Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-06
Copyright. 19!
CHAPTER VIII.
War DoclarAd

The April morning was Drumming
with golden sunshine when Fran
looked from the window of her Sec
ond-story room. Between two black
streamers left from last nights rain
clouds, she found the sun making it's
way up an isle of intense blue Below,
the lawn stretched in level greenness
from Hamilton Gregory's residence to
the street, and the grass, fresh from
the care of the lawn-mower, mixed
yellow tints OF light with it's emerald
hue. Shadows from the tender young
leaves decorated the whiteness of the
smooth village road in dainty tracery,
and splashed the ribbons of rain
drenched grantoid walks with warm
shadow-spray.
Fran, eager for the first mornings
view of her new home, stared at the
half-dozen cottages across the street.
standing back in picket-fenced yards
with screens of trees before their win
dow-eyes. They showed only as bits
of Notwithstanding, or cleaning
the boughs. At one place, nothing was
to be seen but stone steps and Chin
ney: at another, there was an open
door and flashing broom; or a curl
Of smoke and face at window. She
thought everything homellke, neigh
borly. These houses seemed to her
closer to the earth than those of New
York, or, at any rate, closer in the
sense of brotherhood. She drew deep
breath Of pungent April essence and
murmured: What a world to live I'M"
Fran had spoken in all sincerity
when declaring that she wanted moth
ing but a home; and when she went
down to breakfast it was with the ex-
pectation that every member of the
family would pursue his accustomed
routine undeflected by her presence.
She was willing that they should re-
main what they were, just as she ex-
pected to continue without change:
however, not many days passed before
she found herself seeking to modify
her surroundings. If strange mouse
be imprisoned in cage of mice. those
already Injured to captivity will seek
to destroy the newcomer. Fran, sud
denly thrust into the bosom Of fam
lily already fixed in their modes Of
thought and action, found adjustment
exceedingly difficult.
She did not care to mingle with the
people of the village-which was for
tunate, since her laughing in the tent
had scandalized the neighborhood; she
would have been content never to cross
the boundaries of the homestead, had
It not been for Abbott Ashton. 1t was
because of him that she acquiesced in
the general plan to send her to school.
In the unanimous conviction Of the
- >hn- to- TSsoyN ov,d
there were still two months of school,
she must pass through this two-months'
wringer-she might not acquire polish,
but the family hoped some crudities
might be squeezed out 1t was on the
fifth day of her stay following her
startling admission that she had never
been to school day in her life, that
unanimous opinion was fused into ex-
pressed command
"You must go to school,"
Fran thought of the young superin-
tendent, and said she was willing.
When Mr.. Gregory and the secretary
had retired to the library for the days
work, Mrs. Gregory told Fran, 81 really
think. dear, that your dresses are
much too short. You are small, but
your face and manners and even your
voice, sometimes, seem old-quite old"
Fran showed the gentle lady a soft
docility. well" she said, my legs
are there all the time, you know, and
I'll show Just as much OF them, or just
as little. as, you please"
Simon Jefferson spoke up-"I like to
see children wear short dresses" and
he looked at this particular child with
approval. That day, she was really
pretty. The triangle had been broad
ened tn an oval brow, the chin was
held slightly lowered, and there was
something in her general aspect, pos
siblv due to the arrangement of folds
Or cc]ors-heaven knows what, for ST.
mon Jefferson was but poor male
observer-that made a merit Of her
very thinness. The weak heart of the
burlv bachelor tingled with pleasure
in nice proportions, while his mind
attained the aesthetic look Of a classic
age. To be sure, the skirts did show
good deal Of Fran; very good-they
could not show too much.
81 like" Simon persisted, "to see
young girls of fourteen or fifteen,
dressed. so to say, in low necks and
high stockings in-er-in the airy way
such as they are by nature >"
It was Lard to express.
eyes" Fran said impartially, 'it
pleases others, and it doesn't hurt me-"
'Fran!" Mrs Gregory exclaimed,
gazing helplessly at the girl with
something Of child's awe inspired by
venerable years. 1t was pathetic ap-
peal to spirit altogether beyond her
comprehension.
Fran's quick eye caught the express
sion of baffled reaching-forth, OF uncer-
tain striving after sympathetic under
standing. "You darling LADY," she
cried, clasping her hands to keep her
arms from flying about the others
neck. don't you be troubled about me.
Bless your heart, can take care Of
myself-an you, too! Do you think
I'd add a straw to your Now
yea hear me: if you want to do it
Just put me in long trains with Pull
man sleepers, for I'm the little girl for
YOU, dear heart, and III do whatever
you say. If you want to show people
how tame am, just hold up your hand,
and I'll crawl into my cage
rIo 1ouohtor 0f Mrs. GrepOrv c0un6.