ome time, before he thought of Mona again, and when he
did, he hardly knew how to broach the subject to his companion.

"Have you resided long in New York, Mrs. Montague?" he inquired, after a
slight pause in their conversation.

"Only about six months, but, Mr. Palmer, during that time, I have found
your city a most delightful one, socially," the lady returned.

"I understand that Mrs. Montague is quite a favorite in society, which
accounts, in a measure, perhaps, for her own enjoyment of its people,"
the gentleman gallantly responded.

Mrs. Montague flushed slightly and lowered her white lids, modestly, for
an instant, and Mr. Palmer continued:

"Allow me to ask, Mrs. Montague, if you ever met Mr. Walter Dinsmore?"

"Dinsmore--Dinsmore," repeated his fair companion, with a puzzled
expression; "it seems as if I have heard the name, and yet--I am quite
sure that I have met no such person since my residence in New York.
Let me see," she added, as if suddenly remembering something--"did I not
read in the papers, a short time ago, of the death of the gentleman--he
was quite a prominent citizen, was he not?"

"Yes, and much respected; he died suddenly, leaving a large fortune. The
reason I inquired if you knew him," Mr. Palmer explained, "was because he
left a niece whose name is the same as yours, and I thought possibly you
might be a relative of the family. Miss Mona Montague is the young lady's
name."

"Mona Montague?" repeated Mrs. Montague, burying her face for an instant
in the bouquet she carried as if to inhale its perfume. "No, I think
not--I have no relatives in New York except a nephew, who is the same as
a son to me. We came to your city entire strangers to every one. But how
old is this Miss Montague?"

"About eighteen years of age, I believe. She was said to be a very
beautiful girl, and every one supposed her to be Mr. Dinsmore's heiress;
but it seems that he had a wife living, although he was supposed
to be a widower--who claimed everything, and thus Miss Montague was
rendered homeless and penniless. She has certainly disappeared from
the circle in which she hitherto mingled."

"How exceedingly unfortunate!" murmured Mr. Palmer's fair listener, with
apparent sympathy.

"Very," said the gentleman; "and as we--I feel deeply interested in her,
I hoped, when I heard your name, that you might prove to be a relative,
and could give me some information regarding her."

"I should be most happy to oblig