Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22

many of us were led astray. But we can
see clear now"
Can you?'
And the wish of all. Mr.. Crurden. is
to let bygones be bygones. We were
talking of you after the council meeting
on Monday night. A full meeting-a rep
resentative meeting-and after it was
done. we spoke free among ourselves,
without 'umbug. The old feeling has
gone, Mr.. Crunden. We do not begrudge
you your wealth nor your success, Mr..
Crunden. We see now that in helping
yourself, you have helped others
That" said Mr. Hopkins, is what I felt
should like to make myself the mouth
piece to Say-and to shake you by the
hand, Mr.. Crunden."
The tide had turned-was flowing fast
the other way. 1t almost seemed as
though, if nothing checked the flood. old
Crunden would soon be absolutely popu-
lar.
He had been described in the Advertiser
as a Pioneer of Progress and a Resolute
Foe to Torpor and Stagnation. Success
sive on-dits in Mees' Bulletin contained
quotations from Jacks pamphlet lav.shly
praising the beauties of the Hill Rise es-
tate. When newspapers begin to give
one free advertisements one may safely
accept them as echoes of the public voice
itself.
Al the springtime brought life to the
sleeping woods. as the sunlight sparkled
and flashed again on Selkrks dome and
Valentines day came round once more
to set the shy birds building, Mr.. Hope,
well advanced in his series of articles,
was doing Mr. Crunden rather more than
justice. Mr.. Hopes pen had trick of
running away with him. When it had
started to eulogize it plunged on, and was
now careering wildly. If one might be-
lieve all that was said in these later in
were que to Mr.. Crunden for all good
thinks in and about Medford-the in
creasing warmth of the sun, the Yolets
on the moss carpet beneath the beeches,
the song OF the birds. the rising of the
sap. the quickening and gladdening of
the human heart after the dull dark
winter
But while Mr.. Hope sang this vernal
paean. while the earth was coming to life
and on all sides one could see and hear
movement. activity, progress. there was
an ominous restful silence over the Hill
Rise land. No shy birds were building
there; the tender young grass was tint
ing unused roads; violets had wandered
from the woods and bashfully, stupidity.
planted themselves by the side of granite
curbstones, to tell one that no footsteps
as yet had passed along the new path
ways. On all the land, when ST. Valen-
tines feast slipped by in the calendar, no
builder this year was busy-except Mr..
Crunden, slowly, desperately slowly, fin.
ishing the last or his decoy houses. &
On February afternoons visitors several
times stood waiting at the door of cere-
mony at Kings Cottage. The spirit that
impelled Mr. Hopkins and such prominent
town fathers from one pavement to an
other at sight of Crunden now brought
the vicar of. st. Barnabas and mis- lady
to call upon Miss Crunden. DIR. Blake,
whose visits in the past had BEEN of a
professional character solely. now called
without being sent for, and leftpot only
his own card, but the card of Mrs Blake.
Miss Irene Hope did not cal-although
her papa had promised that she would do
Lizzie this honor-but she wrote some
what incoherently to explain that she still
intended to call. Miss Hope was full of
Observation-Disclosures rushed just now
too uncertain in her plans to name a
Specific date for the call; Lizzie must,
therefore, excuse delay anu not attribute
Miss Hopes absence to willful neglect.
Life is riddle to all of u.s." said Miss
always seemed to me everything, If one
means well in what one does no one
should blame one whatever one does"
AS Lizzie had never asked Irene to
call she more than forgave her for not
calling; but she thought Irene's letter.
with it's life riddles and general inco-
herence, most ridiculous, affected COM
position.
Among February visitors was Lady
Vincent Her ladyship, calling, drank
tea one afternoon in sIne parlor. Mrs.
Price and Jane hastily produced the best
china, the choicest napery. and the silver
teapot, etc, from the cupboards wnere
ordinarily these treasures lay hidden,
and then served the unusually ceremo-
her son, had absent-minded and yet
friendly smiles for Lizzie, and spoke most
grac ously to Mr.. Crunden.
Old Crunden, perceptibly gratified and