Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-15

Take care Of your health. my dear-so
on taking care Of It. have been neglect
ful OF you. Liz-latteriy."
Il am perfectly well. father. As Arong
silly Lizzie who made you anxious. Don't
give me a thought"
We'll. my dear. haven't given you
many Enthusiastically. I'm too deep in
this-and / can only think OF one thing
at time. l was always like that But
you are not to stick too close to your
desk Mrs. Price says you work too
hard
"oh. that's absurd. IT'S the work that
has done me good-cured me and made
me strong"
That's right Yes, I do believe you
are eured-in your health. And. Liz. the
other th!ng-the fancy? What
you called your dream is quite done with.
l may just TAX OF 1t and laugh?"
NO. Laugh-but don't talk OF it.
Please never speak of II again.
oh. but this once, Liz. l must speak OF
stand" - 0e quite sure no" we
Then; for the last time. Father. 10
that bargain?'
Yes. that's bargain"
well what is it that you want to be
That l done no harm in having Mr..
Vincent here"
No HARM
lou SAID so, you know, Or wouldn't
nave agreed to 1t. But / want to know
1t turned out right-hasn't worried you,
made You uncomfortable"
No-not now. Only at first"
But 1t did at first? Answer me truly,
She had moved away to the low wall.
and was looking over the dark roofs of
the sleepy old town.
"Father-for the very Let time. 1t
was all nonsense-but I hated his being
here; l thought Sir John would tell him.
l didn't dare meet his eyes Only tust at
first, father-it was torment and punish-
ment. But 1t was soon Overland de-
served worse punishment than that for
upsetting you. and making you burst
out into all this"
No" said Crunden. resolutely. You
had nothing to do with that I've al
ways told you so. All that wasn't wise
and businesslike In 1t was just my own
spite and rancor-to read a LESSON to the
But leave that alone. You don't mind
him now?"
NO" said Lizzie. in a low voice.
Meeting his eyes don't worry you
mo"
You are just Indifferent about him?".
absolutely" said Lizzie with nrmness.
almost with defiance. Except as q
friend who has been useful to YOU"
"Ah. That's all right. dear. Just as
l had to ask you-to make certain how
we stood. Because 'now-I think shall
get rid of him.
Get rid of him.
Well. he wants to 60" said crunden
rather sadly. land I suppose L shall have
prevent t% , III gu !! ooh' see now ! could
Lizzie. sitting on the low wall, with
hands clasped in her lap, silently listened
sadly.
4 shall miss him. Liz. He has been
useful to memo two ways about that
And counted on him for the clerking
when I've shut the yard. I must do that
It before-but things have gone 80 slow.
Cruelty slow. my dear. cruelty slow.
Mind you, 1t doesn't follow that be-
cause he's been useful to me he'll be use
full to others. He is. looking out for
to hold 1t. If he finds It. He has learnt
my ways, and I understand him. 4 He
may De making a laundering mistake.
I'd be sorry for that, too. -
But there you are. Liz. I certainly
want to seem to stand between himtand
his prospects. shall have to get
another clerk-get one supercilious jack
ass after another till I'm suited. I sup
pose"
''Oh. dad" said Lizzie. in low voice.
there must be as good fish in the sea az
ever came out of it."
Think so, Liz? But shall miss him
beyond his use. I don't mind saying.
Liz, shall miss him Sore
The days were drawing in again. Il
was we'll on in Septe: lber and the after
one felt glad to have a good IRE burning.
Lizzie was on her knees before the
hearth. with log in her hands. when
Jack came bursting in to tell: her about
4 h.
I'm so glad to catch you alone.
wanted to tell you first. It's a secret.
father"
better than the Crunden clerkship. His
eyes sparkled and he snapped his fingers
gaily as he spoke of It. Griggs-moet
eminent of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. him four
pounds a week to begin with, promise Of
steadily increasing salary. and the
small partnership In their famous house
Lizzie was on her knees. but she did
not pray to him that he would remain at
obscure little bedford. She got Up. read
offer from the vast metropolis. Griggs
were evidently In earnest.
I'VE beg of you seriously to consider
our offer and its advantages. which,"
said Griggs politely. will be mutual We
will study your own inciinations as to
character of employment = whether In
town or country-in personal contact
with our best London clients. or as our
travelling representative among the no.
bility and landed gentry" etc.
Then you advise me to go, Miss Lizzie
AS a friend?"
GAS a friend, what else can I advise?
besides, what could any advice matter,
can see how pieased you are"
Yes" said Jack. mot so much with
the thing itself-but the compliment-the
feeling of independence. You know. the
world my oyster-and all that. A part
nership with Griggs"
Had you applied to them?"
No It's just an unsolicited testi-
monial to merit. Griggs bowled over.
laid fiat on their backs-feel they can't
get up again unless l come and give them
helping hand. And you advise
me to go. Yes. thought you would.
Thank you. Miss Lizzie. But keep It q
about this. There's no hurry-and have
told him I should soon be going"
Very well, l won't speak about II.
But don't think you'll want much time
to make up your mind"
mo. You advise it, I am sure you
are right. Miss Lizzie. 1 was sure you
would tell me to 60. OF course. shall
be sorry to leave your fathervbut then
this meaUs real independence-high pay
wealth. Suppose l ever wanted to marry.
Why. could almost keep wife-if she
wasn't too big a swell-on four pounds a
week-to begin with"
CHAPTER XIX.
1T was the end of the week-,ong after