The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-12-30
CHAPTER XIV.
In. Sure-Enouah Country.

CHAPTER NN.
In. Sure-Enoush Country.
One morning more nan month
after the closing days OF sChool, Ap-
bolt Ashton CHANGED TO LOOK Irom MS
bedroom window as hamilton 'reg-
oryis buggy. with Fran in II. passed.
There were no more examination
papers for Abbott 20 stlugtls Wi'h'
but. like bees who spend the pleasant
est weather In hardest work, he was
laying up mathematical sweetness
and psychological sGccI!ence against
the day when he mlgnt become pr,
lessor at Yale or Harvard
Unthrifty Fran, OH ,ne contrary,
was bent upon no mission o. selt.im-
provement Long hs!dng-noies pro-
Jecting- from the bach OF tie bIggy,-
protested against the umn.erciaitsm
OF the age; their yellow hue streaked
the somber background 4 money
getting world, while the very points
OF the poles Knocked II continuity "
purpose.
BY Fran's side, Abbott discoN cred
a man. True, il was only" Siu.on
Jefferson, still for all iis 80 yCars
and his weak heart Il was not as II
man--say Simon's mo,hCr. However,
old ladies do not sit uFon creek-banks.
The thought OF sitting upon The
bank OF stream suggested To Alb
bolt that II would De agreeable TO
pursue his studies IN the open air
The June morning nad not yet had
its dewy sweetness buried away By a
droughty old sun Abbott snstched up
some books and went below In al
most every front yard thee were
roses. Up and down the street, they
bloomed in all colors. with delicate,
penetrating intoxicu ing fragrance.
They were not hidden aAay in lniser.
ly back gardens, ,hese roses they
smiled for the meanest bess AZ. for
the most self.sufficient ramp. for the
knowledge buTdened scnoiar. for the
lwhistling driver of The grocer o
wagon. They had Oxen smiled in
vain for Abbott Ashton, Tut that was
before he had made the beyild1ring
discovery that they were like Fran.
7 On the green verandi ne paused 10
inhale their fragrance.
1 I'm glad you've left YOUR room. =
said Miss Sapphira ali Innocence, all
kindness. You'll study yourself 10
! death. IL won't make any moIe OF
life TO take II hard-theres just SO
much for every man
: Abbott smiled apstIacLedly. lie
heard nothing but the voices OF the
roses.
Huge and serious, Miss Sdpphra
sat In the shadow OF tie bay window.
Against the wall wee arranged
sturdy round-backcd wooden chairs,
each of which could have received the
landlady's person witnout a CULVER
OF spindle Everything about Abbott
seemed too carefully ordercd--he
rined for the woods messy
bank sloping to a purling stream.
Suddenly Miss SapLhira grew pom
derously significant Her massive
head trembled from a weight or mean.
ing not 10 be lifted lightly in mere
words. her double chins consolidated.
and her mouth became az the granite
door of cave sealed against the too
curious.
Abbott paused uneaaily before his
meditated flight" Have you heard
any news"
She answered almost tragically
Board meeting, tonight.
Ordinarily, teachers for the next
year were selected before the close OF
the spring term; only those ION the
inside" knew that the fateful board
meeting had been delayed week after
week because OF disagreement over
the SUPPLEMENTARY There was so
much dissatisfaction over Abbott
Ashton-because OF so much talk
that even Robert Clinton had thought
II best 10 wait, that the young man
might virtually be put upon good be-
havior.
Tonight" the young man repeated
with a thrill. He realized how i'm
portant this meeting would prove in
shaping his future. Miss Sapphire
was too appallingly significant 20
mean otherwise. II anybody was CD
the inside" It was the chairman 8
sister
Yes" she said warningly. And
Bob is determined to do his duty. He
lever went very far in his own educa
ton because he didn't expect to be a
school-teacher-but ever since hes
been chairman OF the school. board
he's aimed to have the best teachers,
. so the children can be taught right I;
most OF EN- are poor and my want 10
teach. too, when they're grown.
think all the board'll be for YOU TO.
night, Abbott, and I've been glad to
notice that for the last month, there
been less talk. And by the way" she
added. that Fran-girl went by with
Simon Jefferson just now, the two oil
them In Brother Gregorys buggy
They're going TO Bulbs Riffe--he
with his weak heart. and her with
that sly smile OF hers and it's a full
three mile"
Abbott, did not volunteer that ne
had seen them pass, but his face
showed the ostensible integrity OF a
ijam.thief. who for once finds himself
innocent when missing jam is men.
toned.
She was not convinced by his look
of guilelessness. You seem to be
carrying away your books
Il want TO breathe in this June
morning without taking IL strained
through window-screens, he ex.
planned.
Miss Sapphire gave something ike
choked cough, and compressed her
lips. Abbott" she said. looking at
him sidewlse. please step 10 the
Telephone, and call up Bob-he's at
1.-THE store. Tell him to leave the
clerk In charge and hitch up and take