Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1906-12-31
CHAPTER VI

4 ID able to laugh lust then Int =
I~--S is fine thing for a man in .
moment OF supremest danger to no
called on to comfort weeping woman
The next minute might be their last
VI that he was fully conscious. Even
before the girls reached his side he falt
curious lifting movement of tba
whole frame of the lantern. Steel and
glass alike were yielding to the sus-
tanned violence of the wind nressura
Well We're they nodded by men whose
conscience need harbor no renroacb of
dishonest craftsmanship. They were
being tested now almost beyond on
durance
Some natures would have found relief
in prayer. Gladly would Constance
and Enid have sunk on their knees and
besought the Master of the winds TO
spare them and those at sea. But
Brand, believing that a catastrophe
was imminent decided that in order
to save the girls lives he must neither
alarm them nor lose an unnecessary
instant
To desert the light-that was impos-
sible personally. If given the least
warning he would spring toward the
iron rail that curved by the side of the
stairs to the service room and take his
! chance; otherwise he would go with
/ the lamp. There was no other alterna-
tive; the girls must leave him at once.
The laugh with which he greeted
their appearance gave him time to
= scheme.
Il ought to scold you, but l won't"
he cried. Are you pluclzy enough to
descend to the kitchen and make three
nice cups of cocoa
Just think what it cost him to speak
in this bantering way careless of
words. though each additional syllable
might mean death to all three.
His request had the exact effect he
calculated. For once Constance was
deceived and looked her surprise.
Enid. more volatile, smiled through
her tears. So it was not quite as bad
as they imagined, this gale. Their ia
/ ther could never be so matter of fact
in the face of real peril to all of them.
thoughts to cocoa while they were eX-
pecting the lighthouse to be hurled into
the ENGLISH channel!
He turned again to manipulate the
brass screws.
Snow. do not stand there shiverlng,
he said, ''but harden your hearts ana
90. Use the oil stove. By the time II
is ready
s'Shiverng, indeed!
Constance. of the viking breed, wouit
LET him see that he had no monopoly o.
the family motto, "Audeo." She, too
: could dare.
: Down you go, Enid!' she cried
.sHa shall have his cocoa, poor man.!
He looked over his shoulder ant
CAUGHT his daughter CHANGING at mn
t from the well of the stairs.
: Dad nightr he shouted cheerfully
4 and ba cheated her quick intelligence
second time. -
4 They were gone. Perchance II wa
2 his last sight of them in this life. Ilfe
D times the stalwart framework creakeC
: Once it moved so perceptiDiy thal u
: curtain rings jingled. Then he feliieA
7 hered the words of Isaiah:
q ..Tor thou hast been strength 70 u
o noor strength to the needy III MS ei
e tress. a refuge from the Storm q sll'''
ov from the heat, when the plaSt :
:, the terrible ones is as storln "7'''-
n the wall -, VIII.
r uba hast of the terrible ones! WIZ
S vivid pen picture of the aWeson
b foroos of nature! How long Woulu III
Q +ornodo continue? Already II hu
it hovn strewed its path with havoc
Y COO and ON land. His physician sens
d were elevated to the superlla'eil o..
n seemed to acquire abnormal Po"el9 :,
g eight and hearing. He could see
le 4,oos handing before the Wfa
a r,ind hear the crashing tiles anu VI
- &c bouses were demollsheu d
TT noonla hurled to death But there y
y no ecstasy of soul, no men,ai fancif
t. Tn ouick reaction came Tue - -
ID memery of the hardy oiu SAL :
10 oboared his shipmates dufins
in rife Gale with the trite remarh' -
he 81 oitv the poor folk ashore on
IS. night like this. of emotio
lp what a curious tumble OF elno "
th iostled in his brain. A step 1io oIen
LII suhlime to the ridiculous. ~. i,+
IS step They were inextrlcaDls orn
id woven the wool and the VIZ
4hsnas He recalled the odd express !,
to Of an officer who had passeu us
ne through the inferno of Spion ho doia
OIL 81 had no sense of fear 1
tie .b,,t nv teeth began to ache, ,,ns
lat Rrand a student, even Oh a n
ed discovered that his dominant s
was one of curiosity. orr
his eff it has to be- salu n'n He
ny svstam .1et it come quickly. - =. -
mt like man lying on the opera'i's :
en-. waiting for the chloroform. Of
he suddenly the bright l 1hat was
up. Iamp lessened. The use 'ia raisa
a second nature caused him 70 e t =
tie wiclxs and admit more ura. rrod