The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-01
copyish. 1907, By w. B. Maxwell All Rights Reserved.
uHApTEr, /.

something spacious and aws-produc-
tive, opening out before you, leading
you upward to thoughts OF grandeur
and mystery.
She would wake and look ut 1t from
her bedroom window OF summer
morning, and childishly brood on the
n1RGnificence OF the prospect It Of
fered. A broad white road. empty as
yet, still sleeping in the summer sum
light; with noble houses on either
side. carriage gates and brond steps,
white may. red may, yellow lnburnum
showing gaily over garden walls--n
wide ascending vista closed by the
stately trees In the grounds of Hill
House. where lived the great Sir
John. This was Lizzie's view OF 1t,
and Lizzie felt herself happy, lucky
ana square at the bottom OF Hill Rise.
Papa Crunden was the most pros
porous solidly respectable builder in
all the town Of Medford. To the
awakening and expanding intelligence
OF his little daughter 1t seemed that
Medford, with Its $4,000 Inhabitants.
formed vastly important city, and
that papa in his own way was a worry
considerable force. He was not illus
trious and mysterious like Sir John
Vincent OF Hill House--n gentleman,
baronet, and what not else, vaguely,
crushingly grand. But he had his men;
small army OF them: he had the
place they called the yard" and tho
other places they called the works
as well as this ample residence which
was called "home." or "King,s Cot
tage." Certainly papa was not without
Importance tn the worlds scheme.
No one could make light OF him
when he was dlspleased. AS. for In.
stance, when he came in for the early
dinner, and, glanc!ng at the clock,
found that the early dinner was late.
Come. come" he would say sternly
and loudly. What's this?', and he
would open doors and call through
them Mother! Mrs. Pricet James!
What the dickens are you all think
ing about?'
Then. while he stood In the lobby
brushing the brick dust from his
clothes. or stamped to and fro about
the big room the household bestirred
itself breathlessly. Coming. Richard;
coming" called mamma In her gentle.
soothing voice: Jane. the maid. clat-
tered with the trays and plates in the
stone-flasged passage from the
Kitchen: Mrs. Price. the cook house-
| keeper. busting unseen. dIshed up a.
express speed.
The big room was the one tust In.
side the front door, and II was used
all the morning as Mr.. Crunden'. own
official room; through It you passed 10
the sitting-room and the never-used
state parlor or drawing-roona. The
custom was to dine In the big room
but sometimes the custom was broken
and they dined in the sittlnE-room. II
was this occasional break OF routine
mat led to the very funny thing.
When papa once was thus fussing and
tuning, Mrs. Price with demure
smile announced to him that dinner
had been on the table and getting cold
for the last Ave minutes in the other
room.
II SO. said papa, with a quick change
OF tone. 1t was no reason why Mrs
Price should grin like Cheshire ca:
But then he laughed heartily.
Lizzie. my little fairy he said
laughing. II cried out before I wa.
hurt this time. didn't II"
That was the merit OF pap. He wouIl
| be stern anu severe-almost terrible
and then In moment cheerful ant
good-tempcred again. II he made YOU
nerves shake. he did not keep then
shaking-that Is to say. unless he wa.
really angry. Then 1t was like ar
earthquake: the earth trembied.
In these happy days. however. HI,
was not often really angered. He wa,
only holding people up to the mark
guarding against sla ckness at home o
at the yard. Mrs. Price, as we'll a.
mamma. told Lizzie that her fathe
was at heart the kindest man that eve
lived. And truly he was worry kind /,
4 Lizzie--kinder. much kinder, than 1.
her long-legged. schoolboy brother
lDick.
He was seeking to hold Dick up L
the mark and already beginning /.
fail Don't be Stacker. my boy
that was what he said to Dick agai1
and again. "stick TO It; put your bacl
Unto 1t, whatever you do
When Dick came home for the holi
days from the grammar school at Bray
y ton. papa welcomed him aifcctionately
but then, too soon. he would ask tro,t
4 bleeonne questions.
well. my boy. I hope you've don
betto- thu term and brought goo,
report with you. Where
your report?"
At the word report poor Mrs
Crunden always became restless, talk
J. ative. and ncdvous.
"Don't trouble about that to-nigh,
!. father. that'll keep TIL tomorrow
won't It? Yes. have seen II
Don't look at It tonight.
1 No-not what one could call reall,
I good, But. father, It might well b
worse"
OF course Mr.. crunden would no
4 wait He must see the8wretched docu
ment now, here, this very minute.
Then there would be an oppresslv
silence. The father had laid down hi
pipe, was sitting in the candlo-ligh
!, at his bureau solomnly reading; tn
son had plunged his hands In ~
trousers pockets, was looking ct tn
I ceiling or making facetlous grimaee
4 at his young, sister; mamma. nliserabl
Il uncomfortable. was warning Dick 3
raised finger and moving lips to re re
q FRA n from nlpudence and to bear re
proof patiently; Mrs. Price, sottl
Il clearing the supper table, was 20
brave to hurry through her task an
d get safely away to the Kitchen, g
4 though she might think that q DO
S'mestic earthquake was comm 8, g
ssyYell," said Mr.. crunden at las
II turning from tho bureau and sfacin
n his son; well what have you got f'Et J
say for yourselt7'' :. !.
"Oh.p5 said Dick. with real or affecte
t932 atkt make