The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1913-11-18

reap what we SOW, and that II you've
done something very wrong In the
past-ughl Better look o~ut-trouble's
coming. That's what the song means
% me"
And will you kindly tell me what II
means 10 the cholr?"
Yes, tell you what 10 means to
he choir. II means sitting on benches
and singing, after a sermon; and II
means a tent, and a great evangelist
and a celebrated sololst--and then GO
ng home 10 act AZ II It wasn't So"
Abbott was not only astonished, but
pained. Suddenly he had lost No
body's little girl" TO be confronted by
an elhsh spirit Of mischief. He asked
with constralnt, Did this critical at
tItude make you laugh out. In the
tent?"
Il wouldn't tell you why I laughed"
Fran declared. for a thousand dol
lars. And I've seen more than that
In my day"
They walked on. He was silent. she
impenetrable. At last she said, In a
changed voice. MY names Fran.
What's yours7"
He laughed boyishly. Mines Alb.
bott."
His manner made her laugh sympa.
t~hetically. II vas just the manner she
liked best-gay, frank, and a little
mischievous. "Abbott?' she repeated;
WELLS that all?"
UAahNnn L. ehA balance. Ahh1Nk
Ashton. And yours?"
The rest Of mine is Nonpareil-
funny name, isn't it!-Fran Nonpa
reil. II means Fran, the small type;
or Fran who's unlike everybody else;
or-Oh, there are lots OF meanings TO
me. Some find one. some another,
some never understand"
II was because Abbott Ashton was
touched that he spoke lightly:
What a very young Nonpareil 10
be wandering about the world. all by
%yourself!"
She a grateful for his raillery.
How young do you thinkT"
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 f.i-ifteen. move than
But take of 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 a tiny stream. by slipping
under the foot-bridge. some fifteen
feet below. On the left ny 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 IL II did
not belong there, but had come to be
seen. while above the woods swung
the big moor with Fran on the foot.
bridge 10 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
n demonstrating 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 I am" she said, shaking back
rebellious hair.
Abbott Ashton studied her with
grave deliberation-it Is doubtful IL he
had ever before so thoroughly en-
joyed 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