Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-12-11
CHAPTER XIV.
In -surs.Enouah Country.


One morning, more than a month
after the closing days of school, Alb
bott Ashton CHANGED to look from his
bedroom window as Hamilton Greg
ory's buggy, with Fran in it, passed,
Long ishing-poles projected from the
back of the buggy.
BY Fran's side, Abbott discovered a
man. True it was 'only" Simon JEFF
ferson; still, for all his fifty years
and his weak heart, it was not as II
it we're some pleasant, respectable
woman-say Simon's mother. How
ever, old ladies do not sit upon creek
banks.
The thought of sitting upon the bank
OF a stream suggested to Abbott that
it would be agreeable to pursue his
| studies in the open air. He snatched
up some books and went below.
On the green veranda he paused to
inhale the fragrance of the roses. I'm
glad you've left your room" said Miss
| Sapphira. all innocence, all kindness.
you'll study yourself to death. 1t
won't make any more of life to take It
h~ard-there's just so much for every
man."
Huge and serious, Miss Sapphire sat
in the shadow of the bay-windoW.
Against the wall were arranged
sturdy r o~und-backed wooden chairs,
each of which could have received the
l~andlady's person without a CULVER OF
a spindle. Everything about Abbott
seemed too carefully ordered-he
pinned for the woods-some messy
bank sloping tt a purling stream.
Suddenly Miss Sapphire grew pom
derously significant. Her massive head
trembled from a weight Of meaning
not to be lifted lightly in mere words
her double chins consolidated, and her
mouth became as the granite door OF 9
cave sealed against the too-curious.
Abbott paused uneasily before his
m~editated fight-"Have you heard any
news?"
She answered almost tragically
Board meeting, tonight"
Ordinarily, teachers for the mex
year were selected before the close o.
the spring term; only those ION thu
inside" knew that the fateful boart
meeting had been delayed week aftel
week because of disagreement owe
the superintendency. There was 81
much dissatisfaction over Abbott Ash
ton-because of so much talk'-tha
even Robert Clinton had thought |
best to wait, that the young mai
might virtually be put upon good be
havior.
Tonight" the young man repeate
with a thrill. He realized how impol
tant this meeting would prove in shat
ing his future.
"Yes," she said warningly. An
Bob is determined to do his duty. II
never went very far in his own educ;
} ton because he didn't expect to be
school-teacher-but ever since he
" been chairman of the school-boar'
he's aimed to have the best teacher
is so the children can be taught right
n most of 'em are poor and may wal
n to teach, too, when they're grown.
:" think all the board1l be for you t
a night, Abbott, and I've been glad
"a notice that for the last month, there
4 been less talk. And by the way" 81
added, chat Fran-girl went by wit
10 Simon Jefferson just now, the two
N them in Brother Gregory's bugg
is They're going to Blubb's Rifle
with his weak heart, and her with tn
sly smile of hers, and it's a full thr'
ts mile!"
Abbott did not volunteer that he hi
ed seen them pass. but his face show
n the ostensible integrity Of a jam-thi'
IN who for once finds himself innoce
~ when missing jam is mentioned.
le, She was not convinced by his lo
So Of guilelessness. you seem to
ly carrying away your books"
en- 81 want to breathe in this Ju
morning without taking 1t strain