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


That was thing enormously creditable
But what else? Really. after careful con-
sideration, what else might one say?
Alas! no hero worthy of enthrone-
ment in Mr.. Mees' library novels. If you
robbed him of all dream-like attributes.
stripped him of splendor and mystery.
tumbied him out of the clouds into COM
mon working life. there seemed to be
left but a very ordinary and far from
estimable parsonage. No difficulty in find
ing things to his discredit and disgrace
dreadful things: dark abysses into which
one scarcely dared to peer. What, Tor
instance could be more utterly degrading
than this companionship with reddish
haired. tight-laced dressmaker Haunting
in unsold fnery from her shop? Who now
could be gratifiad by his company? Mr..
Bowling praised him for his friendly ways
and freedom from class prejudces. That
meant that it was good of him to drop TO
the Crunden level and seem happy and at
ease when he joined them as supper
guest. But when. still dropping. he shot
past the Crunden plane and you found him
side by side with a Miss Barter in the
cheap seats of the theater among all the
riff-raf of the town-found him, too,
happy and at ease there also, what must
you think?
Gould anything be more disgraceful?
Yes, Mrs. Price, opening the abysses,
plainly limited at a lower taste than the
taste for vulgar company-the love of
fiery drink. But that was thing Lizzie
refused to believe. He could not have
fallen SO far not only from his place in
her silly dreams, but from his place in
her childish memories. In those distant
days he had urged poor brother Dick to
be sober and wise, had always seemed to
be. in relation to Dick, a noble and re-
fininG influence. Nothing should make
her believe that in this matter the years
had taken all virtue from him. 1t would
be- too horrible d debasement. When
Dick first drank so much more than was
good for him, Dick was an inexperienced
boy. He began to sin from heedlessness.
Every excuse could be made for unhappy
Dick; none could be made for one in the
prime OF manhood who should lapse into
such disgusting vice. She would never
believe that Mrs. Prices fear was well
founded.
No. the man who had fought those half
drunken and wholly brutal rioters could
not himself be a drunkard. Her ina gina
ton kindled as she thought of the famous
fight against her fathers enemies. Here
at least were heroic-book-w orthy-attri-
butes on which one could dwell safely.
That fight, as described by Mr.. Bowling
and Mrs. Price-neither of whom could
claim to\be an eye-witness-was of Ho-
merle grandeur. Prowess as of the old
World-mythS had been dfsplayed one man
defeating an army in pitched battle-you
cannot ask of your hero more than that.
In fact. the thing had been less like a
general engagement than the ancient duel
OF champions. Mr.. Fred Hoyle carman
from the brewery, monstrous Iout who
led the procession. was the champion self
chosen for the advancing horde. At the
read OF his troops he stepped forth, and
breathed beer and defiance Then Jack
knocked him down; and when he got up,
Jack Knocked him down again. A friend
and lieutenant of Fred rushing in-per-
maps merely to pick up the fallen giant
received clip on the ear that sent him
staggering. Another friend sprang back
in horror of such earclips. Still another
friend armed with a loose plank swung
1t Tor space and protection. wounding
and disabling Jacks left hand; and then
with the useful plank escaped from the
danger zone. Then Jack himself shouted
defiance. Come on, you dirty black
guards, if you want any more. Come on,
the lot of you.'-and his breath failed
He was completely out of condition,
Weighing at least two stone more than his
correct fighting weight; he was puffed
wounded. helpless really, but triumphant
The rabble rout had already begun; the
myriad enemy quailed broke rank, turn
ed; the effgy of old Crunden was trot-
ting away. 1t was in truth beaten or
demOralized army that streamed down
the new road, down Hill road and only
rallied at the bridge to tell bridge loung
ers the news. Where's the p'lice? Why
don't the p'lice come? There's murder up
the hill. Pore t'reds been set upon and
near done for
These were the true crude facts-not, of
course, accurately known to Lizzie, who
Tale of almost miraculous battle as rem
uered by Prlcey ana Mr.. Bowling.
Presently, still thinking about the glo-
rlted version, she became aware of an ac-
compartment to her thougnts-a knocking
and ringing. Some one DIT the state en-
trance of the cottage vainly seeking adj
plitance-Some one who had been ringing
the bell ana gently hammering with the
knocker for a considerable time. Lizzie
went herself to answer the bell; it was
n keen "
annoying that Mrs. Price ana Mary never
by any chance seemed to hear the only
important bell in the house-the bell of
what was, tremendously, the front door.
But when Lizzie, doing Mrs. Prices task
for her, hastily opened the door, she was
rather sorry that she had done so.
Oh said the visitor. Miss Crunden.
l have called to see my son. Is he in
and disengaged?'
The bell ringer was Lady Vincent, in
black bonnet and sable stole. standing
with folded hands, looking severe, and
speaking with distant manner.
mo, Mr.. Vincent is not here now. But I
can telephone to the yard-I think he is
there--and say you have called for him.
Won't you come in?'
Thank YOU" said Lady Vincent. II
would like to come in for few moments
if you will allow me. But do not tele-
phone for my son. / would not. on any
account, disturb him at his work" Then,
III the little hall, Lady Vincent looked at
Lizzie with the steady reflective gaze that
even Hill Rise young ladies always found
so dsconcerting. Miss Crunden," she
said, after a long pause, what Is my
sons work? 1t would be kind of you
to tell me everything about my son S
work"
Il will tell you anything you ask me-"
said Lizzie. will You come this way,
please?' and she ushered her visitor into
the parlor.
is this the room that my son uses
habitually:"
No He has used it for supper once
or twice. But We all use the other room
now
Then that is the room wish to see.
May 1 go into that room?"
''Oh, certainly" and Lizzie ushered the
visitor into the working room.
1T is very large ROOM" said Lady
Vincent, looking about her. quite large
room. And you all use this together? 1t
is. [ see, your fathers Office
CHANGING at the window. she could now
read backward the words in large black
letters that showed with brutal straight
forward distinctness when you were out
side the house: Hill Rise Estate Office"
This was the room in which all the shock
ing business of destruction was carried
on. With severe disaDDroval she scruti-
nized the map of the estate that hung
on the wall, the telephone apparatus. the
typeWriting machine, the letter presses,
the tables covered with papers; and all
the trade samples-dran pipes, tiles, wood
paving blocks, etc.-that had accumulated
of late in great profusion. When Lizzie,
answering questions, pointed out Mr.. Vim
Ill %1JN