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


will you take the pledge along with me?
as any one. But I'll give it up, If you'll
do the like. In this house we've seen too
much of the sorrow it brings"
Yes. you've said that before Don't rub
it in. Pricey."
Then will you do what 1 ask"
mo. / won't. I'll take the pledge
against Rosencrantz champagne. In fact,
1 have taken it. Now run away, please.
Can't you see I'm busy?"
The clerk might be busy, but also he
was in disgrace. Mrs. Price had lectured
him with the utmost severity. although,
so far as Pricey was concerned. he strove
to carry things with high hand.
He was desperately busy when, later in
| the morning his fellow-worker, Lizzie, ST.
lently took her seat and began work with
the typewriter. But, after little while,
when the clack-clack and clong-clong of
the machine ceased and Lizzie sat writ
ing, the silence became so oppressively
| irksome that he attempted conversation.
He found. however, that Lizzie seemed
altogether too busy to indulge in idle
chat.
Il was looking for the sealing wax"
said Jack. as he rose from his chair. us
it on your tablet"
Lizzie pointed with her pen to the tray
that held the sticks Of wax.
You don't wear those pretty blue
dresses now, Miss Lizzie. I sup
pose they are really summer frocks. =
| Wouldn't be suitable for this cold wealth,
er! But you'll wear them again in the
warm weather, I hope. They are SO aw-
! fully pretty. But I mustn't interrupt
you. I can see you are busy. Mrs. Price
interrupted me just now and I re-
preached her for doing it-and I mustnt
do the To Intprrunt yOti-I
mean"
Lizzie went on writing diligently; and
Jack. returning to his desk, fastened to
complete his clerical task.
Miss Lizzie. forgive my interrupting
YOU" This was when he had taken his
hat from the peg and was about to go
out. Miss Lizzie
Yes. what Is it,"
do you remember how I begged you
not to send me to the Redmarsh road?
sent me to. 1 don't like the place at
ALL"
what pace are you talking off"
Coventry. l hate it. You'll let me
Lizzie. you know. I'm sorry about Satur-
day night-being so late-and all that
Your father hasn't said anything. yet
OF course. if he speaks to me. shall tell
him I'm sorry"
He said it to Mr. Crunden presently. in
| employer had been going through last
weeks pay sheet.
''Mr. Vincent" said Crunden gravely,
II judged by many signs Saturday even
Now. sir, I'm old enough to be your
father-I am older l do think than Sir
John-so perhaps you'll listen without Of
tense to the remarks which 1 shall let
fall"
At the first word of this second lecture.
Nv brought his hppS to-
gether; and, erect, silent, grave. he stood
before his superior officer. 1t was the
old orderly room manner. assumed In
stinctiveiy as most suitable for the oc-
wigging from the colonel in the APP
proved military style. No defense: no
explanation: brief statement of regret,
when your colonel gets tired of 1t or loses
his breath.
IT am sorry, sir 1t shant happen
again.
But when all was over-with formal
manners laid BY and they were strol.ine
through the archway side by side, Mr.
Crunden began again.
You know, sir-any remarks / let fall
were simply for your own good. I feel
sure your own father-Sir John-would
indorse-"
"Oh, hang it AL" said Jack rather
warmly. don't rub 1t in. Don't go on
rubbing 1t in. 1t was after business
hours"
Yes, yes, we'll say no more"
Don't" said Jack; and then, after a
gulp. as though swallowing the tendency
to slight warmth. he laughed and gave
| can see 1 was ashamed of myself. Well,
| then, as between men and brothers-as
between good pals-you needn't try to rub
1t in;' and he hurried away toward the
estate.
y Crunden, walking by himself. with his
hands in the pockets Of his gray jacket.
! thought of the present and of the past.
! He stamped along bravely enough; but
| thinking thus. he was sad and heavy OF
heart. He thought of his son Dick. Why
| would not his own son bear advice and
reproof Why would not he work or fee
| the least sympathy for workers? was
| it the fault of the father? Surely not all
the fathers fault?
He walked up Hill Rise. looking to right
| and left at the houses already empty, al
| the houses that soon would be empty. TOO;
| but he saw without seeing. His dirncuit
! enterprise. his annoyance at deiay. ms
hopes for prompt successful had FADED
from his mind: he was walking liking In the
Dick would never brook hard words
Dick was obdurate to kind words. YOU
could not lead him. you could not entlce
| him. you could not coerce him. he mus
have known that there was love for MIN
II he would but deserve tiff he woule
but accept 1t. Even the hedgehog loves Its
young-Dick must have known that. Oper
| revolt. scorn of his humble origin, sheer
! Ing Jokes about common toll and hone s
| rewards-these were the things that tn:
doomed boy offered in exchange for al
ones care and thought.
| Crunden shrugged his shoulders. tilted
| his square hat back on his head. passed {
| hand across his eyes, and then stampec
| on faster TO the gate of the old TENN:
ground. He was trying to shake off the
past: strong men should think only of the
| present and the future. He had work be
b. fore him-years of work-enough to oc
cupy all ones thought. He would thinl
: only of his appointed task.
The clubhouse-the property of the
! members-had been pulled down and re
/ moved sold as old material Tor a few shil
linys more than the cost of carriage. Tit
long grass on the tennis lawns was white
with frost; the wire fences were broker
where they had not been knocked over
two basket chairs with the seats smashed
lay out at the mercy Of the weather
desolation and ruin were all one could set
Oh the spot where polite society had once
gathered to laugh and play together, Of
| to deride and scoff at their interiors out
side the gates Crunden, now lord ant
master. looked down from here al hi!
wide domain. The new finished road
were clean and bright. with the new gran
lite erbs and channels flashing and spark
ling in the frosty sunlight. Thousands o
shining sovereigns had gone to the max
ing of them-they might well glitter t.
sho " where the gold lay buried. Far be
low him the slate roofs Of his new cot
tags caught the light and reflected 1
dully. Nearer to him, above the com
| Melted roads, were road sections laid OIL
| either hand but as yet waiting attention