unusual
flutter of interest.

"Who is she?" he inquired, as the lady slowly approached them, smiling,
bowing, and responding to the eager greetings on every hand. "She is a
magnificent-looking woman."

"She is Mrs. Montague--a wealthy widow, and a great favorite in society,"
his friend replied, while his own eyes rested admiringly upon the lady.

"Montague! Montague!" Mr. Palmer repeated reflectively, while he said to
himself: "That is the name of Ray's little lady-love; perhaps this woman
is a relative, and the girl has gone to live with her. I must find out
about that." Then, with this thought in view, he added, aloud; "Introduce
me, will you, Merrill?"

His host glanced roguishly at him, and a smile of amusement hovered about
his lips as he replied:

"Certainly, if you wish, but I give you fair warning that she is a
dangerous party, and especially so to widowers--there are a dozen, more
or less, who have already had their wings thoroughly singed."

Mr. Palmer smiled with an air of calm superiority.

"Well, Merrill, I admit that she is as fine-looking a woman as I have
ever seen," he said, "but I believe that I am proof against the
blandishments of the fair sex upon principle; for," more gravely, "I have
never had any desire to change my condition since I lost my wife. My
reason for requesting the introduction was, I thought Mrs. Montague might
be able to give me some information regarding another lady of the same
name."

"All right; an introduction you shall have; but pray take heed to my
warning, all the same, and look out for yourself," was the laughing
rejoinder. "Ah," as he bowed graciously to the lady approaching them,
"we are very glad to be favored with your presence this evening, and now
allow me to present a friend; Mrs. Montague, Mr. Palmer."

The brilliant woman shot one sweeping glance out of her expressive eyes
at the gentleman and then extended her faultlessly gloved hand to him in
cordial greeting.

"I am very glad to make Mr. Palmer's acquaintance," she said, graciously,
"although," she added, with a charming smile, "I cannot look upon him
quite as a stranger, for I have friends who frequently speak of him, and
in a way that has made one wish to know him personally."

Mr. Palmer flushed slightly as he bowed in acknowledgment of such high
praise, and remarked that he felt himself greatly honored.

Mrs. Montague then adroitly changed the tenor of the conversation, and
kept him chatting s