The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-08-07
CHAPTER XIV.
In Sure Enouoh Country.

III OuTe-EnOu0n OOunuy.
One morning, more than a month
after the closing days of school, Alb
bolt Ashton CHANGED to look from his
bedroom window as Hamilton Greg
ory's buggy, with Fran in it, passed.
Long fishingpoles. projected from the
back of the buggy.
BY Fran's side. Abbott discovered
man. True it was only" Simon JEFF
ferson; still, for all his fifty years
and his weak heart. it was not as if
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 stream suggested to Abbott that
it would be agreeable to pursue his
studies in the open air. He snatched
up some books and went below.
On the green veranda he paused to
inhale 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. 1t
won't make any more of life to take it
hard-there's Just so much for every
man"
Huge and serious, Miss Sapphire sat
in the shadow of the bay-wiLdow.
Against the wall were arranged
sturdy ound-backed wooden chairs,
each of which could have received the
landlady's person without culver of
a spindle. Everything about Abbott
seemed too carefully ordered-he
pinned for the wholesome messy
bank sloping to a purling stream.
suddenly Miss Sapphire 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 became as the granite door OF a
cave sealed against the too-curious.
Abbott paused uneasily before his
meditated fight-"Have you heard any
ncws?"
She answered almost tragicaly.
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 so
much dissatisfaction over Abbott Ash
ton-because of so much talk that
even Robert Clinton had thought it
best to wait. that the young man
might virtually be put upon good be
havior
Tonight" the young man repeated
with a thrill He realized how impor
tant this meeting would prove in shap-
ing his future.
Yes" she said warninsly. 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 a
school-teacher-but ever since he's
been chairman of the school board,
he's aimed TO have the best teachers,
so the children can be taught right;
most of 'em are poor and may want
to teach, too. when they're grown.
think all the boardll 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 Riffle-he
with his weak heart, and her with that
sly smile of hers, and it's a full three
mile"
Abbott did not volunteer that he had
seen them pass, but his face showed
the ostensible integrity of jam.thief,
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"
81 want to breathe in this June
morning without taking it strained
No~o-Oo-~-0-o-O-~~O~~-~-o-~-~