Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-10-18

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22d of next June since you found me
in a deserted boat?'
Yes, IL you insist on accuracy MS to
the date. l might cavil at your Sc
renity."
"And was estimated as n year old
then? Isn't 1t a weird thing that a
year old baby should be sent adrift on
the Atlantic In an open boat and never
n word of inquiry made subsequently
as to her fate? | fear could not have
been Of much account in those days"
"My dear child. ] have always told
you that the boat had been in collision
during the fog which had prevailed for
several days previously. Those who
We're caring for you We're probably
knocked overheard aud drowned"
but alone, utterly alone, That is
the strangencss Of it. | must be an
American. Americans start out to hus-
lie for themselves early in life, don't
they?'
Certainly in that respect you might
claim the record
Brand had not told her all the facts
of that memorable June morning. Why
should he? They were not pleasant
memories to him Why cumber her
also with them? For the rest he had
drawn up and read TO her long ago Il
carefully compiled account of her res.
cue and the steps taken to discover her
identity.
II entered on an active and useful
career with no such halo of glory"
broke in Constance. Il am Just plain
English, born in Brighton, of parents
not poor, but respectable. Mother died
a year after my birth, didn't she dadT'
You were thirteen months old when
We lost her" he answered, bending
over the clockwork attachment of the
fog bell to wipe off an invisible speck
of dust. Since his first term of service
on the rock the light had changed from
m occulting to fixed one.
"She is buried there isn't she?" the
girl went on. How strange that amid
our journeying we have never visited
Brighton
IF l were able to take you to her
graveside, | would not do it," said
sentiments even of that perfectly nat
ural kind. Your mother to you, Con-
stance, is like Ends to her--a dear but
visionary legend. In degree it is al
ways SO between loved ones lost and
those who are left Truth. honor work
these are the highest ideals for the
individual. They satisfy increasingly.
Happy as I am in your companionshp,
you must not be vexed when | tell you
that the most truly joyful moment OF
my life was conferred when my little
friend here first responded accurately
to external influences"
He laid his hand on an object resting
on table by itself. 1t looked like an
aneroid barometer but the others knew
II was the marine auriscope to which
he had devoted so many patient hours.
as it in working order now?' asked
Constance instantly, and Enid came
nearer. Together they examined the
small dial. 1t was equipped with an
arrow headed pointer and marked with
the divisions of the compass. but with
out the distinguishing letters
These three understood each other
exactly. Ry inadvcrtence the CONVEX
sation had touched on a topic concern
ing which Brand was always either
vague or silent. Both girls were quick
witted enough 10 know that Con-
stances mother was never willingly
alluded to either by the lighthouse
keeper or by the elderly Mrs. Shep-
pard, who looked after them in in
fancy and was now the housekeeper
of Laburnum cottage.
Constance was annoyed. How could
she have been so thoughtless rs to
cause her father a moments suffering
by bringing up painful "reminiscences
But he helped her. being master OF
himself.
ment.
II had no difficulty in constructing n
diaphragm which would intercept all
sounds" he said THE struggle came
when l wanted an agent which would
distinguish and register a particular
set of sounds, no matter what addi-
tional din might be prevalent at the
lille. MY lODcS we're WItCktu So
often that I began to despair, until !
CHANGED to read one day how the high
tension induction coil could be tuned
to disregard electrical influences other
than those issued Mt the same pitch
My anxiety, until had procured and
experimental with properly con
structed coil, was very trying, | assure
you"
II remember wondering what or
earth 1t was" volunteered Enid. "It
sounded like mathematical snake"
"And am sorry to say that even ye
am profoundly ignorant as to its trut
inwardness," smiled Constance.
"Yet you girls delight In poets wht
bid you hearken to the music of thu
spheres. l suppose you will admit tha
the ear Of say, Ben Pollard is not tun
cd to such a celestial harmony. How
ever will explain my aurscope in {
sentence. 1t only listens to and indi
Gates the direction Of fog horns, sirens
and ships bells. A shrill steam whistle
excites it, but the breaking of sea.
aboard ship, the loud tapping of pro
peller, the noise Of the engines, of ,
gale, or all these in combination, leav,
1t unmoved."
IL remember once, when we wer,
going from Falmouth to Porthalla In