Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-03
CHAPTER I.

SAx14 L GN l..
The earliest recolections of Lizzie
Crunden were full OF Hill Rise-as some
thing spacious and awe productive. open
ing out before you. leading you upward
T. thoughts of randeur and mystery.
She would wake and look at 1t from her
bedroom window of a summer morning.
and ch.ldishly brood on the nlasn.f1cence
OF the prospect II offered. 4 broad Whltr
rad. empty as yet still sleeping In the
summer sunlight; with noble houses on
ether side. carriag> gates ana hroa"
steps. white may, red may. yeiio" ia
Iarnum showing gai!y over garden Wa -
ii wide ascending vista closed by I'M
stately trees in the grounds OF HIN House
where lived tine great ST. J'hn. rms
was Lizzie's view of 1t. and Lizzie iei'
hers a happy. lucky child. because
I,4pa's house stood fair and square AT
the bottom o. I'm Rise.
Papa Crunden WAS the most prosperous.
solidly respectable builder in all the town
of Medford Tc the awakening and ex-
handing intelligence OF his little daughte IT
IL seemed that MedfOrd. with its eighteen
thousand inhabitants formed vastly
important city. and that papa In MS own
v.ay was a very considerable force he
was not iilustrious and mysterious like
S'r John Vincent OF Hill House-a gentle
man a baronet and what not else. vague
IT, crushngly grand. But he had ms
men-a small army of them; he had the
place they called the yard and the
other places they called the works. as
well as this ample residence which was
called home" OF Kings Cottage. CIR
tainIy papa was not without Importance
in the worlds scheme
No one could make light of him when
6tSplaagpd AS fOr 1nSfanc ;,
when he came in for the early dinner.
and giancing at the clock. for Id that the
early dinner was late.
Come. COME he would ray sterniy
and loudly. What's this?" ard he would
open doors and call through them
Mother, Mrs. Price, Jane. What the
dickens are you all thinking about
Then, while he stood in the libby brush
ing the brickdust from his clothes. or
STAMPED to and fro about tire big room.
the household bestirred itself BREATH S.
~ Coming, Richard; coming called
mamma in her gentle. soothing voice;
Jane. the maid. clattered with the tray
and plates in the stone-faFged passag
from the kitchen: Mrs Prize. the COOK
hous-keeper. busting unseen. d!shed up
ct express speed.
The big room was the one just inside
the front door. and il was used all the
morning as Mr.. Crundens own official
room: through II you passed to the sit
ting room and the never-used state parlor
az drawing room. The custom was to
dine in the big room. but sometimes the
custom was broken and they dined In the
sitting 70 IN. Ii was this occasional break
nf routine that 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 five minutes in the other room.
If So said papa. with a quick change or
should grin like Cheshire cat But then
he laughed heartily.
Lizzie, my little fairy" he said laugh
ing. II cried out before l was hurt this
time. didn't T.?
That was the merit of papa. He would
be stern and severe-almost terrible-and
then in moment cheerful and good
tempered again. If he made your nerves
shake he did not keep them shaking
that is to say, unless he was really
angry Then it was like an earthquake
the earth trembied.
In these happy days. however, he was
not often really angered. He was only
holding people up to the mark. guarding
against slackness at home or at the yaro,
Mrs Price, as well as mamma, tolu Lizzie
that her father was at heart the klnde5t
man that ever lived. And truly he was
very kind to L.izzie-kinder, much kinder.
than to her lone-legged, schooiboy broth~f.
Dick.
He was seeking TO hold Dick up to the
mark and already beginning to +ail.
Don't be a Stacker, my boy that was
what he said to Dick again and again
stick to it. put your back into 1t, what
ever you do.
When Dick came home for the holidays
from the grammar school at Brayton.
papa welcomed him affectionately; but
then too soon. he would ask troublesome
questions.
Well my boy. 1 hope you've done bet
Ter this term and brought a good report
with YOU Where Is your report?
At the word report poor Mrs trun-
den always became restless. talhative and
nervous.