f the ever widening distance between her
and her mother was intolerable. She experienced a strong desire to bury
her face in her hands and sob disconsolately, but bravely conquering the
sense of loneliness that swept over her, she threw back her shoulders
and sitting very straight in her seat glanced almost defiantly about
her.

"Well, Grace, have you made up your mind to be resigned?" asked Miriam
Nesbit. "That sudden world-defying glance that you just favored us with
looks as though the victory was won."

"Miriam, you are almost a mind reader," laughed Grace. "I've been on
the verge of a breakdown ever since we left Oakdale, and in this very
instant I made up my mind to be brave and not cry a single tear. Look at
Anne. She is as calm and unemotional as a statue."

"That's because I'm more used to being away from home," replied Anne.
"Troupers are not supposed to have feelings. With them, it is here
to-day and gone to-morrow."

"Yes, but you were transplanted to Oakdale soil for four years,"
reminded Grace.

"I know it," returned Anne reflectively. "I do feel dreadfully sad at
leaving my mother and sister, too. Still, when I think that I'm actually
on the way to college at last, I can't help feeling happy, too."

"Dear little Anne," smiled Grace. "College means everything to you,
doesn't it? That's because you've earned every cent of your college
money."

"And I'll have to earn a great deal more to see me through to
graduation," added Anne soberly. "My vacations hereafter must be spent
in work instead of play."

"What are you going to do to earn money during vacations, Anne?" asked
Miriam rather curiously.

"I might as well confess to you girls that I'm going to do the work I
can do most successfully," said Anne in a low voice. "I'm going to try
to get an engagement in a stock theatrical company every summer until I
graduate. I can earn far more money at that than doing clerical work. I
received a long letter from Mr. Southard last week and also one from his
sister. They wish me to come to New York as soon as my freshman year at
college is over. Mr. Southard writes that he can get an engagement for
me in a stock company. I'll have to work frightfully hard, for there
will be a matinee every day as well as a regular performance every
night, and I'll have a new part to study each week. But the salary will
more than compensate me for my work. You know that Mary did dress-making
and worked night and day to send