The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-09-17
CHAPTER VII.


war OcCIarS0.
The April morning was brimming
with golden sunshine when Fran
looked from the window of her second
story room. Eager for the first morn.
ings view OF her new home. she stared
At the half-dosen cottages across the
street. standing back In picket.fenced
yards with screens Of trees before
their window.eyes. They showed only
a. bits OF weatherboarding, or gleam-
Ing fragments OF glass, peeping
through the boughs She thought ev.
erything homelike. neighborly. These
houses seemed to her closer to the
earth than those OF New York, or. at
any rate. closer In the sense of broth.
erhood. She drew a deep breath of
pungent April essence and murmured:
What a world to live int"
Fran had spoken In all sincerity
IN declaring that she wanted nothing
bot home; and when she went down
70 breakfast it. wis with the expecta.
ton that every member OF the family
would pursue his accustomed routine.
undenected by her presence. She was
willing that they should remain what
tney were. just as she expected to
continue without change; however.
not many days passed before she found
herself seeking 70 modify her sur.
roundings. II strange mouse be i'm.
prisoned IN q cage OF mice. those al
ready Injured to captivity will seek TO
destroy the newcomer. Fran, sudden.
ly thrust into the bosom of a family
already fixed In their modes of thought
and action. found adjustment exceed.
insly difficult.
she did lot care to mingle with the
people of the village-which was for
tunate. since her laughing in the tent
mad scandalized the neighborhood she
would have been content never to
cross the boundaries OF the homestead,
had 1t not been for Abbott Ashton.
IL was because OF him that she acqui.
esced In the general plan to send her
70 school. II was on the fifth day OF
herstay. following her startling admis.
sion hat she had never been to school
day IA Ter life. that unanimous opin-
ION vas fused into expressed com
mand--
You must go % SCHOOL,"
Fran ttOusht Of the young superin.
tenden,. and said she was willing.
When Mr Gregory and the secretary
had retired t. the library for the days
work. Mrs. Gregory told Fran. 81 real.
y think. dear. that your dresses are
much too short. You are small. bu,
your face and manners and even your
voice. sometimes. seem old-quite
old"
Fran showed the gentle lady a soft
docility. WELL" che said. my legs
are there. oil the time, you know, and
Ill show just as much Of them, OF
Just as little. as you please"
Simon Jefferson spoke up-T like
TO see children wear short dresses
and he looked at this particular child
with approval. That day. she was
really pretty. Tho triangle had beer
broadened to an oval brow, the chin
was held slightly lowered, and there
was sorlething In her general aspect
possibly due TO the arrangement oil
foids or colors--hcaven knows what
Tor Simon Jefferson was but a poor
male observer--that made a rnerit ol
her very thinness. The weak heart o
the burly bachelor tingled with pleas
ure In nice proportions. while his mint
attained the osthetlc outlook OF a clas
sic age. To 90 sure. the skirts did
show good deal OF Fran: very good
they could not show too much.
II like" Simon persisted. TO ses
young girls Of fourteen or fifteen
dressed. 80 TO say. In low necks ant
high stockings in-er-in the airy wa,
such az they are by nature =
IL was hard to eSpresa
"Yes." Fran said impartlally, ~
plcases others. and II doesn't hur
me-"
"Fran!" Mrs. Gregory exclaimed
gazing helplessly at tho girl with
something OF a ctilds awe inspired by
venerable years. ~ was a pathetic ap
peal 10 a spirit altogether beyond hel
comprehension.
Fran's quick eye caught the expires