The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1913-08-28

But If were, mother wouldn't be here
20 enjoy it. Won't you tell Professor
Ashton that you are sorryT
Fran" Abbott began.
Fran made mouth at him. 81 don't
belong to your school any more" she
informed him. "Mr. School Director
can tell you the name of what he can
do to me; he'll find it classified under
the E's.'
After this explosion, she turned
again to the lad: II saw you punch
that boy, Jakey, and heard you say
you didn't, and yet 1t was good
punch. What made you deny it!
, Punches aren't bad ideas. If could
strike out like you did, I'd wait till
saw man bullying a weaker one. and
I'd standsup to him" Fran Icaped
impulsively to her feet, and doubled
her ARMAND I'd let her land! Punch
ings a good thing, and, oh, how it's
needed. -. Except at school-you
mustn't do anything human here, you
must be an oyster at school,"
"Aw-right," said Jakey, with a glim-
mering of comprehension. He seemed
coming to life, as if sap were trickling
from winter-congealment.
Bob Clinton, too, felt the fresh
breeze or early spring in his face. He
removed his spectacles.
1.-The first thing l knew" Fran said
resuming her private conversation
| with Jakey, Il had mother, but no ia
| ther-not that he was dead. oh, bless
you, he was alive enough-but before
my birth he deserted mother Uncle
turned us out of the house. Did we
starve. that deserted mother and her
little baby? don't look starved, do 1?
Pshaw! If a woman without cent to
her name, and ten pounds in her arms
can make good, what about d big
strong boy like you with a mother to
smile every time he hits the marks
Tell these gentlemen you're sorry fol-
punching that boy"
"Sorr'," muttered Jakey shame
| facedly.
Il am glad to hear it." Abbott ex
claimed heartily You can take your
cap to go, Jakey." i
"Lemme stay" Jakey pleaded. not
budging an inch.
Fran lifted her face above the
tousled head to look at Abbott; she
sucked in her cheeks and made a
| triumphant oval of her mouth. Then
she seemed to forget the young mans
| presence. I
"But when mother died, real trouble
began. 1t was always hard work. whilt
she lived, but hard work isn't trouble
la, no, troubles just an empty heart
Well, sir, when | read about how gooG
Mr.. Hamilton Gregory is, and how
much he gives away-to folks he nev
er sees-here l came. But ! dont
seem to belong to anybody, Jakey, I'm
outside of everything. But you have
a home and mother, Jakey, and 6
place in the world, so say 'Hurrah!
: cause you belong to somebody, and
best of ALL you're not girl, but boy
to strike out straight from the shout
der"
Jakey was dissolved; tears burs
their confines.
One may shout oneself hoarse at the
delivery of a speech which, If served
upon printed page, would never promp
| the reader to cast his hat to the cell
| ing. No mere print under bold head
lines did Abbott read, but rather the
changing lights and shadows in grea
| black eyes. 1t was marvellous how
I Fran could project past experiences
upon the screen of the listeners per
ception At her, when mother died,
Abbott Saw the girl weeping beside
the death bed When she sighed, :"
. don't belong to anybody" the schoo
director felt like crying: Then be
/ long to mel"
Fran now completed her work. Sht
rose from the immovable Jakey ant
came over to Abbott Ashton, will
4 meekiy folded hands. s>~ +
He found the, magic of the, moon
light-hour returning. She had mel
flowed - glowed = softened-woman
ized-Abbott could not find the wore
for it. She quiyered with an exquisite
ness not to be defned-a something
in hair, or flesh, or glory of eye, o.
softness of lips, altogether lacking II
his physical being, but eagerly desired
Professor Ashton" she spoke seri
ously, II have been hOrrid. nigh
have known that school is merely
!tplace where young people crawl int
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