The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-11-08
CHAPTER XIV,
In Sure-Enounh Country.

CHAPTER XIV.
In Sure-Enouoh Country.
One morning, more than q month
after the closing days OF school, Alb
bott Ashton chanced to look from his
bedroom window as Hamilton Greg
ory's buggy, with Fran in it, passed.
Long fishing-poles projected from the
back of the buggy.
BY Fran's side. Abbott discovered a
man. True it was "only" Simon JEFF
ferson; still, for all his fifty years
and his weak heart, It was not as IL
It were some pleasant. respectable
woman--say Simon's mother. How.
ever, old ladies do not sit upon creek.
banks.
The thought of sitting upon the bank
Of q stream suggested to Abbott that
1t would be agreeable to pursue 1is
studies in the open air. He snatched
up some books and went below.
On the green veranda he paused to
lnhale the fragrance of the roses. "I'm
glad you've left your room," said Miss
Sapphira, all innocence, all kindness.
You'll study yourself to death. It
won't make any more Of life to take It
hard-there's just so much for every
man."
Huge and serious, Miss Sspphira sat
In the shadow Of the bay.window.
Against the wall were arranged
sturdy ound-backed wooden chairs,
each Of which could have received the
landlady's person without a culver OF
q spindle. Everything about Abbott
seemed too carefully ordered--he
pined for the woods-some mossy
bank sloping to purling stream.
Suddenly Miss Sapphira grew pom.
derously significant. Her massive head
trembled from weight Of meaning
not to be lifted lightly in mere words,
her double chins consolidated, and her
mouth Hecame as the granite door of a
~ 7e sealed against the too.curious.
--bbott paused uneasily before his
meditated fight-"Have you heard any
news?"
She answered almost tragically.
Board meeting, tonight"
Ordinarily. teachers for the next
year were selected before the close of
the, spring term; only those ION the
inside" knew that the fateful board
meeting had been delayed week after
week because Of disagreement over
the superintendency. There was 80
much dissatisfaction over Abbott Ash.
ton-because of 80 much talk"-that
even Robert Clinton had thought it
beft to wait, that the you.g man
might virtually be put upon good be-
havior.
Tonight" the young man repeated
with thrill. He realized how impor-
tant this meeting would prove IN shap.
ing his future.
YES" she said warningly. "And
Bob is determined to do his duty. He
never went very far in his own educa.
ton because he didn't expect to be q
school-teacher-but ever since he's
been chairman Of the school-board,
he's aimed to have the best teachers,
30 the children can be taught right;
most OF 'em are poor and may want
to teach. too, when they're grown. I
think all the boardIl be for you to.
night, Abbott, and I've been glad to
notice that for the last month, there's
been less talk. And by the way" she
added, that Fran-girl went by with
Simon Jefferson Just now, the two OF
them in Brother Gregory's buggy.
They're going to Blubb's Rifie-he
with his weak heart, and her with that
sly smile OF hers, and it's full three
mile!"
Abbott did not volunteer that he had
seen them pass. but his face showed
the ostensible integrity Of a jam.th,ef,
who for once finds himself innocent
when missing jam is mentioned.
She was not convinced by his look
Of guilelessness. "You seem TO be
carrying away your books"
Il want to breathe In this June
morning without taking 1t strained
through window.screens." he ex.
planned.
Miss Sapphira gave something like
a choked cough, and compressed her
lips. Abbott" she said, looking at
him sidewise, please step to the tele-
phone, and call up Bob-he's at the
store. Tell him to leave the clerk In
charge and hitch up and take me for
little drive. l want some OF this
June morning myself"
Abbott obeyed with alacrity. On his
return. Miss Sapphira said. "Bob's 10
ing to fight for you at the board meet
Ing. Abbott. Well do what we can,
and hope you'll help yourself"
AS Abbott went down the fragrant
street with it's cool hose-refreshed
pavements, its languorous shadows
athwart ross-bush and picket fence, it's
hopeful weeds already peering through
crevices where plank sidewalks main
tanned their wOrm-eaten right OF way.