be able to find my friends. He died last
winter, and after that it was dreadful. Miss Brent was always busy and
cross, and the girls were worse than ever. A month ago Miss Brent told
us she was going to be married, and give up the business, and that all
the girls would have to leave. Most of them didn't mind, because they
had homes, but Miss Brent said she didn't know what in the world to do
with me. She didn't think any one would take me, because I wasn't
strong enough to do hard work, and she was afraid I was too old to go
back to the 'Home For The Friendless.'

"The wedding was last week, and Mrs. Hicks came on from Kansas. She is
Miss Brent's sister, and her husband has a big cattle farm. Mrs. Hicks
brought her baby with her, and they got me to help take care of it, and
then Miss Brent persuaded her sister to take me home with her. I didn't
want to go, for I knew I shouldn't like Mrs. Hicks, but Miss Brent said
I must. We started yesterday, and it was awful. Mrs. Hicks kept saying
she knew I would never be any use to her, and the baby was so heavy, and
cried all the time. I had just about made up my mind to run away when
Mrs. Hicks slapped me, and that settled it. I never was slapped before,
and I couldn't stand it."

The brown eyes flashed indignantly, and there was a crimson spot in both
the girl's cheeks. Marjorie had been listening to this strange story in
breathless astonishment. It did not occur to her for a moment to doubt
its truth. Before she could ask any more questions, however, she was
brought back to a recollection of every-day life once more by the sound
of her father's voice calling from the porch:

"Supper's ready, Marjorie."

Marjorie came down to earth with a rush, and hastily explaining to her
new friend that she would be back in a minute, dashed away to the house,
there to electrify her family with the astounding news that there was a
strange girl in the playhouse, who had walked all the way from the
railroad, and didn't know her own name.

When Marjorie returned five minutes later, she was accompanied by an
excited group, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Graham, Miss Jessie, and the
Mexican servant, Juanita. At sight of so many strangers the visitor
shrank into a corner, and her eyes seemed to grow bigger and more
frightened than ever, but when Mrs. Graham spoke to her in her kind,
motherly voice, the pale face lighted up, and holding out both hands to
Marjorie's mother, she exclaimed joyfully: