The Port Gibson reveille., 1913-12-11

The Street Fair.
LittIeburg was trembling under the
fearful din of carnival too big for it..
when Abbott Ashton. after his weeks
OF absence returned to find himself at
Hamilton Gregory's door. He discov-
cred old Mrs. Jefferson In the front
room-this July night-because old
age is on no friendly terms with fall
ing dew; but every window was open.
Come in" she cried, delighted at
sight of his handsome, smiling face
he had been smiling most of the time
during his drive from Simmtown with
Robert Clinton. Here / sit by the
window. where sometimes imagine |
hear a faint. far-away sound. Judge
it's from some carnival band. Take
this chair and listen attentiyely;
your ears are younger-now!"
Abbott did not get all of this be-
cause of the Gargantuan roar that
swept through the window, but he
gravely tilted his head. then took the
proffered ear-trumpet: "You are
right" he said, "I hear something"
ITS the street fair" she announced
triumphantly. "But sometimes it's
louder. How fine you look. Abbott
just as If your conscience doesn't
hurt you for disappearing without
leaving a clue to the mystery, You
needn't be looking around. sir-Fran
isn't here"
81 wonder where she is?" Abbott
smiled I'm dreadfully impatient to
tell her the good news. Mrs. Jeffer-
son, I'm to teach in a college-it's a
much bigger thing than the position
lost here. And l have a chance to
work out some ideas that / know Fran
will like. l used to think that every
thing ought to be left precisely as it
is, because it's been that way so long
II mean the church.; and schools ;
and-and society. But I've made up
my mind that nothing is right, unless
it works right"
Mrs. Jefferson listened In desperate
eagerness. "A watch p she hazarded.
Exactly" he responded hastily IF
a watch doesn't run, what's the use OF
its being pretty? And If churches de-
velop a gift of tongue instead of char
acter. what's the value of their pray.
ers and songs7 And I've concluded
that if schools don't teach US how to
live, they have the wrong kind oi
springs and wheels. Where Is Fran,
Mrs. Jefferson?"
STILL" she tempoFized. I'VE can't
get along without watches. Abbott"
"No. nor schools, nor churches. But
they r2ss:-t h4ve good works. Is Fran
down at che fair, do you think?"
The other bent toward him stealth'
lily. ASK where Mrs. Gregory is, she
said, wonderfully significant.
"Well?"
Abbott. listen: She's gone a-visit
ing"
"visiting!" Abbott was surprised.
"Yes, visiting, she that hasn't been
off this place to visit soul for ages
tell you, boy, times have changed
here. Maybe you think nobody'd be
left at home to visit; but Fran has
found that there is a woman in towr
that she used to know, and the woman
has a mighty sick child. and Lucy
has gone to sit by 1t, so the mother
can rest. Think of that. Abbott. think
of Lucy going anywhere. MY! Have
you heard that we've lost secretary
at this place? / mean the future Mrs
Bob. Yes, she's gone. I'd as soor
have thought of the courthouse being
picked up and set in the parlor."
Mrs. JEFFERSON drew back and said
succinctly: Fran did it,"
Her cap quivered as she leaned for
ward again. Get her to tell you al
about it. We darsen't speak about il
much because Of the neighbors We
conspired, Fran and l. Yes, she's
down at the carnival, you boy!"
Abbott hastily departed. Later he
found himself in a cloud-burst of con
fetti, on the "city square" and wher
he had cleared his eyes Of the red and
white snow, he saw Fran disappear
ing like bit of crimson glass at the
bottom Of a human Kaleidoscope. Frar
had thrown the confetti, then fed
how much brighter she was than al
the other shifting units of humanity
He fought his way toward her de
terminedly, finding she was about K
be submerged Was she actually try
Ing to elude him?