Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-10-12

dreaded. II had forced its unwelcome
presence upon him in fse first moment
of the meeting with his wife. but he
was a man of order. of discipline The
habits of years might not be flung
aside so readily. 1t was absurd. he
held. to infict the self torture of use
less lima aginings on the first night of
their home coming after the severe
trials of their precarious life on the
rock
Above all else it was necessary to re-
assure Constance. whose strength only
concealed the raging fire beneath, and
Enid, whose highly strung tempera-
ment was on the borderland of hys-
teria.
He was still the arbiter of their
lives, the one to whom they looked for
guidance. He rebelled against the
prospect of night of sleepless misery
for these two, and it needed his en-
phatic dominance to direct their
thoughts into a more peaceful chan-
mel.
So he assumed the settled purpose
he was far from feeling and sum-
moned kindly smile to his aid.
.sSurely we have discussed our diff
culties sufficiently tonight" he said.
"In the morning, Constance, I will
meet Mr. Trail. He is gentleman
and man of the world. / think, too,
that his nephew will be resourceful
and wise in counsel beyond his years.
Now we are all going to obtain some
much needed rest. Neither you nor
|, will yield to sleepless hours Of brood
ing. Neither of you knows that not
forty-eight hours ago [ made myself
a thief in the determination to save
your lives and mine. 1t was need
less burglary. persuaded myself that
it was necessary in the interests of
the Trinity Brethren, those grave gen
tlemen in velvet cloaks. Enid, who
would be Mortified by the mere sug-
gestion. I refuse to place myself on
the moral rack another time. In the
old days when was boy the drama
was wont to be followed by a more
lively scene / forbid further discus
sion Come, kiss Inc, both of you. 1
think that stiff glass of hot punch
will not do me any harm, nor you, un-
less YOU imbibed freely of that cham
pagne l saw nesting in the ice pail"
They rose obediently. Although they
knew he was acting a part on their
account they were sensible that he
was adopting sane course.
Enid tried to contribute to the new
note. She bobbed in the approved style
of the country domestic.
'sPlease, Sir Stephen she said,
"would you like some lemon in the
!. toddy?"
. Constance placed little copper ket-
tie on the fire. Their gloom had given
way to a not wholly forced cheerful
!. ness-for in that pleasant cottage sor
row was an unwelcome guest-wher
: they were surprised to hear SHARP
knock on the outer door.
At another time the incident, though
unusual at a late hour, would not have
/ disturbed them But the emotions o.
the night We're too recent, their sub
sidence too artificially achieved, tha
!. they should not dread the possibilities
: which lay beyond that imperative SUM
: mons. 81
: Mrs. Sheppard and the servant hat
? retired to rest, worn out with tn
: anxious uncertainties of events re
i ported from the lighthouse.
: So Brand went to the door and tn
| girls listened in nervous foreboding.
? They heard their father say:
: Hello. Jenkins. what is the matte
! now?'
3 Jenkins was a sergeant of polio
t whom they knew.
5 ''Sorry to trouble you. Mr.. Brand, bu
! an odd thing has happened. A lady,