The Washington herald., 1913-03-30

pulsively. don't you see that you are
holding up ignorance as a virtue? Car
you afford to despise knowledge III this
civilized age? You should want to
know facts just because-well, just be-
| cause they are facts"
'But | don't seem to. at all. Fran
responded mildly. No. I'm not making
fun of education when ] find faul,
with your school. any more than
show irrcvcrancc to my mothers God
when ] question what some people call
religion want to find the conncc-
tion-looks like its lost-thc conncc-
ton between life and-evcrything else
IT. the connection to life that makes
facts OF any value to me; and its only
i'll its connection to life that I'd give
a pin for all the religion on earth"
Il don't understand" Abbott fall
tered
She unfolded her hands. and held
them up in a quaint little gesture OF
aspiration. mo. because it isn't in a
book. | feel lost-so out in space
] only ask for place in the universe
to belong to somebody. ="
But said Abbott. you already be
long to somebody, since Mr.. Gregory
has taken you into his home and he
is one of the best men that ever"
oh. let, go home" cried Fran i'm
patiently. Lets all of us skip out OF
this chalky old basement smelly place
and breathe the pure air OF life"
She darted toward the door, then
looked back Sadness had vanished
from her face. to give place to a sud
den glow. The late afternoon sun
shone full upon her, and she held her
la>hcs apart. quite unblindcd by its
lumined, not only from without, but
from within.
Abbott seized his hat. Robert Gin
ton had already snat he'd up his Jakey
squeezed his cap in an agitated hand.
All four hurried ont into the hall as
If moved by the same spring.
Unluckily. As they passed the hall
window. Fran looked out Her eyes
were caught by a group seated on the
veranda OF the Clinton boarding house.
There were Miss Sapphira Clinton.
Miss Grace Noir, and several mothers,
slipping afternoon tea. In an instant.
Fran had grasped the plot That cloud
of witnesses was banked against the
green Misunderstanding to behold her
ignominy
MIR. Clinton said Fran. all sweet
ness, all allurement, Il am going to
ask of you a first favor. | left my
hat up in Miss Bulls room and"
II will get it. said Abbott promptly
Lem me" Jakey pleaded, with fine
admiration
We'll. j rather guess potr' cried
Bob. Think ri refuse Fran's first re-
quest:" He sped upstairs, uncommonly
light of foot
Now whispered Fran wickedly,
lets run off and leave him"
Tn with your' Abbott whispered
boyishly.
They burst from the building like a
storm, Fran laughing musically, Abbott
laughing joyously, Jakey laughing loud
est OF all. They sailed down the front
walk under the artillery fire OF hostile
eyes from the green vcranda. They
continued merry. Jakey even swagger-
ed. fancying himself a part OF it; he
regretted his short trousers.
When Robert Clinton overlook them.
he was red and breathless. but Fran's
beribboned hat was clutched triumph
antly in his hand 1t was he who first
discovered the ambuscade. He sud-
denly remembered. looked across the
street. then fell, desperately wounded.
The shots would have passed unheeded
over Abbotts head. had not Fran
called his attention to the ambuscadc.
Its good thing" she said inno-
Gently, that you're not holding nv
hand" and she nodded toward the
boarding house Abbott looked, and
turned for one despairing glance at
Bob; the latter was without sign of
life.
What shall we do?" inquired Fran.
as they halted ridiculouSly. IF we run
for it, it'll make things worse"
oh. Lord, yes" groaned Bob;
don't make bolt
Abbott pretended not to understand.
Come on, Fran. shall go home with
you" His fighting blood was up. In
his face was no surrender. no, not
even to Grace Noir. Come" he per-
sisted. with dignity.
How Jolly" Fran exclaimed. Shall
VIC go through the grove:-that's the
longest way.
Then let us go that way" responded
Abbott stubbornly.
Abbott the school director warn
cd, you'd better come on over to my
place-I'm going there this instant to
to get cup Of tea. It'll be best for