spite against Mona. Indeed, she was even kinder than she had ever been.
Mona quietly resumed her usual duties, and was so faithful and obliging
that the woman apparently regretted her harshness on the night of the
ball, and was very considerate in her requirements, and verified what
Mary, the waitress, had once said, that she was a kind mistress if she
wasn't crossed.

On the morning after their arrival in New York, Mona wrote a note to Ray,
related something of what had occurred, and suggested that it might be as
well not to antagonize Mrs. Montague further by being seen together while
she remained in her employ. She told him where she would attend church
the following Sabbath, and asked him to meet her so that they could talk
over some plan by which they might see each other from time to time
without exciting suspicion regarding their relations.

Mr. Amos Palmer called by appointment upon Mrs. Montague on Wednesday
evening, following the return from Hazeldean, when he formally proposed,
and was accepted.

When, on Thursday morning, the triumphant widow announced the fact to her
nephew, he flew into a towering passion, and a bitter quarrel ensued.

"You have promised me that you would never marry," he cried, angrily;
"you have pledged your word that I should be your sole heir, and I swear
that you shall not give me the go-by in any such shabby fashion."

"Hush, Louis; you are very unreasonable," said his aunt. "I believe that
it will be for your interest as well as mine that I marry Mr. Palmer, and
because I simply change my name, it does not follow that you will not be
my heir. You know that I have no other relative, and I mean that you