The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1913-11-20
CHAPTER XXI.
The Street Fair.


fearful din of carnival too big for it,
when Abbott Ashton, after his weeks
of absence returned to find himself at
Hamilton Gregory's door. He discov-
cred old Mrs. Jefferson in the front
room-this July night-because old
age is on no friendly terms with fall
ing dew; but every window was open.
Come in," she cried, delighted at
sight of his handsome, smiling face
he had been smiling most of the time
during his drive from Simmtown with
Robert Clinton. Here | sit by the
window, where sometimes l imagine
hear a faint, far-away sound. | judge
it's from some carnival band. Take
this chair and listen attentively;
your ears are younger-now!"
Abbott did not get all of this be-
cause of the Gargantuan roar that
swept through the window, but he
gravely tilted his head, then took the
proffered ear-trumpet: you are
right" he said, II hear something"
tits the street fair" she announced
triumphantly. "But sometimes it's
louder How fine you look, Abbott
just as if your conscience doesn't
hurt you for disappearing without
leaving a clue to the mystery You
needn't be looking around, sir-Fran
isn't here"
II wonder where she is?" Abbott
smiled. I'm dreadfully impatient to
tell her the good news. Mrs. Jeffer
son, I'm to teach in a college-it's
much bigger thing than the position
lost here. And l have a chance to
work out some ideas that know Fran
will like. l used to think that every
thing ought TO be left precisely as it
is, because it's been that way SO long
i mean the church; and schools;
and-and society. But I've made up
my mind that nothing is right. unless
it works right"
Mrs Jefferson listened in desperate
eagerness. "a watch?" she hazarded.
Exactly" he responded hastily. eff
a watch doesn't run, what's the use of
it's being pretty? And if churches de-
velop a gift of tongue instead of char
acter, what's the value of their pray
ers and songs? And I've concluded
that if schools dom teach us how to
live, they have the wrong kind of
springs and wheels. Where is Fran.
Mrs Jefferson?"
STILL" she temporized, I'VE can't
get along without watches, Abbott"
mo, nor schools, nor churches But
they must have good works. Is Fran
down at the fair, do you Think"
The other bent toward him stealth
ily ASK where Mrs. Gregory is" she
said, wonderfully significant
"Well?"
abbott, listen: She's gone a-visit-
ing!"
''Visiting!' Abbott was surprised.
Eyes, visiting, she that hasn't been
off this place to visit a soul for ages.
tell you, boy, times have changed,
here Maybe you think nobody'd be
left at home to visit; but Fran has
found that there is a woman in town
that she used to know, and the woman
has mighty sick child, and Lucy
has gone to sit by it, SO the mother
can rest. Think of that, Abbott, think
of Lucy going anywhere. My! Have
you heard that we've lost secretary
at this place? l mean the future Mrs.
Bob. Yes, she's gone. I'd as soon
have thought of the courthouse being
picked up and set in the parlor."
Mrs. Jefferson drew back and said
succinctly: Fran did it,"
Her cap quivered as she leaned for
ward again. Get her to tell you all
about it. We darsen't speak about it
much because of the neighbors. We
conspired, Fran and L. Yes, she's
down at the carnival, you boy!"
Abbott hastily departed. Later he
found himself in cloud-burst of con-
fetti, on the "city square" and when
he had cleared his eyes of the red and
white snow, he saw Fran disappear
ing like bit of crimson glass at the
bottom Of human kaleidoscope. Fran
had thrown the confetti, then fed
how much brighter she was than all
the other shifting units of humanity
He fought his way toward her de
terminedly, finding she was about to
be submerged. Was she actually try
ing to elude him?