Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-24
Copyrights. 1907, BY
W. B. MAXWELL.
All Rights Reserved.

and top hat: carried eyeglasses, but rare
ly looked through them-a physician OF
the old school. He liked such maxims as
"Festina lente." Mature is our best
ally" Prevention is better than cure
IN his practice was that he employed few
drugs. Thus he hurried slowly with
Lizzie, gave her no hasty draughts or
powders. but came regularly to ascertain
If she was gaining ground.
"Well?" asked the father with increas-
ing anxiety, what's wrong?"
Nothing organically wrong. You may
rest assured of that. Lassitude, disin-
clination for effort
Shall I make her go away for a
change? It's about our usual time-but
she says she doesn't feel up to it?''
ALLOW us a week or two said DR..
Blake. land then we may be glad of a
change of scene. but at present our las
situde stands in the way"
He was using the old-fashioned I'VE"
and meant, of course, Lizzie's lassitude,
not his.
We would not go out for walks, we
would only loll in our basket chair in the
garden; drives in one of the White Hart
landauS gave us no pleasure; We dreaded
the fatigue of holiday tour. with it's
crowded table d'hotes, noisy hotel bands,
and talkative fellow passengers in trains
and on steamboats,. We seemed to care
for nothing but to sit with an unread book
on our lap while we brooded and dreamed.
What was the matter with us?
DR.. Blake thought the liver was in
dubitably sluggish, and suggested rides
upon horses.
Take up riding, Miss Cruuden. Long,
quiet rides over the hills and far away
do you all the good In the world
"Oh, no." said Lizzie. Il can't ride
and there's no one l could ride with
nISar ho ri rna or ct
the person. Banker is a splendid horse
man. l often send my young ladies with
him, and they tell me he's very pleas
ant. entertaining companion"
"Oh, no; should hate it,
VERY we'll, we must try something
else"
Why should she be ailipg-pallid, per-
ceptibly thinner. without Joy in life? Old
Crunden's heart ached when he thought
of it-and that was nearly always. He
could think of nothing else. Sometimes,
as he thought of this trouble. his feeling
was akin to angar-an angry revolt
against the injustice of fate. He had
spared no expense: he had never grudged
her anything that money or love could
buy; he had done all that was humanity
possible to earn for her health and hap
piness. He had right to look for his
reward. and fate was cheating him again;
instead of gaiety, brightness, laughter,
was showing him pale cheeks, sad eyes
slow footsteps.
When people talked to him as he strolled
them; he scarcely grasped the main sub
stance of their chatter Mr.. Aelby stopped
him and walked with him little way
one afternoon.
Good afternoon, young Crunden. Coin
down town."
This white-haired old man, with the
shaky hands and the threadbare black
clothes, always called him young Crun-
den. He was old Crunden to every one
else; but he had been young Crunden,
working for his father, when Selby was
and the chief. rival of Crun-
den, senior.
"They tell me-" said Selby, "some Lon
doner's going to buy the Hill la'and."
II dareSay.'
: Crunden habitually avoided the old
man, who could talk of nothing but his
and who depressed ones spirits
on the brightest day by the Numbering
recital of misery past and misery coming.
But this afternoon the spirits of the
younger man were so low that nothing
could bring them lower, and he made no
effort to escape.
'Ah!" said Selby. 'Yes-Hill Rise
Such ta'asks are easy If you have the
capital of your own. LIES easy for the
rich men, young Crunden1ike game of
ca ards. Ye can play bold and win If
you don't care whether We win or lose.
But they're cruel hard on We If you're
working with borrowed money. The bank
has driven some cruel bargains with
me. 'Tis all question how long
can hold out now. 80 AZ
Then Selby maundered on about his
young wife and children. He had been a
rich man when he married for the
put my money back into bricks and NOR.
tar. 1 had it out once, but 1 put it
i,a'ack. IT'S cruel hard on me young
wife. I ought to give her pleasures, and
can barely give her bread
AT corner he pulled Crunden's sleeve
and pointed down the side road that led
to River View, the terrace of houses
which he had built late in life, which
from the first had been dismal failure.
@There, young Crunden-there sta 'ands
my folly and my punishment. | mad no
fear. 1 hoped it'd be second Hill Rise
filled up with the best gentry-and you
know how it's turned out. That's a rich
mans ta'ask. 1 should never "a touched
It,"
Crunden. not really listening. thinking
Of his sick girl at home, walked with the
Did man as far as the bridge, and then
gave him a sovereign to be rid of him.
Thank ye-young Crunden. You were
always good la'ad. knew your
"a ather we'll"
Mr.. selby had no pride left. He was
River View, but he would borrow five
shillings from the humblest citizen. would
accept half a crown as a present from the
housamaid of one of his tenants. He
clung desperately to his ruinous terrace;
rom years end to years end he strug-
gled to avoid losing possession of it; tine
smallest assistance in his struggle was
welcome. You could not offend him SO
long as you aided him.
Some days Lizzie seemed more languid,
some days less languid; some days she
almost herself again; but every
iay-day after day without fail-Dr. Blake
came to see her. Then one day there
was a sudden change to cooler weather
and Lizzie seemed very much better. DR..
Blake said she had gained more ground
in twenty-four hours than in the last
fortnight.
well, SIR" said Mrs. Frice to her mas
teri begin to think you'll have to give
the doctor another hint-and that l was
wrong to speak to you as / done-and
p'raps it was only the heat after ALL
DO you think" asked old Crunden,
eagerly, shes really on the mend then?"
II begin to think 50. She says she's
says it's him that worries her-coming
and asking so many questions-cross-ex-
aiming of her."
But then, almost Immediately, DR.. Blake
did something extraordinary and unex-
. ct d.. He dismissed h!ms Elf. He had
been treated handsomely by Mr. Crunden,
and perhaps he was anxious to show that
he, too, could act handsomely. The pa
tent, in this less oppressive weather. now
walked drove and had insisted upon writ
ing letters for her father She was out
for walk when DR.. Blake paid his last
visit
Really" said DR.. Blake. unless you