a hack from the hotel to fetch them. Be very sure
to be ready."

The duke went out and entered the dog cart, received his valise from his
valet, gave the order to the groom and was driven off, without having
again seen Cora.

But from behind the screen of her lace-curtained window she watched his
departure.

"I hope he will soon forget me," she murmured, as she turned away and
went down stairs to the library to look over the morning' papers, which
she had not yet seen. But before she touched a paper her eyes were
attracted by a letter stuck in the letter rack, directed to herself in
her brother's well known handwriting.

"To think that my grandfather should have neglected to give me my
letter," she complained, as she seized and opened it.

It was dated Fort Farthermost, and announced the fact of the regiment's
arrival at the new quarters near the boundary line of Texas, "in the
midst of a wilderness infested with hostile Indians, half-breeds, wild
beasts, rattlesnakes and tarantulas. Only two companies are to remain
here; my company--B--for one. Two first lieutenants are married men, but
they have not brought their wives. One of the captains is a widower, and
the other an old bachelor. In point of fact, there are only two ladies
with us--the colonel's wife and the major's. And when they heard from me
that my sister was coming to join me, they were delighted with the idea
of having another lady for company. All the same, Cora, I do not advise
you to com