old Mary Boyle was dead."

"No," observed Helen, thoughtfully. "She is not dead. She is only
forgotten."

Miss Van Ramsden looked at the Western girl for some moments in silence.
She seemed to understand the whole matter without a word of further
explanation.

"Would you mind letting me see Mary Boyle while I am here?" she asked,
gravely. "She was a very lovely old soul, and all the families
hereabout--I have heard my mother often say--quite envied the
Starkweathers their possession of such a treasure."

"Certainly we can go in and see her," declared Helen, throwing all
discretion to the winds. "I was going to read to her this afternoon,
anyway. Come along!"

She led the caller through the hall to Mary Boyle's little suite of rooms.
To herself Helen said:

"Let the wild winds of disaster blow! Whew! If the family hears of this I
don't know but they will want to have me arrested--or worse! But what can
I do? And then--Mary Boyle deserves better treatment at their hands."

CHAPTER XXII

IN THE SADDLE

The little old lady "tidied" her own room. She hopped about like a bird
with the aid of the ebony crutch, and Helen and Miss Van Ramsden heard the
"step--put" of her movements when they entered the first room.

"Come in, deary!" cried the dear old soul. "I was expecting you. Ah, whom
have we here? Good-day to you, ma'am!"

"Nurse Boyle! don't you remember me?" cried the visitor, going immediately
to the old lady and kissing her on both cheeks.

"Bless us, now! How would I know ye?" cried the old woman. "Is it me old
eyes I have set on ye for many a long year now?"

"And I blame myself for it, Nurse," cried May Van Ramsden. "Don't you
remember little May--the Van Ramsdens' May--who used to come to see you so
often when she was about so-o high?" cried the girl, measuring the height
of a five or six-year-old.

"A neighbor's baby _did_ come to see Old Mary now and then," cried the
nurse. "But you're never May?"

"I am, Nurse."

"And growed so tall and handsome? Well, well, well! It does bate all, so
it does. Everybody grows up but Mary Boyle; don't they?" and the old woman
cackled out a sweet, high laugh, and sat down to "visit" with her
callers.

The two girls had a very charming time with Mary Boyle. And May Van
Ramsden promised to come again. When they left the old lady she said,
earnestly, to Helen:

"And there are others that will be glad to come and see Nurse Boyle. When
she was well and s