The Red Cloud chief., 1906-09-07
iC0NTINUED.)

who needed It,"
II am sure we are all doing our best
to help one another" volunteered Enid.
"Pnt l am restless. The sight-of
your ~sister-aroused vague memories.
DO you mind-I find it hard to explain
your name Is familiar. l knew-some
people-called Brand-a Mr.. Stephen
Brand-and his wife"
She halted, seemingly at a loss. Enid,
striving helplessly to solve the reason
for this unexpected confidence, but
quite wishful. to make the explanation
easier, found herself interested.
yes" she said. THAT Is quite pos
sible. Of course. though you must have
many years ago"
Mrs. Vansittart flinched from the fee
bic rays of the lantern.
THAT is sol think l heard of-of
Mrs. Brands death-in London. l
fancy. but they had only one child"
Enid laughed.
81 am a mere nobody" she said.
Dad adopted me. | came here II
day in June. nineteen years ago, and /
AliSl huNN io'h'u ~ 'Ao hN
took me to his heart, thank God!'
Another solemn chord Of the hymn
flOated up to them:
Let all thy converse be sincere.
Thy conscience as the MONDAY clear"
The rest Of the verse evaded them.
Probably a door was closed.
Mrs. Vansittart seemed to be greatly
perturbed. Enid, intent on the occupa-
ton Of the moment, believed their lit
tie chat was ended. To round it off, so
to speak, she went on quickly:
Il imagine l am the most mysterious
person living-in my early history, l
mean. Mr.. Brand saw me floating to-
ward this lighthouse in a deserted boat.
I was nearly dead. The people who
had been with me were ~gone-either
starved and thrown into the sea or
knocked overheard during a collision,
as the boat was badly damaged. My
linen was marked Il. t. That is the
only definite fact l can tell you. All
the rest is guesswork. Evidently no
body cared to claim me, and here l
am"
Mrs. Vansittart was leaning back in
the deep gloom, supporting herself
against the door Of the bedroom.
What a romance!' she said family.
"A vague one, and this is no time to
gossip about it. Can l get you any
thingT'
Enid felt that she really must not
prolong their conversation, and the
other woman's exclamation threatened
further talk.
mo thank you. You'll excuse me, /
know. My natural Interest,"
But Enid, with a parting smile, was
halfway toward the next landing, and
Mrs. Vansittart was free to re-enter
the crowded apartment where her fel'
low sufferers were wondering when
they would see daylight again. She
did not stir. The darkness was intense,
the narrow passage drafty, and the
column thrilled and quivered In an un.
nerying manner. She heard the clang
of Il door above and knew that Enid
had gone into the second apartment
given over to the women Somewhere
higher up was the glaring light OF
which she had n faint recollection,
NlOUEA Sllt was ulllpSl UNCONSCIOUS
when unbound from the rope and cal
ried INTO the service room.
Aud at that moment, not knowing IL
she had been nea to Stephen Brand
might have spoken to him, looked int
his face. What was he like? she won
dered. Had he aged greatly with tn
years? 4 lighthouse keeper! OF a.
professions in this wide world hoy
came he to adopt that? And what ugl,
trick was fate about to play her tina
she should be east ashore on this desc
late rock where he was in charge
iniudicious in betraying her knowledg
of the past? And how marvellous wa
the likeness between Constance an
her father. The chivalrous, high mlnI
ed youth she had known came back {
her through the mlsts Of time. Til
calm, proud eyes, the firm mouth, tn
wide eXpanse Of forehead We're hi
From her mOther-the woman VIII
"died many years ago." when she, Mr.
Vansittart, was quite a glrl'-the gil
inherited the clear profile, the wealt
ol udVk drown uulI anu a Sl"'c I
movement not often seen In Englisl
women.
Though her teeth chartered with III
cold, Mrs. Vansittart could not brln
herself to leave the vaultlike stairwa.
Once more the hymn singers cheere
their hearts with words of praise. Ev
IDENTITY there was n among them wi
not Only knew the words. but cOul
lead them nightly in the tunes {
many old favorltes.