Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-11-22
CHAPTER XVI


~ parted lips, appeared on the
stairs. All that was visible was her
head. she looked like one of Murillo's
| angels.
please, can Mamie m me see the
man?' she asked a trlne awcd. She
did not expect to encounter stern
faced official in uniform.
what man, dearie?" he said, and
instantly the child gained confidence,
with that prompt abandonment to a
| favorable first impression which marks
the exceeding wisdom of children and
dogs.
| She directed an encouraging soto
! voce down the stairs:
"Come right long, Mamie"
! Then she answered, clasping the
hand Pync extended to her. but eyng
Brand the while:
The man who brought the milk"
She wondered why they laughed, but
the lighthouse keeper caught her up in
his arms.
"lIe has gone away, sweetheart" ha
said, but when he comes in the morn.
ing | shall send for you. and you will
see him. You are the little girl who
was injured, ehi Are you getting bet.
ter?"
Elsie, having seen Mamie safely OK
tracted from the stairway, became vol
uble.
My elbow is stiff. but it doesn't
! hurt. l was feelin' pretty bad fore
the milk came. but Mamie an me hno
n lovely lot an some beautiful jelly
Fine, wasn't 1t, Mamict'
'Squizzit!' agreed Mamie.
81 think I'd like being here if there
was more ROOM" said the child. AN
why isn't there any washin? Manic
an me is always bein' washed 'ccf,
when we're hero
surely you have not kept your face
as clean as it is now ever since yor
left the ship?"
oh no." put In Mamie. "Weve jus'
been rubbed with a hanky."
"And sent out to pay CALI"
"Not 'zactly,' said truthful Mamie.
"Mr. Pyne told us TO wait near The
door
That's an old story now" inter
! Ncutt he 'IulNNl. linn vi VII
my shoulder and have look at the
sea. Perhaps there may he Il ship
too"
What did Mr. Pyne tell you:" whis-
percd Brand. pretending TO make n So
cret of it with Elsie.
There didn't seem TO be 'nuff to
eat" she explained seriously, $50 Mr..
/, in, hi OF
an Mamie an me had u chew every
time we saw him"
Tim" mulmurcd the man. glanc-
ing up at his young friend as he
walked around the trimming stage
with the delighted Mamie. II suppose
he asked you not to tell anybolyT
I'VE wasn't to tell Miss Constance
or Miss Enid. An they tolc US we
wasn't 10 tell him about the sweet stuff
ny, isn't itT'
Brand knew that these little ones
were motherless. His eyes dmmed
somewhat Like all self contained
men, lie detested any exhibition of sen
timent.
Il say" he cried huskily TO Pyne
you must escort your friends back tC
their quarters. No more idling, please
An you will really send for us To-
morrow TO see the milkman:' said FL
sic Notwithstanding his sudden gruff
ness she was not afraid of him. She
looked longingly at the great lamp auL
the tWinkling diamonds OF the doptriC
lens.
Yes. | will not forget. Goodby
now dearie."
The visit of the children had give1
him timely reminder. AS these two
were now, 50 had his own loved ones
been in years that might not be re
called.
The nest would soon be empty, the
young birds flown. lie realized tha
he would not be many days ashore be
fore the young American to whom ht
had taken such Il liking would come
to him and put forward more endur
ing claim TO Constance than Mr. Trail
made with regard TO Enid. Well, Ii,
must resign himself to these things
though no man ever lost two daugh
tiers under stranger conditions.
When Pyne returned, Brand wa
ready for him. The struggle wa,
sharp, but it had ended
Il would like you to read you
uncle's letter." he said. II am clear il
my own mind as to the right course t,
adopt. If Mr.. Trail wishes to vii
Ends affections he will not take he
10y surprise. Indeed. he himself recog
nlzes this element in the situation
You will not rush away from penzanc'
at once, take it,"
NO, sir" said Pyne, with delight
full certainty of negaton that caused ;
smile to brighten his hearers face.
II may not get clear of the rock 70
several days. There is much to plac
In order here. When the relief comes
must help the men to make things ship
shape. Meanwhile, Stanhope-or Con
stance, whom you can take into you
coniidence-will smooth the way
NO, sir" interrupted Pyne, evel
more emphatically. when you com
to know my uncle you will find that Ii
plays the game all the time. If Eni,
Is to be given new parent. the old on
will make the gift. And that's a fact.
Brand waived the point.
THE girls have plenty to endur
here without having this surpris
snrIng on them" he said IL Wi