The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-12-30

ehf ehu hopc you ~ Hclp yourself,
don't wish any harm 10 that Fran.
girl hob says I'm always expectine
the worst OF people and guess | am
put | must SAY don't expect half a.
bad as they turn OFT.
AS Abbott went Gown the fragrant
street with It's cool hose-refreshed
paNements, its languorous shadows
athwarl rose-buJh and picket fence,
It's hopeful weeds already peering
through crevlces where plank side.
Walk maintained their worm-eaten
IlshtoiWay' he was I'm no dewy-
morning mood. He Understood what
those WISE mods had meant, and he
Was IN no frame cf mind for such
wisdom. He meant "a 20 far, far
away from the boarding house. from
the environment OF schools and
schooEboards. from Littleburg with
us atmosphere of ridiculous gossip. 4
OF course he could have gone Just
as Tar II he had not chosen the direc.
ton OF BlubDs Riffie-Dut he had TO
take some direction. He halted be.
lore he came In sight OF the stream:
II trai had mind TO fish with Simon
JEFFERSON, he would not spoil her
sport.
lie found comfortable log where
ne might study under the gracious
SKY Across the road. billboard
haunted many-colored advertise.
ment, but II did not distract his at
.teniion--it had lost It's novelty from
'oyer-production. There was TO be a
Street Carnival beginning July first
There would be Fortune Teller, a
Lion Show, a Snake Den. etc. The
Fourth OF July would be the Big Day:
Day OF Confetti, OF Fireworks. OF
Riotous Mirth and patriotism the
last word was the only one on the
bill not capitalized.
Abbott studied hard He did not
/ learn much-there seemed a bird in
every line.
When he closed his books, scarcely
knowing why. and decided TO ramble,
+ II was with no intention OF seekiEg
Fran. Miss Sapphire might have
guessed what would happen. but in
perfect innocence, the young man
strolled, seeking grassy by.road, sci
dom used. redolent OF bush, tree,
vine, dust.laden weed. Ii was a road
where the sun seemed almost j
stranger a road gone TO sleep and
dreaming or the feet OF stealthy IN.
dams, OF noisy settlers, and skilful
itrappers All such fretful bits OF life
had the old road drained into oblivion.
and now IL seemed 10 call on Abbott
10 snare their fate. the fate OF the
forgotten.
But the road lost its mystic mean.
ling when Abbott discovered Fran
suddenly il became only a road--nay.
IL became nothing. II seemed that
the sight OF Fran always made wreck
age OF the world about her.
She was sitting il the Gregory
buggy. but. most surprising OF all,
t"Cre was no horse between the shafts
mo horse was 60 be seen. anywhere.
Best OF all. no Simon Jefferson was
visible Fran in the buggy-that wa
all. Slow travelling. indeed. even ior
this sleepy old road,
Not in a hurry, are your
I've arrived, Fran said, in UNI
friendly tone
Smaller than ever, she appeared,
shrinking back in a corner OF the seat,
as II the vital qualities of her being
were compressed 10 bring all within
the scope OF one eyefiash. Abbott
floved the laced shadows OF the trees
upon the barred head. he adored The
green lap-robe protecting her feet.
The buggy-top was down and the trees
from either side strove each TO be
fret. 10 darken Fran's black hair With
shadow upon shade.
Are you tired of fishing, Franz"
Yes. and OF being fished
She had closed the door In his face,
but he said--as through the keyhole
Does that mean for me TO go away
You are a pretty good friend, Mr..
Ashton she said with curl OF her
lip, II mean-when We are alone"
While we're together and after
We part he quoted Fran, surely
you don't feel toward me the way you
are looking
Exactly as I'm looking at you
that's the way | feel stand there as
long as you please
n don't want TO stand a moment
longer. want to sit with you IN the
buggy Please don't be $3.50 old
Fran laughed out unsteady, but
Immediately declared: Il laughed be
canse you are Unexpected II doesn
mean | like you any better. nate
friendship that shows itself only in
private Mr. Chameleon, like peo-
PIE w SuON iutlT true NOlOISs
Il am not Mr.. Chameleon, and !
want TO sit in your buggy
Well thea get in the very farthest
corner. Now look me in the eyes"
And oh. Fran, you have such
eyes! They are so marvelously-er
-unfriendly"
I'm glad you ended up that way.
Now look me in the eyes. Suppose
you should see the schoolboard Sail-
ing down the road, Miss Sapphire
thrown in. What would you do?'
What should | do?"
Hide, ! suppose" said Fran, sud
denly ripping.
Then you look me in the eyes and
listen TO me" he said impressively
Weigh my words--have you scales
strong enough"
Put EN- OH slow and careful"
Il am not Mr.. Chameleon, for show
my true color. And am a real friend.
no matter what kind OF tree am
He paused. cropping for word.
Up" she suggested, with sudden
chuckle. All right--let the school,
board come. But you don't seem sur
prised to see me here in the buggy
without Mr.. Simon"
When Mr.. Simon comes, he'll find
me right here Abbott declared