ked:

"What was your object, Miss Montague, in coming into my aunt's family
under an assumed name?"

Mona thought a moment before replying; then she felt that since he
already knew so much, it would do no harm to tell him the truth.

"I had no intention at first of going anywhere under an assumed name,"
she said, gravely. "I applied at an employment bureau for a situation as
seamstress, and this position was obtained for me. I did not even know
the name of the woman who had engaged me, until I entered Mrs. Montague's
house. When I learned the truth, I was tempted to leave at once; but the
desire to learn more than I already knew regarding my parentage made me
bold to brave discovery, and remain at least for a while, and so upon the
spur of the moment I gave the name of Ruth Richards--Ruth is my middle
name, and Richards very nearly like that of the man who married my
mother--"

"Who married your mother?" questioned Louis Hamblin, in a mocking tone.

"Yes; they were legally married. I at least know that much," said Mona,
positively, determined to make him think she fully believed it.

"How did you learn so much?"

"My uncle assured me of the fact only the day before he died."

"Your uncle? You mean Walter Dinsmore, I suppose?"

"Yes; of course."

"How much of your history did he reveal to you?" questioned the young
man, eagerly.

"I do not feel under any obligation to tell you that," Mona coldly
answered.

"Now, Miss Montague," Louis said, with well assumed frankness and
friendliness, "why will you persist in treating me as an enemy? Why
will you not have confidence in me, and allow me to help you? I know
your whole history--I know, too, from what you have said, that you are
ignorant of much that is vital to your interests, and which I could
reveal to you, if I chose. Now forget any unpleasantness that may have
arisen between us, tell me just what you hoped to learn by remaining in
my aunt's family, and, believe me, I stand ready to help you."

Mona lifted her great liquid brown eyes, and searched his face.

Oh, how she longed to know the truth about her mother; but she distrusted
him--she instinctively doubted his sincerity.

He read something of this in her glance, and continued, hoping to disarm
her suspicions:

"Of course you know that Aunt Margie is, or was, Richmond Montague's
second wife--"

"Ah! by that statement you yourself virtually acknowledge that my mother
was his first wife," triumpha