The Washington herald., 1913-03-16

from the care of the lawn-mower,
mixed yellow tints of light with is
emerald hue. Shadows from the ten
der young leaves decorated the white
ness of the smooth village road in
dainty tracery. and splashed the rib
bons of rain-drenched granitold walks
with warm shadow spray.
Fran, eager for the first mornings
view of her new home, stared at the
standing back in picket-fehced yards
with screens of trees before their win
dow eyes. They showed only as bits
of weather-boarding. or cleaning fr1g-
ments of glass, peeping through the
boughs. At one place, nothing was to
be seen but stone steps and chiru-
ney; at another, there was an open
door and flashing broom; or a curl
of smoke and face at window. She
thought everything homelike. neigh
borly. These houses seemed to her
closer to the earth than those of New
York, or, at any rate, closer in the
sense of brotherhood. She drew a
deep breath of pungent April essence
and murmured: What world to
live rnr
Fran had spoken in all sincerity when
declaring that she wanted nothing but
home; and when she went down to
breakfast it was with the expectation
that every member of the family would
pursue his accustomed routine, unde-
flected by her presence. She was will
ing that they should remain what they
were, just as she expected to continue
without change; however, not many
days passed before she found herself
seeking to modify her surroundings.
II strange mouse be imprisoned in a
cage of mice, those already Injured to
captivity will seek to destroy the new
conner. Fran, suddenly thrust into the
bosom of a family already fixed in
their modes OF thought and action,
found adjustment exceedingly difficult.
She did not care to mingle with the
people OF the villagc-which was fortu-
nate, since her laughing in the tent
had scandalized the neighborhood; she
would have been content never to cross
the boundaries of the homestead. had
il not been for Abbott Ashton. 1t was
because OF him that she acquiesced in
SShSl pau W s0llO HSi " SNiicoi-
In the unanimous conviction of the
need of change in Fran, and because
there were still two months of school.
she must pass through this two months
wringer-shc might not acquire polish.
but the family hoped some crudities
might be squeezed out. 1t was on the
fifth day of her stay, following her
startling admission that she had never
been TO school a day in her life, that
unanimous opinion was fused into cx-
pressed command
You must 60 TO SCHOOL,
Fran thought of the young superin-
tendent, and said she was willing.
When Mr. Gregory and the sccrc-
tary had retired to the library for the
days work. Mrs. Gregory told Fran.
Il really think, dear, that your
dresses are much to short. You are
small, but your face and manners and
even you voice, sometimes, seem old
quite old"
Fran showed the gentle lady soft
docility. Well" she said. my legs are
there, all the time, you know, and I'll
show just as much of them, or just as
little, as you please
Simon Jefferson spoke up-"I like to
see children wear short dresses
he looked at this particular child with
approval. That day she was really
pretty. The triangle had been broad
encd to an oval brow, the chin was
held slightly lowered. and there was
something in her general aspect. posi-
bly, due to the arrangement of folds
or colors-heaven knows what, for ST.
mon Jefferson was but a poor male OBJ
server-that made a merit of her very
thinness. The weak heart of the burly
bachelor tingied with pleasure in nice
proportions. while his mind attained
the aesthetic outlook of classic age.
To be sure, the skirts did show a
good deal OF Fran; very good-they
could not show too much
Il like" Simon persisted, TO see
young girls OF fourteen or fifteen.
dressed. so to say. in low necks and
high stocking in-er-in the airy wav
such as they are by nature =" 1t
was hard to express.
Yes" Fran said impartially, 1t
pleases others and it doesn't hurt me-"
Franz Mrs. Gregory exclaimed,
gazing helplessly at the girl with some
thing of child's awe inspired by ven
cradle years. 1t was pathetic appeal
to a spirit altogether beyond her conf
prehension.
Fran's quick eye caught the express
sion of bafficd reaching forth. of un-
certain striving after sympathetic I'M
derstanding You darling LADY," she
cried, clasping her hands to keep her
arms from flying about the others
neck. don't you be troubled about me-
Bless your heart. | can take care of
you, too! Do you think
I'd add straw to your Now
you hear me; if YOU want to do it,
just put me in long trains with Pull