ef of knowing it. But--is it
possible that you do not know what has happened at Rockhold?" gravely
inquired Corona.

"I know this much: That the announcement of an engagement between
yourself and the Englishman was premature and unauthorized; that you
have finally rejected the suitor--who has since left Rockhold--and by so
doing 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; not
to let him find me still there on his return; never to let him see or
hear from me again unless it was with my consent to recall and marry my
English suitor."

"But, Cora, my dear, why can you not come into his conditions? Why can
you not marry Cumbervale? He is a splendid fellow every way, and he
loves 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 all
serene?"

"Because, Uncle Fabian, I don't happen to be in love with him," replied
Corona, with just a shade of disdain in her manner.

"Well, my dear, I will not undertake to persuade you to change your
mind. If you have inherited nothing else from the Iron King, you have
his strength of will. What are you going to do, Cora?"

"I am going to carry out my purpose of going to the Indian Reserve as
missionary to the Indian tribes, to devote all my time and all my
fortune to their welfare."

"A mad scheme, my dear Cora. How are you, a young woman, going to manage
to 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 you
going to cross those vast tracts, destitute of all inhabitants except
tribes of savages, destitute of all roads except the government
'trails'?"

"You know, if you have not forgotten, that it was my purpose to join my
brother at his post, and to establish my school near his fort and under
its 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 out
to Fort Farthermost under the protection of Captain and Mrs. Neville.
They are now in Washington, where I am going immed