Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-17

| president, Jack vincent was a vice pftSl-
| dent There were ladies on a committee
| the selection committee but no ladi s on
| the committee of management. 1t was
| terribly select, of course. They had to
phi candidates cOrG. cted In any way
| with trad". These might pass muster OF
tile playing field. but there was thn an
nual ball You had to consider. You could
/ not very well admit them to that-and, OF
course, membership carried the right to
attend the ball and buy three additional
tick IS.
+ Not to braggart Irene could one talk of
TIL heroes in ones tavorite books, or the
| splendid shadows in ones zavorite dreams.
! No friend here.
/ Lizzie thought often of her schoo!
| friends Many of thes" We're real ladies',
owning papas who had big country
| houses, and cousins whose papas were
| baronets or lords. But at school there
were no snobbish painful doubts or diff
| culties 1t was republic in which each
was judged on her merits; you were not
| called upon to plead forbears or coats of
arms in order to obtain justice. No one
stunned I.izzie because her father was a
/ builder. since her school days soma of
these dear real friends had written to her.
but they were scattered far and wide: she
lad never seen one of them. They wrote
affactionately. the old equal terms;
/ bat Il they ever came to Medford, they
would find tat Lizzie was socially i'm
possible. ana then they. too. no doubt
would look down on her.
But now, suddenly and Unexpectedly.
she stood: ace to face with sybil Goring
late of the Eastbourne Seminary
Lizzie Crsnden. don't you remember
me? oh, | am SO glad to see you
This was at the circulating library
kept by Mr.. Mees In addition to his ia
nous stationery and fancy store. Miss
GorinG had been invited to Medford by
Miss A4nandale, and was now staying at
No. II Hill RiSc. AS a stranger she would
know nothing of the laws Of local society.
She rcjoiCad in this chanc' meeting with
an ancient ciassmatr. prattlad freely and
afTcctionately. and at one introduced
Iizza to the proud Miss Annendalc.
"Oh. yes. how do ycu do?" said Miss
Ann 'ndale, sraciously. You live at the
white cottage. don't you? So quaint and
pretty-I always admire tt
Miss Goring declared that she must,
without delay. sea dear IizZieS Pretty
cottage; she and Miss Annendala would
call one afternoon very soon.
Yes" thought Lizzie. she won't call.
All the way home Miss Annendale will
be telling her about me-and about papa.
Instead of coming, Sybil will write me
little note to say that thor W re en-
gagements she had not rem erlhrred."
But Miss Goring appeared to have
strong character, and could not be shaken
from her purpose however unconven-
tional. If her hosts explained the nature
of the solecism she was bent on commit
ting. she was not frightened. Perhaps,
deriving courage from distant cousins
with handles to their names, she heard all
about the Medford social code. and pooh
pOohed its stringent regulations. Any
how, she came to Kings cottage-and
compelled Miss Annendale to come with
her.
She was quite unchanged-just the old
school Sybil; and she and Lizzie chat
tered as happily as though they had been
back in the schoolroom on wet halt
holiday. She asked innumerable ques-
tons. and suddenly in the midst of laugh
ing "reminiscences, this bold Miss Goring
abruptly declared that Lizzie ought to be-
long to the Hill Rise Tennis Club. Miss
Annendale must arrange this.
Miss Annendale, startled by the sugges
ton, began to speak with draWl. She
had been very polite-courteous as a
young lady doing district visiting, admir-
ing and praising the cottage. always
anxious to put the cottage folk at their
ease.
''Oh, yes" said Miss Annendale, drawl-
ing. But would Miss Crunden care to
join? Do you play tennis, Miss Crun-
DEM"
''Of course she Does said sybil. And
of course she'll join You must arrange
it."
To poor Lizzie the suggestion was like
the opening of a guarded door, showing
glimpse of paradise-no less She had
no snobbish desire to be a swell. but sim
ply felt a girlish honest wish for amfuse
ment in pleasant company. Miss Amen
dale being nice and kind today; and
Lizzie, warmed by unusual kindness, was
eager to believe that a new era was be
ginning. Surely if Miss Annendale and
her friends could support irene, one
might venture to- hope-and yet? 1t
seemed too much to hope for.
Lizzie told her father of the honor that
was to be thrust upon her. Did he OBJ
ject to her being put down as a candi-
date? 1t was very. very nice club,
and she would love to be a member But
what did father really think about it?
The subscription was two guineas, and
there was an entrance fee. But this was
the real point-and Lizzie in her excite
ment entirely railed to force it adequately
upon her fathers attention: DARED one
try to spring in one splendid bound from
the parlor of Kings cottage into the
wired meadows almost at the top of Hill
Rise?
Why not?' said Mr.. Crunden. failing
t. see the point clearly, only thinking of
the subscriptions scarcely thinking at all.
why not, my dear? l don't grudge the
fees. | only want you to have your
pleasure"
Then Lizzie was all excitement. AS
had been arranged, she wrote to Miss
AnneMdale to say yes, please" thought
Of thu club, dreamed of the club. passed
her wardrobe IN review: went to Selkirk's
and bought another blue washing frock
with white spots, very like, but not eX-
dctIS ike, lti tdSt ulut IIcth, dHOltlti
hat. etc, etc. and then waited in high
and happy expectation.
Miss Annendale, solemnly charged by
her departing guest TO get Miss Crunden
into the club. did, in fact, make the at
tempt III a half-hearted manner. The
learned DR.. Blake was obtained for pro
poser, and Miss Annendale seconded, but
did not canvass. What has possessed
you to do this?" asked lady members. Il
couldn't help doing it, said Miss Amen
dale, apologetically. II was asked-and
really couldn't refuse
And so in due course Lizzie came up
'or election and was vigorously piled
Her eyes sparklCd, her hands trambled
with excitement, as she opened the big
official club envelope and pulled out the
secretarys letter. Then, as she read her
face flushed her eyes filed with tears
She was like child disappointed of its
longcd-for treat loath to believe that fate
can be so unkind.
Old Crundcn took the letter from her
and read the formal expression of the
secretary's regret He was cruelty huffed.
Father. does it mean l am postponed
or they W mt have me?'
They won't have you-bscause you are
my daughter. They're too high and
You're all Tight-as they know we'll
cnoush-but they can't forgive you for
being my daughter"
He, too ad flushed and he brandished
his arms excitedly while he walked about
the room.
After this rebuff poor Lizzie became
very lauguid. She fell back on her books
as her only fri nds. Walks tired her
She was with her father all the rnCrninc