"It was the saddest hour of my life when I parted from Rosabel," said Toney to the Professor, as they stood on the platform at the railway in Mapleton waiting for the train which was to convey them to the Monumental City, where they were to embark for California.

"Rosabel was willing that you should go?" asked the Professor.

"The dear girl wept as if her heart was breaking. I never knew how deeply I loved her until then. Only to think that I may be absent for five years! But we both thought that it was better that I should go."

"And make the hundred thousand dollars."

"There can be no hope of our union until I have the hundred thousand dollars. You know the Widow Wild's eccentricity."

"That woman is a profound mystery. And Tom Seddon, whom we expect in the train,—do you think that he can part from Ida?"

"Poor Tom's situation is like mine. He can never hope to marry Ida while her uncle is alive, unless he has an ample fortune."

"You refer to the old Cerberus, who used to pretend to have fits of canine rabies, and drive Tom out of the house?"

"He has entirely excluded Tom from the house."

"Where does Tom manage to see Ida?"

"At Colonel Hazlewood's residence. Ida is the only companion of Claribel and Imogen, who see no other company."

"See no company! They used to be gay enough."

"When Clarence and Harry went to Mexico, they secluded themselves from society."

"What has become of those young men? They did not return when the troops came back from Mexico."

"At the battle of Molino del Rey, where both were distinguished for heroic daring, Clarence was badly wounded; and, after our army entered the City of Mexico, he was in the hospital for several months, and was tenderly nursed by Harry until he recovered. When peace was concluded, and the army was about to march back to Vera Cruz, they resigned their commissions and proceeded to the port of Acapulco on the Pacific coast. Since then there have been no tidings of them."

"Look yonder!" said the Professor. "Are they going to California?"

Toney's eyes followed the direction indicated by the Professor's finger, and beheld what seemed like a procession of giants. In front towered Mrs. Foot by the side of her tremendous husband; while behind them walked the three stupendous sisters, followed by Hercules, who brought up the rear.

"A fine morning, Mrs. Foot," said Toney.

"How do you do, Mr. Belton?" said the towering lady. "Have you seen Mr. Love?"

"He has gone to the city to embark for California," said Toney.

"He has!" exclaimed Mrs. Foot. "And Dove? And Bliss?"

"Gone with Mr. Love," said Toney.

"I told you so!" said Gideon Foot, looking around at the young giantess in his rear.

"Going to California—are they?" cried Mrs. Foot.

"Yes, madam," said Toney.

"If I catch Dove I'll wring his neck!" said the gigantic Gideon.

"Oh, father!" exclaimed Theodosia.

"Come!" said Gideon, gruffly. "Yonder is the train!"

The harsh scream of a steam whistle was heard, and a train of cars thundered up to the platform. Gideon Foot and his family went on board, and were followed by Toney and the Professor, who found Tom Seddon, seated in a car, looking pale and melancholy. After an exchange of salutations, poor Tom relapsed into silence, for he was thinking of Ida. Toney was also extremely taciturn, and hardly uttered a word until they reached the depot in the suburbs of the city. Here they took a carriage, and were driven directly to where the ship lay at the wharf, and went on board,—their arrangements having been made on a former visit to this beautiful metropolis of Maryland.

Mrs. Foot and her three daughters proceeded to the residence of her sister, who lived in the city, and was the wife of a Mr. Sampson. Gideon and Hercules went in search of Love, Dove, and Bliss. In about an hour they encountered these three adventurous gold-hunters daintily dressed, with nice silk hats on their heads, and polished French leather on their lower extremities. Each had white kid gloves on his hands, and carried a slender cane, with which he occasionally tapped the toe of his boot. They looked like little bridegrooms going to be married.

"Good-morning, Mr. Love," said Gideon, blandly.

"I am glad to see you, Mr. Foot," said Love. And he and his two companions shook hands with Gideon and Hercules.

"You seem to be in a hurry," said Gideon.

"The ship sails to-day, and we must be aboard," said Love.

"Going to California?" said Gideon.

"Yes; going to dig gold," said Love. And he and Dove tapped the toes of their boots with their little canes, while Bliss pulled off his new silk hat and smoothed his odoriferous locks.

"Hercules is going," said Gideon.

"Are you, indeed?" asked Love, looking up at Hercules.

"Yes," said Hercules, "as soon as I have bid my mother good-by."

"Is Mrs. Foot in town?" inquired Love.

"She is, and would be so glad to see you," said Gideon. "Come with us and bid Mrs. Foot good-by, and Hercules will go with you to the ship."

"Let us go and bid Mrs. Foot good-by," said Love, looking at his two companions.

"We will go," said Dove.

"Let us go," said Bliss.

"Come," said Gideon. And the three little men accompanied the gigantic father and son to the residence of Mrs. Sampson. They entered the house, and were conducted by Gideon, through a large front apartment, to a back parlor, which communicated, by a door, with a room in the rear.

"Take seats, gentlemen," said Gideon. "Mrs. Foot will be with you in a moment."

Gideon returned to the hall where Hercules was waiting.

"Go fetch the parson," said Gideon. "Make haste!"

Hercules hurried away, and Gideon returned to the back parlor and locked both doors. He then stood in the middle of the floor and elevated himself to his full height, so that his head almost seemed to touch the low ceiling, as he gazed sternly at Love, Dove, and Bliss, who sat on a sofa, and who now began to tremble.

"Look here!" said Gideon, "I am a man of few words. Do you know what you have got to do?"

"What?" said Love, looking dreadfully frightened.

"You three fellows have been hanging around my daughters for the last six months," said Gideon. "You have come to the house in the morning; you have come in the afternoon; you have come at all hours, and the girls have had no time to do any household work on account of you. Even at night, when they were in bed, you would be under their windows making more noise than so many tomcats with your serenades. Now, what do you intend to do?"

"Nothing," said little Love, very meekly.

"Nothing!" exclaimed the gigantic Gideon Foot. "Nothing! Just say that again and I will wring your neck! Come! I'll have no fooling! You have got to marry my three daughters!"

The eyes of the three little men widely dilated, and were fixed on Gideon's towering form, but their tongues were silent; they were dumb with terror.

"You have got just ten minutes to make up your minds. If you don't agree to marry my daughters, I will come back in ten minutes and wring your necks."

Gideon left the room and locked the door.

"What shall we do?" said Love.

"He has locked the door," said Dove.

"He'll murder us!" said Bliss.

"We had better marry the young ladies," said Love.

"You will take Cleopatra," said Dove.

"And you will take Theodosia," said Love.

"And Bliss will marry Sophonisba," said Dove.

The three little men now held a hurried consultation, and were unanimously in favor of matrimony, when Gideon opened the door.

"Your ten minutes are out," said Gideon.

"We have agreed to be married," said Love.

"Very good," said Gideon. "The parson is waiting in the front room, and I have the three licenses in my pocket. Which one do you marry?"

"Cleopatra," said Love.

Gideon went to the door opening into the back room, and unlocking it, put his head through and uttered a few words. Cleopatra came forth, blushing.

"Stand up!" said Gideon to Love.

Love arose from his seat trembling from head to foot.

"Take her arm," said Gideon. "That's right. Now, come along!"

Gideon opened the door, and Love walked with Cleopatra into the front room, where stood the parson with his book open ready to make them man and wife. In a very brief space of time Love and Cleopatra were united in the holy bands of matrimony. The parson looked as if he expected to see the happy man salute his bride; but Love was unable to reach up, and Cleopatra did not bend down, and so this formality was not observed. The wedded pair walked into the back parlor, followed by Gideon, who turned to Dove and said,—

"Whom do you marry?"

"Theodosia, if you please," said Dove, with meek resignation.

At the summons of Gideon, Theodosia appeared and was united to Dove, and then Sophonisba was married to Bliss. Mrs. Foot then rushed from the back room and fondly embraced her daughters, and also her three little sons.

"There, now," said Gideon, "we are through with the business. Are the carriages at the door?" asked he of Hercules, who went out to ascertain if they had arrived.

"We will go home in the next train," said Gideon.

"Can't we go to California?" whimpered Love.

"No," said Gideon, "of course not. You must go home with your wives."

"And be happy," said Mrs. Foot.

"Hercules is going to California," said Gideon. "He can dig gold enough for the whole family."

Hercules was standing in the street before the door, when Pate and Wiggins approached him.

"Have you seen Mr. Love?" asked Pate.

"He is in there," said Hercules, pointing to the house.

"And Dove and Bliss?" said Pate.

"In there with Love," said Hercules.

"We have been looking for them," said Wiggins.

"The ship will sail in a few hours, and they should be on board," said Pate.

"I don't think they are going," said Hercules.

"Not going!" exclaimed Pate.

"I think not," said Hercules.

Two carriages were now driven up, and stopped in front of the house. The door opened, and out came Love hanging on the arm of Cleopatra.

"Mr. Love! Mr. Love!" exclaimed Pate, "the ship is about to sail and you should be on board. Come with us."

"I can't go; I am married," said Love, with a look of despair.

"Come along!" said Cleopatra. And she and her little husband entered one of the carriages.

"Good heavens!" ejaculated Pate.

"Married!" exclaimed Wiggins.

"Mr. Dove! Mr. Dove! you will be left!" cried Pate, as Theodosia led her husband down the steps.

"I can't go; I am married," said poor Dove, as his wife conducted him to the carriage.

"Indeed, Mr. Bliss, you will be left behind!" said Pate, as Bliss and his bride descended the steps.

"I can't go; I am married," said the little man, dolefully, as Sophonisba led him to the carriage.

"All married!" exclaimed Wiggins.

"What does it mean?" said Pate.

"Good-by, Hercules," said Gideon.

"God bless you, my son," said Mrs. Foot. And she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.

"Good-by, father! good-by, mother!" said Hercules. And then he rushed to one of the carriages, and putting in his head, exclaimed, "Good-by, sisters! good-by, little brothers!"

The three brides kissed Hercules and wept, while their husbands shook him by the hand. After many fond embraces and wishes for his welfare the carriages were driven off, leaving Hercules standing in the street, with Wiggins and Pate gazing up at him with looks of perplexity.

"Are you going to California?" asked Pate.

"I am," said the giant, wiping the tears from his eyes.

"And Love, Dove, and Bliss are not going?" said Wiggins.

"No; they have married my sisters, and are going home to be happy," said Hercules. And he wiped away some more tears that came into his eyes.

"What made them marry your sisters?" asked Pate.

"I reckon it was because they loved them," said Hercules.

"They should have given us notice," said Wiggins.

"We have lost three men from our company," said Pate.

"Did my little brothers belong to your company?" asked Hercules.

"They did," said Pate.

"And have left us without giving notice," said Wiggins.

"Will you take me in their places?" said Hercules. "I can dig more gold than they could."

"Will you join our company?" asked Pate.

"Yes, if you will give me as much gold as my three little brothers were to get. I can do more digging than all three of them."

"So he can," said Wiggins.

"I have no doubt of it," said Pate, looking at the towering form and broad shoulders of the giant with enthusiastic admiration.

After a brief conference, the proposition of Hercules was acceded to, and the three gold-hunters hurried on board the vessel, which was about to spread her white wings, and proceed on her way to the land where rivers were said to be rolling between banks of golden sands, which glittered in the last rays of the setting sun.