Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-01-20

Howard felt very sorry for hrr. 80
sorry he did not know what t" say.
Finally he murmurcd, e" wish coul,l
help you; of course | couldn't Hct-but
cant you" he added quickly. as the
thought came to him. why dom
you take Miss Towers part Z" Miss
Carmen blushcd and laughed. "Oh.
Howard answered, g" How HbSGd
Miss Carmen: you know you" And
then stopped. embarrassed. He knew
she was older than he. he had de.
plorcd that often. especially of late
He was afraid. perhaps, she looked
down on him. He did not care about
age. Il am getting So discour d,
she went on. :" | am always trying to
help. or do good in some way. bat |
don't seem to succeed. My way is not
the right one: I've Ovcr,lonr it: p uplr
are getting tired of my subscription
lists: if | could only do some honest
work myself" An idea was forming
in Howard'S mind. one full of hop"
He could give her the opportunity she
wished for. His age ought not to be
Il stumbling block. he was sure he
could not love her more dearly were
he twenty or thirty years older than
he waS-nnd just then Il young lady
was announced.
20. Annie" exclaimed Miss Car
men. I'm SO glad you've come; |
am in the greatest trouble: will YOU
help me - "Of course | will if |
can. but you must tell what it is be
fore promise. and | warn you before
hand. refuse to be il Rcbccca and
sell lemonade. and on no account will
| dress myself up for a Japanese wo-
man. | did it once. and it was so
hidrouSly unbccoming; now tell me-
II only want you continued Miss
Carmen. to take part in Il little play
to be given privately hcrr-O. excuse
me. Mr. Howard-MiSS Gordon. my
rector. Mr.. Howard. | am 50 upset,
you know. quite forgot myself The
play is for THE Mexican Indians
Miss Gordon interrupted. Il knew it:
why don't you ask Grace Henley ::
Il did. and she refused"
BELL Mathews then. she acts
Her mother won't let her
why not Mrs Porter"
Her husband doesn't approve.
How absurd. What's the matter
with Sue Tower -
20. her physician has forbidden her
acting. and you're the only one left
| wouldn't ask YOU for know you are
very busy. but | am getting dcSprr-
ate
Miss Gordon said she would do what
she could. and took the play-hn"i
home with her. though she tod Miss
Carmen she couldn't promise to be Il
credit to her. She agreed to find :;
man for her viS-a-viS. and lrft her
friend radiant once more. Iou don
know what Il load you've taken off my
mind" the latter said to Annie. as Sh,
went away with Mr. Howard. forget
ting how long he was holding her
hand until Annie cou@nrd. Miss Cor
don told her mother that night that
if there was not so great Il difference
in their ages. she would think there
was something between them.
But the next day-wcll. Miss Carmen
said she would have to laugh. if Sh,
did not she would cry again. il wa> :"
crushing. 1t reminded her of the time
she had Il beautiful p"rtirrr rmhr"id-
cred. to rattle for the benefit of some
poor mission, and the minister. who
was opposed to ratficS. persuaded hH
they were wrong. No one WAS willing
to pay what the porticrr WAS worth
so it ended in her buying it hers IT,
and giving up her Washington trip
that winter. Now to-day the noon
mail brought a letter from Annie Cor
don, who wrote to know why in thu
world she didn't tell her there wnS
singing in the part. and asking her il
she did not know that she. Annie
could not sing Il note. And in the
same mail came Il letter from til"
brother Of Mr.. White. who had been
her standby all through. saying hS
brother had the measles. and So "i
course would not be able. etc + {
thcatricals looked dubious. In til,
midst of her CONSERVATION Mr.. How
ard arrived on the scene. She CAV,
him Il trembling hand. and WAS H>
frightened as could be lest she Sho'l'l
cry. He told her almost Immediately
what he had come for. 4" know I'm
young" he Stammrrcd.
80, no. she interrupted. Il am
old" But what followed is their buSi
ness. not ours. nor Mrs. Browns. wh'
said aftrrward. What is the mlr
thinking of shes old enough to b.
his mother. She WAS NOT really
though what if she We're. If they loved
each other
Az Howard started to leave nt dusk
after he and Miss Carmen had fully
discussed tho advantages of McNic'
for Il honeymoon. and for work Sl,'
said to him: 1T will b" Il wedding
instead of thcatricals.'
Yes. and you will play the hrroin"
after all he answered.
IF you'd like to have me ask Miss
Gorlon--' But she never finished tha,
spccch.-Clyde Fitch.