Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-05-20
JOHNBREC KEfWD@ ELLIS
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One may'shout oneself Aoaz1e at tho
3olivafy Of Q speech witch, II served
Upon printed paea. would never prompt
the reader to cast his hat 10 the cell
ing. No Dsro ps4nt under bold head.
Zines did Abbott rad. but rather tho
changing lights and shadows In great
black eyes. Il was marvellous how
Fran could project past experiences
upon tho screen Of the listeners per
ceptioo. AZ hen. when mother died."
Abbott saw the girl weeping beside
tho dsath-bed. When she sighed, II
doa't belong to anybody" the school
director felt Hike crying: ''Then be-
long to met"
Fran now completed her work She
rose from the immovable Jakey and
came over to Abbot Ashton, with
meekly folded hands.
He found the magic of the moon
1ight-hour returning. She had mel.
lowed - giowed = seftened-woman.
tEed-Abbott could not md the word
for It She quivered with an exquisite
ness not to be defined-a something
in hair. or flesh, or glory Of eye, or
softness Of lips. altogether lacking In
his physical being. but eagerly desired.
Professor Ashton" she spoke sert-
ously, Il have been horrid. I might
have known that school 10 merely
place where young people crawl into
books to worm Themselves from lid to
lid, swallowing all that comes In the
way. But I'd never been to school. and
i imagined It . place where q child
was helped to develop Itself. thought
teachers were trying 70 show the pu-
pills the best way to be what they were
going to be. I've been disappointed.
but that's not. your fault: you are Just
q system. II q boy is 70 be a black
smith after he's grown, and II girl
in the Same class - to be q music
teacher, or q milliner. both must learn
about a-be and def So I'm going
away for good. because, of course. I
couldn't AFFORD to waste my time in
this house," 4.
but, Fran" Abbott exclaimed i'm
'pulsively. don't you see that you are
holding up ignorance as virtue? Can
you afford to despise knowledge In this
civilized aSef You should want to
know fActs just because-weIl. Just BE-
cause they are fscta"
"But don't seem 70. at all," Fran
responded mildly. "No, I'm not ma
.king, fun Of education when md fault
with your school. any moro than I
show irreverenco to my mothers God
when question Whist some people call
religion It's the connection to life
that makee facts OF any value to me:
and It's only In its connection 70 life
that I'd give Z pin for all the religion
on earth"
Il Northumberland" Abbott ALTERED.
She unfolded her hands and held
them up In . quaint little gesture Of
aspiration. mo. because It isn't in q
book. feel lost-so out I'd space. I
only ask for place in the untvsrss-
to belong to somebody :"
But" said Abbott, you already be.
long to somebody. since Mr.. Gregory
has taken you into his homo ana he ID
one Of tho best men that ever"
ooh. let's go homo" Dried Fran i'm
patiently. Let's ell Of US skip out Of
this chalV old Internationally 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 . sud.
den glow. Tho late afternoon sun
shone full upon her, and she held her
lashes apart, quite unblinded by its
intensity. She seemed suddenly IL
lumined, not only from without, but
from within.
Abbott seized his hat. Robert Chm.
ton had already snatched up his. Jakey
squeezed his cap in an agitated hand.
All four hurried out into tho hall 40 II
movad by the same spring.
Unlucldly, a. thoy passed the hall
window. Fran looked out. Her eyes
were caught by group seated ON the
veranda Of the Clinton boarding house.
There were Miss 6apphira Clinton.
Miss Grace NoiP; and several mothers,
slipping Afternoon tea. In an instant,
Fran had srssped tho plot That cloud
of Witnesses was banked against the
green weather.bosrding. to behold her
3snoaminy.
aMr. Clinton" said Fran, all sweet
ness, Ill allurement. II am going to
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