LS 1
II. BACK AT LONE-ROCK 24
III. A NEW FRIEND 51
IV. THE WITCH WITH A WAND 68
V. P STANDS FOR PINK 91
VI. TOLD IN LETTERS 111
VII. A DESERT OF WAITING 126
VIII. A GREAT SORROW 144

PART II

I. BETTY'S WEDDING 161
II. TOWARDS THE CANAAN OF HER DESIRE 183
III. THE SUPREME CALL 204
IV. "PINK" OR DIAMOND ROW 227
V. MARY AND THE "BIG OPPORTUNITY" 244
VI. PHIL WALKS IN 266
VII. HER GREAT RENUNCIATION 278
VIII. HOW IT ALL ENDED 300

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

"'I DON'T WANT TO BE JUST AN OLD MAID SISTER IN
SOMEBODY ELSE'S HOME'" (_see page 34_) _Frontispiece_

"THERE WAS ONLY TIME TO . . . HASTILY CLASP THE
LITTLE GLOVED HAND HELD OUT TO HIM" 4

"'I'LL SLEEP BETTER IF THEY ARE ON THEIR POLES
INSTEAD OF ON MY MIND'" 26

"'I WISH WE COULD SETTLE THINGS BY A FEATHER,
AS THEY USED TO IN THE OLD FAIRY TALES'" 77

"SEVERAL TIMES SHE STOPPED JACK IN PASSING TO
ASK HIM A QUESTION" 118

"'DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME YOU EVER SAW
THIS?'" 167

"GAZING INTO THE SWEET FACE THAT SEEMED TO SMILE
HELPFULLY BACK AT HER" 240

"'IT WAS AS IF WE HAD REACHED THAT LAND THAT WE
USED TO SING ABOUT'" 310

PART I

MARY WARE'S
PROMISED LAND

PART I

CHAPTER I

A SEEKER OF NEW TRAILS

When the Ware family boarded the train in San Antonio that September
morning for their long journey back to Lone-Rock, every passenger on the
Pullman straightened up with an appearance of interest. Somehow their
arrival had the effect of a breath of fresh air blowing through the
stuffy car. Even before their entrance some curiosity had been awakened
by remarks which floated in from the rear platform, where they were
bidding farewell to some friends who had come to see them off.

"Do wri