The Detroit times., 1912-12-24


headlines did Abbott read. but rather
the changing lights and shadows IN
great blck eyes. Il was marvellous
how Fran could project past expert
Cnces upon the screen OF the listeners
perception. AT her, When mother
died." Abbott saw the girl weeping be-
side the death-bed. When she sighed,
Il don't belong 10 anybody the
school.director felt like crying, Then
belong 10 me" But IL was when she
spoke OF blowing away with the dead
leaves-looSng so pathetic and SO
full OF elhsh witchery-that the I'm
preston was deepest. IL almost seem
e. possible that she might fade and
fade 10 an autumn leaf. and tioat Out
the window, aud be lost--Clinton had
an odd impulse 10 hold her. lest she
vanish.
Fran now completed her work. She
rose from the lmmovable Jakey ana
came over TO Abbott Ashton, with
meekly folded hands.
He found the magic OF the moon
lighthour returning. She had mel
lowed-glowe d-softened womaniz'
ed-Abbott could not find the word
for IT, She quivered with an exqul
steness not 10 be defined-a some
thing In hair. or flesh. or glory OF eye
or softness OF lips, altogether lack
ing in his physical being, but eagerly
desired.
Professor Ashton" she spoke seri-
ously, Il have been horrid. might
have known that school Is merely
place where young people crawl into
books TO worm themselves from lid 10
lid. swallowing all that comes In the
way. But I'd never been TO school
and | imagined il place where
child was helped to dey elop Itself.
thought teachers were trying 10 show
the pupils the best way to be what
they were going TO be. I've been dis
appointed. but that's net your fault
YOU are just system. II a boy Is TO
be a blacksmith after he's grown, and
II a girl in the same class Is TO be
music-teacher, or nlliner' ooth
must learn about abe and def SO
I'm going away for good, because, OF
course, | couldn't afford 10 waste my
time in this house. know the names
OF the bones and the distances OF the
planets are awfully nice. but I'm more
interested In Fran"
but, Fran" Abbott exclaimed I'm
pulsively don't you see that you are
holding up ignorance as a virtue? Can
you afford TO despise knowledge IL
tA4s- civilized You should want
10 know facts just because-well, just
because they are facts"
But don't seem to, at all" Fran
responded mildly. mo, I'm not max
ing fun of education when find fault
with your school, any more than !
show irreverence 10 my mothers God
when question what some people call
religion want TO find the connec-
tion-look like It's lost-the connec-
ton between life and-everythlng
else. It's the connection TO life that
makes facts OF any value 10 me; and
It's only in it's connection 10 life that
I'd give a pin for all the religion on
earth"
Il don't understand" Abbott falter-
ed
She unfolded her hands, and held
them UP in a quaint little gesture OF
aspiration. NO, because 1t isn't in
hook. / feel lost--so out in space
only ask for place In the universe
10 belong 10 somebody
But" said Abbott, you already be-
long to somebody since Mr.. Gregory
has taken you into his home and he
is one OF the best men that ever
"Oh, lets go home" cried Fran
impatiently Lets all OF us skip out
OF this chalky old basementsmelly
place, and breathe the pure air OF
life"
She darted toward the door then
looked back Sadness had vanished
from her face. to give place to sud-
den glow. The late afternoon sun
shone full upon her. and she held her
lashes apart, quite unblinded by its
intensity. She seemed suddenly IL
lumined, not only from without, but
from within.
Abbott seized his hat Robert Gin
ton had already snatched up his.
Jakey squeezed his cap In an agitated
hand. All four hurried out into the
hall as II moved by the same spring.
Unluckily, as they passed the hall
window, Fran looked out. Her eyes
were caught by group seated on the
veranda OF the Clinton boarding house.
There were Miss Sapphira Clinton.
Miss Grace Noir. and several moth
ers. slipping afternoon tea. In an In
slant Fran had grasped the plot.
That cloud OF witnesses was banked
against the green weather boarding, TO
behold her ignominy.
Mr.. Clinton" said Fran, all sweet
ness, all anurement, Il am going 70