Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-24

Bulletin was a rival 'It is" he said, "a
trade circular, not a newspaper. The On
dts are neither journalism nor litera-
ture. They are beneath contempt
YET sometimes. as now, young Mees's
On dts were daring, very daring. Ger
tafnly. as Mr. Hope confessed, Mees would
not have ventured to take such tone
manifested so much apathy
There was apathy in Hill Rise itself.
The younger generation refused to believe
that the end Of the world was coming.
The young men lounged about as content
eddy as ever. The girls still played tennis
and croquet. and carried all their money
to Selkirk' s-or rather, nearly all their
money, but not quite all. Some of 1t
found it's way to Modes ct Robes. Miss
Walsh had recently sold twenty-one leaf
plus of a new line sent down from a GER
tain smart London house. Wearing these
special ruffles. the Hill young ladies felt
gay Of heart. easy in their minds, and
scarcely listened when parents discussed
the coming stroke of doom.
The fuller sale bills were now I'D all
over the town. Mr.. Crunden, having met
the bill sticker, asked for one of the
white sheets. carried it home, and with a
drawing pin fixed it to the wall of his big
room between the two engravings in the
place where such documents always hung
years ago.
Coming back early one afternoon he
found Mrs. Price as If spellbound before
the new bill.
Haven't you read that yet?' said Mr.
learning it by rote?" And he grunted
again as he took off his square hat and
brought out a bandana handkerchief to
mop his forehead.
It was an oppressive. airless day. very
hot in the sun, and Mr.. Crundan had obvi-
ously returned in rather bad temper
Mrs. Price smiled. and spoke soothingly
You've had your walk, then?"
Yes"
ANY news?''
We'll" said Mrs. Price, In friendly,
conciliatory tones. there's one thing with
you-you're regular as clockwork. One
can always tell your movements. Down
by the yard, over the bridge and up the
town-as usual? What did you
see today?"
"A lot of fools. as usual" And with
loud grunt, the master went to his bureau
and sat down. "Foolsr'- All the
town chattering about the sale"
well, 1t IS bombshell for the gentry"
and Mrs. Price turned >once more to the
bill. Il can't get over it. I must read it
every time I come in And she laughed
good-humoredly. LAT the mart. London!
On July the twenty-second, at 3. pm.
precisely! By order of the executors
dences-'"
'One of the noble residents-Co. Beau
mont-came across the road and talked
to me-saw me all of sudden. oh, Mr..
Crunden, says he. what can be done to
sir? The ruin of the town. Mr.. Crun
den. If Hill Rise meadows are built over,
we shall all leave IN body. Oh, I do
think old Lady Haddingham has treated
us very bad How SO, sir?' Why. in
M tfv1rp fh0 o.. ~
highest bidder without any warning"
What did you say to the colonel?''
Il said: Well. sir. as to that, selling
to the highest bidder is always done. It'd
be funny thing to sell to the lowest
she's dead. as understand. So we
oughtn't to blame her for what's done
when she's in her coffin" And then Mr.
Crunden gave an imitation of voice and
gestures. which. If at all successful,
fussy. finnicking sort Of person: Might
have provided for the contingency, Mr..
Crunden Might have provided
for the contingency
What did you say to that?" asked Mrs.
Price. She was genuinely interested and
amused.
II told him the best way to save their
aristocratic neighborhood was for them
to club together and buy the property"
and Mr.. Crunden gave short, con-
temptuous laugh They won't do that;
noble residences. If pride could buy it,
they would"
ITO be sure. They are proud"
Yes. It's grand. such pride as theirs
If you come to think Of it. Proud be-
cause they aren't in trade-because they
are colonies who never fought a battle:
admirals who won their rank after they'd
left the service; pensioners who never
did an honest days work. Pll tell you
something. I've grown to hate them and
their pride-with their proud, tricked-out
daughterS-too proud to play a game of
ball with my girl"
That was a. shame. fredericksburg
Of Miss Lizzie for the club
Il hate their proud. staggering sons,
toe! Loafers! That's what they are
Idle, loaf1ng, staggering fools-every one
of them"
80 they are" said Mrs Price. IAN
except young Mr.. Vincent. He's DIFF
ferent. He was always pleasant and kind
when he come here in the old days
pleasure for to watch him ride by.
Leave Mr.. Jack out, and I'm ali with
you.'' >,
Il saw one Of them today-that Lard
ner-the admirafs son. coming out of the
station, wiping his fat chops" and Mr..
bureau. .''I hate that fellow most of ALL
1t was copying him and his kind that sent
my lad to the devil"
-"Ah!" said Mrs. Price. sadly and SOL
EMMY. - - - -.
"When did these letters Gomez"
Afternoon post. When you'd gone out
mot before"
''All right. Where's Lzzie?"
in the garden. think. She was here
Just now" And Mrs. Price was about to
go back to her kitchen when she remem-
bered that she had an important question
to ask. "Oh, is the Freemasons' dinner
tomorrow or day after?".
DAY after"
Because 1 want to air your dress
clothes. And will you want 'em for that
other affair-the hospital reception-on
the tenth?"
II don't know" Mr. Crunden looked
round in grave doubt. II must ask
Lizzie. I don't know. You see, there's
no question about day after tomorrow.
It's our installation banquet. Always
dress clothes for that. We shall be busy
in lodge till 6 o'clock-putting the new
master in the chair, appointing his off,
GERS, raising two fellowcraft to the third
"Oh, dear; oh. dear! You mustn't tell
me that"
"Why not?'
Z Mrs. Price, on the threshold Of the
kitchen passage, raised q crooked finger
and wagged her head in sly pleasantly.
you mustn't she said, because I
haven't been in the clock case I'm not
the lady Freemason.''
''Oh, you go on and for the first time
in their conversation Mr.. Crunden laughed
heartily and spontaneously. Mrs Price
laughed also. and was going, but he
called her back again.
Hos Rlo1<o o.