Surrounded by a love knot of friends, Marjorie opened package after package.
MARJORIE DEAN
MACY
CHAPTER I.
MANAÑA
“Here I am—all booted and spurred and readyto ride,” Marjorie Dean called out gaily to VeronicaLynne as Ronny entered the cool spacious patio ofLucero de la Manaña, the Lynnes’ beautiful ranchhome in southern California.
Marjorie was a feast for beauty-loving eyes asshe sat on the wide stone edge of the silver-sprayingfountain with its musical murmur of water splashinginto a white marble basin. The mannish cutof her gray knickered riding clothes merely made herlook more than ever like a little girl. From underher little round gray hat with its bit of irridescentcolor her bright brown curls showed in a soft fluff.She sat smiling at Ronny, a sleeve of her riding coatpushed back from one rounded arm, one hand trailingidly in the clear water of the basin.
“You sound like Paul Revere. At least, that is4what he said, supposedly, on the night of his famousride. You look like Leila Harper’s friend,Beauty, even in riding togs.” Ronny came overto Marjorie, smiling.
“I only remember Leila Harper.” Marjorieglanced up teasingly.
“You are altogether too forgetful,” Ronny lightlyreproved.
She paused, looking amusedly down at her prettychum. She was wearing a white linen, knickeredriding suit which was vastly becoming. Her widegray eyes gave out a happy light that her heartswitched on every time her g