d
ought to know. They have been at Mrs. Barrington's since some time in
August."

Zaidee sprang up, but her face was ghostly pale and there was a
tremulous protest in her voice.

"Oh, it is that Mrs. Boyd, the caretaker and her daughter!" she
exclaimed, drawing a long strangling breath full of protest.

"Our daughter," said her father with emphasis. Then he went on to relate
how the matter had been brought to his notice and his unreasonable anger
at first as he could not doubt the story vouched for by Doctor
Kendricks, his interview with the child and Mrs. Barrington, Mrs.
Crawford's visit to her yesterday.

"What a wonderful story!" Willard sprang up and began to pace the
floor. "I suppose it _is_ true. That baby couldn't have died and she
adopted another one."

"How do we know that she did not?" said Miss Crawford, protestingly.

"She was anxious that the girl in some manner might find her father's
people. You see, she was sure the mother was dead. Oh, there is enough
to convince you all. Dr. Kendricks and Mr. Ledwith have no doubt of the
truth of her story. There is no scheme in it. And it was thought best,
in her weakened state, not to try any explanations."

"It was nurse Jane who died, and the dead baby was buried with her. Ah,
one glance at the girl would convince you," said the mother in the
tenderest voice.

"But--why didn't she come here at once?"

"She was very noble about it. And this is another factor in the story.
She would not leave the mother who had worked and toiled for her; so you
see she was not tempted by the thought of advancement. She was afraid to
believe the outcome of the story at first. Oh, I am proud of her, though
at first I was really cruel. I wanted the woman punished."

"After all," said Willard, "if the baby had been friendless and an
orphan it would have been very noble in her."

"You shall read her confession some day. It is pathetic. She thought
she had lost her all and clung to the baby. Oh, we must all forgive
her."

"And what do you mean to do?" asked Miss Crawford. "It is going to make
a great stir for it cannot be kept a secret, and I hate gossip about
families."

"Yes, the thing must be explained. I have given what of the story I want
known to a reporter this afternoon. After the poor woman has gone,
Marguerite will come here to her true home and life."

"Why, Zay, you must have known her at the school," said Willard. "It
seems she was studying----"

"Oh, th