Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-11-23

uIi !tlli. l>ul NY iit'tu NiIuS Il W. IL
/ come back forgetting my namc and
the place where l last resided, remcm-
Der that once l loved you"
lie left them. He could not trust
himself 10 say more.
That letter WAS from his uncle, l
suppose" said Enid, awe stricken.
1T must be something very dra-
matte which would make him act SO
strangely. Why has he run away?
Was he afraid to trust us with his
news:'
There was 4 sharp vehemence in
COnstance's voice which did not escape
her sisters sharp ears.
! Connie" said Enid quietly, las sure
as jack loves me, that man Is In love
with you"
Enid
But the other girl laughed with a
touch of her saucy humor.
"Why did lie look at you in that way
I just now? Didn't you think he was 60
Ing to embrace you on the spot? Con-
fess."
ut was at you he was looking"
"NOt in the way l mean. He gazed
at me as If were spirit. But when
you touched him he awoke. lie might
have been asleep and suddenly seen
you near him. wonder he didn't say,
Kiss me. dearest and then will be
sure 1t is not a DREAM"
Constance discovered that she must
defend herself
"Mr. Pyne hardly conveyed such I'M
utterable things to me-" she said, con-
scious that clean face betrays flush
which smudges may hide. Have you
had letter from Jack that you can
interpret other peoples thoughts SO
sweetly"
mo, dear. Jack has not written.
have found out the cause. His mother
expresses the hope that be will be the
first to convey her good wishes. So I
think he meant to try to bring the
rope himself. Dad knew it and Mr..
Pyne. That Is why they did not tell
U.S."
Constance gathered her letters into q
heap. The tiny pang Of Jealousy which
thrilled her had gone.
"EIghty-one hungry mouths expect to
be filled to repletion tonight" she said
mo more gossip. What curious crea.
lures women are! Our own affairs are
sufficiently engrossing without endeav.
oraug to pry into Mr.. Pyne's"
Connie, don't press your lips Sc
tightly. You ore just dying to know
what upset him. But. mark my words,
It had nothing to do with any other
woman"
Wherein Enid was completely mis-
taken; she would never commit q
greater error Of judgment during the
rest Of her days.
When Pyne quilted the kitchen his
Intent was to reach Brand without de-
lay. AS he passed Mrs. vansittart's
bedroom he paused. Something had
delighted him immeasurably once the
first shock Of the intelligence had
passed.
He seemed to be irresolute in his
mind. for he waited some time ON the
landing before he knocked ut the door
and asked II Mrs. Vansittart would
come and speak to him.
Are you alone?" she demanded, re.
naming invisible.
"Yes," he said.
Then she appeared, with that Dor.
rowed shawl still closely wrapped over
head and face.
what Is it?" she said YEARLY.
"You have had letter from my
uncleY'
Eyes. a charming letter. but I cannot
understand it. He says that some very
important and amazing event will de.
tain him In Penzance after we reach
the place. He goes on-but will read
1t to You. am quite bewildered."
She took letter from her pocket and
searched through its contents until she
found q paragraph. She was about to
read 1t aloud when some one came
down the stairs. 1t was one Of the Of
ficers, yet Mrs. Vansittart was so fur
ried that she dropped the sheet of pa
per and bent to pick. 1t up before Pyne
could intervene.
| "Oh, botherw she cried II am dread
fully nervous, even now that we are in
no further peril. This Ia what wish
you to hear"
And she read:
| Nothing but the most amazing and un.
| looked for circumstances would cause me
to ask you to postpone the date Of ouI
marriage for at least q month after you
reach shore. This - not the time nor are
your present surroundings the place fol
| falling vxh kn
Suffice 1t to say that think-indeed.
am sure-a great happiness has como into
my life. q happiness which you, as my
wife soon to be. will share.
The American, while Mrs. vansittart
was intent on her excerpts from his
uncle's letter. studied all that was visi.
BILE Of her face. That which he saw
there puzzled him. She had suffered
no more than others, SO he wondered
why she wore such an air Of settled
melancholy. Throughout the lighthouse
gloom was dispelled. The sick became
well, the lethargic became lively. Even
the tipplers Of methylated spirits, dead.
| ly i'll before, had worked like Trojans
at the rope, as eager to rehabilitate
their shattered character as to land the
much needed stores.
What trouble had befallen this wo.
man, so gracious, so,facile, SO worship.
| ful In her charm of manner and utter
ance during the years he had known
her, that she Iremained listless when all
about her was life and joyance, she,
the cynosure Of many eyes by her cos
tunes and graceful carriage, covering
from recognition? Here was a mys-
terry, though she had repudiated the
word. and a mystery which. thus far,
defeated his subconsci0us efforts at So
luton.
She lifted her eyes to his. Her ex-
preston was forlorn, compelling pity
BY its utter desolation.
| "What does he meanw she asked
plaintvely. why has he not spoken
clearly? Can you tell me what it is,
this great happiness which has entered
go strangely into his life and miner
Il have never met any man who
knew exactly what he meant to say
and exactly how to say 1t better than
| Cyrua T - said pvnQ