[Cover Illustration] JEAN OF GREENACRES BY IZOLA L. FORRESTER THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO. CLEVELAND, O. NEW YORK, N.Y. _Copyright, 1917, by_ _George W. Jacobs & Company_ _All rights reserved_ [Illustration] _Printed in the United States of America_ CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I A Knight of the Bumpers 9 II Christmas Guests 25 III Evergreen and Candlelight 43 IV The Judge’s Sweetheart 59 V Just a City Sparrow 81 VI “Arrows of Longing” 99 VII The Call Home 115 VIII Seeking Her Goal 133 IX Jean Mothers the Brood 153 X Cousin Roxy’s “Social” 171 XI Cynthy’s Neighbors 183 XII First Aid to Providence 199 XIII Mounted on Pegasus 223 XIV Carlota 239 XV At Morel’s Studio 253 XVI Greenacre Letters 269 XVII Billie’s Fighting Chance 285 XVIII The Path of the Fire 301 XIX Ralph’s Homeland 317 XX Open Windows 331 JEAN OF GREENACRES CHAPTER I A KNIGHT OF THE BUMPERS It was Monday, just five days before Christmas. The little pink express card arrived in the noon mail. The girls knew there must be some deviation from the usual daily mail routine, when the mailman lingered at the white post. Jean ran down the drive and he greeted her cheerily. “Something for you folks at the express office, I reckon. If it’s anything hefty you’d better go down and get it today. Looks like we’d have a flurry of snow before nightfall.” He waited while Jean glanced at the card. “Know what it is?” “Why, I don’t believe I do,” she answered, regretfully. “Maybe they’re books for Father.” “Like enough,” responded Mr. Ricketts, musingly. “I didn’t know. I always feel a little mite interested, you know.” “Yes, I know,” laughed Jean, as he gathered up his reins and jogged off down the bridge road. She hurried back to the house, her head sideways to the wind. The hall door banged as Kit let her in, her hands floury from baking. “Why on earth do you stand talking all day to that old gossip? Is there any mail from the west?”