Charlevoix county herald., 1913-07-19


Abbott said regretfully, Hell have
to be whipped"
Clinton nodded, and sat down sol
EMMY, breathing hard. Abbott was
-estlessly pacing the floor. and Bob
! was staring at him unwinkingly,, when
the door opened and in came Fran.
Fran walked up to Abbott hesitat-
ingly, and spoke with the indistinct-
ness OF awed humility. You are to
punish me-" she explained, "by max
ing me work out this original propo-
sition"-showing the book-"and you
are to keep me here till get it,"
Abbott asked sternly, Did Miss
Bull send me this message?"
She is named that" Fran muir
INJURED, her eyes fastened on the open
page.
From the yard came the shouts of
children, breaking the bonds OF learn
ing for a wider freedom. Abbott. gaz-
ing severely on this slip OF a girl
! found her decidedly commonplace in
appearance. How the moonlight must
have bewitched him! He rejoiced that
Robert Clinton was there to witness
his Indifference
This Is the problem" Fran said,
with exceeding primness, pronouncing
the word as il /. were too large for
her. and holding up the book with a
slender finger placed upon certain
, italicized words
Let me see it," said Abbott. with
professional dryness. He grasped the
book to read the proposition. His
hand was against hers, but she did not
draw away. for had she done so. how
could he have found the place?
Fran, with uplifted eyes. spoke in
the plaintive accents of a five-year.old
child: Fright there. sir it's
awful hard"
| Robert Clinton cleared his throat
and produced a sound bursting with
accumulated his and r's-his warning
passed UNDECIDED.
Never before had Abbott had so
much Of Fran. The capillaries of his
skin, as her hand quivered warmly
! against his, seemed drawing her in ,
and as she escaped from her splendid
black orbs, she entered his brd:r by
| the avenue of his own thirsty eyes.
| What was the use to tel, himself that
she was commonplace, that his posi-
ton was in danger because Of her?
! Suddenly her hair fell slantwise past
the corners of her eyes, making a
triangle of smooth white skin TO the
roots of the hair, and il seemed good,
! just because it was Fran's way and
not after a machine-turned fashion
Fran was done by hand, there was no
doubt Of that.
sit there" Abbott said, gravely
pointing. She obeyed without a word,
leaving the geometry as hostage in the
Greet distance. she looked over at Bob
Clinton. He hastily drew on his spec.
tacles, that he might look old
Abbott volunteered. This is Mr..
Clinton, President OF the Board"
II know" said Fran, staring at her
pencil and paper, hes at the head
OF the show, and watches when the
wild animals are tanned"
Clinton drew forth newspaper. and
opened 1t deliberately.
Fran scrubbed for some time. then
looked over at him again. Did you
get it?" she asked. with mild interest
Did get-what?" he returned. with
puzzled frown.
oh, don't know what it is" said
Fran with humility; 'the name of it's
Religion"
"If | were you" Clinton returned,
flushing. I'D be ashamed to refer to
the night you disgracad yourself by
laughing in the tent"
Fran" Abbott interposed severely,
attend to your work"
Fran bent her head over the desk
abe and def" she observed with
more energy than she had hitherto dis
played. They're equal to each other,
but don't know why, and don't care.
because it doesn't seem TO matter
Nothing interests me unless IL has
something to do with living. These
angles and lines are nothing to me /;
what care for is this time I'm vast.
ing. sitting in stuffy old room. while
the good big world is enjoying itself
just outside the window" She started
up impetuously.
sit down!" Abbott commanded
Fran" exclaimed Robert Clinton
stamping his foot. sit down."
Fran sank back upon the bench.
81 suspect" said Abbott mildly
that they have put you in classes too
far advanced. We must try you in
another room"
But I don't want to be tried in
rooms" Fran explained. IL want 10 be
tried in acts-deeds. Until l came
here. I'd never been TO school q day
in my life." she went on in a con1den.
tial tone. II agreed to attend because
III imagined school ought to have some