The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-10-11
scopTTish,, i5I2, BS66s. Nsr'li Co


II was almost time for summer va
cation. Like all conscientious superin.
tendents Of public schools, Abbott Ash
ton found the closing week especially
fstiguing. Examinations were nerve
testing. and correction OF examination
papers called for late hours over the
lamp. Ashton had fallen into the
reprehensible habit OF bolting from the
boarding house. after the last paper
had been graded, no matter how late
the night. and making his way rapidly
from town as IL to bathe his soul in
country solitude. Like all reprehens-
ible habits this one was presently to
revenge itself by getting the "profes-
sor" into trouble.
One beautiful moonlight night, he
was nearing the suburbs, when he
made q discovery. The discovery was
tvofold: First. that the real cause OF
his nightly wanderings was not alto
'gether q WEAKNESS Of mental toll; sec
ond. that ne had. for some time. been
trying to escape from the thought of
Fran He had not known this. He
had simply run. asking no questions.
IL was when he suddenly discovered
Fran In the flesh. as she slipped along
crooked alley. gliding in shadows,
that the cause Of much Bleeplessness
was made tangible. "-t 2 4r
Abbott was greatly disturbed. Why
should Fran be stealthily darting down
side-alleys at midnight? The wonder
suggested Its corollary-why was he
running as from some intangible enc
myf But now was no time for intro
spection. and he set himself the task
OF solving the new mystery. AS Fran
merged from the mouth OF the alley,
Abbott dived into it's bowels, but when
ne reached the next street, no Fran
was TO be seen.
Had she darted into one OF the scat
tered cabins that composed the fringe
OF Littleburgf At the mere thought,
ne felt nameless shrinking OF the
heart. Surely not. But could she DOS
sibiy. however feet OF foot, have
rounded the next corner before his
coming into thu lightfa Abbotr sped
along the street that he might know
the truth, though he realized that the
less he saw OF Fran the better. How
ever. the thought of her being alone
In the outskirts OF the village, most as.
suredly without her guardians knowl.
edge. seemed to call him to duty. Call
or no call. he went. r1'..
lt seemed to him long time before
he reached the corner. He darted
around it--yonder sped Fran like q
thin shadow racing before the moon.
She ran. Abbott ran. II was like a
footrnce without spectators.
AT last she reached the bridge span.
ming ravine In whose far depths
murmured little stream. The bridge
was new, built to replace the foot
bridge upon which Abbott and Fran
mad stood on the night Of the tent
meeting. Was 1t possible that the su.
perintendent OF instruction was about
TO venture a second time across this
ravfne with the same girl, under the
same danger OF Misunderstanding, re-
veaied by similar glory of moonlight?
Conscience whispered that II would
not be enough simply to warn: he
should escort her to Hamilton Greg.
ory's very door, that he might know
she had been rescued from the wide
white night: and his conscience was
possibly upheld by the knowledge that
sudden advent Of Miss Sapphira
vas morally impossible.
Fran's back had been toward him
all the time. She was still unaware
OF his presence. as she paused In the
middle Of the bridge, and with critical
eye sought n position mathematlcally
the same from either hand-rail. Stand
Ing there, she drew a package from
her bosom. hastily seated herself upon
the boards. and oblivious OF surround
ings. bent over the package as 1t rest.
ed In her lap.
Abbott without pause. hurried nm
Ills feet sounded on the hridsa
Fran was speaking aloud, and. on
that account. did rot hear him. as he
came up behind her. Grace Noir"
sne was saying-"Abbott Ashton-fob
Chnton - Hamilton Gregory - Mrs.
Gregory-Simon Jefferson-Mrs. Jef.
ferson-Miss Sapphira - Fran - the
Devil" She seemed to be calling the
roll Of her acquaintances. Was she
reading list from tue package1
Abbott trod noisily on the fresh pine
floor.
Fran swiftly turned, and the moon.
beams revealed hush. yet she did NOT
attempt TO rise. why didn't YOU nm.
swer when you heard your rama
called?" she asked with a good deal OF
composure.
Fran" Abbott exclaimed. Here all
alone at midnight--all alonel Ia II
possible?"
mo. II isn't possible" Fran returned
satirlcally. "for have company"
Abbott warmly urged ner 10 hasten
back home: at the same time he drew
nearer and discovered that her lap was
covered with playing-caras.