For some months before this news arrived, the community had settled down to the conviction that the missing governor had been murdered and his body made away with, although, as there was no proof to establish the fact of their theory, there was no thought of inaugurating the lieutenant-governor as chief magistrate of the State.

Yet, now, when the startling news came that the missing statesman had been killed by the Comanches in the wilds of the Indian Reservation, far from any agency, and that he had been living and preaching there as a volunteer missionary for many months before the massacre, the mystery of his sudden and unexplained disappearance from the State capital on the day of his inauguration was not cleared up and made intelligible, but darkened and rendered more inscrutable.

It was easy enough to understand why a missing man might have been lured away from his dwelling by some false letter or plausible message, and murdered in some secret place where his body lay buried in earth or water, for such crimes were not unfrequent.

But that a bridegroom should secretly depart on the evening of his wedding day, that a governor should take flight on the evening before his inauguration, was a course of action only to be explained on the ground of insanity; and yet Regulas Rothsay was always considered one of the most level-headed and mentally well balanced among the rising young statesmen of the country.

Conjecture had once been wild as to the cause of his disappearance—­had he been murdered, or kidnapped, or both?  Those were the questions then.

Conjecture was now rampant as to the cause of his sudden flight and self expatriation to the Indian Territory.  Had he suddenly gone mad?  Or committed a capital crime which was on the eve of discovery?  These were the questions now.

Every newspaper was full of the problem, which none but one could solve, and she was bound to secrecy.

But it gave her inexpressible pain to know that his motives and his character were being discussed and censured for that course of conduct for which only herself was to be blamed, and which only she could explain.  A word from her would show him in a very different light before his critics.  But she must not speak that word to save his reputation.

So Cora was anxious to leave the city.

The next morning the whole family set out on their return journey to Rockhold, where they arrived early in the afternoon.  They found everything in good order, for Cora had taken the precaution to write to the housekeeper, and warn her of the return of the family.

The grief of the servants for the loss of their kind and gentle old mistress broke out afresh at the sight of the young lady.  And it was long before the latter could soothe and quiet them.

Fortunately Mr. Rockharrt had gone at once to his room, and so he escaped annoyance from their loud lamentations, and they escaped stern rebuke for their want of self-control.