Charles Herne was not a student of political economy nor a reader of sociology, but what he did was done through an innate sense of justice, with a spirit of generosity, and the munificent treatment of his men was the manifestation of his noble, free spirit. To-morrow will be the greatest event so far in the life of Charles Herne, for he brings to his home his bride. CHAPTER III. THE MARRIAGE OF CHARLES HERNE. Two miles from the Herne ranch, toward Roseland, lived the Holbrooke family. On the afternoon of the day which was of such importance in the lives of two of our characters, Mr. Holbrooke returned from a survey of his orchard, to be met by his wife with a face full of mysterious importance. "I've got some news, James," she said. "Now guess what it is-- "Sophia has heard from one of her old beaux," said her husband immediately. "Get a pail of water and throw it over your dad, Sophia," said Mrs. Holbrooke. "He's always joking you about your beaux. Well," she added, "I see I'll have to tell you, you'll never guess. Charles Herne has just gone by here with a bran-new suit of clothes, a bran-new matched team, a bran-new harness, a bran-new buggy, and a bran-new wife. There! What do you think of that?" "Why," said her husband, "I think you may see them go by here some day with a brand-new baby." "The idea of your talking that way before Sophia; that's the way with you men, your mind is always run on such things." "Well," said her husband, "I don't think such a subject is very foreign to your mind or Sophia's either." "Sophy, let's you and I take your dad and throw him. We can do it," said Mrs. Holbrooke. Since the newly-married couple that caused so much interest in the Holbrooke family had gone by, Sophia had laid down her novel, "The Banker's Daughter," and was gazing dreamily out of the window. The young lady being of a rather romantic turn of mind, had just been saying to herself, "What a perfect day to be married. Will everything be as beautiful on my wedding day, I wonder?" "Well," said Mrs. Holbrooke, "whoever the lady may be, she has got a good man and a lovely home." "Yes," said her husband, "a good job was done when Charles Herne came into the world." "Don't talk so rough, James. I never saw a man like you in all my life," said his wife. "The old man Herne had a long head on him when he sent Charles out into the world to cut his own fodder," added Holbrooke, reflectively. "Yes," said his wife, "those hired men of his wouldn't be acting like gentlemen the way they are now if Charles had not gone out and rustled."