ver the highly piled blonde hair.

She was standing under a great palm-tree, its green branches forming
just the background that was needed to perfect the dainty picture in
pink.

She was surrounded as usual by a group of admirers. Victor Lamont's
indifference vanished. He was interested at last.

"Who is the young lady under the palm directly opposite?" he asked,
quickly.

"The belle of Newport," was the reply. "Shall I present you?"

"I should be delighted," was the quick response. Instantly rebellion
rose in the heart of every girl in the room, and resentment showed in
scores of flushed cheeks and angry eyes as the hero of the evening was
led over to pretty Sally Gardiner.

No wonder they watched him with dismay. From the moment graceful Mr.
Lamont was presented to her, he made no attempt to disguise how
completely he was smitten by her.

"That is a delightful waltz," he said, bending over the little hand as
the dance music struck up.

Sally bowed, and placed a dainty little hand lightly on his shoulder,
his arm encircled the slender waist, and away they went whirling through
the bewildering stretch of ball-room, a cloud of pink and flashing
diamonds, the curly blonde head and the blonde, mustached face
dangerously near each other.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

If young Mrs. Gardiner heard the ominous whispers on all sides of her,
regarding her open flirtation with handsome Victor Lamont, she did not
heed them. She meant to show the haughty husband whom she had learned to
hate with such a deadly hatred, that other men would show her attention.

The world owed her pleasure, a good time, and love by right of her youth
and beauty, and she meant to have them at whatever cost.

Victor Lamont struck her fancy. He was gay, debonair, and was certainly
in love with her; and, in open defiance of the consequences, she rushed
madly on, in her quest of pleasure, toward the precipice covered with
flowers that was yawning to receive her.

The beginning of the end came in a very strange way. One evening there
was a grand hop at the Ocean House. It was one of the most brilliant
affairs of the season. The magnificent ball-room was crowded to
overflowing with beauty and fashion. Every one who was any one in all
gay Newport was present. Jay Gardiner had been suddenly called away to
attend to some very important business in Boston, and consequently would
not be able to attend. But that made no difference about Sally's going;