Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-12-14

has won the affections Of such q man
as Stanhope. There Is no reason why
you. his mother, should not be equally
satisfied with the pedigree and pros
poets Of my daughter"
His calm assumption of rank equal
II not superior to her own was con-
yincing to a woman of her tempera-
ment Assuredly that evening was a
memorable one to her ladyship. The
repose Of We're de We're was rudely
shocked for once. Nevertheless the
knowledge that her lifelong ambition
had been realized In a way little
dreamed Of by any of those most con-
cerned was In itself consoling. Mr..
Traill, quite unconsciously. doomed
large in the social eye Of Penzance,
and the widowed lady had not been so
long withdrawn from the wealth wor-
shipping world of London as to be
wholly unleavened with the worship Of
the golden calf.
So it was with Quickened interest
that she set herself to listen to the
story Of Ends parentage, and, II her
fear Of local gossip mongers shrank as
her perception Of Ends real social po-
sition increased, much may be forgiven
to the motherly sentiment that no wife
can be too good for an excellent son.
Meanwhile Brand and the sorrow
laden girls. ushered by obseQuious
servants to the entrance hall. were con-
strained to comfort themselves with
true British phlegm In view Of the In
terest caused by their appearance.
The hour was not late, about $50.
Even while the hall porter was sum-
moning a cab the news spread, within
and without, that the lighthouse keeper
and his daughters, whose exploits filed
the minds Of oil men, were standing
near the door.
Several people. complete strangers,
came to them and offered warm
congratulations. A smart journalist
pressed forward and wove his own
complimentary utterances into an in
terview. A crowd gathered quickly on
the pavement. Policemen, those mar
shals Of every English demonstration,
cleared a path for them through the
throng. SO. with smiling words on
their lips and anguish in their hearts,
they made a triumphal exit. How lit
tie could the friendly enthusiasts who
cheered them realize that these three
had been atrophied by the deadly
malevolence Of fate In the very hour
when q great achievement had ended
happily.
Enid suffered almost as keenly as
Brand and his ''ughter. Their joys
and SORROWS VIC. hers. The startling
nature Of Braun dvowal rendered it
difficult for either Enid or Constance
to piece together certain fragmentary
memories of Mrs. Vansittart's odd be-
havior during her enforced sojourn on
the rock. So thoroughly had she shat
tered those dimly outlined impress
sions by the quietly vivacious charm
Of her manner at dinner that they both
experienced a tumble Of sensations. A
terrified woman, In wet and torn cloth
ing. covering in the gaunt interior Of
q storm grit lighthouse. IL q very DIFF
ferent being when attired in expensive
garments and surrounded by the lux
uries Of a first class hotel.
It was q relief to drive to their cot
tage In silence, yet so easily moulded
u our human clay. 1t was q greater
relief when the tension Of the noisy
rattle Of the cab was relaxed. It cost
some effort to assure Mrs. Sheppard, q
buxom. motherly soul Of sixty or there
abouts. that they could not possibly eat
any supper. The effort was forthcom-
ing. They pleaded WEAKNESS, and at
hast they were alone.
Constance knelt by her fathers side
when he dropped listlessly Into the
armchair placed in his accustomed
corner.
'Now, dad" she said, bravely un-
smotional, there will be no more
tears. Tell me all that I ought to
know"
Enid drew q hassock to his feet and
seated herself there, clasping her hands
about her knees.
"Whatever she did I am sorry for
bar" said the girl decisively. And
she cannot have been a really bad wo-
man, dad. or you would not have loved
her once"
Brand sighed deeply. His strong will
had deserted him for a little while He
shrank from the ordeal before him.
Why should he be called on to sully
the mirror Of his daughters innocence
BY revealing to her the disgrace Of her
mother?
Constance caught something Of the
dread In his soul.
Don't tell me If 1t hurts you. dad.
] am content to bear more than have
borne tonight II it lessons your suf-
ferings," she whispered.
He placed an arm around each of
them.
1T Is Gods WILL" he said, that I
should have to face many trials ut a
period when l expected nothing but
some few years of quiet happiness"
Nothing in this world can part us
from you." said Constance.
"Oh. nothing" agreed Enid solemnly.
nesting closer. Her earnestness was
helpful. He smiled wistfully.