Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1913-06-27
be wandering about the world, all by

be wandering about the world, all by
yourself!"
She was grateful for his raillery.
How young do you Think"
'Lct me see. Hum! You are only
about" She laughed mirthfuIly at
his air of preposterous wisdom
About thirteen fourteen, yes, you
are more. than fi-i-ifteen, more than
J. But take of that enormous hat.
little Nonpareil. There's no use guess
Ing in the dark when the moo
shining"
Fran was gleeful "All right she.
cried In one OF her childish tones.
shrill, fresh. vibratory with the mu-
sic OF innocence.
BY this time they had reached the
foot-bridge that spanned the deep ra-
vine. Here the wagon-road made its
crossing Of q tiny stream. by slipping
under the foot-bridge. some fifteen
feet below. On the left lay struggling
Littleburg with It's four or five hun
dred houses. family twinkling, and be-
yond the meadows on the right, a
fringe of woods started up as IL It did
not belong there. but had come to be
seen, while above the woods swung
the big moon with Fran on the foot
bridge to shine for.
Fran's hat dangled idly in her hand
as she drew herself with backward
movement upon the railing. The moon
light was full upon her face; SO was
the young mans gaze. One of her
feet found, after leisurely exploration,
devastating board upon the edge
Of which she pressed her heel for sup
port. The other foot swayed to and
fro above the flooring, while a little
hand on either side of her gripped the
top rail.
Here am, she said. shaking back
rebellious hair.
Abbott Ashton studied her with
grave deliberation--it is doubtful IL he
had ever before SO thoroughly en-
ioyed his duties as usher. He pro-
nounced 1udicially. "You are older
than you look"
"Yes." Fran explained, "my expe-
rience accounts for that. I'VE had
lots"
Abbott's lingering here beneath the
moon when he should have been hur-
rying back to the tent. showed how
unequally the good things of life-ex-
perience, for instance-are divided.
You are sixteen" he hazarded. con
scious of strange exhilaration.
Fran lodged the issue behind a
smile And don't think you are so
awfuiiy old"
Abbott was brought to himself with
jolt that threw him hard upon self
consciousness. Il am superintendent
of the public school" The very sound
of the words rang as warning, and
ne became preternaturally solemn.
"Goodness!" cried Fran, consider.
ing his grave mouth and Thoughtful
eyes. does 1t hurt that bad?'
Abbott smiled. All the same. the
position OF superintendent must not
be bartered away for the transitory
pleasures of boot-bridge. 1--WE had
better hurry, II you please" he said
gravely.
Il am so afraid of you" murmured
Fran. 'But know the meeting will
last long time yet. I'd hate TO have
to wait long at Mr.. Gregory's with
that disagreeable lady who isn't Mrs
Gregory"
Abbott was startled Why did she
thus designate Mr. Gregory's secre
tary? He looked keenly at Fran, but
she only said plaintively:
Cant we stay here?'
He was disturbed and perplexed II
was as If fitting shadow from some
uniformed cloud Of thought-mist had
fallen upon the everyday world out OF
his subconsciousness Why did this
stranger speak Of Miss Grace Noir al
the lady who isn't Mrs. Gregory p
The young man at times had caugh
himself thinking of her in just tina
way,
School superintendent do not enjo,
being mystified. Really" Abbott de
clared abruptly. 81 must go back t,
the meeting"
Fran had heard enough about hi
leaving her. She decided to stop tina
once and for all. eIf you go back
go, tool" she said conclusively Sh
gave him look to show that sh
meant 1t. then became all humility
Please don't be cross with littl
Nonpareil." she coaxed. Please don
want to go back to that meeting
Please don't want to leave me. 70
are so learned and old and so strong
you don't care why a little gin
| laughs"
Fran tilted her head sidewise, an
: the glance of her eyes proved irresis
ible. "But tell me about Mr.. Gre,
; ory." she pleaded. "and don't mind N
; ways. Ever since mother died Nv
D found nothing In this world but Low
:. that was for somebody else, an
trouble that was for me-"
S The pathetic cadence OF tae slende