San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-01-30

hasty note on the back, which read how
much he regretted he would not be able
TO take the part Miss Carmen had kindly
assigned to him.
Miss Carmen sat down and cried. She
knew II was silly, but she didn't care. She
was tired out and ever worried and she
threw herself down on her couch and had
good cry" She was bathing her eyes
and smoothing her hair when the maid
brought her Mr. Towards card She put
in another hair pin and then went right
down.
"Oh,n she said, without even greeting
him, 'I'm perfectly wretchedi Two OF
my people have backed out. / did think
when / had only three in the play should
have no trouble, but the only two who can
act won't act. What shall doi''
And she laughed nervously, feeling dan
gerously near her mood upstairs. How
ard felt very sorry for her, so sorry he did
not know what to say. Finally he muir
mured II wish I could help you; of
couse Icouldn't act-but can't your he
added quickly, as the thought came to
him. "Why don't you take Miss Towers
partT' Miss Carmen blushed and
laughed. "Oh, moi l am too old;
couldn't" And Howard answered:
Show absurd, Miss Carmen; you know
you''- And then stopped embarrassed.
He knew she was older than he; he had
deplored that often, especially of late.
He was afraid perhaps she looked down
on him. He did not care about age. 81 am
getting so discouraged" she went on, 81
am always trying to help or do good in
some way, but l don't seem to succeed.
My way is not the right one; I've over
done it. People are getting tired of my
subscription lists. II I could only do
some honest work myself" An idea was
forming in Towards mind, one full Of
hope. He could give her the opportunity
she wished for. His age ought not to be
stumbling block; he was sure he could
not love her more dearly were he twenty
or thirty years older than he was-and
Just then young lady was announced.
"Oh, Annier' exclaimed Miss Carmen,
"I'm so glad you've come; / am in the
"Of course I will If l can, but you must
tell what it is before l promise, and
warn you beforehand, refuse to be Re-
becca and sell lemonade, and on no &C.
count will dress myself up for a Japan
ese woman. did it once and it was too
hideously unbecoming; now tell me-
~ only want you," continued Miss Car
men, ITO take part in little play to be-
given privately here-O, excuse me, Mr..
Howard-Miss Gordon, my rector, Mr..
Howard. l am so upset, you know,
quite forgot myself. The play is for
1.-THE Mexican Indians" Miss Gordon in
terrupted; 81 knew it; well, why don't
you ask Grace Henley"
~ did, and she refused"
"Bell Matthews then, she acts"
"Her mother wont let her."
"Why not, Mrs. Porteri''
"Her husband doesn't approve"
"How absurd! What's the matter with
Sue Toweri''
ooh, her physician has forbidden her
acting, and you're the only one left;
wouldn't ask you for / know you are
very busy, but 1 am getting desperate. I"
Miss Gordon said she would do what
she could, and took the play book home
with her, though she told Miss Carmen she
couldn't promise to be a credit to her.
She agreed too to find man for her Wis.,
avis, and left her friend radiant once
more. "You don't know what load
you've taken off my mind" the latter
said to Annie, as she went away with Mr..
Howard, forgetting how long he was
holding her hand until Annie coughed.
Miss Gordon told her mother that night
If there was not SO great difference in
their ages she would think there was
something between them.
But the next day-well, Miss Carmen
said she would have to laugh, IL she did
not she would have TO cry again, it was so
crushing. It reminded her of the time
she had beautiful poTtiere embroidered
to rattle for the benefit of some poor mis-
sion, and the minister, who was opposed
to raffies, persuaded her they were wrong.
No one was willing to pay what the por-
there was worth, so it ended in her buying
it herself and giving up her Washington
trip that winter. Now today the noon
mail brought letter from Annie Gordon,
who wrote to know why in the world she
didn't tell her there was singing in the
part, and asking her if she did not know
that she, Annie, could not sing a note.
And in the same mail came letter from
her stand by all through, saying his
brother had the measles, and 80, Of
course, would not be able, etc. The the
atricals looked dubious. In the midst of
her CONSERVATION Mr.. Howard arrived on
hand, and was as frightened as could be
lest she should cry. He told her almost
Immediately what he had come to ask.
81 know I'm young" he stammered.
g 80, nol' she interrupted, II am old"
But what followed is theirs, not ours, nor
Mrs. Browns, who said afterward:
"What is the man thinking of? She's old
enough to be his motherr' She was not
really, though what If she were if they
loved each other?
AS Howard started to leave at dusk,
after he and Miss Carmen had fully dis
cussed the advantages of Mexico for q
honeymoon and for work, she said to him:
at will be wedding instead Of theat-
ricals.'
eyes, and you will play the heroine
after all, f" he answered.
"If you'd like to have me ask Miss Cor
don'-but she never finished that speech.
William Clyde Fitch in New York
News.
Nutritiye Value of Foods.