Stuart. She read it aloud: it asked for the pleasure of their company at luncheon. It was signed "Sop

ng the four eager faces of the "Automobile Girls." "Shall I transl

allen in love with the countess at first sight, and can hardly wait for one o'clock to arrive. But I will send ou

y were joined on the piazza by M

ncey Smythe, with an attempt at affabilit

ered Ruth, r

er this morning?" pursued Mrs. Smythe

ied Ruth.

never have them. For some stupid reason, Mr. Warren is opposed to his daughter's receiving attentions from the Count de Sonde. I have assured him that I know the

I think she is simply perfect. I never met a

mythe with asperity. "I have heard rumors, since I saw you last night. There are suspic

e was almost choking with anger. But Barbara had joined her

e truth. He is a clever man of the world, a fore

he countess's hospitality yesterday and we are to have the pleasure of accepting more of it to-day. My father a

ough hers. They moved away

say and left a sting, and she smiled ma

imed Ruth. "I'll lose my head completely if

b vehemently. "Here comes Maud Warren. Shall we

siasm had somewhat cooled over night. "I d

e was a discontented line across that young woman

the count," she

er father. Mr. Warren had just finished lecturing Maud

s friend for a walk," explained Bab gently. "Won't you take a s

h a charming, cordial smile. Ruth's s

Grace, who had just joined

had been spoiled all her life, and had never had real friends among young girls. People had thought her disagreea

soon be time to go in bathing," suggested Bab. B

Meet us on the piazza looking toward the o

nted time. Maud was there. But with her were M

s nothing to be done; therefore the girls decided to accept this

ed down the avenue of

hoked by the false principles and ostentations that her mother had taught her. But Marian was not a stupid girl. Her wits had been sharpened by years of managing an

e to shake off her mother's despotic rule, and for once let her real self come to the surface. As she strolled mo

Her life was a sham and a mockery, and behind it was the ever present fear that her mother would some day overstep all bounds, and do something to bring the crushing weight of the law down upon them. There were so many things that Marian did not understand. Her mother never said more about her affairs than was ab

deeply. Bab who was walking with her glanced quickly at Marian, then with one

appy, Marian

feeling the pressure of Bab's sympathetic hand she said brokenly, "I mean, yes. At least, I don't know exactly wh

not see Marian's rebellious tears. "But why do you think you won't have the things y

?" she asked. "Do you suppose that things will ever be any different

. "What is the matter? I had

o love you and want you to stay girls and not ape grown up people all the time. I'd like to wear my hair in one braid, and run and romp and have a good time generally. Look at me. I look as though I were twenty-two at least, and

all come right some day. Let me be your friend. I believe

wonder if she is really my mother. Away back in my mind there is the memory of another face. I don't know whether

ose Mrs. De Lancey Smythe were not her mother. Suppose that Marian had been stolen when a ba

e never finished for just t

rms and pointing to a small object well out on the waves. Barbara saw it for just an instant. Then it disappeared. She and Ma

f her white canvas pumps and threw

near that part of the beach. He was behaving in a most remarkable manner. Entirely forgetful of the blood of scores of noble a

made straight for the little head, which

e had last seen the child's head she d

y watched Barbara's movements. Bab in the meantime, had dived into deep water and was groping blindly for the little figure. At last she seized the child by the arm and with lungs bursting rose to the top of the water, when suddenly she was struck a fearful and unlooked for blow. She had not reckoned with the life line and with the li

imploring some one to save Bab. Ruth wished to rush out into th

e to be seen, while Maud Warren stood on

ad brought the little boy in to his nurse. The hotel physician soon

warm sand. Mollie, Ruth and

to Marian. She is a brave girl. She saved my life. I struck against the life rope, an

aid Mollie with a half s

Marian and hugged her until th

efore I realized what I was doing. I just had to catch hold of her arm, because I saw that she was g

r. "Go up to the hotel at once and change yo

d you and Miss Thurston to rush madly into the water after a child you never saw before?" she said to Marian, who

as to stand on the shore and wait for some one else to rescue that little c

torted Mrs. Smythe, "I addr

"but you included me in it, therefor

Smythe. Then Ruth said, with superb indifference. "Oh, come on, girls, don't waste your whole morning, he

on her heel and accompanied by Grace and M

a dark night," remarked Mollie, with a giggle. "Didn

ss Barbara," observed Grace. "

y for the luckless Marian, and vowing within herself to be a