Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-11-13

49,
steps they walked side by side. shonl-
der to shoulder, four hands clasped.
Fran's great dark eyes were set fixed
ly upon space as they solemnly pa
raded beneath the watchful moon. AS
Abbott watched her, the witchery of
the night stole into his blood.
The last plank was crossed. "Nowl"
Fran cried br~eathlessly, what did you
wish?" Her body was quivering, her
face glowing.
THAT l might succeed" Abbott an
swered.
"Oh!" said Fran. my! That was
like a cold breath. Just wishing to
be great, and famous, and useful. and
richi"
Abbott laughed as light-heartedly as
il the road were not calling him away
from solitudes. well, what did you
wish, Fran"
THAT you might always be my
friend, while we're together, and after
we part"
ut doesn't take a new bridge to
make that come true" he declared.
She looked at him solemnly. do
you understand the responsibilities of
being a friend? A friend has to as
sumo obligations, just as when a mans
elected to office, he must represent his
party and his platform"
I'll stand for you'll" Abbott cried
earnestly.
will you? Then I'm going to tell
you all about m~yself-ready to be sur
prised? Friends ought to know each
other. In the first place, l am eighteen
years old, and in the second place I
am a professional lion-trainer, and in
the third place my father is-but
friends don't have to know each 9TH
er's fathers. Besides, maybe that's
enough to start with"
! Eyes," said Abbott, ut Is" He
paused, but she could not guess his
emotions, for his face showed moth
ing but a sort of Darkness. Il should
like to take this up seriatim. You tell
me you are eighteen years old?"
And have had lots Of expert.
ence."
Your lion-training; has it been theo-
retical or"
"M%ercenary," Fran responded; real
lions, real bars, real spectators, real
pay days"
"But, Fran said Abbott helplessly,
II don't understand"
But you're going to, before I'm
done with you. tell you, I'm a show
girl, a %lion-trainer, a jungler. I'm the
famous Fran Nonpareil, and my car
nival company has showed in most of
the towns and cities of the United
States. It's when I'm in my blue silks
and gold stars and crimson sashes,
kissing my hands to the audience, that
I'm the real princess"
Abbott was unable to analyze his
real emotions, and his one endeavor
was to hide his perplexity. He had
always treated her as II she were old
er than the town supposed, hence the
revelation of her age did not SO much
matter; but lion-training was SO re-
mote from conventions that 1t seemed
in a way almost uncanny. 1t seemed
to isolate Fran, to set her coldly apart
from the people Of his world.
I'm going home" Fran said abb
ruptly.
He followed her mechanically. too
absorbed in her revelation to think of
the cards left forgotten on the bridge.
From their scene Of good wishes, Fran
went first, head erect, arms swinging
defiantly; Abbott followed, not know.
ing in the least what to say, or even
what to think.
The noon had not been laughing at
them long, before Fran looked back
over her shoulder and said, as If he
had spoken, still, I'd like for you to
know about it."
He quickened his step to regain her
side, but was oppressed by an odd
sense of the abnormal.
Although" she added indistinctly,
ut doesn't matter"
They walked on In silence until. aft
ter prolonged hesitation, he told hel
quietly that he would like to hear all
she felt disposed to tell.
She looked at him steadily: "Car
you dilute a few words with the water
of your imagination, to cover a life
I'll speak the words, il you have the
imagination"
(To BE CoNTINUED.)