Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-12-21
Chapter XVII-COntinued.

Constance would listen to nothing
which would disparage him.
II hate to be unjust to hor even in
my thoughts, but where could she have
found better husband than you. dadr'
millionaire. indeed" protested Enid,
breaking in with her own tumultuous
thoughts. II would not exchange you
for twenty millionaires."
my methods cannot have been so Ill
considered IL they have brought me
two such daughters" he said, with
mOurnful smile. But, there! I am
only deluding myself into a postpone
ment Of q painful duty. My secret
must QUITO you, at any rate. When
! married your mother, Constance, I
was an attache at the British embassy
In Paris. Her maiden name was Mad
eleine Nanette de Courtray. Her fam
lily. Notwithstanding the French sound
Of her name, was almost wholly Eng
llsh. They were Jersey people, re-
cruited from British stock, but two
generations of English husbands were
compelled to assume the style De Cour-
tray owing to entailed estates on the
island. There Is something quaint in
the idea as it worked out. The place
was only small farm. When we were
married the stipulation lapsed, be-
cause 1t was more advisable for me to
retain my own name. I was then the
heir to a title. can now claim. I am
legally and lawfully Sir Stephen
Brand, ninth baronet Of Lesser Ham
bledon. in Northumberland"
"And you became lighthouse
keeper
It was Enid who found breath for
the exclamation. Constance braced
herself for that which was to come.
That Stephen Brand was a well born
man was not new thing In meIr In.
telligence.
"Yes, cleaner of lamps and trans
mitter Of ships signals. Have we been
less happy?" A most vehement "Now
was the answer.
Don't run away with the idea that
I was. therefore, endowed with ample
means. There are barOnets poorer
than some crossing sweepers. The es-
SAtC wac DuIiAB NY
fathers life, during my own until five
years ago, 1t yielded only a thousand
q year. Even now, after fifteen years
Of retrenchment-yOu both forget that
while was stationed at Marlborough,
Head was absent for few days to
attend my fathers funeral-it pro-
duces only little over $1,000. Enough
for us, eh, to enjoy life ONT Enough to
satisfy Lady Margaret's scruples, Enid.
as to her sons absurd notion Of matri-
m0ny? Enough, too, Constance, to.
mate you to the man of your choice,
whatever his position?"
dad" murmured Constance, "is
there no hope Of the old days coming
back again.
"Who can tell? These things are not
In mortal ken. need hardly say that
my allowance Of One-third of the fam
lily revenues was barely sufficient to.
maintain a junior in the diplomatic,
service. Yet I married, heaven help
me, In the pursuance Of an ideal, only
to find my ideal realized, after much
suffering, on lonely rocks and bleak
headlands. With strict economy we
existed happily until you were born.
My wife at first was sufficiently de-
lighted to exchange Jersey society for
Paris and the distinguished circle in
which we moved there But you were
not many months old until q change
came. A Frenchman, rich fop, began
to pay her attentions which turned her
head. l do not think she meant any
harm. People never do mean harm
who accomplish 1t most fatally. did,
that which man who respects himself
1oathes to dol protested. There was
q scene, tears and Wild reproaches
Next day the crash came. She endeav-'
ored to mislead me as to an appoint
ment God knows l only wished to
save her, but it was too much to ask
me to pass over in silence the schemes
of a libertine, though he, too, was in
fatuated by her beauty. l discovered
them In clandestine meeting, and
and-my blood was hot and the coun-
try was France. We fought next
morning, and killed him."
Constance bent her head and kissed
his right hand. Here at least was a.
lineal descendant of nine generations.
of border raiders, who held their swords
Of greater worth than musty laws.
Brands eyes kindled. His voice be-
game more vehement. The girls im-I