Putnam patriot., 1913-05-16

S<=== S..=.< on those schoolsteps. He didn't want to talk to her. Why. he left her stand ing there. She made him mad. find ing fault with the very folks that have taken her up. He's disgusted That night at the campmeeting. he had to take her out of the tent-he was asked to do it."
 He didn't have to stand, a-holding her hand"
 And as soon as he'd shown her the way to Brother Gregory's, he came on back to the tent. I saw him in the aisle"
 And she whistled at me-" cried Miss Sapphira-"the limb."
 Now, listen, Sapphira, and quit goading. Abbott says that Miss Bull is having lots of trouble with Fran"
 See that, now!"
 Because Fran won't get her les sons, being contrary"
 "I wish you could have seen her whistling at me. that night"
 Hold on. So this very evening Miss Bull Is going to send her down 1 to Abbott's office to be punished, or dismissed. This very evening he wants me to be over there while he takes her in hand"
 Abbott is going to punish that girl?" cried Miss Sapphira; going to take her in hand? What do you mean bxy ftalx bar sv- ;S old! Robert, you make me blush"
 You ain't a-blushing, Sapphira," her brother assured her, good-natured- ly, you're suffering from the hot weather. Yes, he's to punish her at four o'clock, and I'm to be present, toi stop all this confoun-I mean this un- godly gossip"
 You'd better wear your spectacles, Bob, so you'll look old and settled.i I'm not always sure of you, either" !
 "Sapphira, if I hadn't joined the church, I'd say" He threw up hisl hand and clenched his fist as if he had caught an oath and meant to hold It tight. Then his honest face beamed.i See here, I've got an idea. Suppose you make 1t point to be sitting out here on the veranda at about half-past four, or five. You'll see Fran come sneaking out of that door like a whipped kitten. She'll look everlast- Ingly wilted. I don't know whether Abbott will stuff her full of fractions and geography, or make her stand in 8 corner-but you'll see her wilted."
 Miss Sapphira was highly gratified. T wish you'd talked this reasonable at first. It's always what people don't see that the most harm comes of. I'll give a little tea out here on the ye- randa, and the worst takers in town will be in these. chairs when you bring Fran away from Abbott's office. And I'll explain it all to 'em, and they'll know Abbott is all right, just as I've always known"
 Get Miss Grace to come" Bob said sheepishly "She doesn't like Fran, and she'll be glad to know Abbott is doing his duty by her. Later, I'll drop h and have a bite with you"
 This, then, was Bob's idea" that no stone might be left unturned to aide the perfect innocence of the su- perintendent. He had known Abbott Ashton as a bare-legged urchin run aing on errands for his widowed moth- sr. He had watched him through stu dious years, had believed in his fu- lure career-and no, no bold adventur- ess, though adopted into Hamilton Gregory's home, should be allowed to spoil Abbott's chances of success.
 In his official character as chairman of the board, Robert Clinton marched with dignity into the superintendent's office, meaning to bear away the wilt .d Fran before the eyes of woman. Abbott Ashton saw him enter with sense of relief The young man could not understand why he had held Fran's hand, that night on the foot bridge. x Not only had the sentiment of that hour passed away, but the in- .erview Fran had forced upon him at he close of a recent school-day, had inspired him with actual hostility. It seemed the irony of fate that mere child, a stranger, should, because Of senseless gossip. endanger his chances of reappointment-a reappointment which he felt certain was the best possible means of advancement. Why mad he held Fran's little hand? He