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 write and tell us what your next adventures are, Mary," exclaimed one clear voice. "Your family ought to be named Gulliver instead of Ware, for you are always travelling around to such queer, out-of-the-way places. I suppose you haven't the faintest idea where you'll be six months from now."