n't
seem as though I could bear to have it come to an end."

"I think you ought to read your letter, Rosanna," Minnie said. "I don't
believe in leaving things. You expect bad news in that letter and you
are having a horrid time all the time you are getting ready for bed. You
couldn't feel any worse if you opened it. And suppose there was good
news in it? Then you would wish you had found it out before, wouldn't
you?"

"I suppose so," said Rosanna listlessly.

She sighed and, taking the letter, tore off the end of the envelope and
commenced to read. The second sentence caused her to cry out. She turned
to Minnie, hugged her, and cried, "Oh, Minnie, you are so wise! Just
listen to this!" The letter read:

"My dear Granddaughter Rosanna:

"What news I have had from home leads me to believe that you are well
and being nicely cared for.

"Since this is the case, I feel that it will be possible for me to
remain here in the East for a few weeks with your Uncle Robert. He is
not ill, you understand, but is run down and nervous from the effects of
his wound and many trying experiences abroad. He is fussing because he
has lost track of a soldier friend of his, the man who saved his life.
He is doing all he can to trace him, as he feels--and of course so do
I--that we could never do enough to repay the debt we owe him.

"About yourself, I hope you will have a good time. Do not forget to
practice. Mrs. Hargrave spoke of seeing a very interesting child at our
house. I am very glad you have found among your acquaintances one whom
you would like to make your friend. I can trust you, Rosanna, to choose
wisely. And I am glad to see that Mrs. Hargrave says that this Helen
somebody comes of an old Lee County family. I cannot read the name. Mrs.
Hargrave is a very careless penman. Always write distinctly, Rosanna.
It is one of the many marks of good breeding.

"Your Uncle Robert sends his love. He is anxious to see you.

"Your loving grandmother,

"VIRGINIA LEE HORTON."

Rosanna read the letter twice.

Then she turned and looked at Minnie. "It's good and bad too, isn't it,
Minnie? You know Helen is _not_ one of the Culvers of Lee County, but
she is just as good and sweet as though she belonged to all the Lee
County Culvers in the world. Minnie, what shall I do?"

"You must do what you think right, dearie," said Minnie, her kind, wise
eyes searching the girl's face. "I can't tell you what to do. You must
decide for your