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
shall inherit my fortune. If _you_ will marry Kitty McKenzie immediately.
I will settle a hundred thousand upon you outright."

"But I don't like the idea of your marrying at all--I vow I won't stand
it!" the young man reiterated, and ignoring the subject of his own
marriage. "I suppose you have reasons for wishing to change your name,"
he added, with a sneer, "but you must not forget that I know something of
your early history and subsequent experiences, and I have you somewhat in
my power."

"And you are no less in mine, young man," his companion sternly retorted.
"It will not be well for you to make an enemy of me, Louis--it will be
far better for you to yield to my plans gracefully, for my mind is fully
set on this marriage. Can't you understand that as the wife of a man in
Mr. Palmer's position, nothing that has ever been connected with my
previous history will be liable to touch me. Mrs. Richmond Montague,"
with a sneering laugh, "will have vanished, or become a myth, and Mrs.
Palmer will be unassailable by any enemies of the past."

"Yes; I can fully understand that," her nephew thoughtfully replied, "and
perhaps--Well, if I withdraw my objections, will you let me off from any
supposed obligations to Kitty McKenzie? Truly, Aunt Marg," with unusual
earnestness, "I don't want to marry the girl, and I do want to marry some
one else; give me the hundred thousand and let me choose my own wife, and
we will cry quits."

"Louis Hamblin, I believe you will drive me crazy!" cried Mrs. Montague,
growing crimson with sudden anger, "What new freak has got into your head
now? Who is this some one else whom you wish to marry?"

"That girl up stairs--Ruth Richards, she calls herself," the young man
answered, flushing, but speaking with something of defiance in his tone.

"Good gracious, Louis! you cannot mean it!" she exclaimed, aghast. "I
told you I would have no nonsense in th