ouldn't be any girls
to take care of you 'n Tabby."

That night, as an especial favor, Prue was allowed to take Tabby to bed
with her, and as she lay with her arms about the cat, she thought that,
although her journey to Boston was prevented, there yet were comforts at
home, and Tabby accustomed to sleeping in the shed, must have thought the
millennium had come.

CHAPTER VIII

JUST A ROSE

It had been an easy task to convince little Prue that she must not again
attempt to run away to Randy, but must try to be a little comfort to those
at home; but no amount of reasoning could make her less lonely, until such
a delightful thing happened.

A box addressed to Miss Prue Weston arrived one morning, and when its
cover was removed, there lay the loveliest dolly, evidently sound asleep.
As Prue lifted her from the box, her eyes opened wide, causing the little
girl to jump and exclaim,

"My! Did you see her wink? Is she alive?"

It was the first modern doll which Prue had seen, and she could hardly
believe that aught but a living thing could open and shut its eyes, or
smile so radiantly, thereby showing little pearly teeth. Oh the wonder of
the soft curling hair, the turning head, and jointed arms and legs!

Her dress was made from a lovely shade of blue satin, and her hat was a
fine specimen of doll's millinery. In her hand she held a tiny envelope
which enclosed a letter from Randy to Prue,--printed, that the little
sister might have the pleasure of reading it for herself.

"DEAR LITTLE PRUE:--I send this pretty doll to you. Her name is
Randy Helen Weston, named for two whom I know you love dearly.
You will make me very happy while I am here in Boston, if you are
good at school, and a little comfort to mother at home. Let the
Randy doll help you to wait cheerfully until I return, and I
shall be glad that I sent her. Print little letters to me,
telling me what is happening at home and at school, and remember
that I am

"Your loving sister,
RANDY."

All the children were invited to come on Saturday and see the wonderful
doll, and Randy Helen Weston was made to open and shut her lovely eyes, to
turn her head, to extend her beautifully jointed arm to her callers; to
cry, to stand alone upon her daintily-slippered feet, and, in fact, to
astonish them as much as possible and allow them to depart, glad of Prue's
happiness, or green with envy, according as their dispositio