“Oh, please let me help you, Mrs. West,” pleaded Bess, “for I do enjoy working; and then, too, with your increased family you will be overtaxed.” The girl spoke with such earnestness that Mrs. West relented, thinking perhaps Bess would feel more at home if she assumed some little responsibilities. “You see,” Bess explained, “my father insisted upon the nuns at the convent teaching me all kinds of housework and serving, and it has been a great source of comfort to me to feel that I need not be dependent upon anyone to do these tasks for me.” Mrs. West’s eyes followed the girl as she continued her task quietly and quickly, all the while busily talking. “You’ll be surprised, little Mother, when I tell you that I have made nearly all of my own clothes. You’ll let me help you sew, too, won’t you? It must be a great problem for you to find anyone here, is it not?” The deft fingers were putting little touches here and there, now arranging a vase of flowers or moving a picture, and Mrs. West noted with pleasure how soon the room bore evidence of her artistic taste. As the days succeeded each other and the girl grew more and more into the home life of the ranch, she became a help and consolation to Mrs. West, in a thousand different ways. She relieved her of many little duties and assumed so willingly and competently the many cares that ere long Mrs. West began wondering how she had ever been able to get along without Bess, or how she had ever had the time or strength to look after the house alone. She now found time to rest and to read. She even took up her practice again, and many were the delightful hours which she and Bess spent together with their music. The lonely place in her heart was being filled by the presence of this sweet, lovable girl, and her tender, motherly love went out to Bess, as if the girl were indeed her own daughter. The visitor was considerate of everyone. She was always seeing some kind thing to do or gentle word to say, and everyone, including the old Indians, who frequently came to the ranch, was treated with respect and given a kindly smile. Before the autumn had come her figure, riding on Mauchacho, sometimes with James or Henry West, or often alone, grew so familiar that the Indians named her “Bright Eyes,” because of the happy face and beautiful eyes. Those first few weeks at the ranch were full of pleasure and delight for Bess. She took long rides of exploration over the vast acres, and each time, upon her return to the house, told of the wonderful things which she had discovered.