!" some one shouted. Jack
and Jean and Frieda waved their hands, but Olive was too frightened to
stir.

The girls tumbled out of the wagon one over the other, trying to speak
to all their friends at once. People did not see each other every day
out West as they do in smaller places, and a house party like Mrs.
Simpson's was a notable event.

Frieda kept tight hold on Olive, knowing that she was feeling shy and
the little girl was glad to have a companion herself, as most of the
other young people were older.

Mrs. Simpson stared curiously at her unknown visitor. Then she patted
her kindly. "Laura does not see that you have come," she explained to
the little group.

Jack and Jean glanced up at one end of the long veranda. Laura could
plainly see their arrival. But she made no effort to welcome them. She
was talking to two boys.

"Children, perhaps I ought to have told you," Mrs. Simpson whispered, "I
simply had to invite Dan Norton and his guest to our house party, for
Laura likes Dan better than any one she has met in the neighborhood. And
I don't approve of you girls carrying on an old feud simply because your
father and Dan's were enemies."

Jack had her head in the air and her cheeks were scarlet. Jean openly
rebelled: "You ought to have told us, Aunt Sallie, you know we have a
perfect right to hate those Nortons," she murmured.

"Of course we will be as polite as we know how," Jacqueline agreed. But,
Mrs. Simpson frowned; she knew Jack's high temper and she feared there
would be a clash between her and Dan before the house party was over.

"How do you do, Miss Ralston, and Miss Bruce and Frieda," Laura Post
said frigidly, holding her hand so high up in the air to shake hands
that it almost touched her nose. "I suppose you know Mr. Norton and his
guest, Mr. Kent." Laura had not paid the least attention to the
existence of the Indian girl. Olilie might have been a wooden image.

Jack bowed coldly as though she were speaking to perfect strangers. But
Jean's brown eyes laughed and Frieda held out her hand innocently to
Frank Kent: "I am awfully glad to see you again," she said. "See, things
are quite all right so far. We still have our new friend with us."

Jack could not help flashing a grateful look at Frank Kent. He came over
at once and bowed in his best English fashion to Olive, and then stood
by her while the others were talking.

"There goes the latest addition to the wonderful maidens who are runnin