Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-01

eS, 90, DO.
But, Sir John. can't give my mind to
it-not now"
Think it over. but remember. hours
are precious"
Il can only think of one thing at a time
and I'm thinking of myself now"
Surely our interests are identical You
don't want the place ruined.
"Sir. may I speak frankly? May
speak my thought"
''By all means"
81 have very little interest with the
corporation. They went fierce against mc
when | opposed them building the ne W
town hall"
"a piece of extravagant folly
Just so. but those who ought to have
supported me, kept me off the council:
they turned me out. The town thinks
naught of me-
But the town knows you are rich"
''They don't know how rich 1 am
II congratulate you"
Mr.. Crunden was narvously wfping his
hands with his ample bandana handker-
chief. There were beads of perspiration
on his forehead and red glow rose to
his temples as he made his unusual
boast.
I'm richer man than folk guess. I've
worked hard-and I've done right well.
Sir, ] follow your lead: 4 MAXI
no secret. AS gentleman said t. me the
other day-it was Mr. Dowling-he said
/ hadn't gone in for display-kcpt my
money safe. out of sigat. but it's there
all right"
II am sure" said the visitor patroniz-
ingly. but kindly, you deserve the re-
spect of all. 1t is the men of your class
who by steady industry amass fortune.
and who are wise enough not to have
their heads turned by prosperity. and
Yes. but I'm an ambitious man. 1
have great ambitions-tremendous ambi-
TONS
mo unworthy ambitions. 1 am quite
sure"
THANK you. sir. There's my daughter.
I'm ambitious for her. Sir have worked
hard to make lady OF my girl
Not without good results. She is a
charming young lady"
That's the very words Of another gen.
tleman-who lives in Hill Rise. 1t was
DR.. Blake. Another gentleman he said
my girl can't look too high. That was
Mr. Bowling again He said it and he
meant it,"
Mr.. Crunden.' said Sir John, with I'M
affected kindness. you are thinking of
that unfortunate business at the club.
can assure you it was simply rule-that
couldn't be broken 1t was in no sense
an affront to Miss Crunden."
Thank you. No-tradesman's daughter,
1t was meant for me. That's how / took
1t. Poor girl. Her father stood in her
way But her father can get out of her
"Crunden-my good fellow, let me see
what I can do. If an exception can be
made-well make it. Is that what you
want from us?"
No, l want thousand times more. I
want your son from you'll want your son,
Mr.. Jack, for my daughters husband.
That's my ambition
For a few moments the visitor stared
at his host in open-mouthed surprise.
II fear that ambition cannot be realized
. . al 70 no.
mo. I'm not. No. don't answer
me now. Think 1t over" and the host
leaned across the table and spoke with
extraordinary eagerness and intensity. II
dream-a mad dream-old Crunden gone
out Of his senses. But, sir, it's all right"
"Stop-please? Has my son been foolish
enough to rouse hopes?
mo. never word said, But he'll do It,
II you ask him. Why shouldn't he? Ny
girl isn't the sort to frighten mainland
there's money behind her.
Sir John laughed and was about to RISE
Really. this Is rather absurd. My son
is over thirty
He'll do what you tell him. Please
don't answer me now. ask you to think
1t over
"Mr Crunden-what shall I say? We
have very different views for our SON.
When he marries. it will not, think be
for money. and 1t will be in his own walk
Of ife-that is. II he marries with my
consent
Don't answer me. Sit down, sir. and
hear me out; then think it over. Your
lads thirty-more'n old enough to be set
tied. What goods he doing loaf1ng-I
should say. strollng-about the town
here? Where's he drifting, where's he
dropping to-while he waits his turn-till
you are gomez"
Sir John pushed back his chair.
Don't mind how I put 1t. Take the
sense. not the words. I'm in earnest
bitterly in earnest. It's the wisest thing
you could do for him. You say: Marry
with your consent-suppose he doesn't
ask It; spose he comes and tells you he
means to marry some barmaid at the
White Hart. or a singing wench from the
theater? You can't stop him. Let him
love him with all her heart when he asks
her to do it-and I'll move out of their
way. 1 won't disgrace them. Old Hedge
hog Crunden will disappear down the next
hedge row.
Sir John rose and stood. hat in hand
There! This is my offer, Sir John. l
am bitterly in earnest Think of it-don't
answer. It's a fair bargain. Let me
have the son-in-law I've set my dreams
on, and I'll save Hill Rise. can do it
tie twenty thousand-in cash or ground
rents-on them two, and you shall settle
Hill House, to come to- them when you
are gone. There, that's the bargain.
Really. time is not necessary. l have
explained that really 1t can't be thought
of seriously
mo, mol Don't answer"
The ease Of manner and smiling self
possession of Sir John had vanished. He
had been vastly surprised, considerably
embarrassed; he appeared to make an
effort to summon back the unruffled pres
ence Of the great Sir John of Hill House,
chairman of public meetings. magistrates
bench, etc. But the effort Wds not en-
tirely successful; kind feeling, perhaps,
warred with outward dignity.
Really" he said, II must at all costs,
be explicit Impossible. Your bargain is
impossible. Mr.. Crunden. we are born
with our prejudices-foolish prejudices it
may be-but We can't shake them OF,
Think 1t over
II don't wish to be discourteouS, but, II
you can only help US on these terms-in
the plainest words-I would rather see
Hill Rise in the hands of the speculative
builders"
so that's your answer"
Yes. that's my answer, Mr.. Crunden.' -
Old Crunden pulled himself together.
gave his head shake, and. before he
Very good, sir. All right. That's over
and done with Please forget what I've
said. Please-don't go away and laugh
ut me-"
NO said Sir John at the door; mo
certainly not.
I'D ask you-humbly-Sir John, as a