Grace Harlowes Senior Year at High School | Page 3

side. Grace knelt beside her, then sat down on the pavement, raising the stranger's head until it rested in her lap. The woman lay white and still, although on placing a hand to her heart Grace found that it was beating faintly. Calling for water, she dashed it in the woman's face, without any noticeable results.
By this time a crowd had collected and several men were busy with the chauffeur, who was conscious, but moaned as though in pain.
"Do go for a doctor, please," Grace cried to her chums. "I am afraid this woman is badly hurt."
"Here's Dr. Gale now," exclaimed Anne as the old doctor came hurrying across the street.
"Hello, what's the matter here?" he called. "It's a good thing I happened to be driving by."
"Oh, Dr. Gale, do look at this poor woman. She must have struck her head, for she lies as though she were dead."
Kneeling beside the stranger, the doctor busied himself with her, and after a little time the woman opened her eyes and gazed vaguely about, then again relapsed into unconsciousness.
"Whom does she resemble?" thought Grace. "Her face has a familiar look, though I am sure I have never before seen her."
"Stand back and give her air," ordered the doctor, and the circling crowd fell back a little.
"Grace, look out for her while I order the ambulance and see to this man."
The doctor bustled over to the injured chauffeur, and began his examination.
"Broken arm," he said briefly. "Send them both to the hospital."
The ambulance proved large enough to hold both victims of the accident and the attendant took them in charge, and signaled the driver, who headed for the city hospital, leaving the crowd to examine the big car.
"It's pretty badly damaged," said one man. "It must have hit that tree with a terrific crash. Skidded, I suppose."
"Come on, girls," said Anne. "There is no use in staying here any longer. We've had excitement enough for one day."
"I should say so," shuddered Jessica. "I hope that woman doesn't die. We must go to the hospital to-morrow and inquire for her."
"Of course," responded Anne. "What a sweet face she had, and her eyes were such a beautiful brown, but they haunted me. There is something so familiar about them."
"Why, that's just what I thought, too!" cried Grace. "Who is it she resembles?"
"Give it up," said Nora. "Although I noticed it, too."
Jessica alone made no remark. Her face wore a puzzled frown, as though she were searching her memory for something.
"Oh, well, what's the use of worrying over a resemblance," said Nora. "I wonder what days visitors are allowed at the hospital."
"By the way, Jessica," said Anne, "where is Mabel! She usually waits for you."
"Mabel is--" began Jessica. Then she stopped, her eyes filling with wonder, almost alarm. "Girls," she cried, her voice rising to an excited scream. "I know who that woman resembles! She looks like Mabel Allison."
CHAPTER II
WHAT THE DAY BROUGHT FORTH
For a second the three girls fairly gasped at Jessica's discovery. Grace was the first to speak.
"You have hit the nail on the head, Jessica. That's why her face seemed so familiar. The resemblance is striking."
The four girls glanced from one to another, the same thought in mind. Perhaps the mystery of Mabel Allison's parentage was to be solved at last.
Those who have read "GRACE HARLOWE'S JUNIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL" will recall how the Phi Sigma Tau became interested in Mabel Allison, a young girl taken from an orphanage by Miss Brant, a woman devoid of either gentleness or sympathy, who treated her young charge with great cruelty.
It will be remembered that through the efforts of Grace and Jessica, aided by Jessica's father, Miss Brant was forced to give Mabel up, and she became a member of the Bright household, and the especial protegee of the Phi Sigma Tau.
Grace and her friends had always believed Mabel to be a child of good family. She had been picked up in the streets of New York when a baby, and taken to the police station, where she had been held for some time, but on remaining unclaimed, had been sent to an orphanage outside New York City, where she had spent her life until she had been brought to Oakdale by Miss Brant.
Although Mabel had been in the Bright household but a few months, Jessica, who was motherless, had become deeply attached to her, while Jessica's father was equally fond of the young girl.
She had spent her vacation with the Phi Sigma Tau, who were the guests of Judge Putnam, a prominent Oakdale citizen, and his sister at their camp in the Adirondacks. The judge had conceived a great affection for her, and on hearing her story had offered to adopt her.
This proved a cross to Jessica, who was torn between her desire to