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

yet secretly oppressed by so much I'M
solicited affability and condescension.
drank his tea with a gulp. refused all
food, rlodestly withdrew from the table
to the hearth and at respectful dis
lance told the visitor all about the age OF
the house.
Mr. Bowling and both put that wood
work in the hall at Charles Two or James
Two--and what is more, | believe the
paneling was removed bodily out OF a
church If you ask me what church. my
lady. l say the same church that is lndl-
Gated by cross on the ancient maps OF
Medford close to where st. BarnabaS now
stands
The visitor, at first listening attentively,
soon permitted her mind to wander from
this historical information and presently
overwhelmed Mr.. Crunden by the steadily
reflective and yet unconscious scrutiny
that had always produced nervousness in
those who were not familiar friends OF
her ladyship.
A very old house." said Mr.. Crunden,
abruptly concluding, and rubbing his
hands together nervously.
I'VE are all of us growing older, said
Lady Vincent. My husband, Mr.. Crun-
den. no longer deplores all the changes in
the town. He has no unkind memory of
your opposition to his wishes-and | hope
you, MIR. Crunden. think more kindly of
us, now that you have had your own
Way-in everything"
II would like to say''-and Mr.. Crunden
cleared Ills lillodt dHu tOu6ucd- nave q
very sincere respect for Sir John-and his
family Any words of mine on the sub
ject of Hill Rise, which might seem dis
respectful to Sir John. were spoken fool
ishly-and regretted ever afterward.'
oh" said Jack, that's all right. Si-
John understood"
Quite So" said Lady Vincent gracious
ly; but it is kind of Mr.. Crunden to tell
US that he was not really hostile to your
ather. - My husband" and she
10 Mr. Crnn6Rn Qr3ninnSlV
lis in great anxiety just now" and she
turned again to her son. Jack, dear, we
have grave news from Bournemouth."
WHAT'S the old lady better again?R
No; worse. Poor dear, she has caused
DR.. Lacy serious alarm in the last few
DAYS 1t is sad. Mr.. Crunden, to
be given length of years but to be de-
prived of the power of enjoying life. That
is unhappily the case with our poor old
cousin-M.ss Vincent-at Bournemouth.'
The tide was flowing strong.
Fine morning, sir" ''Good-day, Mr..
Crunden;'' I hope 1 see you well, sir: =
Mr.. Crunden was walking through High
street, and all the world was greeting
him. Tradesmen on the thresholds of
their shops tarred to salute him, would
not let him pass without compliments and
bows. They all thought him rich and
prosperous. and they bowed to the success
and the power that, after all, hao done
them no injury.
The sun shone; wherever he glanced
smiles seemed to welcome him; but he
could take no pleasure in the sunlight or
the friendly faces. He walked as a man
dreaming, a man haunted by doubt and
disaster. unen he looked at his untrod-
den roads, at his untenanted houses, at
the wide, empty spaces on his land, 1t ap-
peared to him incredible that all the stu
pid world did not read his secret and rec
ognZe his defeat. The ugly truth stared
at them-surely they could see for them
selves. He was beaten and they hailed
him as victorious.
He suffered now, almost without respite.
Awake or asleep, he could not shake off
the intolerable sense of failure. He was
man living in a dream horrible night
mare composed of solid facts, not of wild
fancies The dead weight of his forty
aces was full upon him each night as he
lay down to rest, was crushing him as he
rose. was carried by him throughout the
daylight hours.
1t tortured him to think of the past-of
his garnered hoard, of the slowly amassed
fortune that used to give him strength
and pride and courage. He had consid-
e-ed himself rich, had been staggered by
his own success. As young man he had
never ventured to hope that he would one
day have put by f27,0OO. 1t, was nothing
perhaps, If you measured the fortune by
Londonl standards, but for small provin-
cial town such as Medford, for a builders
fortune, it was grand achievement.
And now, blindly, wiiIully, in vainglorious
folly, he had jeopardized it. involved it.
turned it from sound-ringing gold to
misunderstanding figures on sheets of ruled
thought that his. daughter was rich heir
ess; now he could only leave her state
ment of affairs such as a bankrupt gets
ready for the eyes of his creditors.