, what she
wishes to do."

Grace read this paragraph half a dozen times. Her other letters lay
unheeded before her. Finally she gathered them up and, with the open
letter in her hand, went slowly upstairs. At Evelyn's door she paused
and listened. She heard the sound of some one moving about within. Yes,
Evelyn was still up. Grace rapped boldly on the door.

A moment and it swung open. Evelyn stood staring blankly at Grace. She
was wrapped in the folds of a pale blue silk kimono. Her hair hung in
loose golden waves far below her waist and she reminded Grace of the
beautiful Rapunzel of fairy tale fame who was shut up in a tower by a
wicked witch and forced each night to let down her golden hair so that
her dreadful jailer might climb up and into the tower window.

"Miss Ward," began Grace, without giving Evelyn time to utter a word, "I
am sorry to disturb you so late in the evening, but I have very good
news for you. Miss Pierson has all but secured an engagement for you in
'The Reckoning,' a new play which is to run in New York City all summer.
Read what she says."

Grace handed the sheet of paper to Evelyn.

The girl stretched forth her hand mechanically for it. She
still regarded Grace dully. Then to Grace's utter amazement she
burst into tears. "I can't--take--the--engagement," she sobbed.
"I'm--not--coming--back--to--Overton--next year."

"What can have happened to her!" wondered Grace. Aloud she said: "Don't
decide too hastily, Miss Ward. Take three or four days in which to think
things over. I'll come in and see you to-morrow."

Evelyn made some incoherent response, unintelligible to Grace. The
latter realized that in her present state Evelyn could not be comforted.
It was best to leave her entirely alone until she had had her cry out.
To-morrow would be time enough to try again to try to discover what had
happened.

CHAPTER XXII

TWO LETTERS

Shortly after Grace returned to her room Emma joined her.

"Where did you go? You are not the only one whose correspondents rose
nobly to the occasion," she exulted, holding up several letters. "You
haven't read yours yet, have you. Let's get ready for bed, put on our
dressing gowns, and have a letter reading orgy."

"All right," agreed Grace. "I've already opened one of mine. It was from
Anne. She sends her love to you, and what do you think, Emma?" Grace
lowered her voice. "She has secured a New York engagement for Evelyn
Ward. I saw Miss Ward to-n