Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-30

light was full upon her face; SO was
the young mans gaze. One Of her feet
found, after leisurely exploration, a
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-- 1t Is doubtful II
he had ever before 50 thoroughly en-
joyed his duties as usher. He pro-
nounced judicially, "You are older
than you look"
EYES," Fran explained, my expert
ence 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 goods things Of life -
experience, 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
awf,illy old"
Abbott was brought to himself with
Jolt that threw him hard upon self
consciousness. 81 am superintendent
of the public school," The very sound
OF the words rang as a warning, and
he became preternaturally solemn.
"Goodness!" cried Fran. considering
his grave mouth and thoughtful eyes,
"does 1t hurt that bad?"
Abbott smiled. All the same. the
position of superintendent must not
be battered away for the transitory
pleasures of foot-bridge. eve had
better hurry, II you please" he said
gravely. .....
81 am so afraid of you" murmured
Fran. But I 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. Gregorys secre-
tary? He looked keenly at Fran, but
she only said plaintively: aa
Cant we stay here?"
He was disturbed and perplexed. It
was as II a 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 as
the lady who isn't Mrs Gregory?" The
young man at times had caught him
self thinking OF her in just that way.
Looking intently at the other as If
to divine her secret thoughts, he for
got momentarily his uneasiness. One
could not long be troubled by thought.
mists from Inconsistencies. when
looking at Fran for Fran was fact.
He sighed involuntarily. She was such
a fact! r
Perhaps she wasn't really pretty
but homely? by no means. Her thin
face slanted to sharpened chin. Her
hair, drawn to the corner of either
eye, left white triangle whose apex
pointed to the highest reach Of the
forehead. Thus the face. in all it's con-
tour, was rising, or falling. to point.
This sharpness of feature was In her
very laugh itself: while in that hair
encircled oval was the light Of elfish
but Of no human Joy.
School superintendent do not en-
joy being mystified. Really" Abbott
declared abruptly, II must 60 back to
the meeting"
Fran had heard enough about his
leaving her She decided to stop that
once and for all. III you go back, go.
too" she said conclusively. She gave
him look to show that she meant it,
then became all humility.
"Please don't be cross with little
Nonpareil,' she coaxed. please don't
want to 20 back to that meeting.
Please don't want to leave me. You
are so learned and old and so strong
you don't care why little girl
laughs
Fran tilted her head sidewise, md
the glance of her eyes proved ire
Eistible. But tell me about Mr..
Gregory she pleaded. land don
mind my ways. Ever since mother
died, I've found nothing in this world
but love that was for somebody else,
and trouble that was for me-
The pathetic cadence of the slender
tones moved Abbott more
than he cared to show.
IF you're in trouble he exclaimed
you've sought the right helper in Mr.
Gregory He's the richest man In the
county. yet lives so simply, so frugally
they keep few servants-and all be-
cause he wants to do good with his
money .as
81 guess his secretary is consider
able help to him. Fran observed.
81 don't know how he'd carry on his
great work without her. ! think Mr.
Gregory is one Of the best men that
ever lived"
Fran asIred with simplicity. Great
church worker"
"He's as good as he is rich. He
never misses service. I cant give
he time to it that he does to the
church. I mean; have ambition to
hold, one day. a chair at Yale or
means to teach in
he broke off, in explana-
ion. ....-
Fran held out her swinging foot.
md examined the dusty shoe. ooh,
,he said in a relieved tone, II was
afraid it meant to sit down all the
lime. Lots of people are ambitious not
o move if they can help it,
He looked at her a little uncertain
v. then went on $50 it keeps me
studying hard. to fit myself for the
uture. ] hope to be reelected snperiE-
endent in Littleburg again next year