The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-07-10

A9Ii'il-l- Al UNI v iilo Pc ~ lditp
opening her eyes wide With slow
steps they walked side by side. shoIl-
der to shoulder, four hands clasped.
| Fran's great dark eyes were set liked
] ly upon space as they solemuly pa
/ raded beneath the watchful moon As
Abbott watched her. the witchery Of
the night stole into his blood
The last plank was crossed Now"
Fran cried breathlessly. what did YOU
wish?" Her body was quiyerng, her
/ face glowing.
That | might succeed, Abbott an
swered
on" said Fran. My! Thai was
1 like a cold breath. Just wishing 10
J be great. and famous. and usefu: and
rich,'
/ Abbott laughed as lightheartedly as
/ if the road were not calling him away
from solitudes. well, what did YOU
wish, Franz"
That you might always be my
friend while we're together, and after
We part"
1t doesn't take new bridge to
make that come true" he declared.
She looked at him solemnly. DO
you understand the responsibilities of
being a friend? A friend has tc as
sumo obligations. just as when a mans
elected to office. he must represent his
party and his platform"
III stand for you" Abbott cried
earnestly.
viii you? Then I'm going to tell
you all about myself-ready to be sur
prised? Friends ought to know each
other In the first place. | am eighteen
years old, and in the second place
am professional Iion-trainer and in
the third place my father ls-but
friends don't have to know each 9TH
er's fathers. Besides, maybe thats
enough to start with"
Yes" saiu Abbott. lit is" lie
paused, but she could not guess his
emotions, for his face showed moth
ing but a sort of blankness. u should
like to take this up seriatim You tell
me you are eighteen years old?"
And have had lots OF expert
ence"
Your lion,training; has it been theo
retical or"
"Mercenary," Fran responded. real
lions. real bars, real spectators, real
pay DAYS.
But Fran" said Abbott heIpl"ssly.
q don't understand
Put you're going 20. before I'm
done with you. ! tell you. I'm show
girl, a lon.:rainer, a jungler En- the
famous Fran Nonpareil and M car
niyal company has showed in most OF
the towns and cities OF the United
States. lis when I'm in my blue silks
and gold stars and crimson sashes.
kissing my hands to the audience. that
I'm the real princess"
Abbott was unable 20 auaIvzc his
real emotions. and his one endcavor
was to hide his EerplcNity He had
/ always treated her as ii she were Old
cr than the town supposed, hence the
revelation Of her age did not so much
matter but lion-training was so re-
4 mote from conventions that it seemed
in a way almost uncanHy. It seemed
to isolate Fran. 10 se1her ccldly apart
] from the people OF his world
I'm going home, Fran said alb
ruptly.
He followed her mechanically. too
/ absorbed in her revelation to think OF
the cards LEFT forgotten on the bridge
From their scene of good wishes, fran
vent firs, head erect, arms swinging
defantly; Abbott followed, not know
ing in the least what to say, or even
what TO think
The moon had not been laughing at
them long. before Fran looked back
over her shoulder and said. as if he
had spoken, Still. I'd like for you to
know about it"
He quickeued his step to regain her
side, but was oppressed by an cdd
sense Of the abnormal
Although she added indistiuctly,
1t doesn't matter"
They walked on in silence until aft
ter prolonged hesitation, he told her
quietly that he would like to hear all
she felt disposed TO tell.
She looked at him steadily. Can
you dilute a few words with the water
of your imagination, to cover a life!
III speak the words, il you have the
imagination
ITO BE Continued
Ammonia water that has hecn used