,"
and the elegant woman turned to her dressing-case, gathered up an
exquisite point-lace fan and handkerchief, while Mona stole softly out
of the room and up to her own, where, no longer able to control the
nervous excitement under which she was laboring, she wept herself to
sleep.

The poor grief-stricken girl felt very desolate on this, her first night
beneath a strange roof, and realized, as she had not before, that she was
utterly alone in the world, and dependent upon the labor of her own
hands for her future support.

Aside from the grief which she experienced in losing her uncle and the
lovely home which for so many years had been hers, she was both wounded
and mortified because of Ray Palmer's apparent indifference.

She could not understand it, for he had always seemed so innately good
and noble that it was but natural she should expect some evidence of
sympathy from him.

He had been so marked in his attentions to her during that evening at
the opera, he had appeared so eager for her permission to call, and had
implied, by both words and manner, that he found his greatest pleasure in
her society, she felt she had a right to expect some condolence from him.

She had begun to believe--to hope that he entertained a more tender
sentiment than that of mere friendship for her, and she had become
conscious that love for him--and the strongest passion of her nature--had
taken deep root in her own heart.

How kind he had been to her that night--how thoughtful! anticipating her
every wish! How his glance and even the tones of his voice had softened
and grown tender whenever their eyes had met, or he had spoken to her!

What, then, could be the meaning of his recent neglect? Could it be
possible that it had been occasioned by the loss of her wealth?--that it
had been simply the heiress of the wealthy Mr. Dinsmore in whom he had
been interested, and now, having lost all, his regard for her had ceased?

It was a bitter thought, but she could assign no other reason for his
strange silence and absence during her sorrow.

Must she resign all the sweet hopes that had begun to take form in her
heart?--all the bright anticipations in which he had borne so conspicuous
a part?

Must she lose faith in one who had appeared to be so manly, so noble, and
so high-minded?

It certainly seemed so, and thus the future looked all the darker before
her, for, humiliating as it was to confess it, she knew that Ray Palmer
was al