was able by the end of two weeks to return
to his own home; but, though he was very thankful to be restored to
health and to his father once more he was saddened and dismayed upon
learning of Mr. Dinsmore's sudden death, and that Mona had been deprived
of her inheritance.

He was still more appalled when, upon making inquiries, he could learn
nothing of her movements since leaving her home. No one seemed to know
anything about her--even her friend Susie Leades was in ignorance of her
whereabouts, for Mona had shrunk, with extreme sensitiveness, from
telling any one, save Mr. Graves, of her plans for the future.

Ray did not know who had been Mr. Dinsmore's man of business, so, of
course, he could not appeal to the lawyer, and he was finally forced to
believe that Mona had left New York.

He could not be reconciled to have her vanish so completely out of his
life, just when he had begun to entertain such strong hopes of winning
her for his wife.

For more than two years he had loved Mona Montague in secret, but only
during the last few months had he allowed himself to show her marked
attention.

She had been in school until the previous June, and he had felt sure that
Mr. Dinsmore would not countenance anything that would distract her mind
from her studies, therefore he had waited, with commendable patience,
until she graduated before making it manifest that he experienced any
especial pleasure in her society.

Mr. Dinsmore and Mona had spent the months of July and August at Lenox,
Massachusetts, and Ray, having learned their plans, arranged to be there
at the same time. Therefore the young people had seen considerable of
each other during the summer, and before their return to New York, Ray
Palmer had begun to have strong hopes that he should eventually win the
beautiful girl for his wife.

They met several times in society during the early winter, and Mona
always appeared so happy with him that he gradually grew bolder in his
attentions, and finally formally requested the pleasure of acting as
her escort in public. This request was granted, as we know, and cordial
permission to call was also given him, and when Ray left Mona that night,
after their attendance at the opera, he resolved to seek Mr. Dinsmore
at an early day and ask the privilege of paying his addresses to his
niece with the view of winning her.

But he was very unhappy over his fruitless efforts to find her, and he
grew strangely silent and depr