Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-11-28


hands In pockets. Then bethinking
himself-"But amt done nothih'."
Abbott said regretfully, Hell have
to be whipped"
Clinton nodded, and sat down SOL
emnly. breathing hard. Abbott was
restlessly pacing the floor. and Bob
was staring at him unwinkingly. when
the door opened and in came Fran.
Fran walked up to Abbott hesitat-
ingly. and spoke with the indistinct-
ness of awed humility. You are to
punish me-" she explained. "by max
ing me work out this original propo-
sition"-showing the book-"and you
are to keep me here till get it"
Abbott asked sternly, Did Miss
Bull send me this message?"
"She is named that" Fran muir
INJURED. her eyes fastened on the open
page.
From the yard came the shouts of
children, breaking the bonds of learn
ing for wider freedom. Abbott, gaz-
ing severely on this slip of girl.
found her decidedly commonplace In
appearance. How the moonlight must
have bewitched him! He rejoiced that
his indifference.
This is the problem" Fran said.
with exceeding primness. pronouncing
the word as If 1t were too large for
her. and holding up the book with
slender finger placed upon certain
italicized words.
Let me see It," said Abbott. with
professional dryness. He grasped the
book to read the proposition. His
hand was against hers, but she did not
draw away. for had she done SO. how
could he have found the place?
Fran, with uplifted eyes, spoke in
the plaintive accents of five-year-old
child: Right there. sir it's
awful hard"
Robert Clinton cleared his throat
and produced a sound bursting with
accumulated his and r's-his warning
passed unheeded
Never before had Abbott had SO
much of Fran. The capillaries of his
skin. as her hand quivered warmly
against his. seemed drawing her in;
and as she escaped from her splendid
black orbs. she entered his brain by
the avenue of his own thirsty eyes.
What was the use to tell himself that
she was commonplace, that his posi-
ton was in danger because of her?
Suddenly her hair fell slantwise past
the corners of her eyes, making a
triangle of smooth white skin to the
roots of the hair. and 1t seemed good.
Just because 1t was Fran's way and
not after machine-turned fashion:
Fran was done by hand. there was no
doubt OF that.
sit there" Abbott said. gravely
pointing. She obeyed without a word,
leaving the geometry as hostage in the
teachers hand. When seated at dis
Greet distance. she looked over at Bob
Clinton. He hastily drew on his spec
tacles. that he might look old
| Abbott volunteered. This is Mr..
Clinton, President of the Board"
Il know" said Fran. staring at her
pencil and paper. he's at the head
of the show. and watches when the
wild animals are tanned"
Clinton drew forth newspaper, and
opened it deliberately.
Fran scribbled for some time. then
looked over at him again. Did you
/ get it," she asked. with mild interest
Did get-what?" he returned, with
puzzled frown.
''Oh. | don't know what it is" said
Fran with humility: the name of it's
Religion"
"If | were you." Clinton returned,
flushing. I'D be ashamed to refer to
the night you disgraced yourself by
laughing in the tent"
Fran" Abbott interposed severely.
attend to your work"
Fran bent her head over the desk,
but was not long silent. Il don't like
abe and def" she observed with
more energy than she had hitherto dis
| played. They're equal to each other.
but don't know why. and don't care,
because 1t doesn't seem to matter.
Nothing interests me unless it has
something to do with living. These
| angles and lines are nothing to me;
what care for is this time I'm vast
ing, sitting in a stuffy old room. while
the good big world is enjoying itself
Just outside the window" She started
up impetuously.
"Sit DOWN." Abbott commanded
"Frani" exclaimed Robert Clinton,
stamping his foot, sit DOWN."
Fran sank back upon the bench.
81 suspect" said Abbott mildly,
that they have put you in classes too
far advanced We must try you in
another room"
But don't want to be tried in
rooms" Fran explained. 81 want to be
tried In actS--deeds, Until l came
here. I'd never been to school day
In my life," she went on in con1den-
tial tone. 81 agreed to attend because
| / imagined school ought to have some