ning that Marian's friends were dead; that
she had come to America in hopes of doing better than she could at home;
that she had stayed in New York until her health began to fail, and then
had tried what country air would do, coming to North Silverton because
a young woman who worked in the same shop was acquainted there, and
recommended the place. This was all Katy could learn, and Marian's heart
history, if she had one, was guarded carefully. One day as they sat
together alone, when Helen had gone to the village to do some shopping
for Katy, Marian abruptly said: "I have lived in New York, you know,
and why do you not ask if I ever saw these Camerons?"

"You! did you?--have you, really?--and what are they like?" Katy almost
screamed, skipping across the floor and seating herself by Marian, who
replied: "Much like other ladies of their stamp--proud and fashionable.
The father I never saw, but your Mr. Cameron I used to see in the street
driving his handsome bays."

Anything relating to the pride and fashion of her future relations made
Katy uncomfortable, and she remained silent, cutting into bits a piece
of silk, until Marian continued: "Sometimes there was a child in the
Cameron carriage. Do you know who it was?"

Delighted that she too could impart information, Katy hastened to say
that it was probably "little Jamie, the orphan grandchild, whose parents
died in Italy. Morris told me he met them in Paris, and he said Jamie's
father died of consumption, and the mother, too, either then or
afterward. At all events Jamie is an orphan and a cripple. He will never
walk, Morris says; and he told me so much about him--how patient he was
and how good."

Katy did not see the tears which threatened to mar the silk on which
Marian Hazelton was working, for they were brushed away almost as
quickly as they came, while in her usual voice she asked: "What was the
cause of his lameness?"

"I don't know just how it happened," Katy replied, "but believe it
resulted from the carelessness of a servant in leaving him alone, or
something."

"A servant!" Marian repeated, a flush rising to her cheek and a strange
light flashing on her eye.

She had heard all she cared to hear of the Camerons that day, and
she was glad when Helen returned from the village, as her appearance
diverted Katy's mind into another channel, and in examining the dress
trimmings which Helen had brought, she forgot to talk of Jamie Cameron.
The trimmings, frin