Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-24
CHAPTER K.

1t was after tea, and Mary, the maid,
supervised by Mrs. Price, had just carried
out the tea things. Old Crunden, at his
bureau, was trif1ing with the last num-
Der of the Architect. Now and then a
thoughtful frown brought his gray eye
brows together and he glanced at his
daughter, who sat in the window, alb
sorbed by one of Mees' library novels.
Mrs. Price, with the white tablecloth
gathered as a bag, had gone out and
shaken all the crumbs into the road. She
made practice of presenting the crumbs
to the birds both in summer and winter.
and the pretty birds, If they did not want
the crumbs, at least gave one an excuse
for shaking the cloth in the public eye.
'Lor',' she said, coming in again, Its
quite chilly. Going to get some rain. I
think"
1T Is chilly" said her master. Shut
the lobby door, and shut that passage
door behind you, when you've done here"
Mrs. Price folded the white cloth, spread
the ornamental cloth, placed vase of
roses in the middle of the table, and then
retired to the kitchen. '-t
"Lizzie!'
Eyes, father" -~---
PUT away your book, Liz, and come
here
And Lizzie obediently laid down the alb
sorbing novel and came from the window.
Get my pipe for me-" said Mr. Crun-
den, pointing to the manteipiece, land
the jar. No, I've my pouch in my
pocket" And Lizzie went over to the
hearth. "Matches-come.' look sharp! L:
hate to see girl crawl about a room. No
life, no briskness." Then, in softer
voice, Mr.. Crunden asked: Are you
tired, my dear?'
mo, not particularly" said Lizzie.
- 49,
her father, he put his arms round her
and spoke gently and most affectionately.
Lizzie, my girl, what's the matter with
you?"
Nothing, father; I'm all right"
Then sit down with me here" he said.
cheerfully. while 1 smoke my pipe m
tired myself There" He had
pulled his chair round from the bureau
and set another chair by his side for
Lizzie, and now he filled the pipe from his
old leather pouch.
There, now we're cozy." Lizzie. wait
ing till he was ready, had struck the
match for him, and he was putting out
little clouds of white smoke.
Liz something has set me thinking
of myself most-and of you. too. It's just
this Is there anything you fancy?"
How do you mean-fancy?"
DO you want horse exercise?"
mo, father
''Dr. Blake let fall some remarks about
horse exercise, and 1t has struck me how
you spoke of Sir Johns horses. Lizzie,
do you wish me to buy you horse OF
your own-or two horses? I'll do it."
"Oh, no. and Lizzie took his hand and
held 1t for few moments. mo, certain
ly not. But what an old dear you are!"
More drssses?" . More novels-books
Of your very own. Liza little library of
the best books, eh? I" Another piano?"
everything
i've done my best. Lizzie, I swear
I've always tried to do my best-with
your poor mother. with your brother.
most Of all with you. Perhaps you don't
you've done everything. father
I've worked hard in my ,time-and. thu
work tells. I'm weather worn. rough sur
faced, but not really cross-grained. Lizzi
love yop-if l don't show tiff I can't
called mehedgehog? Well, I daresay
they tuched me off proper enough with
that name. But 1 love you most dearly"
And love you, father"
II am proud of you"
'And am proud OF you
Cannon! No CANNON, my dear-but
you're not ashamed of me. That's great
deal. / know that, and l am grateful.
I'm proud to think you have risen above
me-proud and happy because you are
like lady, well educated, able to hold
your own, in any conversation, with the
best of them. - 1 never spared the ex-
pense But now I have been thinking the
money is all wasted-if you are unhappy"
And Mr. Crunden put down his pipe on
the desk, turned and stretched forth his
hand Lizzie had risen from her chair
She went slowly to the window and looked
out.
"Well?"
IF 1 ever am unhappy. it is because
you have done too much FOR me-"
"How's that?"