Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-12-14

NI girls passed silently down the
/, 81 broad stairs Of the hotel unac-
~ companied by any of the 9TH
ers. There was nothing Incompetent
sible In this or any SAVIOR Of dis.
courtesy.
In the first place, Mr.. Trail was 80
profoundly shocked by the lighthouse
keepers revelation that he collapsed
Into chair and remained there, bowed
and wordless, for many minutes. Both
Pyne and Stanhope did move toward
the door, but Enid. watchful, self sac
rifcing, eager to save those she loved
from further pain, telegraphed an en-
phatic order to Stanhope to remain
where he was, and Pyne murmured to
him:
'Guess she's right, anyhow. Wen all
feel heap better in the morning."
The person who exhibited the clear
est signs Of distress was Lady Marga-
ret. Her position was one Of extraor-
binary difficulty. Three Of the actors
In the breathless scene which had been
sprung on her with the suddenness of
an explosion were absolute strangers
In her life before that evening.
Brand she knew indeed, but only by
sight. She had met Constance and
Enid occasionally, at arms length, so
to speak, regarding them truly as dan
gerous young persons where marriage
able sons were concerned. Enid had
justified her suspicious, and her lady
ship had yielded so far as to give her
approval to an engagement she could
not prevent
Circumstances had conspired to force
her hand. Stanhope, being an outspo-
ken young man, had made no secret Of
his desperate resolve to rescue Enid, so
the newspapers supplied the remainder
Of the romance, and even Lady Marga-
ret herself had contributed to it under
the magnetic influence of the hour.
1t was one thing. however, to be
thrilled with the adventures of the
rock bound people, but quite another to
figure prominently in connection with
q social scandal Of the first magnitude.
She knew Penzance too well to hope
that the incident would sink into obliv-
ion. Obviously the matter could not
rest in its present stage. She must ex-
pect disagreeable disclosures, signifl-
cant head shakings Of those who knew
little and wanted to know more. All
the tea table artillery of a small town
would be focused on her defensive po-
sition were she loyal to the girl whom
her son had chosen as his helpmate.
This same son. too, after he had re-
covered from the amazement of Mrs.
Vansittart's dramatic departure and
Brands admission, betrayed a compo-
sure that was distinctly irritating.
"You won't mind If we smoke, moth
er," he said 1.-THE situation requires
tobacco. Don't you feel like that,
PyneT'
IF Lady Margaret doesn't object, I
admit that different sorts Of poison
might act as tonics," answered Pyne.
Here. uncle; try brandy and soda.
Lady Margaret, a glass Of champagne.
I've been expecting a disturbance, but
didn't look for 1t tonight"
''Why do you say that, CharlieT'
asked Mr.. Traill, rising and stretching
his limbs as a man who tests bis bones
after a heavy fall.
1T was hanging around, just as one
prophesies a storm after an electrical
feeling in the air. Mrs. Vansittart rec
ognized Brand and made her calcula-
tons accordingly. Let US give her the
credit due to her. AS soon as she dis
covered him, the marriage project was
off,"
II had that kind Of impression my
self. Glad mentioned it to you now"
''Of course you are. I'll bet any rea-
sonable man that Mrs. vansittart in
tended to leave Penzance tomorrow as
soon as she had made you understand
that she could not. under any circum-
stances, become my aunt"
A ghost Of a smile fitted across Mr..
Traill's face. His nephew's way Of
putting things was delightfully."- un-
eQuivocal.
what we are apt to lose sight Of"
continued Pyne, lis the manner in
which Brand received what must have
been a staggering blow. He met his
wife tonight after a separation of more
than twenty years. And how he took
It! When he spoke 1t was really in her
behalf. The thing Is too amazing. OF
course. now that the thunder and light
ming have started, the sky will clear all
the sooner"