Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-10-17

youAbchi
She was grateful for his raillery.
"How young do you think?"
Let me see. Hum! You are only
about" She laughed mirthfully at
his air of preposterous wisdom.
About thirteen-fourteen. yes, you
are more than h-i-ifteen, more than
:. But take on that enormous hat.
little Nonpareil. There's no use guess
ing in the dark when the moons
shining"
Fran was gleeful. All right" she
cried in one OF her childish tones.
shrill. fresh. vibratory with the mu-
sic OF innocence.
By this time they had reached the
foot-bridge that spanned the deep ra-
vine. Here the wagon-road made its
crossing of tiny stream. by slipping
under the foot-bridge. some fifteen
feet below. On the left lay struggling
Littleburg with its four or five hun
dred houses. family twinkling, and be-
yond the meadows on the right, a
fringe Of woods started up as II 1t did
not belong there. but had come to be
seen, while above the woods swung
the big moon with Fran on the foot
bridge to shine for.
Fran's hat dangled idly in her hand
as she drew herself with backward
movement upon the railing. The moon
light was full upon her face; SO was
the young mans gaze. One of her
feet found, after leisurely exploration.
devastating board upon the edge
of which she pressed her heel for sup
port. The other foot swayed to and
fro above the flooring. while a little
hand on either side of her gripped the
top rail.
Here l am" she said. shaking back
rebellious hair.
Abbott Ashton studied her with
grave deliberation-iti is doubtful II he
had ever before SO thoroughly en-
ioyed his duties as usher He pro-
nounced judicially. You are older
than you look"
YES" Fran explained. my expe-
rience accounts for that. I've had
lots"
Abbott's lingering here beneath the
moon when he should have been hur-
rying back to the tent. showed how
unequally the good things of life-ex-
perience. for instance-are divided
You are SIXTEEN" he hazarded, con-
scious of a strange exhilaradon.
Fran lodged the issue behind a
smile-"And don't think you are SO
awfully DID,.
Abbott was brought to himself with
Jolt that threw him hard upon self
consciousness. 'I am superintendent
of the public school" The very sound
of the words rang as a warning. and
he became preternaturally solemn.
Goodness" cried Fran. consider.
ing his grave mouth and Thoughtful
eyes. does 1t hurt that bad?"
Abbott smiled. All the same. the
position of superintendent must not
be bartered away for the transitory
pleasures of boot-bridge. I'VE had
better hurry. II you please" he said
gravely.
81 am so afraid of you" murmured
Fran. But l know the meeting will
last long time yet. I'd hate to have
70 wait long at Mr.. Gregory's with
that disagreeable lady who isn't Mrs.
Gregory"
Abbott was startled. Why did she
thus designate Mr.. Gregory's secre-
tary? He looked keenly at Fran. but
she only said plalntively'
Cant we stay here?"
He was disturbed and perplexed 1t
was as II a fitting shadow from some
Uniformed cloud of thought-mist had
fallen upon the everyday world out OF
his Inconsistencies. Why did this
stranger speak of Miss Grace Noir as
the lady who isn't Mrs. Gregory"
himself thinking of her in just that
way.
School superintendents do not enjoy
being mystified. Really" Abbott de-
clared abruptly. 81 must go back to
the meeting"
Fran had heard enough about his
leaving her. She decided to stop that
once and for all. 'If you go back.
go. tool" she said conclusively She
gave him a look to show that she
meant 1t, then became all humility
Please don't be cross with little
Nonpareil." she coaxed. please don't
want to go back to that meeting.
Please don't want to leave me. You
are so learned and old and so strong
you don't care why a little girl
laughs"
Fran tilted her head sidewise, and
the glance of her eyes proved irresist-
ible. But tell me about Mr.. Greg
ory," she pleaded, "and don't mind my
ways. Ever since mother died I've
found nothing in this world but love
that was for somebody else, and
trouble that was for me-"
The pathetic cadence of the slender
throated tones moved Abbott more
than he cared TO show.