e had been no
movement in her room to disturb her.

When she realized how late it was, and how much there was to be done,
for the wedding had been set for eleven o'clock, she sprang from her
bed, and hastily throwing on her clothing, went immediately to Violet's
apartments.

The door yielded to her touch, and she entered the parlor, to find no
one there.

She passed on to Violet's chamber, and rapped upon the door.

There was no answer, and entering, she was surprised to see that it was
empty, and somewhat startled, also, to see that the bed was nicely made,
and the room in perfect order.

"What can this mean?" she muttered, and then rang the bell a vigorous
peal.

A servant answered it immediately.

"Have you been called to attend Miss Huntington this morning?" she
demanded.

"No, madame."

"Have you seen her anywhere about the house?" Mrs. Mencke questioned,
greatly perplexed by her sister's strange movements.

"No, madam."

"What! did you not put her room in order this morning?" she asked,
sharply.

Again she was doomed to hear the simple, respectful, "No, madame."

More and more perplexed, and not a little alarmed, Mrs. Mencke hastened
out into the hall, and was proceeding down stairs to seek Lord Cameron,
when she met him just coming up to inquire for his betrothed.

He greeted her with his usual courteous manner; then, observing her
troubled look, became suddenly grave.

"What is it?" he quickly asked. "I hope Violet is not ill."

"No--I do not know--I--I--have you seen her?" faltered and stumbled Mrs.
Mencke, in a tone of distress.

"Seen her?" the young man replied, greatly surprised; for on this
morning, of all others, Violet would, of course, be supposed to be
invisible. "No; certainly not," he added, recovering himself. "Is she
not in her room?"

"No, and it looks as if it had not been occupied during the night," Mrs.
Mencke whispered, with pale lips.

"Do not tell me that," Lord Cameron said, sternly, his face growing
ashen pale at the information.

He turned, and leaping two stairs at a time, was at the top in a moment,
and striding forward toward Violet's room.

Reaching it, he stopped, his innate delicacy forbidding him to enter
without permission, and waited until Mrs. Mencke joined him.

They went in together, and he observed with a terrible heart-sinking the
perfect order in which everything had been left in both rooms.

Mrs. Mencke explained that she had questioned the