The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-07
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OF" Rage sgerpl
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1llll lONo Copyright 1907. NV. 81 Maxwell. All
t rights
II. Now. II you will be seated" ana
he pulled out his watch again. "a
quarter to ~ Rut think we should
give q little law before getting to

4uHEter 70 nuL latllnR we should
give little law before getting to
work"
Or. Blake announced Short.
Come TO the table. pr. Dlake. AZ I
and meantime I viii ask you to ex.
anime the detailed plan--and will
read YOU one or two letters,
Mr.. Crunden--and Miss Crunden.,
All, how do. Crunden. Very glad to
see you here" and Sir John, turning.
bowed politely to MISS crunden; and
The ladies were now all established
on tho sents allotted to them. No chair
was vacant for Miss crunden In this
part OF tho room. She stood near the,
Hill Rise girls-near them. but not or
thom--en1barrassed hcsitating, while
her father worried himself through, tho
seated men. Her face was tanned ny
Cornish air and sun, but she blushed
through the slnl1irn as Lady Vincent
spoke to her.
"1vo are pleased" said Lady Vincent
graciously, but showing some surprise,
ITO see you also. Miss Crunden. So
good OF you to take an interest"
oh. Miss crunden.' said Miss AM
nendale. drawing. us that you? I
not expecting to see you here"
Quite monster meeting. Isn't IT."
said Miss Granville.
But at this moment, while Sir John
opened more letters brought In by
Short the attention OF the Hill Rise
young ladies was diverted from 3iiss
social distinction. NJ. Jack had come
~. Mr.. Jack had changed his clothes.
t1e was now in a blue serge suit. but
no still wore his dress pumps. He had
not been able to change these. be-
cause he had omitted to retrieve his
boots from their hiding place In the
coal box.
"Alr. Vincent called ono Of tho Hin
Rise girls. Come and sit by us"
do. Mr.. Vincent" called another
NO, no. said alr. Jack. nodding
rather gravely at them. u should spoil
the picture. You all look so Moe"
Nonsense" said Miss Annendale.
This is the ladles gallery. but you
may come II you behave yourselr.'
Then Mr.. jack did come across tho
room: but. TO the unmitigated disgust
OF the young ladies, II was only to talk
to Miss Crunden.
"sIr. Vincent said Miss Annendale,
leaning forward In her chair. well
make room, for you You won't spoil
the picture"
back to the ladies gallery. and hc
chose hencefortii TO ignore Il. Perlapf,
rendered thoughtful by recent dis
closures. he was not In a mood for
badinage with the best society. Or
perhaps he quickly understood that
poor Miss Crunden was being snubbed
because she had once more pushed her
self where she was not expected, ana
as quickly determined that she should
be given oil his smiles to conEole her
for the cold looks OF others,
"Aiiss L!zz!e." he cried, and Miss
Lizzie bowed slightly and sti11y. Miss
Lizzie. don't you know me? Won't you
know meT and she was Obliged. very
shyly. 10 shake hands with him.
Where are you going to sit? How
1oliy--your coming"
'.sly father forced me to come. I
didn't want to come"
Miss LIstie was painfully constrained
and nervous IN manner.
'You didn't know" said Jack. srli!,-
ne-a real old friend-and old play
mate" and he looked at the ladies' gai-
lery without seeming to see It.
let me find you a seat, and let mo
have the honor--and the pleasure--of
sitting by you We can talk about old
times--in the Intervals OF business.
There" and he nodded. "over there. VIC
can be out OF everybody's way"
Then he steered Miss Crunden over
to the other side of the room. where
her father was standing. and grimly
Reckoning to her. BY the weight OF
Jacks personal prestige. chairs were
somehow procured for the three OF
them.
DO you remember our games?"
Mr.. Jack had said he would talk IN
the Intervals, Of business. but he talked.
or whispered conildentially. even when
his papa was reciting momentous let-
tiers. Mr.. Crunden frowned upon him;
Miss Crunden answered him shyly. hes
itatingly, coidly; but still for little
while he talked.
Miss Lizzie--remembercd our games
in the garden?"
II am afraid have forgotten all
no. You were the pirates wife--l
was the piiate-and poor old Dick was
the Royal Navy
..You remember our acting? Don't
say you've forgotten that famous
drama. \ began-'with hand upon his
heart" and Jack suited the action to
the words. Madam. to you nun1bly
low and bend. That was your cue,
Don't you RENE uber?'
ut was SO long ago. y m q 1raid lSs
quite forgotten"
Flows old What's-h er-name?' whis-
pered Jack. Hope she's going strong.
Pricey! How's Pricey- Pricey ~
But here Jacks whisper together
with the chairman's recital. was
drowned by unseemly noise from the
background Of the audience. i was
apparent now that the less important
people In front OF the windows had
come for amusement as much as for
business. There was slight DISPOSE
ton to tumult caused by the selfish
efforts Of young Mr.. Padtield. who had
squeezed in at the window and was
seeking to secure q lofty perch for
himself by sitting on the back Of 4
chair.
"bEre--'old ard. Thank you for
nothing.
..1All right. Others want to see same
as you. Push I'm over.
From this point the business Of tho
meeting suffered from occasional noise.
Loud voices several times interrupted
5rudely and the Interruptions We're
greeted with lloarse laugh ter.
'As I was saying" continued sir
John; Letters Of regret from the.
Mayor. From Admiral Lardner 81 No
l--who regrets he 10 travelling for his
health--In the Tyrol; who would Ger.
3l.- III