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Many of the white race looked upon theh, or as thieves, which orse; and in a general way they could not deny the truth of it But they never stole froed from the Harts The friends of the Harts, however, must prove their friendship before they could hope for better than an ilad Hagar was right--perhaps the girl was no good They would wait until they could pass judgirl who had coed always for children and had been denied by fate, stirred slightly, her nostrils aquiver

"Mebbyso bueno yo' girl," she yielded, speaking softly "Mebbyso see yo' girl"

Phoebe's face cleared, and she called, instopped

"Co, Aunt Phoebe," answered the voice

The squarapped thely down their hair from the part in the middle, settled their braids upon their bosoms with true fe softly in the gravel that bordered the pond, but not a head turned that way; for all the sign of life they gave, the three ies of woht of the there, and their faces settled into onism even to the soft eyes of Lucy, the tender, childless one

"Vadnie, here are soet acquainted with" Phoebe's eyes besought the girl to be calm "They're all old friends of mine Come here and let me introduce you--and don't look so horrified, honey!"

Those incorrigibles, her cousins, would have whooped with joy at her unasped faintly: "H-how do you--do?"

"This Hagar," Phoebe announced cheerfully; and the old squaw caught the girl's hand and gripped it tightly for a moment in malicious enjoyment of her too evident fear and repulsion

"This Viney"

Viney, reading Evadna's face in one keen, upward glance, kept her hands hidden in the folds of her blanket, and only nodded twice reassuringly

"This Lucy"

Lucy read also the girl's face; but she reached up, pressed her hand gently, and her glance was soft and friendly So the ordeal was over

"Bring some of that cake you baked to-day, honey--and do brace up!" Phoebe patted her upon the shoulder

Hagar forestalled the hospitable intent by getting slowly upon her fat legs, shaking her hair out of her eyes, and grunting a command to the others With visible reluctance Lucy and Viney rose also, hitched their blankets into place, and vanished, soft-footed as they had come