The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times., 1913-12-31

himself-"But I ain't done nothih."
Abbott said regretfully. "Heli nave
to be whipped"
Clinton nodded, and sat down sol.
emnly, breathing hard Abbott was
restlessly pacing the floor. and Bob
was staring at him unwinkingly. when
the door opened and In came Fran.
Fran walked up to Abbc Il hesitat.
ingly, and spoke with the indistinct.
ness Of awed humility. You are to
punish me-" she explained, "by max.
Ing me work out this original propo.
sltion"-showlng the book-"and you
are to keep me here TIL get It,"
Abbott asked sternly. Did Miss
Bull send me this message?"
She is named that" Fran mur.
INJURED. her eyes fastened on the open
page.
From the yard came the shouts OF
children. breaking the bonds of learn.
Ing for a wider freedom. Abbott. gaz.
ing severely on this slip OF q girl.
found her decidedly commonplace In
appearance. How the moonlight, must
have bewitched him! He rejoiced that
Robert Clinton was there to witness
his Indifference.
This is the problem" Fran said,
with exceeding primness. pronouncing
the word as II II we're too large for
her. and holding up the book with n
slender finger placed upon certain
italicized words.
af Vpn t,l a
professional dryness. He grasped the
book to read the proposition. His
hand was against hers, but she did not
draw away. for had she done so. how
could he have found the place?
Fran. with uplifted eyes, spoke IN
the plaintive accents of five.year.old
child: Right there. sir It's
awful hard"
Robert Clinton cleared his throat
and produced sound bursting with
accumulated his and rs--his warning
passed unheeded.
Never before had Abbott had so
much OF Fran. The capillaries OF his
skin. as her hand quivared warmly
against his. seemed drawing her In !:
and AZ she escaped from her splendid
black orbs, she entered his brain by
the avenue OF his own thirsty eyes.
What was the use TO tell himself that
she was commonplace. that his posi-.
ton was In danger because OF her?
Suddenly her hair fell slantwise pas,
the corners of her eyes, making a
triangle OF smooth white skin 10 the
roots OF the hair, and II seemed good,
Just because II was Fran's way and
not after n machine.iurnod fashion
Fran was done by hand. there was no
doubt of that.
"sit there" Abbott said. gravely
pointing. She obeyed without a word,
leaving the geometry as hostage In the
teachers hand when seated at u dis.
erect distance, she looked over at Bob
Clinton. He hastily drew on his spec.
tacles. that he might look old.
Abbott volunteered This Ia Mr
Clinton. President OF the Board"
II know" said Fran. staring at her
pencil and paper. hes at the head
OF the show, and watches when the
wild animals are tanned"
Clinton drew forth newspaper, and
opened 1t deliberately.
Fran scribbled for some time. then
looked over at him again. "Dia you
get it?" she asked. with mild interest
Did | get-what?" he returned. with
puzzled frown.
"Oh. don't know what It is." said
Fran with humility: "the name OF It's
Religion"
III were YOU" Clinton returned
flushing. I'D be ashamed TO refer to
the night you dIsgraced yourself BY
laughing In the tent"
Fran" Abbott interposed severely
attend to your work"
Fran bent her head over the desk
but was not long silent. II don't like
abe and def" she observed with
more energy than she had hitherto dis
played. They're equal to each other
but don't know why, and don't care
because II doesn't seem TO matter
Nothing interests me unless IL has
something TO do with living. These
angles and lines are nothing to me
what | care for Is this time I'm vast
ing. sitting In stuify old room. while
the good big world is enjoying Itself
just outside the window" She started
up impetuously.
"Sit down." Abbott commanded
"Fran!" exclaimed Robert Clinton
stamping his foot, "sit down."
Fran sank back upon the bench.
| 81 suspect" said Abbott mildly
that they have put you In classes toe
far advanced. We must try you n
another room"
"But | don't want to be tried n
rooms" Fran explained. 81 want to b,
tried In acts--deeds. Until l came
here, I'D never been to school q da,
in my life." she went on In contden
tial tone. ~ agreed to attend because
imagined school ought to have som'