I will not doubt him."

CHAPTER XVIII.

"MY DARLING, I LOVE YOU!"

Mr. Palmer, true to his promise to the fair young guests at Hazeldean,
telegraphed to Ray the next morning requesting him to come up for the
ball on Monday. Later in the day he received a reply from the young man
stating that he would do so, although he did not mention the hour when he
should arrive.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were gay and busy days, for the ball was
to be a grand affair, and everybody was anxious to do all possible honor
to the occasion and made preparations accordingly.

Mrs. Montague, however, was not so busy but that she managed to spend a
good deal of her time with Mr. Palmer, who seemed to renew his youth in
her presence, and was so gallant and attentive that the young people, who
were exceedingly interested in watching the progress of this middle-aged
romance, were kept in a constant flutter of amused excitement. Mr.
Wellington and his wife were also considerably diverted by the affair.

"I'm afraid Palmer is a 'gone goose,'" the gentleman laughingly remarked
to his spouse, after they had retired to their room on Saturday evening.

"It looks like it," the lady returned; "and really," she added, with some
impatience, "there is something almost ridiculous to me in seeing an old
man like him dancing attendance upon a gay young widow like Mrs.
Montague."

"_Young!_ How old do you imagine her to be?" inquired Mr. Wellington.

"She cannot be much over thirty, and she dresses in a way to make her
look even younger than that," the lady responded. "At all events, she
seems like a mere girl beside portly, bald-headed Mr. Palmer, and I am
afraid that he will regret it if he allows himself to become entangled
in her net."

"I see that you are not in favor of the match," replied Mr. Wellington,
much amused over his wife's earnestness.

"No, Will; I confess I am not," she said, gravely. "I knew Amos Palmer's
first wife, and she was a devoted, care-taking, conscientious woman,
never sparing herself when she could add to the comfort and happiness of
her family. But this woman is entirely different--she cares very little
for anything but society. I admit she is very delightful company--a
charming person to have in the house at such a time as this; but I doubt
her ability to make Mr. Palmer happy, and I never would have believed
that he could have had his head so thoroughly turned by any woman. I
thought he was bound up in