eadache this afternoon."

Again he left Mona, but came back to her in a few minutes, saying:

"Yes, it is as I thought; she isn't feeling well, and doesn't care to go
down to dinner. I am to send her a cup of tea, and then she will retire
for the night. Shall we go down now? You must be hungry," he concluded,
smiling.

Mona would have much preferred to go by herself, and have him do the
same, but she did not wish to have any words with him about it, so
quietly followed him to the table, and took her seat beside him.

He was very polite and attentive, supplying all her wants in a thoughtful
but unobtrusive way, and did not once by word or look remind her of
anything disagreeable.

The dinner was a lengthy affair, and it was after eight when they left
the dining-saloon, when Mona at once retreated to her stateroom to rid
herself of Louis Hamblin's companionship. On her way thither she rapped
upon Mrs. Montague's door, and asked:

"Cannot I do something for you, Mrs. Montague?"

There was no response from within, and thinking she must be asleep, Mona
passed on to her own room.

It was growing quite dark, and Mona, feeling both weary and sleepy from
the restlessness and wakefulness of the previous night, resolved to
retire at once.

She felt really relieved, although a trifle lonely to be in a stateroom
by herself, but she fell asleep almost immediately, and did not awake
until the gong sounded for breakfast.

She felt much refreshed, and after dressing went and knocked upon Mrs.
Montague's door to inquire if she had rested well, and if she could do
anything for her.

There was no reply, and thinking perhaps she was still asleep, or had
already arisen, she went up on deck to get a breath of air before going
to breakfast.

"Why!" she exclaimed on looking around her, as she reached the deck, "how
very wide the river must be just here; I did not observe it to be so when
we came down; perhaps, though, we passed this point during the night, but
I did not suppose we could get out of sight of land on the Mississippi."

A storm was evidently brewing; indeed, it was already beginning to rain,
the wind blew, and the vessel rolled considerably.

Mona could see nothing of either Mrs. Montague or Louis, and found that
she could not walk about to search for them, for all at once she began to
feel strangely dizzy and faint.

"Can it be that I am going to be sick?" she murmured, "I was not coming
down, for there was not