drink my health by and by; but come
back and get your tray in the course of half an hour."

The darky showed two rows of brilliant teeth as Ray slipped a silver
dollar into his hand; then with a cheerful "Yes, sir--thank'ee, sir,"
and a low bow he disappeared as suddenly as he had come.

Mona was hungry, in spite of her assertion to the contrary, and she
enjoyed the rich treat that Ray had so thoughtfully provided for her,
while he was full of fun and gayety, and they had a merry time up there
all by themselves.

When the dancers began to return, Ray quietly remarked:

"My darling, I am not going down to the company again; I feel guilty to
have you sit moping here, while I am playing the gallant cavalier to
other girls."

Mona laughed out softly, but gleefully, at this speech.

"I trust you will always be as conscientious and dutiful, my loyal
knight," she roguishly retorted.

"You will never have cause to question my loyalty, my own," he whispered,
with a look that brought a bright color into her cheeks.

"But I have not been moping," Mona resumed. "I have enjoyed being here
and watching the dancers very much, and you know I could not join them
even if my present position did not debar me," she tremulously concluded.

"True; I had not thought of that," the young man said, gravely, as his
eye swept over her black dress.

"So, then, if you feel that your duty is below, do not hesitate about
leaving me," Mona urged.

"I am not going," he firmly reiterated. "I have been formally introduced
to 'Miss Richards,' and I have a perfect right to cultivate her
acquaintance if I choose."

Mona did not urge him further; she saw that he really wished to stay, and
she was only too happy to have him there by her side; and so the lovers
passed two delightful hours, watching the gay throng below, now and then
exchanging fond looks or a few low spoken words, and only one pair of
eyes among the multitude espied and recognized them.

These belonged to Louis Hamblin, whose eyes lighted with sudden triumph,
while an evil smile played over his face as he saw them.

"I thought so," he muttered, as he noticed Ray Palmer's attitude of
devotion. "That would prove the truth of my suspicions, if nothing else
did so."

CHAPTER XXIII.

LOUIS HAMBLIN IS JEALOUS OF RAY.

It was after one o'clock when Mona told Ray that she must go to her room,
so as to be in readiness to assist Mrs. Montague when she came up from
the pavili