Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-08-08

Such message might well carry
good cheer to all who heard, vet Mrs.
Nansittart listened as one in 4 trance
to whom the divineSt promise was Il
thing unaskel for and unrccogniZed.
After passing through the greater peril
of the reef in Il state of supinc con-
seriousness. she was now moved to ex-
IRENE activity by more personal and
selfish danger. There was she, lltl-
man atom, to be destroyed or saved ut
the idle whim of circumstance; here.
with life and many things worth living
for restored to her safe keeping, she
saw imminent risk of collapse with
which the nebulous dangers of the
wreck We're in no way comparable. 1t
would have been well for her could she
only realize the promise of the hymn,
"Our light aflliction, which is but for n
moment, worketh for us n far more eX-
ceeding and eternal weight of glory"
Not so ran Mrs. Vansittart's tumble
Of thoughts. The plans, the schemes,
the builded edificc OF many years,
threatened to fall in ruin about her.
In such bitter mood there was no con-
ISOLATION. She sought not to find spir-
itual succor, but bewailed the catas-
trophe which had befallen her.
1t assurcdly contributed to that "af-
Fiction which is but for moment"
that Constance should happen just
then to run up the stairs toward the
hospital. Each flight was so contrived
that it curved across two-thirds of the
superficial area allotted to the stair
way. Any one ascending made COM
plete turn to the right about to reach
the door of the room on any given
landing and the foot of the ladder to
the next.
Hence the girl came unexpectedly
face to face with Mrs. Vansittart. The
meeting startled her. This pale wom-
an, SO thinly clad in the demitoilct of
evening wear on shipboard, should not
be standing there.
as anything wrong:" she cried, rails
ing her lantern just as Enid did when
she encountered the sailors.
mo, no." said the other. passing a
nervous hand over her face. Con.
stance, with alert intelligence. fnncied
she dreaded recognition.
"Then why are you standing here?
1t is so cold. You will surely make
yourself ILL.,"
81 was wondering if might see Mr..
Brand" came the desperate answer.
the words bubbling forth with unre-
strained vehemonce.
"See my father?" repeated the girl
She took thought for an instant. The
| lighthouse keeper would not be able
to leave the lamp for nearly three
hours. When dawn came she knew he
would have many things to attend to-
signals to the Lands End. the arrange
mont of supplies. which he had al.
ready mentioned to her, and host OF
other matters. -Four o'clock in the
morning was an unconventional houl
for an interview, but time itself was
topsy turvy under the conditions prev.
alent on the Gulf Rock.
II will ask him." she went on hur.
rlcdly, with an uncomfortable feeling
that Mrs. Vansittart resented her ju
dicial pause.
"Thanll YOU"
To the girls ears the courteous &C
acknowledgement conveyed an odd note
Of menace. If the eyes are the win
dows of the soul surely the voice is Its
subtle gauge. The more transparency
simple. clean minded the nearer, the
more accurate is the resonant impress
sion. Constance found herself vaguely
perplexed by two jostlng distractions
If they took shape it was in mute ques
tioning. Why was Mrs. Nansittart Sc
anxious to revive or. 1t might be, probe
long buried memories, and why did her
mobile smile seem to vein q hostile in
tent?
But the fresh, gracious maidenhood
in her cast aside these unwonted
studies in mind reading.
"He has so much to do" she en-
planned. although there are many of
us on the rock tonight he has never
been so utterly alone. Won't you wait
inside until return?"
mot unless am III the way" plead
ed the other. II was choking in there
The air here, the space, are so CRATE
full"
So Constance passed her. Mrs. Van
sittart noted the dainty manner in
which she picked up her skirts tc
mount the stairs. She caught glimpse
of the tailor made gown. striped silk
underskirt, well fitting, low heeled
wide wcltcd expensive boots. Trust d
women to see all these things ut O
| glance, with even the shifting Gimme,
of storm proof lantern to aid the
quick apprasement.
| AS the girl went out Of her sight q
;niliniscclsse came to her.
No wonder was startled" she com.
muned. ",rhat sailors coat she wears
helps the resemblance. Probably it is
her fathers"
Then the loud silence of the light.
house appalled, her The singing had
ceased or was shut off by Il closed
door. One might as we'll be in n tomb
as surrounded by this tangible dark,
ness. The tremulous granite. so cold
and hard, yet alive in its own grim
strength, the murmurins commotion of
| wind and waves swelling and dying In
| ghostlike echoes suggested Il grave. a
vault close sealed from the outer
world, though pulsatins with the far
away existence of needless multitudcs
Thus, brooding In the gloom, tor.
turcd soul without form and void, she
awaited the return Of her messenger.
Constance, after looking in at the hos
| pital, went on to the service room. Her
| father was not there. She glanced up
to the trimming stage, expecting to see
him attending to the lamp. No. He
| had gone. Somewhat bcwildcred, for
| she was almost certain he was not In
any of the lower apartments, she climb
ed to the little door in the glass frame
All. There he was Oh the landward
side of the gallery. What was the mat.
| ter now? Surely there was not an.
other vessel in distress. Howcvcv, be.
ing relieved from any dubicty as to his
whereabouts. she went back to the
service room and gave herself the lux.
| ury of moments rest. Oh. how tired
| she was! Not until she sat down did