old light to his eyes, the old smile to his lips, and all his former
brightness and energy of manner, he was grateful for it, and he hailed
the result with a delight that made itself manifest in the hearty grip
of his hand and his eager-toned:

"How are you, Ray, my boy? I am glad to see you."

CHAPTER XXI.

MONA AND RAY HAVE ANOTHER INTERVIEW.

Mona was very happy as she went up to her room after her interview with
Ray that eventful Sunday evening, during the early part of which life had
seemed darker than usual to her.

The man whom she loved was true, in spite of the doubt and sorrow she had
experienced over his apparent neglect. She had not after all built her
hopes upon shifting sand; she had not reared an idol in her heart only to
have to hurl it from its shrine as false and worthless. Oh, no; her lover
was a man to be reverenced--to be proud of, and to be trusted under
all circumstances.

She exulted in these facts almost as much as in the knowledge of his love
for her, and she dropped to sleep with joy in her heart, smiles on her
lips, and tears of gratitude flashing like diamonds on her long brown
lashes.

The next morning she seemed almost like a new creature. The world had
suddenly acquired a wonderful brightness and beauty, and it was a delight
even to exist.

It was no hardship to be a seamstress or even a waiting-maid, so long
as she was blessed with Raymond Palmer's love and with the prospect of
becoming his wife in the near future.

Involuntarily a gay little song rippled from her lips while she was
dressing, and the unusual sound catching Mrs. Montague's ear caused a
look of surprise to sweep over her face, for she had never heard Ruth
Richards sing so much as a note before.

"The girl has a sweet, flexible voice. I wonder if she is going to
surprise me, every now and then, with some new accomplishment! Maybe I
have an embryo _prima-donna_ in my employ!" she muttered, with a scornful
smile.

Her surprise was not diminished when she saw the happy girl with her
bright and animated manners and the new love-light shining on her face,
making it almost dazzling in its intensified loveliness.

"What has come over you, Ruth?" Mrs. Montague inquired, regarding her
curiously. "One would almost imagine you were going to the ball yourself
to-night, you appear to be so happy and elated."

"I believe there must be something unusually exhilarating in the
atmosphere," Mona replied, a gleeful l