During an initiation meeting of the Sweetbriars, the girls go outside to the Marble Harp. They are frightened when one of the girls is shoved into the water by a strange girl. Ruth chases after the mysterious girl and catches her. The girl is Sadie Raby, who has run away from her cruel foster parents. Sadie refuses to allow Ruth to take her to the headmistress, so Ruth must be content with bringing the girl some food the next day. After Sadie's foster father shows up looking for her, Sadie flees, and Ruth fears that she will never see her again.

School lets out for summer, and Ruth and her friends are invited to Sunrise Farm, which is owned by Madge Steele's family. Ruth is thrilled that Sunrise Farm is located near her old home of Darrowtown, and Ruth is able to visit with Miss True Pettis before arriving at Sunrise Farm.

At Sunrise Farm, Ruth learns that Mr. Steele is in a feud with his nearest neighbor, Mr. Caslon, who will not sell his farm. Ruth knows that Mr. Caslon is a fine person and is concerned that Mr. Steele completely misunderstands him. The Caslons invite a group of orphans to visit their farm, and Mr. Steele thinks that they are doing it to spite him. Coincidentally, Sadie Raby's young brothers are part of the group, and Sadie soon arrives in search of her brothers. How Sadie is reunited with her brothers and freed from her cruel foster parents and how the Steeles and Caslons come to an understanding makes for an interesting story.