ceive them.

One unexpected thing happened. Among the callers was a certain Major
----, a childless widower of middle age, short, thick-set, black-bearded
and 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 equal
wonder and mirthfulness.

Only Corona of all the company remained ignorant of the conquest she had
made; 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 the
first case of love at first sight that ever came under my notice, but it
is an unmistakable one. And, oh, I should say a malignant, if not a
fatal, 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 the
fort, and the ladies were on the parade ground watching the drill, when
the word came that the steamer was coming up the river with troops on
board.

"Our raw recruits at last," said Captain Neville, who was standing with
the ladies.

"And that means, I suppose, that we are to start for Farthermost at
once," said Mrs. Neville.

"Not on the instant," laughed the captain.

"This is Saturday afternoon. To-morrow is Sunday. We shall leave on
Monday 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 hour
later they landed and marched into the fort, under the command of the
recruiting sergeant, and they were received with cheers.

That evening Captain Neville announced his intention to set out for
Farthermost on Monday morning. Of course this was expected. And equally,
of course, not one word was said to induce him to defer his departure
for one day. Military duty must take precedence of mere politeness.

The next day being the Sabbath, the ladies attended the morning service
in the chapel of the fort. The irrepressible Major ---- was present, and
after the benediction, attached himself to Captain Neville's party, and
walked 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 invite
him to come in and stay to dinner, adding that this was the last day of
the Nevilles' and M