Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-12-12

lip, 81 mean-when we are alone"
While we're together, and after
we part" he quoted. Fran, surely
you don't feel toward me the way you
are looking"
Exactly as I'm looking at you. that's
the way / feel. Stand there as long
as you please"
Il don't want to stand a moment
longer. want to sit with you in the
buggy. Please Cont be 500 old!"
Fran laughed out musically, but i'm
mediately declared: 81 laughed be-
cause you are unexpected; 1t doesn't
mean | like you any better. I hate
friendship that shows itself only in
private. Mr.. Chameleon. like people
to show their true colors."
Il am not Mr.. Chameleon, and ]
want to sit in your buggy"
well, then get in the very farthes3
corner. Now look me in the eyes"
And. oh, Fran, you have such eyes!
They are SO marvelously-er-un
friendly"
I'm glad you ended up that way.
Now look me in the eyes. Suppose
you should see the school-board sail
ing down the road, Miss Sapphire
thrown in. What would you do?"
What should l do?"
Hide, suppose" said Fran. sud-
denly ripping.
Then you look me in the eyes and
listen to me-" he said impressively.
Weigh my words-have you scales
strong enough"
Put 'em on slow and careful"
II am not Mr.. Chameleon for show
my true color. And / am a real friend,
no matter what kind of tree l am"
He paused, cropping for a word
"Up?" she suggested, with a sudden
chuckle. "All right-let the school
board come. But you don't seem sur
prised to see me here in the buggy
without Mr. Simon"
When Mr.. Simon comes heu find
me right here" Abbott declared.
Fran, please don't be always showing
your worst side to the town; when
you laugh at peoples standards, they
think you queer-and you can't imag-
inc just how much you are to me-"
"Huh!" Fran shifted. I'D hate to
be anybody's friend and have my
friendship as little use as yours has
been to me-"
He was deeply wounded. "Pve tried
to give good advice"
Il don't need advice, want help in
carrying out what / already know"
Her voice vibrated. You're afraid of
losing your position IL you have any
thing to do with me. OF course I'm
queer. Can l help 1t, when / have
no real home, and nobody cares
whether / go or stay?"
you know ! care, Fran"
Fran caught her lip between her
teeth as IL to hold herself steady. "Oh,
let's drive" she said recklessly, strik-
ing at the dashboard with a whip, and
shaking her hair about her face till
she looked the elfish child he had first
known.
Fran, you know 1 care-you know
It."
We'll drive into Enough
Country" she said with half-smile
showing on the side of her face next
him. Whoa! Here we are. All who
live in Sure-Enough Country are sure
enough people-whatever they say is
true. Goodness!" She opened her
eyes very wide-"It's awful dangerous
to talk in Sure Enough Country" She
put up her whip. and folded her
hands.
I'm glad we're here. Fran, for you
have your friendly look"
That's because really do like you.
Let's talk about yourself-how you ex-
pect to be what you'll be-you're moth
ing yet, you know, Abbott; but how
did you come to determine to be some
thing?"
Into Abbott's smile stole something
tender and sacred. at was all my
mother" he explained simply. She
died before ! received my state GER
tificate, but she thought I'd be a great
man-so / am trying for it."
And she'll never know" Fran
lamented.
CTo BE CoNTINUED)