The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-20
| FRAN
CHAPTER XIV (Continued).

OuQQeniy MISS SdppillId grew pom
derously significant Her massive heac
trembled from a weight of meaning
not TO be lifted lightly in mere words
her double chins consolidated, and hel
mouth became as the granite door oil
cave sealed against the too-curious.
Abbott paused uneasily before his
meditated fiight-"Have you heard any
news?"
She answered almost tragically
Board meeting, tonight"
Ordinarily, teachers for the next year
were selected before the close of the
spring term; only those "on the inside
knew that the fatefu1 board meeting
had been delayed week after week be-
cause of disagreement over the super
intendency. There was so much dis
satisfaction over Abbott Ashton-be-
cause of so much talk"-that even
Robert Clinton had thought it best to
wait, that the young man might viz
tually be put upon good behavior.
Tonight" the young man repeated
with thrill. He realized how impor-
tant this meeting would prove in shap-
ing his future Miss Sapphira was too
appalhngly significant to mean other
wise. If anybody was on the INSIDE"
it was the chairman's sister.
YES" she said warningly. And
Bob is determined to do his duty. He
never went very far in his own edu-
cation because he didn't expect to be
a school-teacher-but ever since he's
been chairman of the school board, he's
aimed to have the best teachers, SO
the children can be taught right; most
of 'em are poor and may want to
teach, too, when they're grown. /
think all the board'll be for you to-
night, Abbott, and I've been glad to
notice that for the last month. there's
been less talk. Ard by the way" she
added, that Fran girl went by with
Simon Jefferson just now, the two OF
them in Brother Gregory's buggy.
They're going to Blubb's Rif1e-he
with his weak heart, and her with that
sly smile of hers, and its full three
mile!"
Abbott did not volunteer that he had
seen them pass. but his face showed
the ostensible integrity of a jam thief,
who for once finds himself innocent
when missing jam is mentioned.
She was not convinced by his look
of guilelessness. You seem to be
carrying away your books"
Il want to breathe in this June
morning without taking it strained
through the window screens" he ex-
planned.
Miss Sapphira gave something like
q choked cough, and compressed her
lips. Abbott" she said, looking ar,
him sideways, please step to the tele-7
phone, and call up Boobies at the
store. Tell him to leave the clerk in
charge and hitch up an take me for
a little drive | want some OF this
June morning myself"
Abbott obeyed with alacrity. On his
return, Miss Sapphire said, "Bob's go
ing to fight for YOU at the board meet
ing. Abbott. Well do what we can,
and | hope you'll help yourself. l
don't wish any harm to that Fran-girl.
Bob says I'm always expecting the
worst of people and | guess l am;
but | must say i don't expect hall as
bad as they turn out
AS Abbott went down the fragrant
street with its cool hose-retreshed
pavements, its languorous shadows
athwart rose bush and picket fence, its
hopeful weeds already peering through
crevices where plank sidewalks main
tanned their worn-eaten right OF way,
he was in no dewy-morning mood he
understood what those wide mods had
meant and he was in no frame OF
mind for such wisdom. He meant to
go far, far away from the. boarding
house, from the environment OF
schools and school boards. from Little
burg with its atmosphere of ridiculous
gossip.
Of course he could have gone just
as far, if he had not chosen the di-
rection of Blubb's Riffle-but he had to
take some direction He halted before
he came in sight of the stream; if
Fran had a mind to fish with Simon
jefferson, he would not spoil her sport
He found a comfortable log where
he might study undsS the gracious
sky. Across the road, a billboard
Haunted a many-colored advertisement,
but it did not distract nd attention.
it had lost its novelty from over pro- |
duction There was to be a street
carnival beginning July first. There
would be fortune teller, lion show, |
a snake den, &c The Fourth of July |
would be the big day; day of con-
fetti of fireworks, of riotious mirth |
and patriotism-the last word was the |
only one on the bill not capitalized.
Abbott studied hard. He did not
learn much-there seemed a bird in
every line.
When he closed bis books, scarcely
knowing why, and decided to ramble, |
il was with no intention of seeking
Fran. Miss Sapphira might have
guessed what would happen, but in
perfect innocence, the young man
strolled, seeking grassy byroad, sell
dom used, redolent of bush, tree, vine,
dust-laden weed. 1t was a road where
the sun seemed almost a stranger; a |
road gone to sleep and dreaming of
the feet of stealthy Indians, of noisy |
settlers, and skillful trappers. All such
fretful bits of life had the old road
drained into oblivion, and now it
seemed to call OH Abbott to share
their fate, the fate of the forgotten.
But the road lost its mystic meaning
when Abbott discovered Fran. Sud-
denly it became only a roadway, it
became nothing. 1t seemed that the
sight of Fran always made wreckagel
of the world about her.
She was sitting in the Gregory |
buggy, but, most surprising of all,
there was no horse between the shafts
no horse was to be seen, anywhere.
Best of all, no Simon Jefferson was
visible. Fran in the buggy-that was
all. Slow travelling, indeed, even for
this sleepy old road