Aunt Jane's Nieces on the Ranch

he did not know whether to receive Mildred Travers as an equal or a dependent. Not until the three nieces were seated

ar little one had with the colic, and how you were dependent on a Mexican girl who fed the innocent lamb some horrid hot

bewildered, "I'm afraid

or one of our poor girls who was knocked down by an automobile and badly injured, and Mildred was so skillful and sympathetic that she quite won my heart. I wasn't sure, at first, she'd com

ectly devoted to baby and worships her most sinfully. I got her from a woman who formerly employed her as a nurse and she gave

t stuff!" c

d baby's stomach for

ps, in my anxiety, I wrote more forcibly than the occasion just

and frankly displayed their c

n's blunders in trying to be good to me; so let's endeav

essed Patsy. "Here's Mildred, perman

"I've never dared question her as to her family history, but I venture to say

d undemonstrative,"

rse. I liked her face," said L

unfortunate feat

s the trouble. You never get into

sweet and sensitive and her facial expression ple

," sugges

odern methods of nursing, although sh

charge Inez, for Toodlums is even more contented with her than with me; but I admit it will be a satisfaction to have so thoroughly c

moment he laid eyes on Mildred at the depot. They owed a lot to Uncle John, he added, and the most graceful thing

Toodlums, as she does now, while the superior will remain content to advise Inez and keep a ge

an the task of reconciling the two nurses to the proposed arrangement and defining the duties of each. Mildred Travers inclined her head graciou

t me more, th

st you as much as ever

hire this st

o came this morning. He didn't know you were he

ained un

" continued Louise, "and she can mend broken

nod

per. "You can trust me se?ora, but you cann

Inez went back to the nursery hugging Toodlums as jealously as

said to Beth, in wh

She is devotedly attached to the b

u mustn't mind her, Mildred. The poor thing's only half civilized and d

s perpetually and seems thoroughly wholesome. Were she to remain in her present

eth anxiously, as t

The rainy season is approaching and dampness is trying to infan

efore?" asked Beth, impressed

ated a moment,

," she said in l

n California came from the east. I had no idea

r lips. Her imperturba

and hard work," she said, a touch of bitterness in her

hern Cal

es

ive near h

looked a

girl," she said slowly. "Se?or Cristo

t her, greatl

"You cannot be far from your

s nervously together. She was indeed sensitive

dgment could not be trusted in emergencies. These Mexicans lose their heads easily and in crises are liable to do more harm than good. Mrs. Weldon's arrangement is an

working as a trained nurse. She remembered the girl's fervent exclamation: "Thank heaven!" when asked if she would go to Southern California, to a ranch called El Cajon, to take care of a new bab

s that Mildred Travers was a Californian by birth and was familiar with the scenes around El Cajon ranch and even with the old h

oves, so on the day following that of their arrival the entire party pre

en, some pale yellow and others of that deep orange hue which denotes full maturity. "They consider five acres of oranges a pretty fair ranch, out here," said

o pick them all!"

gather the fruit in quick order. They are taken to big warehouses and sorted into sizes, wrapped and packed

. Many children were playing about the yards, while several stalwart Mexicans lounged in the shade quietly smoking their eternal c

iteness, detached himself from the group and advanced to meet his master. Removing his wi

charge of all my men," said Arthur. Then, add

ero, his bright eyes earnestly fixed upon his employe

l, thank y

hands as he cast an upward glance at the young ladies,

athy for the sentiment and greatly pleased to

he have came, sun ees more bright, air ees more good, tamale ees m

ouise, blushing prettily at the praise bestowed upon her darling, pressed a piece of sh

when they had passed beyond earshot, "but I've a faint susp

are wrapped up in baby. If Inez doesn't wheel the baby-cab over to the quarters every day, they co

s ever work?" inq

es are cultivating the earth around the trees; when the sun gets low the irrigating begins. We keep the harrows and the pumps busy every day. But during the hours when

hiftless lot,"

ter than the ordinary. Miguel is really a clever and industrious fellow. He has l

ld Spanish don-Cris

tory he must be nearly a hundred; but that's absurd. Anyhow, he's a faithful, capable fellow,

this ranch," observed Uncle John. "A capital old

ise. "Major, did the gho

red to keep awake, you know; therefore his ghostship could

n the ghost, Louis

It's in the blue room, you know, near Arthur's

t about midnight, reading and smoking my pipe, I've heard some queer noises coming from the blue room; but

or some of those on the outside are from six to eight feet in

ake a solid wall than a hollow one. But between the blocks are a lot of spaces fav

host?" dem

ep in the house. You see, they feared and hated the old fellow, who doubtless treated them cruelly. That is why we had to get our house servants from a distance, and even then we had some difficulty

be a very brave man and possessed some charm that protected h

d the major, gravely, "an

tractive in their gray-green foliage. Arthur had to explain all about olive culture to the ignorant East

h is to be a great gamble. In good years, you

crop failure is unknown in this section. Some yea

, beside the splashing fountain. Patsy and Beth demanded the baby, so presently Inez came with little Jane, and Mildred Travers followed after. The two nurses did no

r tiny hands to Mildred, smiling divinely, and the nurse took the child in spite of Inez' weak resistance, fondling the little one lovingly. There was a

ane transferred her favors to her former nurse and held out her hands to Inez. With a cry that was half a so

taken turns holding the fascinating "Toodlums," and now the latter p

o the baby until it fairly laughed aloud with glee, and then he made fac

rself, sir," said the major severely, "yo

ant reply; "she's nothing of

you're worrying her. Will you hand her over,

o the divorce and the major handle

ch interested, "I've raised a daughter meself, which John Merrick hasn't, and I know the w

fast in two chubby fists and the maj

ght and he could have shaken Mildred Travers for releasing th

skers-any more than an egg-or you'd be writhing in agony before now." He turned to look wonderingly at the cro