The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1913-05-09

MI NMMN/UIII Y
be wandering about the world, all by
yourself!"
She was grateful for his raillery.
| "How young do you think?"
"Let me see. Hum! You are only
about" She laughed mirthfully at
his air of preposterous wisdom.
| about thirteen-fourteen, yes, you
are more than Fifteen, more than
| But take off that enormous hat,
little Nonpareil. There's no use guess
| ing in the dark when the moons
| shining"
Fran was gleeful. "All right" she
cried in one of her childish tones.
| shrill, fresh, vibratory with the mu-
sic of innocence.
By this time they had reached the
foot-bridge that spanned the deep ra-
vine. Here the wagon-road made it's
crossing of tiny stream. by slipping
under the foot-bridge, some fifteen
feet below. On the left lay struggling
Littleburg with it's four or five hun
dred houses, family twinkling, and be-
yond the meadows on the right, a
fringe of woods started up as if it did
not belong there, but had come to be
seen, while above the woods swung
the big moon with Fran on the foot
bridge to shine for.
Fran's hat dangled idly in her hand
as she drew herself with backward
| fha Tho
light was full upon her face; so was
the young mans gaze. One of her
feet found, after leisurely exploration,
down-slanting board upon the edge
of which she pressed her heel for sup
port. The other foot swayed to and
fro above the flooring, while little
| hand on either side of her gripped the
top rail-
Here I am" she said, shaking back
rebellious hair.
| Abbott Ashton studied her with
grave deliberation-it is doubtful if he
had ever before so thoroughly en-
| joyed his duties as usher. He pro-
nounced judicially, "You are older
than you look"
| "Yes," Fran explained, my expe-
rience accounts for that. I've had
| lots"
Abbott's lingering here beneath the
moon when he should have been hur-
rying back to the tent, showed how
unequally the good things of life-ex-
| perience, for instance-are divided.
| "You are sixteen" he hazarded, con-
scious of a strange exhilaration.
Fran lodged the issue behind a
smile-"And l don't think you are so
awfully old"
Abbott was brought to himself with
jolt that threw him hard upon self
consciousness. II am superintendent
of the public school" The very sound
of the words rang as a warning, and
| he became preternaturally solemn
Goodness! cried Fran, consider.
ing his grave mouth and Thoughtful
| eyes, docs it hurt that bad?"
Abbott smiled. All the same. the
position of superintendent must not
| be bartered away for the transitory
pleasures of boot-bridge I'VE. had
better hurry, if you please" he said
gravely. :
81 am so afraid of you," murmured
Fran. "But I know the meeting will
last long time yet. I'd hate to have
| to wait long at Mr.. Gregory's with
| that disagreeable lady who isn't Mrs.
| Gregory"
| Abbott was startled. Why did she
| thus designate Mr.. Gregory's secre-
tary? He looked keenly at Fran, but
she only said plaintively:
Cant we stay here?"
He was disturbed and perplexed. 1t
was as if fitting shadow from some
uniformed cloud of thought-mist had
| fallen upon the everyday world out of
his subconsciousness. Why did this
! stranger speak of Miss Grace Noir as
| the LADY who isn't Mrs. Gregory"
| The young man at times had caught
himself thinking of her in just that
way.
School superintendent do not enjoy
being mystified. Really" Abbott de-
clared abruptly. Il must so back to
| the meeting"
Fran had heard enough about his
! leaving her. She decided to stop that
once and for all IF you go back,
/ go. tool" she said conclusively, She
gave him look to show that she
meant it, then became all humility.
Please don't be cross with little
Nonpareil," she coaxed. Please don't
want to go back to that meeting
Please don't want to leave me. You
are so learned and old and so strong
you don't care why a little girl
laughs"
Fran tilted her Head sidewise, and
the glance of her eyes proved irresist
ible. 'But tell me about Mr.. Greg
Dry. she pleaded. ''and don't m md my
ways. Ever since mother died I've
found nothing in this world but love
that was for somebody else. and
Il trouble that was for me-"
/ The pathetic cadence of the slender
throated tones moved Abbott more
Il than he cared to show.