Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-11-29

island. There Is something quaint in
the idea as 1t worked out. Tho place
was only a small farm. When we were
married tie stipulation lapsed, be-
cause 1t was more advsab BILE for me to
retain M own name was then the
heir to Tito I can now claim. I am
legally and lawfully Sir stephen
Brand, ninth bnronet of Lesser Ham,
bledon, 10 Northumberland"
"And :eu became lighthouse
keeper"
1t was Tn.d who found breath for
the exclamation. Constance braced
herself for that which was to come.
That Stephen Brand was q well born
man was not a new thing in their in
telllgence.
Yes, cleaner of lamps and trans
mitter of ships signals. Have we been
! less happyW A most vehement NOR
was the answer.
Don't run away with the idea that
| | was, therefore, endowed with ample
means. There are baronets poorer
than some crossing sweepers. The es-
| tate was encuinbered. During MY
fathers life, during my own until five
years ago, it yielded only thousand
n year. Even now, after fifteen years
Of retrenchment--you both forget that
while ] was stationed at Marlborough
Head | was absent for few days to
attend my fathers fuueral-it pro-
duces only little over $4,000. Enough
for US oh. to enjoy life on? Enough to
satisfy Lady MarGnrcts scruples, Enid,
as to her sons absurd notion of matri-
! mony? Enough, too. Constance, to
mate you to the man of your choice,
whatever his postionT
pad" murmured Constance, ''is
there no hope of the old days coming
back again."
"Who can tell? These things are not
in mortal ken. | need hardly say that
my allowance OF one-third Of the fam
lily revenues was barely sufficient to
maintain n Junior in the diplomatic
service. Yet l married, heaven help
me, in the pursuance Of an ideal, only
to find my ideal realized. after much
suffering, on lonely rocks and bleak
headlands. With strict economy we
existed happily until you We're born.
My wife at first was sufficiently de-
lighted to exchange Jersey society for
Paris and the distinguished circle in
which we moved there. But you were
not many months old until a change
came A Frenchman. n rich fop. began
TO pay her attentions which turned her
head. | do not think she meant any
harm. People never do mean harm
who accomplish 1t most fatally. l did
that which man who respects himself
loathes to do protested. There was
scene. tears and wild rcproaches.
Next day the crash came. She enleav-
cred TO mislcad me as to an appoint
ment. God knows l only wished to
save her. but il was too much to ask
me to pass over in silence the schemes
of lbertne, though he. too, was in
fatuated by her beauty. l discovered
them in a clandestne meeting, and
and-my blood was hot and the coun-
try was France We fought next
morning. and l killed him."
Constance bent Ter head and kissed
his right hand. Here at least was a
llneal descendant Of nine generations
of greater worth dian musty laws.
Brands eyes kin1lcd. His voice be-
came more vehement The girls i'm
pulsive action seel ed to sanctify the
deed.
II did not regret, have never regret
ted. the outcome OF the duel. He was
MORALLY wounded and was carried to
his house to die fed from Paris to
escape arrest. but the woman in whose
defense | encountered him behaved
most cruelty. She deserted me and
went to him. Ask Mrs sheppard. She
was your English nurse at the time,
Constance. 1t was she who brought
you to England. | never met my wife
again. l believe, on my soul, that she
was innocent of the greater oTeuSe |
think she rebelled against the thought
that ! had slain one who said he wor-
SHIPPED her. Anyhow. She had her price.
She remained with him. in sheer de-
flance of me- until his death, and her
reward was his wealth. Were it not
for this we might have come together
again and striyeu TO forget the past in
mutual liberation. TIE l,noWledCc that
she was enriched with that mans gold
maddened me. | could not forget that.
! loathed all that money could give
the diamonds, the dresses. the Insane
devices of socicty--to pour out treas
ure on the vanitiCS Of the hour, by
idle chance | was drawn to the li1ht-
house service II was the mere within
of friend Into whose sympathetic
ears | gave my sorrows. 1t is true
did not intend to devote ny life to my
present occupation. But its vast 81
, lences, its isolation. its seclusion from
the petty, sordid, money grabbing life
ashore, attracted me. | found quiet
. joys, peaceful days and dreamess
, nights in its comparative dangers and
, privations. Excepting my loyal serv'
ant and friend. Mrs. Sheppard. and the
agent and solicitors of my estate, none
, knew of my whereabouts. | was 4
lost man and. as | imagined, fortu'
nate one. Now, in the last week OF
my seryicc-for | would have retired
/, in few days, and 1t was my inten
, ton to tell You something, not ALL OF
| my history, largely on account of your
lOvemaklng, Enid 49, the dcbacle has
, come, and with 1t my wife"
= Father" asked Constance, lis my