e end of a fortnight, or my husband and I do; that's all there is
about it!"

This appeared to be the sentiment of every woman in the company, and
they did not attempt to conceal their dislike as she passed them by
during the evening.

Just before the curtain went down, Manager Morgan received a telegram
which called him to Rochester. He had barely time to catch the train,
and in his hurry he quite forgot to leave instructions to have some one
see Jessie Bain to the hotel.

As Jessie emerged from her dressing-room she looked around for Mr.
Morgan. He was nowhere about.

"I thought you'd never come out of your dressing-room, ma'am," said the
man who was waiting to turn the lights out. "Every one's gone--you're
the last one."

"Has--has Mr. Morgan gone?" echoed Jessie, in great trepidation.

"Every one's gone, I said," was the saucy reply.

And the man turned the light out in her face, and she was obliged to
grope her way as best she could along the dark entry. After floundering
about the building for almost ten minutes, until the great tears were
rolling down her cheeks with fright, she at length called loudly to some
one to come to her assistance.

The same man who had turned out the gas on her now came grumblingly to
her rescue. At length she found herself out on the street.

Before she had time to turn and ask the man the way to the hotel, he had
slammed the door to in her face and turned the key in the lock with a
loud, resounding click, and Jessie found herself standing ankle-deep in
the snow-drift, with the wind whirling about her and dashing the
blinding snow in her face.

Suddenly from out the dark shadows of an adjacent door-way sprung a man
in a long ulster.

"Don't be frightened, Miss Bain," he exclaimed. "I have been waiting for
you almost an hour, to see you home."

Jessie started back in dismay. At that instant he half turned, and the
flickering light from the gas-lamp fell full upon his face, and she
recognized him as one of the members of the company--Walter Winans, whom
Mally Marsh had said was her beau.

Even had this not been the case, Jessie could never have admired so
bold-looking a fellow.

"Excuse me, but I am very sorry that you waited for me, Mr. Winans,"
said Jessie, coldly. "I can find my way back to the hotel alone."

"Phew! What an independent little piece we are, to be sure!" he cried.
"You're not expecting any one else, are you?" he inquired looking
hastily around.

"N