The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-03

that Mir. Crunden would grant when the houses were built. Copies of the draft were sent to all who seemed dis posed to treat for MT. Crunden's eligi- bie plots. Jack was always greedy for the typewritten copies--could not have too many of them. clamoured for them. and undoubtedly sq,iandered postage stamps by despatching them broadcast.
 But such extravagance, as showing his anxiety to serve her father, was to his credit Thinking of him now. she considered all things that might be said in his favour or against him. He was helping her father--or endeavor- ing to help her father. That was thing enormously creditabie. But what else? Really. after careful considera- tion. what else might one say?
 Alas. no hero worthy of enthron ment in MT. Meese's Library novels. If you robbed him of all dream-like at- tributes stripped him of splendor and mystery. tumb1ed him out of the clouds into common working life. there seemed to be left but very ordinary and far from estimable parsonage. No difficulty in finding things to his dis credit and isgrace--dreadful things: dark abysses into which one scarcely
 dared to peer. What. for instance.
 could be more utterly degrading than
 thio SoiiRduionSitIp WilH ioooiSh-
 haired. tigh t-laced dressmaker fiaunt-s ing In unaold finery from her shop,
 Who now could be gratifed by his
 company. Mir. Bowling praised him
 for his friendly ways and freedom
 from class-prejduce.T That meant that 1t
 was good of him to drop to the Crun- den level and seem happy and at ease
 when he joined them as a supper guest. But when. still dropping. he
 shot past the Crunden plane and you found him side by side with Miss Barter in the cheap seats Of the thea tre among all the riff-ram of the town found him. too happy at least there also. what must you thinkS
 Could anything be more disgracefui? Yes. Mrs. Price. opening the abysses, plainly hinted at a lower taste than the taste for vulgar company--the love of fiery drink. But that was a thing Lizzie refused to believe. He could not have fallen so far not only 1 from his place in her silly dreams but frim his place in her childish memo l ries. In those distance days he had | urged poor brother Dick to be sober l and wise. had always seemed to be, in | relation to Dick, a noble and refining | influence. Nothing should make her | believe that in this matter the years | had taken all virtue from him. It l would be too horrible q debasement | w 1 than was good for him, Dick was an l inexperienced boy. He began to sin | from heedleness. Every excuse could l be made for unhappy Dick: none could | be made for one in the prime of man.
 hood who should lapse into such dis | gusting vice. She would never be- I lieve that Mrs. Prices fear was we'll | founded.
 l No. the man who had fought those half4drunken and wholly brutal riot | CTS could not himself be a drunkard | Her imagination kind1ed as she
 thought of the famous light against | her fathers enemies. Here at least | were heroic--book- -worthyTattributes 1 on which one could dwell safely. That
 night. as described by MT. Bowling and | Mrs Price--neither of whom could
 claim to be an Aeye-witness-was of | Homeric grandeur. Prowess as of l the old world-myths had been display ed: one man defeating an army in l pitched battle-you cannot ask Of | your hero more than that.
 In fact, the thing had been less like
 a general enga cement than the ancient 1 duel of champions. MT. Fred Moyle. carman for the brewery, a monstrous l lout who led the procession, was the | champion self-chosen for the advanc- i ing horde. At the head of his troops
 he stepped forth, and breathed beer l ana Qenance. Inen JACK kHochou niH
 down; and when he got up, Jack
 knocked him down again. A friend
 and lieutenant of Fred rushing in l perhaps merely to pick up the fallen 1 giant-received a clip on the ear that
 sent him staggering. Another friend | sprang back in horror of such ear | clips. Still another friend armed with
 a loose plank swung it for space and | protection. wbunding and disabling i Jacks left hand; and then with the
 useful plank escaped from the danger
 zone. Then Jack himself shouted de- | fiance. Come on. you dirty black
 guards, if you want any more. Come
 on, the lot of you"-and his breath
 failed. He was completely out of con-
 dition, weighing at least two stone
 more than his correct fighting weight;
 he was puffed wounded helpless real
 ly, but triumphant. The rabble rout
 had already begun; the myriad enemy
 quailed. broke rank. turned; the effigy
 of old Crunden was trotting away. It
 was in truth a beaten or demoralized
 army that streamed down the new
 road, down Hil Road, and only ral-
 lied at the bridge to tell bridge loung-