his
meaning, but because she hoped it would not be so very long before she
would change the hated name of Montague for the honored one of Palmer.

Her companion noticed the flush, and an eager look flashed into his eyes,
while his lips trembled with the torrent of burning words which he longed
to pour into her ears. But he controlled himself for the moment, and
continued:

"You ask me if I will give you the tangible proof of your mother's
marriage. I have told you that I can do so; that I know the whole story
of the elopement and the desertion. I can produce absolute proof that
Mona Forester was a legal wife."

"Then give it to me--give it to me and I will believe that you are my
friend," Mona cried, appealingly, and trembling with excitement at his
statement.

"I will do so gladly," the young man said, a smile of triumph curling his
lips, "but I can only do so conditionally."

"Conditionally?" repeated Mona, her great eyes flashing up to his face
with a startled look.

"Yes. I can produce the certificate proving your father's and mother's
honorable marriage. I can give you letters that will also prove it, and
prove, too, that your father was not quite so disreputable and heartless
as you have been led to believe. There is also a picture of him, painted
on ivory, and set in a frame of gold, embellished with costly stones,
which he had made for his wife, and there are valuable jewels and other
keepsakes which he bestowed upon her with lavish hands, and which now
rightly belong to you. All these I will give you if--if you will marry
me--if you will be my wife, Mona."

The girl sprang to her feet, every atom of color now gone from her face,
and confronted him with haughty mien.

"_Your wife_!" she began, pantingly. But he would not let her go on--he
meant at least to explain himself more fully before allowing her to
reject him.

"Yes, why not?" he asked, throwing into his tone all the tenderness he
could command, "for I love you, Mona, with all my heart. I have told you
so once before, but you would not believe me. You taunted me with
unworthy motives, and asserted that I would not dare to confess my
affection to my aunt; but I have confessed it, and she is willing that I
should win you. I know that I have paid devoted attention to Kitty
McKenzie, as you also twitted me of doing, and Aunt Margie wanted me to
marry her; but when she found that I had no love to give her, that my
heart was set upon you, she yield