Telegram-herald., 1891-03-07

one eoueer. haze ever eonse - oar
t1&H- Nan drew ouE blsnk card
f.sln hsF s.ehel aud began - scrlobls
what .As called a free psFEnit.
Nv, ~kie na-icaP Nam
los 81 nothi1x better than a Little tnis-
ehief, yet. h4yiAg hs-d her fan- she s&s
quite ~tfiiBz II should end pleasantly
for al conoeTasd. - hSr permit read
a. follows.
Z 11zsr ga 81 f0ssfse u.e Or pfctcc1 a "
ID FsszaJ D4ssnECrt I eEiy g21 y 50 aaAe.
and l s1as yo4 l. tszs tae s2e4ossa aac 80
sra Foss sts2Sassetef . SO tse sfeas
setEss. gAsz yoa I'll Fsocgntze rs iu42Snse
dfaesenee ses.eea F.asy Davenport aaa u
significant Ma saith, u h1l1ers2s-
Putting IN two crisp new bills she
sealed the envelope. saying Vow,
promise me, Mrs Penman. not - open
tbs until the day you are going T. tho
thsateF" Mrs. Penman took II from
her as reverently ss If II contained an
oracle, and il w.s Lost IN the depths OF
one IF her many pockets as she gave the
required promise.
70 Nan, y DO was looking forward
with 50 aueh pleasure a. the holidays
al Aunt Kate's, the train, never fast,
seemed 60 crawl over the ground Soon
she noticed they were slowing up, and
then, with jar, they suddenly stopped
Nan pressed her face 70 the glass. No
station lights were visible. only snow,
snow, snow, the ground covered. the
air fuu OF the tine particles The en-
gine gave a lunge forward, then again
stood still. The lengthy young man
stretched himself lazily and yawned,
then, with a quick little exclamation
under his breath. threw his paper aside
and rushed out on the platform. He
soon returned and the conductor with
him
Cant we possibly go on tonight"
he was inquiring.
Sorry, sir. but we're in regular
drift, aud can't 90 thing until morn
ing. But there's lots of coal, 50 You
won't freeze." With which cheering
remark the conductor left, slamming
the door behind him.
"Dia you hear that?" said Nan ex-
| citedly 10 Mrs Penman.
Here We are, stuck in the snow, and
/ Aunt Kate expecting me" Then sud-
i AciNs oA'o
/ laughed awxwardiy AMI larnely fipished
| with: Il don't see what the rest of the
| company will DO without me"
| Excuse me, Miss Davenport" said a
| voice behind her and startled Nan met
the laughing blue eyes OF her fellow
traveller. The eyes were mirthful, bat
! the mouth was seriousness itself, as he
went on: IL thinker must introduce
myself. am one of your company on
my way TO New York TO play in 'Fe-
dora My nane is Warde-Ben Warde. "
Nan grew hot and cold by turns. ltwas
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 n tragedy queen
The desire To laugh was becoming al
most uncomfortable, when the sight of
Mrs. Penman's placid face recalled
Nan 70 herself, and she smilingly said:
Il am glad to meet any of my COM
pany, though your face l did not inEne-
diately recognize. Mrs Penman, LEI
me introduce member of my com
pany, Mr. Warde" Then she deliber
atcly turned her back, and peered in
tently into the night, fondly imagining
herself "haughtily contemptuous-" She
could see his reflection; he was talk
ing to Mrs. Penman, and she thought
him a rather handsome fellow, with
his clear-cut features and heavy blond:
musteche. His voice certainly wa
musical.
But he is no gentleman" said indig
nant Nan to herself, Ito put me in thi
position, and hate him for it! How
ever, I think I'd better listen, for
don't know at all what he is telling
Mrs. Penrnan, and / may be fIrthe
embarrassed" So She joined in tn
conversation, and the two were soon II
the merrics. of talk, though Nan fel
chilly each time he addressed her n
Miss Davenport, which he took FIRE
uuent occasion 10 do.
IL Mans tales of stage life wer
slightly overdraiwn, Mr.. Wardc's wer
simply appalling; and in all he so man
aged it that she-"Miss Davenport
occupied the principal position, and Ma
heard Of herself in the most remarkabl
OF situations. but always gracefully es
tricated by the kindness Of the nara
tor. There was so much to interest he
inside, that matters outside the ca
worc forgotten. Suddenly Mrs. PEI
man announced that she wanted
drink of water. apd, despite MI
warie's offer TO get it for her. sh
started down the aisle herself. Tn
conductor. standing by the door. b
came an easy prey TO Mrs Penman
, many questions
Her broad back was scarcely prt
sented, before Nan. casting a reproacl
full glance In Mr.. Warde's direction
said, with q little tremor in her voice
j Il think you are exceedingly rude. an
most unsind You have no right
place me N such position"
II bv- your pardon. Miss Smith. b'
did yu,i not make the position for you
. srlf3"
Yes: bu. ID was simply joke.
while away the time"
, THAT Is exactly my excuse, he r
foined- 'sSovv viii confess not on
, 20 being fraud. in pretending We al
both what we are not, but also - bcir
an cavesdropper; and don't know =
name for a man who looks over your
!. iaay-s shoulder and reads note not i
tended for him"
: 'T know said Nan. quickly, ga cox
ard and s8eakI''
a The blood mounted 20 Warde's fac