Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-11-29
Un, did she?"
Eyes, and here's to her being my
flancee's mother"

I'm, did she
Eyes, and here's to her being my
flancee's mother"
With the morning came doubt. A
maid who was given charge Of the two
children told Pyne that Mrs. Vansit-
tart had been greatly upset the pre-
vious evening. The girl was sure that
the lady had passed nearly an hour in
tears kneeling by the side OF the bed.
Then, having regalned control of her
self to some extent, she rang for the
maid and asked at what time the first
train left for London next day. She
ordered her breakfast Mt an hour which
seemed to indicate her Intention to de-
part by that train. said that she would
leave instructions with Mr.. Pyne con-
corning the children, and gave the maid
two letters which she had written.
These were to be delivered at o'clock.
What was TO he done with the letters?
AS they were addressed to Pyne and
his uncle respectively, he soon settled
that point.
His letter read:
Dear Mr.. Pyne--I am leaving for Lon
don quito early. so l will not see you
again In Penzance. l have supplied the
little girls with all the garments they will
need during the next few days. If. on In
uury you ascertain that they have no
relatives anxious. not merely willing, to
take charge of them. l shall be most
pleased to assume that responsibility. In
that event, kindly write mo, care OF my
bankers. Yours very sincerely,
L. VANSITTART.
The communication to his uncle was
equally brief. Mr.. Trail read it to
him. 1t ran:
Dear Mr.. Trail-I cannot marry you.
Please forgive me. ! did not realize when
you honored me with your proposal that
an insuperable obstacle existed. That is all
"a lame explanation, but complete so far
as IL goes. A woman who has wrecked
her life finds it hard to choose her words
Your sincere friend. E. VANSITTART.
They discussed these curt notes dur,
ing breakfast.
Il do not like their Tone" said Mr.
Trail gravely. "They impress me as
the hurried resolutions Of woman
driven to extrcmetes. Were 1t not for
her request about the children should
think what you thought last night,
Charlie, when that policeman turned
up"
II must have telephoned my ideas to
you mighty quick" was the retort.
"My dear boy, even at this moment
! we don't know what she intended to
do. Why did she 20 out? What is the
nature of her sudden illness? How
/ comes it that she is at Brands house?"
! II may be mistaken, but think we
will be given answers to all your Ques.
tons in due time. Nothing really seri-
Gus can be amiss or we should have
heard of it from Brand himself. Now,
will you remain on guard here while l
90 out with Elsie and Mamie? The
one thing that matters in their little
/ lives this morning is that l shall hurry
up and go doll hunting with them"
Il will hold the fort until you return,
You will not be long?"
perhaps half an hour. While I am
out I will make some inquiries as ia
the condition Of our other friends OF
the Chinook"
by the way. many of them must be
destitute. 1t is my desire, Charlie, ia
pay the expenses Of any such to theli
destination and equip them properly
for the Journey"
you are a first rater, uncle. but it'll.
make your arm tired il you o. X. the
bill nll the time. Now, here's fail
offer. Let me go halves"
"Be off, you rascal. You are keeping
two ladies waiting"
With seeming anxiety to atone fol
the excuses Of the week. the weather
that morning justified the claim OF
Cornwall to be the summer land al
England. The sun shone from blue
sky fecked with white clouds. Cht
waters of Mounts bay sparkled and
danced in miniature wavelets. The all
was so mild, the temperature so equa
BILE, that it was hard to credit sea ant
wind with the havoc Of the precedin,
days.
The Gulf Rock disaster did not stant
alone in the records of the hurricane
Even the days papers contained be
lated accounts of casualties on tn
coasts of Normandy, Holland and far
off Denmark. But nowhere else hat
there been such loss of life, while re
newed interest was evoked by the fina
relief of all the survivors.
Pyne's appearance outside the sit
ting room was hailed with yell. Not
withstanding her own perplexitie
Mrs. Vansittart had taken good car
that the children were we'll provide,
for. They were beautifully dressed
and the smiling maid who freed then
from control when the door opene
said that they might go out wthou
jackets, the day was so fine.
He descended the stairs with ciga
in his mouth and delighted young
ster clinglng to each hand.
In the hall he encountered doZe
journalists waiting to deyour hin