oned the dance, as if for the first time
observing the presence of strangers. As she faced them, shy as a
frightened fawn, poised upon one foot as if to fly the next instant,
Dorothy was astonished to see tears flowing from her violet eyes and
trickling down her lovely rose-hued cheeks. That the dainty maiden
should dance and weep at the same time was indeed surprising; so Dorothy
asked in a soft, sympathetic voice:

[Illustration: POLYCHROME--THE RAINBOW'S DAUGHTER]

"Are you unhappy, little girl?"

"Very!" was the reply; "I am lost."

"Why, so are we," said Dorothy, smiling; "but we don't cry about it."

"Don't you? Why not?"

"'Cause I've been lost before, and always got found again," answered
Dorothy, simply.

"But I've never been lost before," murmured the dainty maiden, "and I'm
worried and afraid."

"You were dancing," remarked Dorothy, in a puzzled tone of voice.

"Oh, that was just to keep warm," explained the maiden, quickly. "It was
not because I felt happy or gay, I assure you."

Dorothy looked at her closely. Her gauzy flowing robes might not be very
warm, yet the weather wasn't at all chilly, but rather mild and balmy,
like a spring day.

"Who are you, dear?" she asked, gently.

"I'm Polychrome," was the reply.

"Polly whom?"

"Polychrome. I'm the Daughter of the Rainbow."

"Oh!" said Dorothy, with a gasp; "I didn't know the Rainbow had
children. But I _might_ have known it, before you spoke. You couldn't
really be anything else."

"Why not?" inquired Polychrome, as if surprised.

"Because you're so lovely and sweet."

The little maiden smiled through her tears, came up to Dorothy, and
placed her slender fingers in the Kansas girl's chubby hand.

"You'll be my friend--won't you?" she said, pleadingly.

[Illustration]

"Of course."

"And what is your name?"

"I'm Dorothy; and this is my friend Shaggy Man, who owns the Love
Magnet; and this is Button-Bright--only you don't see him as he really
is because the Fox-King carelessly changed his head into a fox head. But
the real Button-Bright is good to look at, and I hope to get him changed
back to himself, some time."

The Rainbow's Daughter nodded cheerfully, no longer afraid of her new
companions.

"But who is this?" she asked, pointing to Toto, who was sitting before
her wagging his tail in the most friendly manner and admiring the pretty
maid with his bright eyes. "Is this, also, some enchanted person?"

"Oh no, Polly--I