Marjorie Dean

n, beckoning with one round, dripping arm to the girl on the

with ambitious bathers, who had grasped Time firmly by his venerated forelock, and fared for

of her precious seaside vacation, Marjorie Dean had come down

onstance Stevens, "but this n

," reminded Marjorie. "I feel that it's my stern duty to see that

of sweet, high laughter, then a little, good-natured gurgle of protest from the golden-haired, blue-eyed g

g figure of her friend. "You'll simply have to be a water baby, Connie, dear. It's as important as bei

y awake to the important business at hand, tried her best to follow her friend's instructions. A fifteen minutes' lesson in the art of le

m her bathing suit and seated herself on the white beach beside Marjorie, who lay stretched at full length, he

and talk some more, and then we'll try it again. Next time I'll teach you an easy stroke. Isn't it funny, Connie, we never seem to get 'talked o

inion of you." Constanc

Two wet hands stretched forth an

his time I never dreamed that anything so wonderful could possibly

ear I never even knew that there was a town called Sanford on the map, and when I found out there was really such a place,

s had made it necessary for him to remove his family from the beautiful city of B--, where Marjorie had been born

, which had been many, and her triumphs, which had been proportionately greater, as a freshman in Sanford High School. How she had become acquainted with Constance Stevens and how, af

Constance as their guest, the two friends were enjoying the last perfect days of mid-summer before returning to Sanford, where, in Sep

to the ill-health of Mary's mother, the Raymonds had been obliged to summer in the mountains, where Mary was needed at her mother's side. That Constance and Mary should mee

Connie." Marjorie gave a little sigh of

, Mary," supplemented Cons

rie n

her. She hasn't written me for over two

od news," comf

her when we get back to the cottage. Suppose

nd see," suggested Constance. "I

in the noble art of swimming, you rascal," laughed Marjorie. "See how self

pression broke up in a radiant smile that set her blue eyes dancing. "But I mus

es it. In y

ting friend down the beach to the water. Another fifteen minutes' instru

at last. "Now, come on. I have a hunch that there is a le

l," the cottage in which the Deans were living. As they neare

you?" Marjorie broke into a run, Co

ne-covered veranda, where Mrs. Dean sat, in the act of opening

ed a hand to her bathing cap,

e had been reading. "But why all this haste? I hardly expected you back so soon. F

letter here for me from Mary, so I let Connie off

earing its own special message from the various friends who held more o

d. "One from Marcia Arnold, another from Muriel Harding. Here's a tiresome advertisement." She threw the fift

tore open the envelope that contained news of her friend and drawing out a single closely written

ce. "We couldn't be so ha

ie's thoughtfulness of others was a

a little squeal of delight. "Mother!" sh

st Mar

her, which she likes to have me do. She is much better, but our doctor says she must go to a famous health resort in the West for the winter. She will start for Colorado in about two weeks, and now comes the part of my letter which I hope you will like to read. I am going to mak

and let me know just exactly when you expect to reach there. We shall not try to come to the seashore

Myste

ar

last word with a jubil

suppose this mysterious mission can be?" Marjor

ys of schoolgirls were usually shrouded with a profound mystery,

Why, it's almost a year since we said good-bye to each other! Oh, Connie," she turned rapturously to Constance, "you two girls, my dearest fr

a trifle soberly. "I know I shall like h

e two girls, whose friendship she held above rubies, could fail her, Marjorie Dean dreamed of a kingdom of fellow

to co