Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-26

habitants knew them personally or by
sight. They attracted such attention
that they gladly relinquished to other
hands any further charge of the ship
wrecked people. So after few words
of farewell for the hour Stanhope pi-
loted them to n waiting carriage and
drove away with them.
Mrs. Vansittart did not emerge from
her cabin until the deck was deserted.
She found Mr. Trail looking for her.
In neat black dress and feather hat
she was rehabilitated.
why didn't you show up earlier?"
he asked In good humored surprise.
"'rhe breeze on deck was first rate. It
brought the color into many pale
cheek. And the way in which the
crowd let itself go was splendid. Look
ut these waiting thousands, quiyering
yet with eXcitement!'
81 am worn out" she said quietly.
Take me to your hotel You have en-
gagged rooms there, suppose2"
"Of course"
when do you purpose leaving PEN
zance2"
"Well-er-that is part of the expla-
nation promised you"
1--WE Gun talk matters over In the ho-
tel. Where is your nephew"
For the first time he marked her air
of constraint.
Believe me, Eta" he said hurried
ly, that what | have to tell you will
come as great surprise, but 1t should
be very pleasant one"
Anything that gratifies you will be
welcomed by me-" she said simply.
You have not said where Charlie is"
Hiding in that shed. He refused
Mr.. Stanhope's offer Of a rigoIt on
board. In his present disguise he
passes rs stoker, and everybody
wants to see ahe man who saved all of
you"
"Have you closed carriage here?"
YES"
Let us go. Charlie can come with
u.s."
Again he was conscious of barrier
between them, but lie attributed hcl
mood to the strain she had undergone
In the shed they found Pyne. Will
him we're the orphaned children; there
was none to meet them. Kind offers
were made to care for them until theil
relatives should be forthcoming, but
the man to whom they chung would
not listen to any such proposal.
II guess they're happy with me-" he
said. II will see them through theil
present trouble"
Childlike. they had eyes and ear:
only for the prevalent excitement. A
last Elsie asked him:
where's mamma? You said sh.
was sick. But the men haven't car
ried her off the ship, an she wasn't IL
the boat"
Don't you worry, Elsie" he said
I'm going to take you to big house
where you will find everything fixet
just right
His uncle and Mrs. Vansittart up
preached. The lady's face was NJ
longer hidden.
What are you going to do with thos,
children7" she inquired.
There's none here to claim them,
| hC ouiu. Suh iCl tASA4 1CufS AlC II
that haphazard way"
LET me help you. 1t is a woman,
privilege"
She stopped toward the tiny mites.
you dear littles Babes" she sait
softly. 81 can take mothers place fo
timc''
They knew her quite well, of course
and she seemed to be SO much kinder
and nicer now In her smart clothes
than she was in the crowded disorder
of the bedroom.
Mamie looked at Elsie, and the sci
reliant Elsie said valiantly:
Mamie an nell be glad II Mr.. Pynt
comes too"
| Mr.. Trail, who had never before
seen tears In Mrs. Vansittart's eyes
found a ready excuse for her womanly
sympathy. e
ut seems to me-" he said genially
I'VE are all Of one mind. Come thi.
way, Eta. And mind you stick clos
to us. Charlie, or the hall porter will
throw you out If you attempt to ente
the hotel in that costume"
He ratified on cheerfully, telling then
how clothiers and milllners and all til,
storekeepers in the town, If they wer'
needed, would wait on them at tn
hotel.
"In couple of hours" he said, 'yo,
both can obtain sufficient things t,
render you presentable for day o
two. Don't forget we dine ut 8. w,
ought to be jolly party. have aske,
Stanhope and his mother and thos'
two girls to join u.s."
"Ohw cried Mrs Vansittart family
You must excuse me. p
Nov, Eta, my dear, you will no
desert us tonight. Why, it seemed t
me to be the only way In which w,
could all come together at once. an
only too sorry that Mr.. Brand canno
be present. Surely he might have beel
spared from further duty at the light
house after what he has endured"
"They offered TO relieve him ut once
but lie declined" said Pyne.
He looked out of the window of tn
carriage in which they were driving t
the hotel. Constance had told him o
the dinner arrangement, but lie wishe,
to ascertain IL the definite absence O
the lighthouse keeper would tend t,
reassure Mrs. Vanslttart.
He was not mistaken. She did no
reply at once. When she spoke. it wa
with sigh of relief.
II will nat be very entertaining,
fear, but the young people will hav,
plenty to tell you"
For goodness sake, Eta, dom
class yourself among the old fogies!
cried Mr. Trail. Look ut me-fifty
five and lively rs grasshopper."
please. is Mamie an me 'vited
too?" whispered Elsie to Pyne.
you two chicks will be curled VI
cmong the feathers ut O'clock" h,
told her. Don't you go and worr!
bout any, dinner parties. The soonc
you go to sleep the quicker you'll wax,
up in the morning. and then we're go
ing out to hunt-for what do 70,
think?"
Candies" said Mamie.
"Toys." cried Elsie. going one better
Were Just going to find two of tn,
lovcliest and frllliest and pinkies