Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-01

of praise for Miss Crunden. She used to
be the jolliest little child In the world
and now, he added. she had grown into q
very decent looking girl.
Very funny thing" said Jack I've
only just twigged which girl is Lizzie
Crunden. She's that jolly nice girl that
wears the blue frocks. She looks as nice
as can be-and T call it beastly shame of
our girls sitting on her and snubbing
her.
II am sorry for her." said Lady Vim
cent, not unkindly, but she brings it on
herself. She is pushing
"She has never pushed up against me. "
said Jack. Il haven't spoken to her for
years.
why should you?"
Because she's an old friend. I'd have
spoken quick enough il 1 had twigged she
was the girl in blue
II am sorry for the poor girl" said Lady
Vincent. ''Of course she is not to blame
for her father-and her position is anoma-
lous. But she should understand. and not
push herself where she isn't expected.
Then she wouldn't be Snubbed."
Poor Miss Lizzie! 1 think our girls
want a jolly good snubbing themselves"
and again Jack spoke in praise of his hum
BILE friends. Tell Sir John he Is off the
line about old Crunden. He may take 1t
from me-the old chaps trump" Then,
with laugh. he added, Il am bound to
stick up for him.
why are you bound?"
ooh, we are brothers-Masons-to be-
gin with and fairs fair. Mother. I'll tell
you. He lent me fifty pounds the other
day!'
"Jackr'
II was in hole-stuck for money"
But why" asked Lady Vincent in con-
sternation, why didn't you ask your
father for it?''
Cant you guess?" said Jack archly.
He mightn't have been able?'
1.-THE governor doesn't like having his
ear bitten
But Crunden! Why did you ask him?"
IT don't know. Pure fun. 1 wanted to
bite somebody's ear to that tune. You
know what l mean? Slang"
Lady Vincent nodded her head earnestly
II met the old chap in the street. So
HedgehoNis ear! You might have knocked
me down With feather when he said yes
He walked me straight into the White
Hart and wrote the cheque in exchange
for my I. O. u
He must be repaid at once"
Then the governors ear will have to be
bitten after ALL
'That is your only course. But don't up
set him before the meeting. He did not
sleep last night" Lady Vincent was
greatly-peft,st:hed by what Jack had told
her. To her the acceptance Of loan
from a common townsman seemed most
dreadful occurrence: q presage or omen Of
future disasters arising from that unhappy
taste for~low company. Jack" she said.
you have frightened me. Oh, Jack, pull
yourself tegether--rouse yourself-for my
sake"
Jack had stopped to pick up his boots.
He stood holding the boots, and spoke
lightly. but with great tenderness.
Mother dear, don't you bother about
me. I'm all right. And don't-don't turn
against what is after all, the work of
your own hands. You and the governor
have spoilt me. l. love you for 1t. But
and something of emotion sounded be-
meath the light tones of his voice-"But-
wanted to do things-my father wouldn't
let me. had my dreams-on bright morn
ings-in. ,springtime especially. Heard the
whisper in the east wind-we've all heard
it-ever that old rotter.. Charlie Padfeld:
Wake. Get up. Put your boots on. Do
didn't wish it. I turned over and
slept. = Too late-a whisper can't
wake me now"
He stood with a boot in each hand.
smiling at his mother: then sat down and
kicked off one. of his slippers.
"Oh. Jack" said Lady Vincent piteously,
you distress me by saying-but oh. my
dear boy, don't change your boots in here.
It is such a horrid habit. and you know
1t upsets your father
"All right" and even as he spoke, Sir
Johns voice was heard outside in the hall.
Jack! Here he is. Don't let him see
them"
"Right-o."
And Jack hastily opened the large coal
box. put his boots inside and dropped the
flap upon them.
Don't upset him." said Lady Vincent.
.I'n be back directly-to receive the
ladies'
Sir John seemed extraordinarily nervous
and fussy this afternoon. Short, who fol-
lowed. bearing inkstand, papers, etc. was
,t1o ttcfv- IA I'M
as to arrangements for the meeting.
Show them all in here. Short. as soon
as they arrive: don't keep 'em hanging
about That chair won't do. We want
bigger chair for the chairman.
There That's better"
Eyes, Sir John. Will you have the Ink
stand in front of you. Sir John?''
"In front of the chairman's place. l
may not be the chairman"
Surely" said Lady Vincent. as she
went out of the room; that goes without
saying-in your own house.
"Well. perhaps. Matter of form. but
Short. another inkstand. And the sketch
maps. The sketch maps
Eyes. Sir JOHN
At last Short had put the table in order.
and father and son were left together Sir
John was still nervously fussing, giving
finishing touches. moving an inkstand two
inches to the right. smoothing blotting
pad His son, jfngling money or Keys IN
a trouser pocket. had a friendly, tolerant
smile as he watched him fussing.
.'Well, Sir John! Ready for the fray?
Thirstine after their plebeian blood?"
Don't call me Sir john" said his father
irritably and then he made plaintive ap-
neal. Jack don't chaff today. This Is
Enthusiastically serious"
FOR the life of me. I can't see It's SO
bad
you don't understand" and Sir John.
as he turned from the table: showed
face that was almost haggard.
II understand" said Jack. its gone
coon-the whole thing. But does
that matter. to US so much? You have all
your own ground to ward on intruders.'
ri tell you. you don't understand"
mo, but I'm trying to-"
IT make no secret. II I can't get my
new scheme through"-and Sir John
glanced round as though to make sure
they were quite alone-"I shall be utterly
done. / know 1t was that fellow in the
red tie-pig Of a fellow he looked-and II
he won't treat with us, and we can't raise
funds to buy back some Of the land-well,
this place is ruined. and am done.
''If the worst comes to the worst, why
not sell it-for what It win fetch-and buy
another place? The world is large"
Sir Jonn sat down in the chairmaHs
seat, and, with averted eyes. busted him
self in dividing the little pile of sketch
maps.
Jack. I'll not make secret of it-any
longer. couldn't sell the place."
why not? It's freehold"
eyes But It's mortgaged."