When the curtain rose on the first act, it was not long before the company discovered Geraldine and Cissy in the nearest box. They were surprised and mystified, for no whisper of Geraldine's good fortune had reached her old associates. It had been whispered about that she had eloped with the missing actor, Clifford Standish, and some had pitied and others condemned. So many and curious were the glances that went from the stage to the box where beautiful Geraldine was sitting, robed like some princess, in all the trappings of wealth and state. The young girl enjoyed it thoroughly, and presently she whispered to her friend: "I'm going to send a message to Cameron Clemens to come to our box at the first wait. You won't mind, will you?" Cissy's heart leaped quickly under the lace and flowers of her corsage. "Oh, Geraldine, you know I do not wish to meet him," she whispered back, while the half-deaf old chaperon lent both her ears to the play. "Cissy, you are the proudest girl I ever saw! How can you be so cruel to poor Mr. Clemens? You are as much in fault as ever he was, for I am sure that nothing stands between your hearts now but your own abominable pride." "Oh, Geraldine, how can you jump at things so? I dare say he has forgotten me now, and is in love with some other lady--that beautiful leading lady, Miss Mills, for instance." "Why, Miss Mills has a husband whom she fairly adores. You needn't be jealous of her, darling. So I'm going to invite Mr. Clemens into our box to talk to us. You needn't be friendly with him if you don't choose. I'll introduce you as the veriest stranger, if you wish." "Very well," answered Cissy, for she knew that the willful beauty would have her own way. Geraldine's romantic heart was set on the reconciliation of the two long estranged lovers; so she sent the message at once, and Mr. Clemens came to the box at the end of the first act. "Aren't you surprised to see me here, Mr. Clemens?" cried Geraldine, shaking hands with him cordially, then presenting her friends: "Mrs. Germyn, and my friend from New York. Miss Carroll, Mr. Clemens." The estranged lovers, both pale as ashes, bowed to each other like strangers, without a sign that they had met before to-night. CHAPTER L. "LOVE MAKES FOOLS OF US ALL!" "How lovely she looked as she stood In a robe of pink gossamer dressed, Her curls waving in the night air, And the jessamine flowers on her breast. Those dark eyes, so tender and sweet, That red mouth so temptingly small, Those bright, perfumed ringlets--heigho! What fools such things make of us all!" MAY AGNES FLEMING. Geraldine watched the meeting between the estranged lovers with a knowing little smile. Their sudden pallor and emotion, even the constraint of their meeting, assured her that love was not dead in their hearts.