The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-02-27

MN" 'F 'f''ts an MISC liLttu-
port. on ny way 20 play Fedora next
week in New York.
There was u hrcathlcss pause. broken
by an nwc-strnck .'You don't saw
from Mrs. penman. and what was
that 4 chncklc from the seat bchinde
Nan turned sharply and gazed al the
man who She had forgotten might
oycrhcar her conversation. No, this
slender. tall young fellow was thor
oughly immersed in his newspaper: and
Nan did not notice the culver 81 u smile
under the blonde mustachc or the eyes
trimming over with fun, now So intent
on the shipping news. 80. with feel
ing Of relief. she directed her atten-
ton 70 her companion. She told the
most remarkable anecdotes 81 her pro-
fcssional career, described graphically
her sensations when She gave her last
gasp and rolled over. apparently dead.
and ended by asking Mrs. Pcnman II
she had ever seen her and If she
wouldn't enjoy doing SO.
Indeed, Mrs pcnman would like
nothing better, as she was fond OF
shows. tho SO far only circuses and
one concert have ever come to our
| town" Nan drew out a blank card
! from her sachcl and began 10 scribble
what she called n free permit"
| Now, while Nan-madcap Mani
loved nothing better than little mis-
/! chief. yet. having had her fun. she was
| quite willing il should end pleasantly
for all concerned; 50 her permit read
| as follows:
| II hope you Will forgive me for pretending 70
be Fanny Davenport. only dii II a. joke,
| and want you 10 take the incloscd and 80
| with your step-daughter TO see the great
| actress: then you will recognize the immense
| difference between Fanny Davenport and in
| significant Nan smith, Of Rudderton"
| Putting in two crisp new bills she
| sealed the envelope. saying: NOW.
| promise me. Mrs Penman, not to open
this until the day you are going to the
thcatcr." Mrs. Pcnman took it from
her as revcrcntly as II it contained an
oracle. and it was lost in the depths Of
one Of her many pockets as she gave the
required promise.
| To Nan. who was looking forward
with SO much pleasure to the holidays
at Aunt Hates, the train, never fast
seemed 10 crawl over the ground. Soon
she noticed they were slowing up. and
then. with n jar, they suddenly stopped.
Nan pressed her face 10 the glass. No
station lights were visible. only snow,
snow. snow. the ground covered, the
air full Of the fine particles. The en-
ginc gave lunge forward. then again
stood still. The lengthy young man
stretched himself lazly and yawncd,
then. with quick little exclamation
under his breath. threw his paper aside
and rushed out on the platform. lie
soon returned and the conductor with
him.
Cant we possibly 90 on to-night?''
he was inquiring.
">orrv. sir. but were in a regular
drift. and can't do thing until morn
ing. But there's lots Of cod % You
won't freeze With which cheering
remark the conductor left. slamming
the door behind him.
did You hear thato" said Nan ex-
citedly TO Mrs. penman.
''iIere we are. stuck in the snow. and
Aunt Kate expecting me-" Then sud-
denly remembering her role. She
laughed awlSwardly and lamcly finished
with: ~ don't see what the rest Of the
company will do without me-"
Excuse me, Miss Davenport" said q
voice behind her. and startled Nan met
the laughing blue eyes Of her fellow
traveller. The eyes were mirthful. hut
the mouth was seriousness itself. as he
went on: II think must introduce
myself. am one Of your company on
my way 10 New York TO play in 'Fe-
dora My name is Warde Ben Warde. Y
Nan grew hot and cold by turns. 1t was
evident he had overheard all her fool
ish chatter. For one horrible moment
she thought he might really be taking
her for Miss Davenport; and then the
utter incongruity of the thing struck
her forcibly. that she, little Nan smith,
the very opposite Of a tragedy queen
The desire TO laugh was becoming al
most uncomfortable. when the sight Of
Mrs. Penman's placid face recalled
Nan TO herself. and she smilingly said:
II am glad TO meet any Of my COM
pany. though your face ! did not imme-
diately recognize. Mrs. Pcnman. let
me introduce a member Of my com
pa,,,-. Mr. Warder Then she deliber-
atelv turned her back, and pccred in
tently into the night. fondly imagining
herself '.haughtilv contemptuous. She
could see his reflection; he was talk
ing to Mrs. Pcnman. and she thought
him rather handsome fellow. with
his clcar-cut features and heavy blonde
mustachc. His voice certainly was
musical.
"But he Is no gentleman. said indig'
nant Nan to herself. ito put me in this
position. and hate him for H. How
ever. think Id better listen, for
don't know al all what he Is telling
Mrs. Pcnman, and may be further
embarrassed. So she joined in the
conversation. and the two Were soon II
the merrics-. Of talk, though Nan felt
chilly each time he addressed her a.
Miss Davenport" which he took fire.
auent occasion To do.
II Mans tales Of stage life were
slightly overdrawn, Mr. Warde's were
simply appalling; and in all he 50 man
aged IL that she-.'Miss Davenport
occupied the principal position, and Nan
heard Of herself in the most remarkable
Of situations. but always gracefully ex
treated by the kindness of the nara
tor. There was so much TO interest mel