“I have had the surprise of my life to-night, Grace,” said Anne, as she entered the hall, while Grace unfastened her fur collar and pulled the pins from her hat.  “I just couldn’t wait until to-morrow to tell you about it.  It’s so wonderful I can’t believe that it has happened to insignificant me.”

“I know just as much now as I did at first, and perhaps a trifle less,” said Grace.

Then taking Anne by the shoulders she marched her into the sitting room, shoved her into the easy-chair opposite her own and said, “Now, begin at the beginning, and don’t leave out any details.”

“Well,” said Anne, drawing a long breath, “when I reached home after leaving you, I found a letter for me postmarked New York City.  For an instant I thought it was from my father, but the hand writing was not his.  I opened it, and who do you suppose it was from?”

“I don’t know, and I’m a poor guesser, so tell me,” responded Grace.

“It was from Mr. Everett Southard.”

“No!  Really?” cried Grace.  “How nice of him to write to you.”

“But I haven’t told you the nicest part,” continued Anne.  “He wants me to go to New York to play a six-weeks’ engagement in his company.”

“Anne Pierson, you don’t mean it,” ejaculated Grace in intense astonishment.

“Grace Harlowe, I do mean it,” retorted Anne.  “Why it’s the very opportunity that I’ve been yearning for, but never expected to get.  Let me read you his letter.”

Unfolding the letter that she had been holding in one hand, Anne read: 

“My dear miss Pierson: 

“Remembering your exceptionally fine work as ‘Rosalind’ in the production of ‘As You Like It,’ given at your High School last year, I now write to offer you the same part in a six weeks’ revival of the same play about to be presented in New York.  Your acceptance will be a source of gratification to me, as it is very hard to engage actors who are particularly adapted to Shakespearian roles.  The salary will be one hundred dollars per week with all traveling expenses paid.

“My sister extends a cordial invitation to you to make our home yours during your stay in New York, and will write you at once.  I have already written Miss Tebbs regarding my offer.  Hoping to receive an affirmative answer by return mail, with best wishes, I remain

“Yours sincerely,

“Everett Southard.”

“Well, I should say the unexpected had happened,” said Grace, as Anne finished reading.  “One hundred dollars a week for six weeks!  Why, Anne, think of it!  You will have six hundred dollars for six weeks’ work.  I had no idea they paid such salaries.”

“They pay more than that in companies like Mr. Southard’s,” replied Anne.  “If I had acquired fame I could command twice that sum.  I can’t imagine why he ever chose me.  Suppose I should fail entirely.”

“Nonsense,” retorted Grace.  “You couldn’t fail if you tried.  The only thing that I am afraid of is that you’ll be so carried away with the stage that you’ll forget to come back to us again.”