The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-11-30

me-" he answered. II am sort of in
terested in one of them"
"Oh," said Constance, II do wish l
could help but, indeed. my own skirts
are wringing wet"
"From what | can make out, then,
my prospective step-aunt will catch a
very bad cold.'
The queer phrase puzzled the girls,
but Constance. rarely for her. jumped
at conclusion.
your prospective step-aunt You
mean, perhaps, your fancee's aunt?"
she suggested
II don't know the lady. No, ma'am.
I was right first time. Mrs. Vansittart
is going to marry my uncle, so 1 keep
an eye on her stock TO that extent"
"How stupid of mew she explained,
while delighted giggle from Enid did
not help to mend matters. So Con-
stance became very stately.
81 will ask Mrs. Vansittart to come
out and speak to YOU she began.
mo, no. l don't wish that. You
might tell her l am all right. That is
the limit And-may 1 make sug-
geston?"
pray do
at will help considerably if the wom-
Ell folk take it in turn to get into the
beds or hunks. Then some of their
linen could be dried at the stove. l
will take charge of that part of the
business if l may; otherwise some of
them will die"
The girls agreed that this was cap
J ital idea. Constance went upstairs.
J In the first room she inquired:
"Is Mrs. Vansittart here?"
yes" said sweet but rather queru-
lous voice.
A lady who had already appropriated
the lower bunk raised herself on an ell
| bow.
| The little apartment, like every part
of the building save the rooms reserved
by Brands directions, was packed al
most to suffocation. This, if harmful
In one respect, was beneficial in an
other. The mere animal warmth of so
many human beings was grateful aft
err the freezing effect Of the gale on
people literally soaked to the skin.
The girl, not unmOved by curiosity,
held the light so that 1t illumined Mrs.
Vansittart. A woman Of forty, no mat
ter how good looking and well pre-
served she may be, is in sorry plight
under such conditions. Constance saw
beautiful face, deathly white and
haggard, yet animated and clearly
chiseled. The eyes were large and lus-
trous, the mouth firm, the nose and
chin those Of a Greek statue. Just
now there were deep lines across the
base of the high forehead. The thin
lips, allied to q transient hawklike
CLEAN in the prominent eyes, gave a
momentary glimpse Of harsh, per-
haps cruel disposition. A charming
smile promptly dispelled this fleeting
impression. Instantly Constance was
aware of having seen Mrs. Vansittart
before. So vivid was the fanciful idea
that she became tongue tied.
do you want me?" asked the stran-
ger, with new interest and still smil-
ing. Constance found herself wonder
ing If the smile were not cultivated to
hide that family caught suggestion Of
the bird of prey. But the question re-
StOTeu Uer IleHtul pOlSe.
"Only to say that Mr.. Pyne,- she
began.
"Charlie-is he saved?'
Mrs. Vansittart certainly had the
faculty of betraying intense interest.
The girl attributed the nervous start,
the quick color which tinged the white
cheeks to the natural anxiety of wo-
man who stood in such approximate
degree of kin to the young American.
"Oh, yes" said the girl, with ready
sympathy. Don't you know that all
of you owe your lives to his daring?
He asked me toto say he was all
right, and-that he hoped you were not
utterly collapsed"
The addendum was kindly one.
No doubt Mr.. Pyne had meant her to
convey such message. Mrs. Vansit-
tart, it was evident, had received a
shock Perhaps she was n timorous,
shrinking woman, averse to the sudden
stare of others.
IL know nothing" she murmured.
1T was all SO horrible. o God, shall
ever forget that scene in the saloon? |
How the people fought. They were
not human. They were tigers, fierce
tigers, with the howls and the baleful |
eyes of wild beasts"
This outburst was as unexpected as |
her staccato question. Constance bent |
over her and placed gentle hand on |
her forehead.
you must try to forget all that" she |
said soothingly. Indeed, it must have |
been very terrible. 1t was dreadful |
enough for us. looking down at things |
through mist of foam. For you |
But there! You are one of the few |
who escaped. That is everything. God |
has been very good to you!
She was. STOPPING low and holding the |
lantern in her left hand.
Suddenly Mrs Vansittart's eyes |
cleaned again with that lambent light
so oddly at variance with her smile.
The slight flush of excitement yielded
to ghostly pallor. With surprising
energy she caught the girls arm.
"Who are your she whispered. Tell
me, child, who are your"
my father Is the lighthouse keeper"
said Constance. II am here quite by
chance. r. I