Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-03

Mr. Crunden Mamma and Mrs. Price at
once treasured her. Papa had never been
more prosperous than at present
Mfddle-aged. beaming. hard-workins
Mrs. Price was cousin of the house as
well as Its "Quizzineer, and no secrets
were hid from her She was valiant,
modest creature. who was servant al
ways until you reminded her that she was
a member of the family. She never pre-
sumed: she went on cooking Tor you,
waiting on you, asking no question out
II In moment you craved confidential
chat with relative-well. there she was.
ready to come along the stone-fagged
passage and enter the room as sympa-
thetic cousin. No arrang ament could be
more convenient or comfortable
Certainly not said Mrs. Price. r2as-
sur:ng Lizzie: your father is as safe as
the Bank of England
What worried papa was merely Dick
and public affairs. He was ansiously
planning the career of his natural sue
cessor. r. Crunden. jr.. and he was much
occupied and harassed by his duty to
watch over the future welfare OF the town
o. Medford.
Your father" said loyal Mrs. Price,
lis the wisest, long-headedest man on the
council and they don't listen to what he
says. as they ought
He was Councillor Crunden-if you gave
him his full title. Fancy!
With solid stake in Medford, he had
wished for seat on the town council,
had thought he could be useful at the
municipal board. and had offered him
self "a an Independent candidate to tn ;
burgesses Of the lower Hill ward Now
he had obtained his wish: a councillor s
chair was his to sit in, and he found
himself q quite useless. No one would
listen to him: he was con family tn oppo-
s1tion Sometimes-as on this question of
the new town hall-he was quite alone;
a compact minority composed of Crund n.
The town fe,t that the time had come
when 1t really must build itsslf a grand
municipal palace. Since Mr. Crunden
was builder. one might suppose that
his only anxiety would b. to cure this
building job and build the town hall
himself. But not a bit o it. He decTied
the scheme, strenuously maintained that
no building was n@c 3Ssary; these dingy,
old tumble down rooms at the corner OF
Market street were admirably fitted and
altogether sufficient for the de!ib 2rations
Of the town fathers: it was folly. vain
glory, unworthy non7e1se to burd n tie
rates with large and avoidable outlay.
Such narrow views wsre highly offenSiv
to the dignity of his colleagues, and. odd
ly enough. proved unpopular with the
ratepapers.
Il call that" said a rude and irate
councillor in council assembled II call
that talking like a hedgehog Any hole
may be good enough fer some people, but
it isn't good enough for us
This rude speech summed up public
opinion and was widely appauded M.
Crunden, walking home from the yard.
soon had occasion to chase, or pretend to
chase. vulgar urchin who had mock d
him and called him &" Edge og Crunden."
If he offered himself to the lower Hill
ward for reelection he would no doubt
be heavily defeated. Indeed. it was pos
sible that burgesses might request him to
resign because he no longer represented
their opinions corrective
Mr.. Crunden. walking through the
streets to and from his work. perhaps
had bitter thoughts just now. His man
ner hardened; but he was as he had al
ways been, extraordinarily respectful In
his attitude toward the gentry of the
place. This Difference was characteristic;
he was a plain man, without pretension-
successful worker, nothing more. In
fact. as to garb and aspect, he seemed
seeking to stand below his real station
ly In all seasons, the same gray suit, and
the square, black felt hat that was q
compromise between topper and a
bowler. He touched his hat to mo It of
the gentlemen-they nearly all knew him;
or If q gentleman was accompanied by a
lady, he would step from the pavement
into the road and, taking off his hat,
show them his stiff gray hair. Seeing
him thus. one might have guessed that
he was superior sort of Workman-say,
d DuiIuSI ) lOItUidii, PERHAPS, out scarcely
the builder himself and an employer of
much labor.
Yet, in spite of all this chara ct eristic
de- ference and courtesy while abroad. he
would speak now when at, home very
slightingly of the union of great genttlity
and slender brains. The gentlefolk had
disappointed him. How do, Crunden?' q
they said patronizingly. as he stood bow
ing or touching his hat, but none stopped
to pat him on the back for his sound COM
mon sense about the town hall.
Mother" he told his wife, ut was
to them I looked for support They
ought to have supported me. They'll all
feel it in their pockets, but they haven't
the brains to see beyond the end of their
supercillous noses"