Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-11-01

y
ably hear all about me, so | may as
well take the wind out OF the sails OF
gossip. | am mere waif who came
sailing in out of the west one day in a
little boat which must have come from
the new world, as no one appeared 10
have lost either me or II in the old.
Dad picked Us both up and adopted
me-"
Pyne did not know whether to take
her seriously or not until he sought
confirmation in pair of tranquil eyes,
which he gazed into at every opportu-
nifty.
ut is quite true" said Constance
gravcly. Il suppose that the mysteri.
GUS affinity between parents and lons
lost children which exists In story
books Is all nonsense in reality. No
family could be more united and devot-
ed TO each other than we are. yet Enid
is not my sister. and my father Is hers
only by adoption. He found her, half
dying, drifting past this very rock, and
before ho could reach her he fought AMI
killed a dreadful shark. We are very
proud Of dad. Mr.. Pyne. You sec he 4
our only relation. Enid knows neither
her father nor mother, and my mother
died when | was baby"
Great Scott" cried Pyne.
lie turned quickly toward the door.
Mrs. Nanslttart, very pale, with eyes
that looked unnaturally large in tho
faint light, stood there. For an instant
he was startled. He had not seen Mrs.
Nansittart since they came to the rock,
and he was shocked by the change in
her appearance lie did not like her.
HIS alert intelligence distruSted her
| but 1t was not his business in life to
select wife for his uncle, as he put il
| and he hal always treated her with
respectful politcneSs. Now, owing to
| some fleeing aspect which he could
not account for, some vague resem.
blance to another which he did not re-
member having noticed before, he
viewed her with a certain expcctaut
curiosity that was equally unintellici.
Bile to him.
She held out scrap Of paper.
"Mr Trail is here" she said quietly.
Here he repeated, wondering what
she meant and perplexed by her Icy,
self contained tone. while he thought il
passing strange that she had no other
greeting for him.
We'll" she said, chat is the best
word can find. lie is near to us-as
near as steamer can bring him. Mr
Brand has received n siCnaed message
! He wrote Il out and sent il to me by &
was told you were engaged in the
kitchen"
For some reason Mrs. Vansittart
seemed to be greatly perturbed. Her
presence put an end to the gayety OF
the place quite effectually.
The young man took the paper il
silence.
He read:
Dear Madam A signal Just received
from The Falcon runs as follows; Nj
Cyrus ]. Trail is on board and sends lis
love ~ Eta and Charlie. He will make
every preparation for their comfor,
ashore and trusts they are bearing up well
under inevitable hardships." Yours faith.
fIlly, STEPHEN BRAND.
Pyne strobe to the door.
Il must see il l can't get Mr.. Bran,
to answer the old boy he cried Per.
haps you have attended to that al
ready"
She did not make way for him to
pass.
NO" she said. Il came to seek yor
on that account. If not too late, viii
you tell your uncle that l do not wish
70 lalo In
will please me most by arranging for
a special train to await our arrival at
the station"
whats the hurry" he demanded.
"a woman's within. if you like, but d
fixed resolve nevertheless"
"Will you travel in that ric-out;' he
asked Quizzically.
1T ia an easy matter TO call AZ shop
if we reach shore by daylight Thcu
can purchase a cloak and hat TO serve
my needs; otherwise it is mattera- !
how am attred VIII you do this:'
why, certainly
She gave a little gasp of relief. IN
another instant Pyne would have gone
but Enid who happened TO glance
through the window which opened to-
ward the northwest. detained him.
There is no hurry now, for sure
she said The Falcon is halfway 10
earn du by this time. l do not sup
pose she will return until it is too dark
to do more than signal important news
very briefly"
But this is important" cried Mrs
Nansittart shrilly. 1T is of the utmost
| importance TO me"
"'Fraid II can't he helped, ma VI
said Pyue civllly. Anyhow, We're mol
; ashore yet. and | can't see that any
time will be wasted
, The electric bell tangled in the room
: causing Mrs. Vansittart to jump Wis
IDLY.
. "Oh, what is it," she screamed
MY father is calling one of us up
, explained Constance. 1T may be d
, message from Jack, You 90, Enid
: Enid hurried away. She had scarcely
reached the next floor before Mrs Van
sittart. who seemed to have moods il
, full compass, said sweetly:
t Convey my deep obligations to MIR
, Brand. won't you, Charlie? Indeed, ycr
1 might go now and write out the text OF
my message to your uncle. Some early
opportunity OF dispatchiug it may Of
fer"