The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-20

loved the laced shadows of the tree
upon the barred head he adored tn
green laprobe protecting her feet. TIL
buggy top was down and the tree
from either side strove each to be frs
ow upon shade.
Are you tired of fishing" Fran?
Yes, and of being fished"
She had closed the door in his face
but he said-as through the keyhole-
Does that mean for me to go away
You are a pretty good fnend, Mr.
Ashton" she said with a cIrl of he
| lip Il mean-when we are alone"
"'While we're together, and afte
we part he quoted. Fran, surel,
you don't feel toward me the way yo,
are looking"
Exactly as Pm looking at you
that's the way feel Stand there a.
long as you please"
Il don't want to stand mcmen
longer. | want to sit with you in tht
buggy. Please don't be $3.50 oldp
Fran laughed out musically, but i'm
mediately declared: Il laughed becaus,
you are unexpected; it doesn't mean
like you any better / hate friendship
that shows itself only in private. Mr.
Chameleon, | like people to show theil
true colorS"
Il am not Mr.. Chameleon, and
want to sit in your buggy"
We'll, then, get in the very farthes
corner Now look me in the eyes"
And oh, Fran, you have such eyes
They are so marvelously-er-unfriend
ly"
Pm glad you ended up that way
Now look me in the eyes. Suppose
you should see the school board sail
ing down the road, Miss Sapphire
thrown in What would you do?"
What should | dor
Hide, | suppose said Fran. sud-
denly ripping.
Then you look me in the eyes and
listen to me-" he said impressively
Weigh my words-have you scales
strong enough"
Put 'em on slow and careful"
Il am not Mr.. Chameleon for
show nv true color. And | am real
friend, no matter what kind of tree
| am He paused, cropping for a
word.
up" she suggested, with a sudden
chuckle "All right-let the school
board come. But you don't seem sur
prised to see me here in the buggy
without Mr.. Simon"
when Mr. Simon comes, he'll find
me right here" Abbott declared.
Fran, please don't be always showing
voiir worst side to che town; when YOU
laugh at peoples standards, they think
you queer-and you can't imagine just
how much you are to me-"
"Efuhr' Fran shifted I'D hate to
be anybody's friend and have my
friendship as little use as yours has
been to me"
He was deeply wounded. 1--WE tried
to give good advice
Il don't need advice, | want help
in carrying out what, | already know. y
Her voice vibrated you're afraid of
losing your position if you have any
thing to do with me. OF course I'm
queer. Can | help it, when | have no
real home, and nobody cares whether
| go or stay"
you know l care, Fran"
Fran caught her lip between her
teeth as if to hold herself steady. "Oh,
let's drive" she said recklessly, strik-
ing at the dashboard with the whip,
and shaking her hair about her face
till she looked the elfsh child he had
first known.
Fran, you know | care-you know
it."
We'll drive into Sure-Enough Coun-
try" she said with half-smile show
ing on the side of her face next him.
whoa! Here we are All who live
in Sure Enough Country are sure
enough people-whateve they say is
true. Goodness She opened her
ewes very wide-''It's awful dangerous
to talk in Sure-Enough Country" She
put up the whip, and folded her hands.
I'm glad we're here, Fran, for you
have your friendly look
That's because | really do like you.
Let's talk about yourself-how you ex-
pect to be what you'll be-you're moth
ing yet, you know, Abbott; but how
did you come to determine to be
something?"
Into Abbott's smile stole something
tender and sacred ct was all my
mother" he explained simply. "She
died before | received my State certifi-
cate. but she thought I'd be great
man so | am trying for it"
And she'll never know" Fran lam
ented.
She slipped her hand into his.
Didn't | have mother! Oh, these
mothers! And who can make mother
wishes come true? Well! And you
Just studied with all your might; and
you'll keep on and on, till you're
& out of my reach, of course.
Which would have suited your mother,
too" She Withdrew her hand. -.
my mother would have loved you,
he declared, for he did not understand,
so well as Fran, about mothers liking
for strange young ladies who train
lions
mine would you," Fran asserted.
with more reason.
Abbott, conscious of dreadful emp
tiness, took Fran's hand again, III
never be out of your reach, Fran"
She did not seek to draw away, but
said, with dark meaning, Remember
the bridge at midnight"
Il remember how you looked, with
the moonlight. silvering your face-you
were just beautiful that night, little
But not quite so in daylight" muir
INJURED Fran wickedly, "as this MORN
ing?"
Anyway" he answered desperately,
you look as I'd have you look-can
you ask more than that, since can't. !
MY chin is so sharp" she murmured.
"Yes," he said, softly feeling the |