“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 me to high school.  Of course, my five dollars a week from Mrs. Gray helped a great deal, but up to the time Mr. Southard sent for me to go to New York City to play Rosalind I didn’t really think of college as at all certain.  Before I left New York for Oakdale, Mr. and Miss Southard and I had a long talk.  They made me see that it was right to use the talent God had given me by appearing in worthy plays.  Mr. Southard pointed out the fact that I could earn enough money by playing in stock companies in the summer to put me through college and at the same time contribute liberally to my mother’s support.

“The home problem was really the greatest to be solved.  I felt that it wouldn’t be right for me to even work my way through college and leave Mary to struggle on alone, after she had worked so hard to help me get a high school education.  So the stage seemed to be my one way out after all.  And when once I had definitely decided to do as Mr. Southard recommended me to do I was happier than I had been for ages.”

“Anne Pierson, you quiet little mouse!” exclaimed Grace.  “Why didn’t you tell us all this before?  You are the most provoking Anne under the sun.  Here I’ve been worrying about you having to wait on table or do tutoring and odds and ends of work to put yourself through college, while all the time you were planning something different.  We all know you’re too proud to let any of your friends help you, but since you are determined to make your own way I’m glad that you have chosen the stage, after all.”