Marjorie at Seacote

where wa

railroad train, she had fallen asleep

a start, and found, to her surprise, that she w

ced man gravely regarding her, t

and again Marjorie felt a strange rep

had a positive conviction that she ought not to talk to this st

sat up very straight, trying to act as grown-up as possible, and then the train stopped at a large station. There were crowds of people hurryi

uctor was not in sight, and she did

as if to le

up, she saw by a large sign that she was at Newark! She had never before been in Newark, though she knew in a general way where it was. She went uncertainly into the station, and looked at the clock. I

feel very hungry. The exhaustion caused by her emotional gri

aiting-room, sadly conscious of

anew her natural plu

and then stopped,-overwhelmed by the thoug

r said: "Now, little miss,

and looked the red-f

look good, but the sound of a friendly voice

elp me?" she s

f, where've ye

f sincerity in his speech that impressed Marjo

k," she

get out

istake," sh

e ye goin'

n't k

ught! An' then ye as

how c

arjorie's spirits had revived the lea

kin take ye home with me, an' my old woman'll keep ye

do yo

miles out in

you ge

, nor yet no airship; but I've got a old n

?" asked Marjorie, for she couldn't help

and forlorn and hungry and all done out. An' it's

d Midget, sadly; "I

to-night. You go 'long with me, an' Zeb Gea

ow, and Marjorie looked up into the m

orrow," she said; "but first I want to own up

ow, you come along o' me, an' don't try

n the steps, and along the street for a

and he left Marjorie on a bench, whic

ent-looking vehicle, known as a Rockaw

e climbed in, too tired and sad to

seat, offered no conversation, merely looking back occasiona

Marjorie began to t

one if she hadn't chanced to fall

s house in safety, for the crowds and confusion were much worse t

and hospitality for the night, and continue h

to a lane, and finally stopped at a somewhat tumble-down porch. An

called out, "d

brought ye a visit

stepped down and peered into the back seat

w," returned

b Geary, you must be plumb

uestions, but take the pore lamb in, an'

aught sight of Marjorie's winsome face and sad

he rickety old vehicle, and went with

s, at Grandma Sherwood's; it was bare and comfo

hobbling about, "fust of all, let's get

he happy, merry luncheon table at Seacote, she put her head d

on't go fer to take on so. There, ther

jorie tried hard to conquer her sobs, and ha

, after a sharp glance at Marjorie; "she's all o

s a nice soft-boiled egg for yo

r great, dark eyes looking wei

e kitchen. The old woman bathed Marjorie's face and hands with unexpected gentleness, and then helped her to undress.

sheets, on a hard bed, but so weary

ftly an old hymn-tune, and poor little

ather?" asked the old woma

e hadn't got no home. Stepmother, I shouldn't wonder

ere'll be

r no. But if so be they is one, I'll be mighty gl

er; mebbe things'll

ill, Sary,-me

early. The sun was just reddening the eastern ho

she did not cry, for her nerves were rested, and her brain refreshed, by he

o I am, or what my name is. And I don't believe I'd better go to Grandma Maynard's. Perhaps she doesn't know I'm not really her granddaugh

nd heroic. Moreover, she was very much in earnest, and in this crisp, ear

e no claim on Fa-on Mr. Maynard. Perhaps these people here

self, for she heard Mr. and Mr

as she appeared; "how peart yo

good-morning, both of

d to such work, Marjorie was quick and deft at anything, and in a moment she had the apples nicel

ngly at her husband, for they both realized Marjorie

ow, I'll wash up the dishes, Mrs. Geary,

ired. An' you ain't used to

and I must do something to pay for

lp me with the work, a little, an' th

d her inexperience as well as her willingness, an

the "understandin'" was about to be arrived at. But she was prepared; sh

. Geary, kindly, but with d

n," said Marj

e she had always used, she was privileged to choose herself a new one. J

ibly, and Jessica was what he called "highfalutin" enough

you live?"

id Marjorie, steadil

wha

g,-from th

ut she couldn't think of the exact word,-an

o soberly used, struck his humorous sense, and he p

ment, "I understand,-I do.

York, but I've deci

? An' jes' what do

be worth very much at first, but I'd learn fast,-you know,-I do everything fast,-Mother always said so,-I,-I mean, the lady I used to live with, said so. And I'd try very hard to please

hild, in the dainty and fashionable dress of the be

ry, while Mrs. Geary said, "My st

over, and I don't see what I can possibly do but 'work out.' Isn't that what yo

were moist from conflicting emotions. "Stay here you shall, if you

dismayed. "I don't want to be a burden to you. I

, Mother, at least for the present. Now, Jessiky, don't ye worrit a mite more.

part, for he was hard put to it to g

spasmodically, and spent hours dawdling about,

make renewed efforts to "get ahead" for this pretty child's sake. And meantime, if she liked to thi

l thought she had run away from a well-to-do home; and

with questions at the present time, and it was

-all-work, on trial,"-he smiled at his wife over Marjorie's bowed head

d then sat in helpless contempl

"and perhaps, sometime, we can sort of decorate

eary, "'cause we ain't got nothin' to sp

an, decorate with wild flowers, or even branch

ered how often she had "decorated" with these

issed her? Would they look for her? They never

when she heard of it? And al

stasteful to Marjorie, she didn't show it; if her room seemed to her uninhabitable, nobody knew it from her. She ran out to the fields, and returned

aid, when he saw it; and hi