Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-08


keeping your fathers accounts
Lizzie smiled.
He is not called upon to do that. Build
ers' accounts are very intricate. My
father does all that himself. This is not
what we call an account book
oh! And what are these writ
ten papers,
Lizzie answered all questions. and Lady
Vincent at last thanked her.
1t is Kind of you, Miss Crunden. to have
let me see things. l did so want to see
things for myself-but l must not waste
your time further"
Il can spare the time-if there is any
thing else you wish to know
Thank you. But l must not ask you
any more-I think l ought not to ask you
more-apd that I could not expect you to
tell me-.f did
Lady Vincent favored Lizzie with an
other reflective scrutiny.
Il am very anxious about my son. His
employment here has caused us the
greatest anxiety-and pain. In our opin-
ion it is not fitting-but we were unable
to prevent it. However, 1 am proud to
think of his working so WELL He is
working we'll You admit that, don't
you?"
Yes: I believe my father is quite sat-
TT is not the work itself-although
of course, we should not have chosen it.
No. But it is-all the surrounding cir
cumstances. Your fathers avowed mo-
My fathers only motive in employing
Mr.. Vincent was kindness" and Lizzie
flushed holly.
you are quite right to defend your
father-and I have no desire to speak
harshIy of him or his motives. 1 do not
wish to speak of him at all. 1 am obliged
to you for allowing me to come in, and
now 1 will go Thank you," and with
much dignity Lady Vincent walked to
the parlor door.
But in the little parlor her dignity for
sock her, and she began to ask more
questions.
You said he supped with you here.
Does he have his supper with you every
night"
ooh no.
Then where does he have his supper?
Why does he not come to uS-and dine
with US? If he would only do that; he
would remove so much of our anxiety
and pain. Miss Crunden. he should not
be here-or at that dreadful cottage
Miss Crunden, do think 1t is fine OF him
to work. When it began. I thought 1t
would be only temporary, but 1t goes on
He goes on working-and it would make
me both happy and proud If only the
circumstances were different"
And Lady Vincent with some emotion
son live in a horrid workman's cottage?
Why could he not live at home in the
Redmarsh road with his father and
mother. and go out to his work Of a
IF he would only live with us, think
my husband would be reconciled-even
to what Jack is doing now-as your
fathers clerk. His present mode of life
cause of scandal and pain. Everybody
must say he has quarreled with us
cast US off, and thrown in his lot with
your father. OF course, 1 can't expect
you to agree with me-
But do agree with you"
You do? Oh, Miss Crunden, II am
delighted to hear you say So"
II think" said Lizzie. blushing, that
it would be wiser and better arrange
ment if Mr.. Vincent went back to you
every evening-and if he lived with you
and not at Mrs. Gates"
Miss Barter could scarcely pay evening
calls then! In the Redmarsh road he
would be safe among his own good an
gels; Mrs. Price could be easy in her
mind, and Lizzie need not take any more
interest in his out-of-work hours.
But now Lady Vincent. with beaming
eyes and a manner that had suddenly
changed to cordially, appealed to Lizzie
not to leave off thinking about her son.
Her appeal was in substance Mrs. Prices
appeal. Once again Lizzie was begged
to take interest and use her influence:
to us. You will be doing us a great
kindness-and 1 shall be very grateful to
you = - And I promise not to try to set
him against his work No. I am too
DSNfh
with us !" = T;Sere are reasons. There
is one reason-which I do not care to
speak of-that makes me most anxious
to have him at home"
Again Lizzie blushed holly. What was
the reason that Lady Vincent did not
care to speak of?
Miss Crunden. I will speak of it.
You have received me so kindly-you
take such a right view Of things-that I
think now that I cannot be wrong in
trusting your discretion-that I should
be wrong not to trust you," and then,
after hesitating, Lady Vincent asked her
final question.
Miss Crunden, does he peg?"
"Peg?"
You don't understands
cit is slang" said Lady Vincent grave
ly ct am glad, Miss Crunden, that you
do not know the expression. 1 meant
this-you have so many opportunities of
observing him: Have you observed that
between meals-he takes glasses of
whisky and soda water-or anything
else?"
Lizzie understood now His own
mother shared Mrs. Prices fear. But
still Lizzie would not believe that there
could be any basis for the fear. What
ever people said, she would never believe
that
TT would be a mistaken kindness. Miss
Crunden. if you encouraged him in the
habit. 1t is only a habit-nothing more
HE does not practice the habit here"
said Lizzie firmly, land he never shall.
1 promise we will do all in our power to
discourage him"
Thank you. Miss Crunden, thank you.
This has been my great anxiety always.
II is painful to speak of-but lie awake
at night thinking of it, and / am glad I
have spoken $50 And one more word
in exerting your good influence am
sure now it is all good-do not let him
think YOU are acting on my behalf. 1
hate deception-of any kind. but If he
fancied your advice was prompted by us.
it might lose it's effect"
That same afternoon Lizzie tested the
effect of her good advice, and found 1t to
be imperceptible.
The lamps had been lit, the curtains
drawn, when Jack came for his tea. He
was in the gayest spirits, very much
pleased with himself and everybody else.
Madam" said Jack, Ito you L humbly
bow and bend" and he hung up his hat
and went to his accustomed place. fYour
father is coming up from Eatons directly.
Luck. Good luck today. We have disposed
of lot No. D.
He had pulled out drawer and was
looking for Mr.. Dowlings paint brush
and the red paint
III paint it on the map, he said
gaily. "We'll paint the map red for old
bowling and save him the trouble
Where's the water? Here we are" and
with the greatest satisfaction he painted
another red patch on the big map to mark
the latest success. There. Miss Lizzie, in
a year from now well have painted the
whole man red al did this off my
own bat 1t was a chap I'd written to
nysaIf mazda aDDOintment |