The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-15
HL.L.RLSE
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6Muan uMDalD DMlD lDE1 4a0 0ao om0alo
 (Centfnesd.)
 How different from Mir. Jack! And Lizzie thought of Jacks self-imposed iabours, his abandonment of ease and luxury, his unshaken determination to be fndependent---to earn his own bread. Tn spite Of tears and fentreaties. 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 one penny from us, Miss Crunden. That is what causes. us such pain"-and so forth. "It Is 90 unnecessary. Miss Crunden." Listening to Lady vincent's interminabIe laments, 1t had seemed to Lizzie that MT. Jacks conduct was unnecessary, stupid and unkind He had seemed almost a traitor to his class: an undutiful son, seeking to hu- initiate those who loved him. rather than striving to work out his own re- demption. But now she could see that all he had done was necessary--was noble and grand and good. She re- membered his words and his smile as he explained himself to her-leaving her still unconvinced. There could 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 wfIfully unkind-lto any one?
 Thinking of him she stopped, and put her hand to her side. It was time now to think of something else. Was he building himself in her thoughts once again as hero? It would be dreadful if he solidified himself. took bulk and substance, and built himself in her thoughts as a real hero-not a ~t~r . &l. moving thought background by the dim light of Mir. Mee's novels. He was strong now--alive-full of force. If he set one dreaming now, what .overpow- ering, dreams they would be. And she paused in the old foolish attitude; hand on side, lips parted. breath coming fast. e re.
 She could not dream now-most hap oily she lost the trick of 1t. But walking on, she thought of him all the way. Tke sun was sinking--a yellow fire sending It's 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 wood the shadows. gaining strength and boldness, would soon come creep ing to conquer all the world. Already, the shadows had conquered the vaiiey --grey mist hid the river; the town was nearly lost: and lamps began to twinkle brighter and brighter in the greyness. Quickly the winter sunset faded-first the golden light grew dull then red dust seemed to rise from the mist-covered piain--the glow of red fire spreading above the wnue smoke and then the dark cloud curtains conf ing slowly down. lad then. in the grey dark, all the broad common and silent woods seemed ghostly. dream like. and unreal.
 How could she have believed him to be unkind? She thought of his kind ness to her father--of his kindness to herself. How very. very kind of him to give her banale--for remem- brance. If 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! Pretend 1t 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 "Tm 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 anyone. She could pretend that there was sadness in his tone when he said--two or three times-''You advise me to so. Yes. bought you would" Then--yery sad ly---"I think I had better go." Could it be that he wished, hoped. yearned to hear her ask him to stay? His eyes were on Ter face--seemed to burn her, his voice had vibration that made her lips trembie so that she could not l. s~A k.s I.u said This means that you want me to go. This means you are anxious to be rid of me-"
 Thus she woould dream now--if she let herself dream. She pressed her hand to her side., drew her breath fast CT and faster and hurried homeward.
 And close to home. she saw him. If was quite dark in Hill Rise and he did not see her. He was walking with 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 prodigious black hat and feathers, er- mine collars, copper hair. red lips. white teeth. She had never seen the lady before--but was quite sure she had often heard of her. H
 Miss Barter?
 N. Lizzie that evening sat close to her father while he smoked his pipe. link ed her hands about his arm. Spressed her soft face against the sleeve of his rough coat--tried to show him that. whatevef else failed, his daughters love could never be taken from him.
 Father" she whispered, promise, you'll never mind really--whateve happens. If things go wrong in the end dad-let's be brave and not mind. What does it matter really? If you lose your money. we can still be hap DIV without it. and. dad. why go Gh- if things don't work out as you thought? :. Stop now--and save what you can."
 Lizzie, my dear. I can't stop now must go on. Besides. everything will be all right--in the end."
 twill 1t. dad? But what I mean Is don't try to be rich. Money would do us no good-either of us. I would like to save just enough for us to live on-some mewhere-not here. Father-whatever happens, take mo away from here-hundreds of miles away-where we can forget Hill Rise and all about 1t. You and I could live in a little cottage and be quite happy inst by ourselves. We don't want any one else-you and l."
 CHAPTER XXI.
 If Lizzie could trace the Medford up- heaval back to its first starting inn