The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-04
Chapter I-Contlsned
Courtroom, was III what a rip.


Courtroom, was III What a rip
ping idea"
Yes. sir, and what is more- our
kitchen was once used for the lock-up.
I Judge that. sir, by many signs"
Mr.. Crundcr1 always addressed him
as l"str," and wa stiff and hard IN
manner, although most respectful. He
would scarce cit down 70 take his tea
with so august n visitor, but stood.
cup In hand, before the hearth. He
seemed determined to remember the
sc his family wllfully forgot them.
II must be confessed that Mr.. Erun.
den cast a gloom over these pleasant
.ldawdling tea-pnrties. 1t was a relief
when father marched off to wind MP
1.-THE working day at the yard. Although
dusk was falling, the. room seemed OF j
sudden brighter when father left IT.
Dick, who had been sitting mum
chance. found his glib tongue again
Mrs. Crunden began to prattle gaily,
and the visitor soon set them all laugh
Ing.
Happy. silly hours. so dear to Lizzie.
In the candleiight they talked suoi
utter nonsense. with no ono to check
them-unless 1t was Mrs. Price. But
Mrs. Price was absolutely c~aptivnted
by the VISITORS affability. and gladly
Joined in all the FUN. The visitor called
her Pricey-Pricey-frst behind her
back and then before her face.
In the candlelight and the frcElow
they used to play q game OF cards
that silly old mugglns. but now a re-
Ijuvenated, glorified mugglns. because
he presided over the foolish sport. He
would have them play the game with
an unheard-of. preposterous. yet en-.
chanting. strictness-as he said 1t was
played at the University OF Cambridge.
"Mugeins," he would cry. did one
force one to accept q card In penalty.
"Muggins again. Pricey- Pricey."
"Lor', no. i done no wrong"
"MuEgins you for not mugginsing
mo-" Or, worse still: "Muggins yoiA
for no mugginsing me for not mug
ginsing you"
"Oh. ills a shame" Mrs. Price would
lexpostulate. You all shuttle Oft your
cards OF me-"
The object. OF course. was to be rid
OF ones cards. get out OF the game.
and escape being Mrs. Muggins. Mrs.
! Price was always Mrs. Muggins-left
In alone at the end OF the game. 1t
was a foregone conclusion. she had
been fashioned by nature for this fate
and could not cvade 1t.
Sometimes they had How. When and
Where after the cards, and again
Mrs. Price suffered failure. Her candor
seemed so great that she could not
fra me an e%quivocal answer. II the
word was Box and you asked Prlcey-
Pricey how She liked 1t. she would re-
ply. with a strong lock. and large
| enough to hold all my clothes" and
then. IL you please. she would wonder
how she had betrayed the secret.
But Mrs. Prices triumph came when
they did the acting. She 1t was who
I.supplieds the play, and taught the play
ers their parts With all the appropri-
ate gesture inc emphasis. IT O "
seemed, a pretty romantic drama that
| had never been set on paper; " was
Legendary lore handed down by nurse
maids and governesses out OF the dim
past. WHO could nave guessed that
Mrs. Price would carry such % unique
MADAM, acted Mr.. Jack. with a
tremendous air; ITO you I hunbly bow
az and bow then" said Mrs. Price.
conducting the rehearsal. NOW, LIZ.
Lizzie was the heroine. and she loved
thIg acting: IL was the apotaeos's OF
Madam. to you 1 hutnbly bow and
bend"
"Now Lizzie"
Nay. sir. take Q not to DC my
friend"
When tle little play was at last acted
through without promptings. ~ was
n huge success and completely carrlsd
away the audience. Lizzie's eyes Were
shining and her face WAS on nre Wlel
excitement. She loved acting: as SCOT
as she grew up she would go on .ne
stage and be an actress. Meantllne she
went to bed and dreamed ABOUT ~
happy, radiant dreams. !,
Mr.. Jack was just as nice. nicer ~
nossible. next. holidays-ora vacation. "a
tt ought to be called. He was pleased
Ito see the garden again. and to play
In II langutdly, because OF the no.
weather. with his little sweetheart
lThat was the name he gave, Lizzie.
But many weeks before this long,
vacation was past, troupie ano
pain began Il brood over king oot-
ltagc. Brother Dick. VINO was ~ .a . ]
nass now with his father, was doins
liar from we'll at tho yard--was doing
very III, He was %unpunctual. never W
Ia time in the morning. despite OF a..
efforts made by Mrs. Price ana mamma
to rouse hin. He stayed out TOO laee
of night to be fresh and alert az q Z
O'Clock breakfast. His face looked pa,e
and puffy-like young NY. La ~
face; this eyes were sometimes pioou
shot, ana his hand otten s,oont :, :
oYten he had such a headache .thht ns
vas compelled to stay in bed TIL noon
papa looked stern and sad when these
headaches were mentioned. Ll2zr
heard Mr.. Jack talking Of the head,
aches to Dick. and urging ms trie ~.
yery earnestly to pull himself TO
getiier and drop It" Drop swhat. Li e.
/ 2ic wondered for q wial =. !,
meant; then thought she unus' eMsh,
|Drop staying in bed when one ousA
Ito be up and about.
THEN came shadows--deepenlng'
taking the Elad1ess from her llfe
Eiotck was In disgrace-that was why
he nov hung about the house4 y. 9
long. He had dlsgraced himself az
the yard-was suspended.
Living awake at night, she Thought
LII VI - q ~ - - ny .ls aAc