The Washington herald., 1913-03-23
JOHN BRECKENRIDGE ELLIS

to see that the roomers didn't set the
house afre, not a soul would have seen
the two colloguing"
"And it don't seem to have done
you any good remarked her brother,
who, having heard the tale twenty
times, began to look upon the event
almost as matter of course. You'd
better not have saw them'-at an early
age Bob had cit off his education, and
it had stopped growing at that very
place Perhaps ne had been elected
president of the school board on the
principle that We best appreciate what
does not belong to us.
MY home has been Abbott Ashton's
home" said Miss Sapphira. since the
death of his last living relation, and
her step, and it mercy, for nobody
could get along with her, and she
wouldn't let people leave her alone.
You know how fond ! am OF Abbott,
but your position is very responsible.
You could get rid OF him by lifting
your finger, and people are making lots
of talk; it's going to inJure you. Peo-
pie don't want to send their tender
young innocent girls-they're mighty
hardened and knowing set, nowadays,
| though, | must say-to a superintend-
ent that stands on bridges of nights,
| holding hands, and her young slip
| of a thing All alone, Robert, all
| alone; there's going to be complaint
of the school board, that's what there's
going to be, and you'll have to look out
| for your own interests. You must talk
to Abbott Him a-standing on that
| bridge"
He amt stood there as often as I've
been worried TO death a hearing OF it,
growled the ungrateful Bob, who was
immensely fond OF Abbott
Miss Sapphira spoke with amazingly
significant double mods between each
woodland | saw
only :. four :. days ago.
! She pointed at the schoolhouse which
was almost directly across the street,
! its stone steps facing the long veranda
! They were the last 10 come out OF
that door. You may say she's a mere
child. Mere children are not in Miss
| Bulls classes"
But Abbott says the girl is far ad-
vanced'
Far advanced You may well say,
! I'll be bound she is-and CARRYING on
with Abbott on the very schoolhoGse
! steps. Yes, | venture she is advanced
| You make me ashamed to hear YOU.
/ Bob tugged at his Straw-colored mus
tache; he would not swear, for what
ever happened. he was resolved to lead
the spiritual life. See here. Sapphira.
I'm going to tell YOU something | had
quite a talk with Abbott about that
bridge buSineSs-after you'd spread It
Ill - L.,f.
me. she waylaid him on those school
steps. He didn't want TO talk with her
| Why, he left her standing there. She
very folks that have taken her up. He's
disguised. That night at the camp
meeting. he had to take her out of the
tent-he was asked to do it"
| He didn't have 10 stand, a-holding
her hand"
And as soon as he'd shown her
the way to Brother Gregory's. he came
on back to the tent. ! saw him in the
aisle
And she whistled at me" cried Miss
Sapphira-the limb
Now. listen, Sapphira. and quit
soading. Abbott says that Miss Bull
having lots of trouble with Fran -"
See that. now"
Because Fran won't get her les
sons, being CONTRARY
/ Il wish You could have seen her
whistling at me. that night"
Hold on. So this very evening
| Miss Bull is going to send her down
| TO Abbott's office to be punished. or
dismissed. This very evening he wants
me to be over there while he takes her
in hand
Abbott is going to punish that grip"
cried Miss Sapphira: going to take
her in hand? What do you mean by
taking her in hand?' She is too old,
Robert. YOU make me blush
You amt a-blushing. Sapphira.'
her brother assured her. good-natured-
". you're suffering from the hot
weather Yes. he's to punish her at
o'clock, and I'm to be present, to
stop all this confoun-I mean this un-
godly gossip
! You'd better wear YOUR spectacles.
Bob. so you'll look old and settled.
| I'm not always sure of you. either"
Sapphira, if | hadn't joined the
church, Id say He threw up his
hand and clenched his fist as if he
had caught all oath and meant to hold
II tight Then his honest face beamed
See here. I've got an idea. Suppose
you make it a point to be sitting out
here on the veranda at about half past
four. or FIVE You'll see Fran come
sneaking out of that door like whip
! ped kitten She'll look everlaStingly
wilted | don't know whether Abbott
will stuff her full OF fractions and
geography, or make her stand in
corner-but you'll sec her wilted"
Miss Sapphira was highly gratihAd.
81 wish you'd talked this reasonable at
first. It's always what people don't see
that the most harm comes OF. I'll give
F., little tea out here on the vcranda,
and the worst takers in town will be
in these chairs when you bring Fran
| away from Abbott's office. And I'll
explain il all to 'en, and they'll know
Abbott is all right, just as I've always
known"
Get Miss Grace to COME Bob said
sheepishly. She doesn't like Fran,
and she'll be glad to know Abbott is
doing his duty by her. Later. Ill drop
in and have a bite with YOU"
| This. then. was Bob's idea that no
stone might be left unturned to hide
the perfect innocence of the superin-
tendent He had known Abbott Ash
ton as a bare-legged urchin running
on errands for his widowed mother.
He had watched him through studious
years, had believed in his future ca