The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-25
cHAPrER .Y111-contlnued.

CHAPTER v111-continued.
$50 they are" said Mrs. Price "All
except young Mr. Vincent. He's differ
ent. He was always pleasant and kind
when he como hero In the old days
and he do look SO nice on his horse.
It's Il pleasure for to watch him ride
by. Leave Mr.. Jack out, and I'm all
with YOU
II saw one of them to-day-that
Lardner-the Admlrals son, coming
out OF the station, wiping his fat
chops and Mr.. crunden turned again
to the desk on the bureau. IT hate that
fellow most OF all. It was copying
him and his kind that sent my lad
to the devil"
"Ahr' said Mrs. Price sadly and
solemnly.
when did these letters Gomez"
Afternoon post. When you'd gone
out-not before"
"All right. Where's Lizzie?,
In the garden, l think. She was
here just now" And Mrs Price was
about to go back to her kitchen when
she remembered that she had an im-
portant question to ask. '.Oh! Is the
Freemasons' dinner tomorrow or day
after?'
Day after"
Because I want to air your dress
that other affair-the hospital recep-
tion-on tho tcnth?v
II don't know" Mr.. Crunden looked
round in grave doubt. Il must ask
Lizzie. don't know. You see. there's
no question about day after tomorrow.
Its our installation banquet. Always
dress clothes for that. We shall be
4 in4 lore. NJ tx1., -,
new master in the chair. appointing
his officers. raising two fellow-craft
to the third degree"
.oh. dear: OH, dear! You mustn't
tell me that
why not?"
Mrs. Price, OH the threshold Of tho
kitchen passage. raised crooked fin
ger and wagged her head in shy pleas
antry. You mustn't" she said. be
cause haven't been In the clock case.
I'm not the ady-freemason."
oh you go on and for the first
time In their conversation Mr.. Crun-
den laughed heartily and good l,umor-
edly. Mrs. Price laughed also, and
was going. but he called Ter back
again.
! Il say! Has Dr. Blake been here
to-day?'
mo, not for the last three days"
We'll. gave him pretty straight
hint not to come and see her so often.,'
| Mrs. Price became very serious.
\ Did You. sir? I'm sorry you donc
| Why? She's better. isn't she?'
"Sher's very listless. She sits in tho
window, and---hush! here She comes"
Lizzie certainly entered the room
/! with a slow footsep and a listless
manner. She was looking very pretty
In her sun hat and ono OF the blue
frocks with the white spots; but her
face was too pale. and the shadows
| of the hat made tho orbits OF her gray
eyes seem too large and too dark.
/ Somehow she seemed all at once to
have become thinner. taller. moro
fragile. There was no gaiety in her
face or in her voice as she greeted
her father,
"You have letters, father? Shall I
DO them for you? I'm quite ready to
do them"
While she spoke she walked across
to the window and looked out. The
| faint sound OF a horses feet came from
| a little distance. Mrs. Price fingered,
and was pretending to brush some to-
se ash sr the mantePsss
| "One of Sir Johns horses-wlth a
groom" said Lizzie, turning from the
| window. How badly groom rides!
Trotting the horse down the hill! Mr..
Vincent never does that
Her father had vacated his seat, and
stood with u letter inEhis hand. Lizzie
! langutdly sat down before the bureau.
4 What can I do, father!
My dear, YOU can answer this for
me. Invitation from No. IL. Hill
r ter 49, o>l r<,I In
/ IAN invitation?"
Very flattering invitation--to sub
scribe half gHAinea 70 dd the a, rtg
that, Are you ready' Dear
o1 pen SIR sskss 81 R1sk sn se
too familiar?'
He calls me Dear Sir" And then
Mr., Crunden spoke testify. "Oh, have
Lac as you like. Perhaps you'd better
say: Sir, my father will be glad TO
1 lick your boots because you are a
major and live OH the Hill and he is a
4 retired builder and lives halfway
a down the I'll M
Llazlo turned and took her fathers
i hand unfortunately.
dad, how silly YOU are! only
! mcallt---I1 only mennt--I'll Writo 1t just
as you wish. Il. Any more letters at
tersthis one 2"
We'll, II 1T doesn't tire you, Liz
Innd with his disengaged hand old
Crunden. softly patted and stroked sher
!. pretty hair.
"oh no y. Yes, dad. I do feel rather
tired to-day. May attend to 1t IN the
evening? I shall be all right then,"
Very good, The evening will be