Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1913-09-03


to be whipped"
Clinton nodded, and sat down sol
EMMY, breathing hard. Abbott was
restlessly 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 indlstinct-
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 I'LL get it."
Abbott asked steynly, did Miss
Bull send me this messenger"
"She Is named that" Fran MUIR
INJURED, her eyes fasteaed on the open
page.
From the yard came the shouts of
children, breaking the bonds of learn
ing for wider freedom Abbott, gaz-
ing severely on this slip of 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, eronouncing
the word as if it were too large for
her, and holding up the look with a
slender finger placed upan certain
, italicized words.
Let me see it," said Abbott, with
professional dryness. He grasped the
hook to lead 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 fiv&year-old
child: Right there, sir it's
awful hard"
Robert Clinton cleared His throat
and produced sound bursting with
accumulated his and r's-his warning
passed unheeded.
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 brain by
| the avenue of his own thirsty eyes.
What was the use to tell 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 it 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, gvavely
pointing. She obeyed without G. word,
leaving the geometry as hostage in the
teachers hand. When seated at dis
Greet distance, she looked over at Bob
Clinton. He hastily drew on his spec
tacies. that he might look old.
Abbott volunteered, This Is Mr..
Clinton, President of the Board"
81 know" said Fran, staring at her
pencil and paper, "ne's at the head
of the show, and watches when the
wild animals are tanned
Clinton drew forth newspaper, and
opened it deliberately.
Fran scrubbed for some time, then
looked over at him again Did you
get it?" she asked. with milo interest
did l get-what?" he returned. with
puzzled frown.
"Oh. l 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 disgraced yourself by
laughing in the tent
Fran" Abbott interposed severely
attend to your work"
Fran bent her head over the desk
but was not laEg silent. Il don't like
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 I don't care
because it doesn't seem to matter
Nothing interests me unless it 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 a stuffy old room, while
the good big world is enjoying itsel
Just outside the window She started
up impetaousiy.
"Sit down." AhOott commanded.
'Fran!" exclaimed Robert Clinton
| stamping his foot. '1sit down."
Fran sank back upon the bench.
81 suspect" said Abbott mildly
that they have put you in classes toe
, far advanced. We must try you IL
another room"
s'But / don't want to be tried IL
rc.5ns. Fran explained" want to b
tried in acts-deeds. Until | came
r hers. I'd never been to school O da.
in my iife." she went on In contden
i isl tone. Il agreed to attend because
i.a.s Jacd schoo! Su-h5 10 have sum'