Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-11-22

was sick But the men haven't car
ried her off the ship, an she wasn't in
the boat"
Don't you worry, Elsie" he said.
I'm going to take you to Il big house
where you will find everything fixed
just right
His uncle and Mrs. Vansittart APP
preached. The lady's face was no
longer hidden.
"What are you going to do with those
childrenf' she inquired.
There's none here to claim them"
he said. II can't let them leave me in
that haphazard way"
Let me help you. 1t is u womans
privilege"
She stopped toward the tiny mites.
You dear little babes" she said
softly. 81 can take mothers place for
a time"
They knew her quite well, OF course,
and she seemed to be SO much kinder
aud nicer now In her smart clothes
than she was in the crowded disorder
of the bedroom.
Mamie loolcd at Elsie, and the self
reliant Elsie said yaiiantly:
"Mamie an neil be glad If FIR. Pyne
comes too"
Mr.. Trail, who had never before
seen tears in Mrs. Nansitiarts eyes,
found 4 ready excuse FOR her Womanly
sympathy.
ut seems TO me-" he said Ecnialiy,
Eve are all Of one mind. Come this
way, I,tt2. And mind you stick close
to us Charlie. or the hall porter Will
throw you ont If YOU attempt 10 enter
thc hotel iV that costume"
1lr ratified ON chacrlully, telling them
how clothie,a and m,llinerS Gnl all tho
st0rckccrcrs in the town, it Trey were
needed. would wait on them at the
ho.oL
in couple OF hours" he said, you
hoth can obtain sufficient things to
render vow rrcschjablc for Il day or
two. UoA't FORGET we dine at 8. We
ought to he a jolly party. l have asked
Stanhopc ana lis mother and those
two girls to join us
on" cried Mrs. Nansittart family.
You must excuse ne. T.
"Now, Eta. my dear, you will not
desert Us tonight. Why, it seemed to
me TO be the only way In which we
could all come together at once ! ain
only too sorry that Mr.. Brand cannot
be present. Surely he might have been
spared from further duty at the light
house after what he has endured"
They offered to relieve him at once
but he declined" said Pyne.
lie locked ont Of the window Of tbs
carriage in which they were driving tc
the hotel. Constance had told him Of
the dinner arrangement, but lie wished
to ascertain if the definite absence OF
the lighthouse keeper would tend tC
regSsurc Mrs. Nansi;tart.
lie was not mistaken. She did mo-
reply at once When she spoke, it was
with a sigh of relief.
II will not be very entertaining,
fear, but the young people will have
plenty to tell you
lor goodness sake. Eta, don
class yourself among the old fogies"
cried Mr.. Trail. Look at me-lifty
five and lively as a grasshopper."
please, is Mamie an me 'vited
toot" whispered Elsie to Pyne.
"You two chicks will De curlcd "
among the feathers at 8 o'clock" h,
told her. "Don't You go and worry
bout any dinner parties. The sooner
you 90 TO sleep the quicker you'll wake
up in the morning. and then We're 80
ing ont to hunt-for what do vol
| think"
"Candies," said Mamie
"ToyS." cried Elsie. going one better
"Were just going TO find two Of III,
loveliest and frilliest and piuitieS
checked dolls you ever saw. They'll
have blue eyes as big as yours, Elsie
and their lips will be as red and roun'
as yours, Mamie. They'll talk and sa.
and say all sorts Of things when yo'
pinch their little waists. SO you tw,
hurry up after you've had your supper
say your prayers and close Your eyes
and when YOU open them you'll he abl
to yell for ne to find that doh stor
mighty sharp"
Say, Charlie" cried his uncle. :"
never heard you reel off a screw !l'i'
that before. Now, if | didn't know
you were a confirmed young bachclo
would begin to have suspicious. Any
how here's the hotel"
TWO hours later. when uncle an'
nephew met in the private sitting room
where busy walters We're making prep
arations for dinner, Trail drew tn
younger man to the privacy of a win
dow recess.
"Charlic," he confided, affairs are il
a t0pGie. DO you realize that my mar
rarc was fixed for today"
THAT'S So" was the luconic answer
COZ course the wedding was post
ponnd by fate, and, to add to my peE
pl"Xitias, there is new attitude Oh
Mrs. VNnsittart's part, It puzzles me
We have been friends for some years
rs YOU know. 1t seemed 10 be per
fectly natural outcome Of our mutua
liking for each other that we shoul'
agree to pass orr declining YEATS tc
mcthc" She Is very beautiful am
accomplished woman. hut she make
70 secret of her age ana the mate
Was a suitable ono in every respect
"You can SEQ rs far through ston
wall rs most people"
Pyne knew that his upclc's shar
eyes were regarding him steadily, bu
he continued to gaze into tie street.