Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-09-04
eyes danced mlscnIevousiy.


Unfortunately, by the accident OF
birth. | am deprived of the sense of
humor," she said.
1T seems to be in the family all
right" he hazarded, looking at Con-
stance.
"Aias," said Enid, Il am an Ameri-
can"
I'll smile now, if that is ALL" said
Pyne.
But, please, l am not joking little
bit. When you go ashore you will prob
ably hear all about me, so l may as
well take the wind out of the sails of
gossip. l am a mere waif who came
sailing in out of the west one day in
little boat which must have come from
the new world, as no one appeared to
have lost either me or it in the old.
Dad picked US both up and adopted
me-
Pyne did not know whether to take
her seriously or not until he sought
confirmation in pair of tranquil eyes,
which he gazed into at every oppOrtu-
nifty.
1T is quite true" said Constance
gravely. Il suppose that the mysteri-
GUS affinity between parents and long
lost children which exists in story
books is all nonsense in reality. No
family could be more united and devot-
ed to each other than we are, yet Enid
is not my sister. and my father is hers
only by adoption. He found her, half
dying, drifting past this very rock, and
i, I,,f n n md
killed Il dreadful shark. We are very
proud Of dad, Mr.. Pyne. You see, he is
our only relation. Enid knows neither
her father nor mother. and my mother
died when l was a baby"
Great Scott.'' cried Pyne.
He turned quickly toward the door.
Mrs. Vansittart. very pale, with eyes
that looked unnaturally large in the
faint light, stood there. For an instant
he was startled He had not seen Mrs.
Vansittart since they came to the rock,
and he was shocked by the change in
her appearance. He did not like her.
His alert intelligence distrusted her,
but it was not his business in life to
select q wife for his uncle, as he put it,
and he had always treated her with
respectful politeness. Now, owing to
some feeting aspect which he could
not account for, some vague resem-
blance to another which he did not re-
member having noticed before, he
curiosity that was equally unintelligi-
Bile to him.
She held out scrap of paper.
MIR. Trail is here" she said quietly.
"Herev' he repeated, wondering what
she meant and perpleXed by her icy,
self contained tone, while he thought it
passing strange that she had no other
greeting for him.
"Well." she said, that is the best
word can find. He is near to us-as
near as n steamer can bring him. MI
Brand has receAed signaled message.
He wrote it out and sent it to me by a
man. I inquired where you were and
was told you We're engaged in the
kitchen"
For some reason Mrs, Vansittart
seemed to be greatly perturbed. Her
presence put an end to the gayety of
the place quite effectually.
The young man took the paper In
silence.
He read:
Dear Madam signal just received
from the Falcon runs as follows: Mr.
Cyrus J. Trail is on board and sends his
love to Eta and Charlie. He will make
every preparation for their comfort
ashore and trusts they are bearing up well
under Inevitable hardships." Yours faith.
fully, STEPHEN BRAND.
Pyne strobe to the door.
II must see if can't get Mr.. Brand
to answer tie old boy" he cried. Per
haps you have attended to that al
ready"
She did not make way for him to
pass.
No. she said. Il came to seek you
on that account. If not too late, will
you tell your uncle that I do not wish
to delay Il moment III PenZance? He
will please me most by arranging fo1
a special train to await our arrival al
the station
whats the hurry?" he demanded.
"A woman's whim, if you like, but q
fixed resolve nevertheless
"Win you travel in that rig-out?' he
asked quiZZically.
1T is an easy matter to call at shop
if we reach shore by daylight. Then
can purchase cloak and hat to serve
my needs; otherwise it is matterless
how l am attired. Will you do this?"
"Why, certainly"
She gave little gasp of relief. In
another instant Pyne would have gone
but Enid, who happened to glance
through the window which opened to
ward the northwest, detained him.
There is no hurry now, for sure,
she said. The Falcon is halfway tC
earn du by this time. do not sup
pose she will return until it is too DARK
to do more than signal important news
very briefly
But this is important" cried Mrs
Nansittart shrilly. 'It is of the utmost
Importance to me-"