Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-08


| All! You see, sir, a gentleman like your
father soon gets adrift in financial opera
tons. It's special business training, sir
straight up from the bottom: and gentle
men high-placed from their birth can't be
expected to master it sufficient to protect
! themselves. When it comes to money
questions they're bound to be outmaneu-
Fered-if not tricked and cheated half the
time. But hope, SIR said Crun-
den. with genuine sympathy. that the
upset is not as bad as people make out"
| We'll. sir. my governors fairly in the
cart. But, no, It's not really so bad. They
will do very welEmy mother has money
of her own. Look here. sir, it's just this:
think my father and mother will have
enough for themselves, but 1 don't think
they've enough to keep a grownup son in
| idleness.''
well answered, SIR" said old Crunden
again. But Sir John and her ladyship.
sir-will they give their consent to your
turning to, down herein the place where
you are so we'll known?"
"Oh. yes said Jack cheerful1y. THAT
isl haven't asked their consent yet. But
If they won't give It'll shall have to do
without it,
Then Jack Vincent, highly elated by his
success in obtaining the engagement, hur-
ried away to face and bear down parental
opposition. He was full of energy, excite
ment and enthusiasm; in the midst of
gloom and disaster he was like happy.
light-hearted child who has discovered a
new amusement. 1t was as if after the
house has fallen a little boy is seen play
ing a game and enjoying himself about
the ruins. even while the dust and noise
are still in the air.
Sir John Vincent declared that his sons
plans for the future were outrageous and
absurd He could never countenance them
Jack must really abandon them at once.
II tell you Jack, it's only question of
time. Give me time and I'll pull things
together even now. Meantime. our home
] I- Vn1
shan't want for comfort-and for pocket
money"
But Jack said that henceforth any
money that might lie in his pockets must
be earned by himself
| Don't do it, Jack. 1t will be so dashed
humiliating to me. AS pal-youll be
making me so confoundedly uncomfort-
able. With that hedgehog of a fellow,
too! Oh. it really would be internal"
| Jack, in the most friendly, genial way
| explained that the hour had come when
he must think and act for himself. He
very much regretted that he could not now
| be guided by his fathers advice. He saw
nothing derogatory. in honest labor.
Jack and his ideas with the greatest adj
miration. She shed tears of pride and
love when she listened to his noble argu-
msnts. In principle she agreed with
| every word he said. Nothing could be
grander or finer than work yes. real work
''But not here Jack. Anywhere else. but
not here. And my dearest boy. not that
sort of work-and. Jack, cbove all. not
with that dreadful man. 1t would be too
distressing to your father
and take some small post under govern
ment or be private secretary to some
1 rising politician, then Lady Vincent would
i be the happiest of mothers. She and Sir
an indefinite period while Jack was Jock
ing about him and seeking an avenue
likely to lead to ultimate greatness.
NO" said Jack. with terrible determine
ton. I'm not going to sponge on you
any longer Besides, know what it would
meant would all end In talk. l should
never start work at all
He would take nothing from then1-not
penny. He would be self-supporting:
now. this minute and ever after. For
he said begun to raise the wind. He had
summoned from Water Lane that we'll
known citizen Mr.. Gregory the second
hand clothes dealer. and was selling the
superf1uites of his wardrobe. Some other
personal property-his old gun, service
revolver, sword. etc. and some small
| trinkets, such as tie pins and sleeve links
he could also put up the spout" If nee
essary.
IT shall have plenty Of cash to start
with. Don't you worry yourself. mother;
I shall be all right"
Lady Vincent, however, continued to
worry herself.
Jack, I shall never reconcile myself to
1t. don't fret about your fathers mis-
fortunes. I don't mind our losing all our
money. but IL we are to lose you I shall
never get over it,
You won't lose me- said Jack cheer
fully. "I'n often come to dinner-if you
and the governor will ask me- I don't
intend to pop my dress suits, you know
and, as he took his mothers hand he in
his turn became the petitioner. Mother
dear. don't think me unkindor selfishly
| obstinate. But you know how often
you've said ito rouse myself. Do You
remember what 1 told you?-the whisper
In the wnd-how we all had heard it; but
| shouldn't hear 1t again! Well I heard
1t directly-that afternoon. Not a whis-
per; shout-a trumpet cal!-some one
with megaphone believing into my ear:
John Vincent. Wake. Put on your
boots Don't try to balk me
now mother. It's my last chance-my
| Then. in the most undignifed fashion
with Mr.. Gregory. etc.-Jack raised the
wind; went about the town paying little
debts-Mr. Rudd, the tobacconist: Mr..
Drake of the White Hart. etc.: fetched
4 man with a hand-cart from the station
to remove his luggage: and firmly estab
| iished himself in Mrs. Gates cottage hard
by Mr.. Crunden's yard. OF the cash OBJ
tanned from the sale of costumes and Or
naments, etc. there was a sufficient resi-
dunn to enable him to hand Mr. Crun-
den two pounds on account of the fifty
pounds loan. The balance of the debt he
hoped. IL he kept his situation, to work
off without avoidable delay.
| He was worth thirty-five shillings
week. His energy was SO abnormal that
at first he was subject to fits Of complete
exhaustion, and thus 1t seemed that his
working power was Of fitful or intermit-
tent character. But soon it became ap-
parent to his employer that whatever his
capacity for work might be, the purpose
behind 1t was strong and unwavering.
His desire was to do good work; If he
| failed, it was never from voluntary slack
ing. He did not achieve anything at all
in the way of amelioratng the. relations
between Mr.. Crunden and the Town. But
in all other ways he became more and
more useful to Mr.. Crunden. So useful.
in fact. that it was impossible to keep
him. like a good watchdog. mostly in
the yard" He was continually wanted
at Kings Cottage. where he gave really
valuable assistance in the composition of
letters replying to inquiries, etc; he was
| with builders. house agents, etc, who
were considering the purchase or lease of
the ground plots; and he was. as Mr..
Bowling often said. almost invaluable as
a patient, good-tempered Snowman when
visitors were going over the ground it
4 self. After time a place was aiI0rted
to him in the big working room at the
| Cottage; the table and desk between the
lobby door and the window were known
as "Mr. Vincents place" He was, in his
place for So many hours of the day that
soon it became convenient to permit Mr.
Vincent to take a share in the two family