he secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if
either of you know just cause why ye may not be united in matrimony, ye
do now declare it.'"

There was a pause, to give opportunity for reply, if any reply was to be
made--a mere form, as the adjuration itself was. Yet the bride shuddered
throughout 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, stepped
forth, took his granddaughter's hand, and placed it in that of the
groom, saying, with visible pride:

"I do."

The rites went on to their conclusion, and the whole party were invited
into the dining-room, where the marriage feast was spread, where the
revelry lasted two full hours, and might have lingered longer had not
the bride withdrawn from the table, and, attended by her bridesmaids,
retired to her chamber to change her bridal robes for a plain traveling
suit of silver gray silk, with hat and gloves to match.

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

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

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

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

The bride went down stairs, where the bridegroom awaited her. There, in
the hall, were collected the members of her family, friends, neighbors
and 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 a
later train, and be on hand for the inauguration to-morrow," said old
Aaron Rockharrt, who seemed to have recovered his youth on this proud
day.

"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 she
has set her heart on seeing the pageantry to-morrow. Promise me before I
leave you," pleaded the bride.

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

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

"And I trust, Rothsay, that you will find my town house comfortably
prepared f