The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-23

an doinG aIi can. but time is % short. Mir. Crunden. make no secret. I am In earnest bitterly In earnest-when say tho thing 10 . confounded night given time--they may sell by private treaty before the Advertised sale date. .... Follows have been down from Lon don going over the ground. There was fellow with red tie and aswhfte hat who meant husiness--sort of surveyor from one of these land companies. I believe that fellow in the red tie meant to make reporting bid the minute he got back to London" MT. Crunden had again gone to the pariour door and opened. then softly shut 1t.
 ..sir, think might help you" "Do-like . good fellow" If gave my mind to it, believe could work out some plan"
 .Eut Sir John. I can't give my mind
 Think 1t over. but remember. hours are precious"
 T can only think of one thing at a time, and I'm thinking of myself now" Surely our interests are identical. You don't want the place ruined" Sir. may speak frankly? May speak my thoughtr'
 By all means"
 T have very little interest with the corporation. They went fierce against me-when opposed them building the "A piece of extravagant folly" Just 70; but those who ought to Council; they turned me out. The town thinks naught of me-" But the town knows you are rich" They don't know how rich am" congratulate you" Mir. Crunden was nervously wipinE his hands with the ample handana handkerchief There were beads of per glow rose to his temple as he made his unusual boast.
 I'm richer man than folk guess I've worked harder-and I've done right well--Sir. follow your lead: I make no secret. As gentleman said. to me the other day--it was Mir. Bowling he said hadn't gone in for display kept my money safe. out of sight but it's there all right"
 T am sure" said the visitor, patron isingly. but kindly. you deserve the re- spect of all. It Is the men of your class who by steady industry amass fortune and who are wise enough not to have their heads turned by prosperity.
 AcSs put | m 9u ampltloue man. Il have great ambitions--tremendous am bftions."
 No unworthy ambitions. I am quite sure"
 Thank you. Sir, There's my daughter. I'm ambitious for her. Sir, I have worked hard to make lady of my girl"
 Not without good results. She is a charming young lady"
 'tsTh tsa A ~A~ gentleman---who lives in Hill Rise. It was pr. Blake. Another gentleman, he said my girl can't look too high. That was MT. Bowling again. He said it, and he meant it."
 MT. Crunden." said Sir John, with unaffected kindness, you are thinking of that fortunate business at the Club.
 I can assure you it was simply a rule that couldn't be broken. It was in no sense an affront to Miss Crunden."
 Thank you. No--tradesman' daught- CT! It was meant for me- That's how took 1t. Poor girl! Her father stood in her way But her father can get out of her way--when the time comes"
 Crunden-my good fellow. let me be made--weIi make it. Is that what you want from us?'
 NO. want thousand times more I want your son from you-I want your son Mir. Jack. for my daughters hus- band. That's my ambition"
 For few moments the visitor stared at his host In open -mouthed surprise.
 T fear that ambition cannot be real ized. But you are joking?"
 No. I'm not. No, don't answer me now. Think it over." and the host lean ed across the tabletapd spoke with ex- traordinary eagernASs rand intensity. T know how it must sound at first. Just a dream--a mad sdream-old Crunden gone out of his senses. But, sir. it's all right"
 "stop-please? Has my son been foolish enough to arouse hopes?
 "No, never a word said. But heIl do | 1t. if you ask him. Why shouldn't he? | My girl isn't the sort to frighten a man -apd there's money behind her."
 Sir John laughed, and was about to | rise.
 Really. this is rather absurd. My son is over thirty"
 He'd do what you tell him. Please don't answer me now. I ask you to
 MT. Crunden--what shall say? We | have very different views for our son When he marries, it will not, think. be for money, and it will be in his own walk of life-that is. if he marries with my consent"
 Don't answer me. Sit down, sir, and hear me out; then think 1t over Your lads thirty-more'n old enough to be settled. What goods he doing loafing -I should say. strolling-about the town here? Where's he drifting, where's he dropped to-while he waits his turn till you are gone?"