The Detroit times., 1912-12-21
ByJOHN BRE( OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
CaOvvish 1914 he BshAs M.nSl Coz-V.ay
CHAPTER VIII.
(COntinuedD


There was Cousin Sarah Tom" who
hau Deen present at the great ball IN
Lexington. Even Cousin Sarah Tom
was there" said Mrs. Jefferson, thus
forever stamping this ghostly outline
Win greatness. And there was Aunt
MANDY lowering on the outskirts oil
The general theme--'Aunt Mandy was
there. as full OF fun and mischief as
ever. The old lady's stories bristled
With such subsidiary characters con
cerning whom II was sufficient 10 say
that they were there Sometimes
so many were there" that the his
torian forgot her original intention
and wandered aimlessly among irrele'
want acquaintancesA
Usually Fran brought her back,
with gentle hand, but today she diyin'
ed subterfuge; the tale was meant to
hide Mrs. Jefferson's real feelings.
Fran yentured through the trumpet
II wish there was a man-secretary
on this place. instead OF woman"
Mrs. Jefferson snatched away
the instrument with indignation.
Then she clapped the trumpet TO ner
ear as II defying a French romance
10 do its worst.
Fran called, your grandmother.
goosey, and not SO loud If you
please"
The other drew herself up while
her black lace cap quivered at every
ribbon-end. What was this? How dare
this chit?
Fran took the tube with sudden de-
Acisiveness. "All right" she called,
you can take II that way, II you
want to. But let me tell you one
thing. dear old soldier-there's going
TO be big fight put up on these
grounds. guess you ought 10 stay
out OF II. But either ! or the secretary
has got TO git"
Fran was not unmindful OF gram
mar, even OF rhetoric. on occasion. She
knew there was no such word as git,
but she was seeking TO symbolic her
idea in sound. As she closed her
teeth, each little pearl meeting pear
ly rival; her git" had something OF
yne force OF physical ejectment
Behind large spectacle lenses.
sparks flashed from Mrs. Jeffersons
eyes. She shifted battle. But her tightly
compressed lips showed that she
lacked both Fran's teeth and Frans
intrepidity. One steps cautiously at
N-odd.
Fran comprehended. The old lady
must not let II be suspected that she
was aware Of Gregory's need OF cot
ton In straining ears, such as had saw
ed Ulysses from siren voices. The
fpretense OF observing no danger kept
the fine old face uncommonly grim.
Little girls shouldn't fight" was
her discreet rejoinder. Then leaning
over the wheel, she advanced yher
snow-white head TO the head ofhcoal-
black Better not stir up dragons"
Fran threw back her head and
laughed defiantly. Bring on your
dragons" she cried boastfully.
There's not one of EN- that I'm afraid
Of" She extended one leg and stretch
I'd forth her arm "Pll say 10 the
Dragon, Stand up and she'll stand;
I'll say Lie down and down she'll
lie I'll say Git-and she'll" Fran
waved her dragon TO annthttattUu.
q, Goodness the old lady exclaimed,
getting nothing OF this except the
pantomime; that, however. was elo-
quent She recalled the picture of
David in her girlhood's Sunday school
book. Are you defying the Man OF
CATH" She broke into a delicious
smile which seemed to food the
wrinkles of her face with the sun
shine of many dear Old easy going
years
Fran smote her forehead. Il have
a few pebbles here" she called
through the trumpet.
Mrs. Jefferson grasped the others
hin arm, and said, with zestful
energy. Let her have EN-. David. let
her have 'em!"