The Outdoor Girls in a Winter Camp | Page 4

lived, and who, for many years she had regarded as father and mother. Then, a few months back, she had learned that they were but uncle and aunt. Now it seemed that she was to lose even this relationship. It was a bitter blow, especially to one so young in years.
To briefly mention the mystery of Amy, I might say that she was picked up when an infant, afloat on a raft in a flood in a western city. Pinned to her baby dress was an envelope containing the name of Mr. Stonington of Deepdale. He had been telegraphed for, and took charge of the infant.
It was supposed that the mother of the baby was a distant relative of Mrs. Stonington, for the latter had a cousin who resided in the western city. It was believed that, finding herself about to perish, the mother did what she could to insure the salvation of her child, and pinned a note to her dress so that relatives would look after her if the baby was saved.
But only the envelope was found, together with an old and torn diary that gave no tangible clue.
And this was the mystery of Amy's life. As I have said, after living for years in the belief that Mr. and Mrs. Stonington were her parents, they had told her the truth. Now it seemed that there was to be another change.
"Oh, but why must it be so?" mourned poor Amy. "Why can't I be like other girls?"
The tears rushed to her eyes. She could not see, and she skated rapidly on, only wanting to get away.
She heard the ringing of steel runners behind her, but would not turn. Then a voice--a boy's voice--called:
"Look out! Look out where you're going, Amy! The ice is thin up there, and you're going right toward an air-hole! There's danger! Look out!"
If Amy heard she gave no sign nor heed. On she skated, and then the voice behind her called in startled tones:
"What do you mean? Amy, turn! Turn back before it is too late! You'll be drowned!"
The skater behind fairly rushed forward, for he had seen what the tear-blinded girl had not--black water showing through a hole in the ice. And Amy was headed directly for this opening.
CHAPTER II
A FINE CHANCE
"That Alice Jallow is certainly the meanest girl in Deepdale!" declared Mollie, with vehemence.
"And Kittie isn't much better," added Grace, with spirit. "I don't see how Margaret can go with them."
"She's a newcomer here, that's the reason," said Betty--bouncing Betty she was now, for she was whirling about and "teetering" on her skates in a dizzying fashion. "When she gets to know those girls she won't have any more to do with them than--we do."
"And there was a time, even after they made those first slurring remarks about Amy, that they seemed real nice," spoke Grace.
"It was too good to last," asserted Mollie. "Oh--the cat!"
Mollie shot out the word as though she would like to exercise some of the proclivities of a feline herself, and scratch.
"What possessed her to stop where she did, and talk loud enough for Amy to hear?" asked Grace.
"It's hard to tell," decided Betty with a sigh. "Shall we go after her?" and she nodded in the direction taken by Amy, who could not now be seen because of the intervening crowds.
"No; best let her cry it out, poor child," said Mollie, softly. "She was crying when she skated away."
"Well, if we can find the boys we'll just mildly hint that those chocolates are about due," observed Grace, and she and the others looked about for Will and his chums, little dreaming of the danger which, at that moment, menaced poor Amy.
Those of you who have read the previous books of this series need no special introduction to my heroines. Others may care for just a brief one. The initial volume, entitled "The Outdoor Girls of Deepdale; Or, Camping and Tramping for Fun and Health," told how Betty, Mollie, Grace and Amy decided to go on a walking tour. Incidentally they solved the mystery of a five hundred dollar bill, and won the lasting gratitude of a Mr. Henry Blackford, a young business man.
In the second book, "The Outdoor Girls at Rainbow Lake; Or, The Stirring Cruise of the Motor Boat Gem," there was a queer ghostly mystery on an island, but the girls were a match for it. As may be guessed from the title, the story has to do with boating, Betty having become the proud possessor of a fine craft.
When Mollie Billette got her touring car the girls saw no end of good times ahead of them, and their hopes were fully realized. The third volume, named "The Outdoor Girls in a Motor Car; Or, The Haunted Mansion of Shadow Valley," involved the girls from