Cousin Hannah groaned. "Looks like I’ve let the cat out of the bag--don’t it? Well, what I’ve got to tell ain’t nigh what you think I’ve got to tell," she asserted doggedly. "You’ll be sorry for askin’." Through Elizabeth’s mind flashed visions of a wonderful ancestry; to do her justice these dream parents did not in any way displace the father and mother she really loved with all her young heart--they were only that vision which comes to us all in some shape when we feel we are misunderstood--different. Mary’s step was heard approaching in the little corridor. She had undoubtedly been disturbed by the sound of their voices, and was uneasy for fear Cousin Hannah would be teased into making in judicious revelations. "Tell me--tell me quick--" whispered Elizabeth, shaking her room-mate’s arm. "Tell me before Mary gets here." "Well, I will," gasped Cousin Hannah. "You ought to know it--but I warn you it’s not what you’re expectin’!" *CHAPTER II* *Roy Rides to Silver Spur* When Mary stepped into the little bedroom Cousin Hannah Pratt had already spoken. "Your pa and ma was movers that come here sixteen years ago--movers, like the folks you seen to-day and made such fun of. The name was Mudd." These whispered words sounded in Elizabeth’s ears, and the girl crumpled up on the bed sobbing just as Mary opened the door. Mrs. Pratt pulled the elder sister into the room. "I’ve told Libby--she ought to have been told long ago--with you marryin’ and goin’ away and Ruth not havin’ a bit of faculty and her bein’ the one to take your place I think she was obliged to know it." Mary came across the room with a rush, and took slim Elizabeth in loving arms. "Go away, Cousin Hannah, please," she said. "You can sleep with Ruth and I’ll stay with Elizabeth." Mrs. Pratt, glad enough to be relieved from sight of the misery she had caused, hurried away and the two sisters were alone together. Mary knew very little of what Cousin Hannah had seen fit to reveal, a child herself at the time, she had but vague remembrances of it, and indeed Elizabeth asked no questions--she only needed to be comforted, and this Mary did as best she could. The next day but one was the wedding day, Mr. Bellamy was expected in the morning and they would probably have no other chance for private talk, but Mary urged Elizabeth to go to their mother for comfort when the wedding was over, and some time late in the night they both fell asleep. In the days that followed the wedding, when everything was strange, and they were settling slowly back into the usual routine Elizabeth found no opportunity to speak with her mother of that trouble which had come now to haunt every waking hour, and even pursued her into dreams.