Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-04-16

| was tired out and overworried, 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 hairpin and then went right
down.
"Oh," 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 dor"
And she laughed nervously, feeling dan
gerously near her mood up stairs Howard
felt very sorry for her; so sorry he did not
know what to say. Finally he murrhured,
II wish | could help you OF course /
couldn't act-but can't youY" he added
quickly as the thought came to him. why
don't you take Miss Towers partS" Miss
Carmen blushed and laughed. "Oh, mol |
am too old Couldn't
And Howard answered, "How absurd,
Miss Carmen, you know And then
stopped embarrassed. He knew she was
older than hc-he had deplored that often,
especially of late He was afraid perhaps
she looked down on him. He did not care
about age. II am getting so discouraged"
she went on. II am always trying to help
or do good in some way, but don't seem
to succeed. My way is not the right one
| I've overdone it. People are getting tired
Of my subscription lists. If | could only do
some honest work mysef'' 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 20 or 80
years older than he was-and just then a
young lady was announced
"Oh, Annier' exclaimed Miss Carmen.
| ''I'm SO glad you've come. | am in the
greatest trouble, will you help meg" "Of
course l. will if | can, but you must tell
what it is before promise, and warn you
| beforehand l refuse to be Rebecca and
sell lemonade, and on no account will |
dress myself up for a Japanese woman.
did it once and il was too hideously unbe-
coming; now tell me- II only want
/ you" continued Miss Carmen. ito take
/ part in a little play 10 be given privately
here-oh, excuse me, Mr.. Howard-Miss
Gordon, my rector, Mr. Howard am so
upset, you know. | quite forgot myself
/ The play is for The Mexican Indians"
Miss Gordon interrupted, II knew it; well,
why don't you ask Grace Henleyg"
~ did, and she refused"
( belle Mathews then she acts"
"IIer mother won't let her"
"Why not Mrs. Porter"
"Her husband doesn't approve"
How absurd What's the matter with
| Sue Tower"
/ "Oh, her physician has forbidden her act
/ ing, and you RI the only one left Wouldn't
ask you for | know you are very busy, but
/ am getting desperate"
Miss Gordon said she would do what she
could and took tine playbook home with
her, though she told Miss Carmen she
couldn't promise to be a credit to her She
agreed TO find a man for her vis-a-vis and
left her friend radiant once more "You
don't know what load you've taken of
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 niRht that if there was not so
/ great "a 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; if she did not she
would cry again, il wa, 20 crushing 1t re
minded her of the time she had a beautiful
| portiere embroidered to rattle for the bene-
/ fit Of some poor mission, and the minis
ter, who was opposed to rafiies, persuaded
! her they were wrong. No one was willing
/ TO pay what the portiere was worth. so il
/ ended in her buying il 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 sing
/ ing in the part, and asking her if she did
not know that she CAnnie) could not. sing
a note.
And in the same mail came letter from
the brother Of Mr. White, who had been
= her standby all through, saying his brother
1 had the measles, and so of course would
not be able etc The theatricals looked
dubious. In the midst of her CONSERVATION
Mr.. Howard arrived on the scene. She
gave him trembling hand and was as
frightened rs could be lest she should cry
He told her almost Immediately what he
had come to ask Il know I'm young" he
stammered
'Oh, nor she interrupted, II am old
But what followed is their business, not
ours, nor Mrs. Browns, who said after
ward: what is the man thinking of
She's old enough to be his mother!" She
was not, really, Though what if she were, if
they loved each othery
As Howard started to leave at dusk, aft
er be and Miss Carmen had fully discussed
the advantages Of Mexico for a honeymoon
and for work, she said to him, 1T will be a
wedding, instead of theatricals"
Yes, and you will play the heroine after
all, lac answered.
"lf you'd like to have Inc ask Miss Cor
dom But she never finished that speech
Clyde Fitch in Romance
Lady Traveller.
There are lady travellers on the road, but
I most of them are rathar ADMITS than fray-