Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22

In spite Of tears and .entreaties, he had
steadfastly refused parental assistance
from the hour in which he knew that
his father had muddled himself into
money difficulties. He will not take
is what causes us such pain'-and so
| forth. TT is so unnecessary. Miss
Crunden." Listening to Lady Vincents
| interminable laments 1t had seemed to
| Lizzie that Mr.. Jacks conduct was UNI
! necessary, stupid and unkind. He had
seemed almost a traitor to his class
| an undutiful son. seeking to humiliate
those who loved him, rather than striv-
But now she could see that all ne had
done was necessary-was noble and
grand and good. She remembered his
words, and his smile as he explained
convinced. There coluld be no half
measures If he was to succeed in his
task. VERY remarkable thing. Miss
Lizzie. for man of my age to be born
again."
How could she have condemned him
as wilfully unkind-to any one?
Thinking of him. she stopped and put
her hand to her side. 1t was time now
to think of something else. Was he
building himself in her thoughts once
again as a hero? 1t would be dreadful
If he solidifed himself, took bulk and
substance. and built himself high in her
thoughts as a real hero-not a splendid
shadow thrown vaguely on a moving
thought background by the dim light
of Mr.. Mees' novels. He was strong
now--alive-full of force. If he set one
dreaming now, what, overpower1ng'
dreams they would be- And she paused
in the old foolish attitude-hand on
side lips parted, breath coming fast.
She could not dream now-most hap
PLY she had lost the trick of it. But
walking on. she thought of him all the
crrv, g n
fire sending its last low rays across
the earth. lighting up the tops of the
beech trees, but leaving the depths OF
| the wood dark and vague: Out OF the
and holiness, would soon come creep
ing to conquer all the world. Already
the shadows had conquered the valley
gray mist hid the river; the town was
kle brighter and brighter in the gray
ness. Quickly the winter sunset
faded-frst the golden light grew dull,
| then red dust seemed to rise from the
mist-covered plain-the glow OF req
fire spreading above white. smoke,
| and then the dark cloud-curtains COM
| ing slowly down. And then, in the
gray dark, all the broad common ana
the silent woods seemed snostiy'
dreamlike and unreal.
| How could she have believed him to be
unkind? She thought of his kindness to
| her father-of his kindness to herself.
How very very kind of him to give her
bangle-for remembrance. IT she wanted
materials for dream weaving, she could
speedily find them. If she dreamed now,
| she need only use realities and twist them
deftly for the fabric of her dream
AS thus: Her influence over him! Pre-
| tend it had been felt and proved as very
strong Pretend that nearly all he SAID
and did was Influenced by her. She could
think of how he had cured himself OF
| "pegging''-for her sake; of how anxious
| he seemed to tell her that the cure was
made-"I'm careful, Miss Lizzie, of what
| I eat-and drink" of how he asked her
advice about the letter from Griggs before
| he spoke of it to any one. She could pre-
| tend that there was sadness IN his tone
| when he said-two or three times-"Y GU
| advise me to go. Yes. 1 thought you
would" Then-very sadly-'1 think had
| better CO." Could it be that he wished,
hoped, yearned to hear her ask him to
| stay? His eyes were on her face.seemed
to burn her. his voice had a vibration that
| made her lips tremble SO that she could
not herself. have answered him. when he
said: ''This means that you want me to
go. This means you are anxious to be rid
| of me"
Thus she would dream now-if she let
herself dream. She pressed her hand to
her side, drew her breath faster and
faster, and hurried homeward.
| And close to home. she saw him. IL was
quite dark in Hill Rise and he did not see
| her. He was Walking Will d iduS elhu. %
| he and his companion paused beneath a
| lamp Lizzie, like the ghost of one OF the
| Hill Rise girls fitted by in the shadows
on the other side of the road.
| In the lamplight she saw the lady-pro-
| dipious black hat and feathers, ermine
| collar, copper hair, red lips. white teeth.
| She had. never seen the lady before-but
was quite sure she had often heard of
| her.
Miss Barter?
| Lizzie that evening sat close to her
father while he smoked his pipe. linked
| her hands about his arm, pressed her soft
| face against the sleeve of his rough coat
| tried to show him that. whatever else
failed, his daughters love could never be
| taken from him. -,
Father" she whispered. promise you II
| never mind really-whatever happens. If
things 20 wrong in the end. dad-let's be
brave and not mind. What does 1t matter,
really? If you lose your money, we can
| still be happy without it. And. dad, why
go on-if things don't work out as you
thought? .. Stop, now-and, save
what you cam.
| Lizzie, my dear, I can't stop now
must go on. Besides. everything will be
all right-in the end"
| "Will it, dad? Eut what I mean is
don't try to be RIGA. Money would do us
no good-eithtr of us. 1 would like you to
| save lust enough for US to live on-some-
where-not here. Father-whatever
happens. take me away from here-hun-
dreds of miles away-where we can for
get Hill Rise and all about 1t. You and
could live in little cottage and be quite
happy-just by ourselves. We don't want
any one else-you and l.