terrified at the thought of
speaking to that beautiful little white-haired lady in the
exquisite gray silk.

"Yes, come!" urged Polly. "She gave us our dolls, and we must
thank her!" Her hand on Leonora's gave the timid girl courage,
and she allowed herself to be led towards the wheel chair.

They were all presented by name, and Mrs. Jocelyn won the girls'
hearts with kisses and kindly words, while the boys, from
Cornelius O'Shaughnessy to little John Fritz, were so charmed by
her interest in their sports that they afterwards voted her "a
dandy one"--their highest praise.

The tea went off, as all party teas ought to go, to the music of
merry laughter; and when the ice cream came on, the children's
glee reached its height--it was in the form of a quaint little
girls and boys!

It was nearly bedtime when the last gift arrived. The parcel was
oblong and flat and heavy.

"I bet it's another picture!" ventured Moses.

Polly fairly shouted when Miss Lucy folded back the wrappings.
There lay a superb photograph, handsomely framed in oak, of Lone
Star and his master. The note accompanied it:--

To the Children's Convalescent Ward:

Dear Ward:--News has just come that you are having a birthday.
I congratulate you on having lived and prospered for five long
years. As I have counted only four birthdays myself, I have
great respect for those that have attained to five.

I cannot let the day pass without sending you a small token of
neighborly affection, and because the hour is late and I have
nothing better in sight I trust you will pardon my seeming
egotism in presenting my own picture.

Wish bushels of joyful wishes for you future, I will sign myself

Your fast friend,

Lone Star

Chapter XI

Polly Plays the Part of Eva

Summer still lingered, but signs were abroad of her coming
departure. Noons were hot, and nights were chill; bird carols
were infrequent; chrysanthemums were unfurling their buds. The
vines that festooned the windows of the children's convalescent
ward sent an occasional yellow-coated messenger to the lilac
bushes below--a messenger that never came back.

Inside the ward there were even greater changes. Of the old set
of summer patients only a few remained to keep Polly company.
Elsie and Brida, Corinne and Isabel, with Moses and Cornelius, had
received their discharge and had returned to their homes. Leonora
stayed for more of the tr