Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-12-07
Chapter NVI-Continued.

wnen 90 you purpose leaving Pen
cancer
"Well-er-that is part Of the expla-
nation promised you"
1--WE can talk matters over In the ho-
tel. Where is your nephew"
For the first time he marked her air
Of constraint
"Believe me, Eta" he said hurried
ly, that what I have to tell you will
come as great surprise, but 1t should
be a very pleasant one."
Anything that gratif1es you will be
welcomed by me-" she said simply.
''You have not said where Charlie Is"
Hiding in that shed. He refused
Mr.. Stanhope's offer Of q rigout on
board. In his present disguise he
passes as a stoker, and everybody
wants to see the man who saved all of
you"
"Have you closed carriage hereY
"Yes."
"Let US 60. Charlie can come with
U.S."
Again he was conscious Of barrier
between them, but he attributed her
mood to the strain she had undergone
In the shed they found Pyne. With
him were the orphaned children; there
was none to meet them. Kind offers
were made to care for them until their
relatives should be forthcoming, but
the man to whom they chung would
not listen to any such proposal.
Il guess they're happy with me-" he
said. Il will see them through their
present trouble"
Childlike, they had eyes and ears
only for the prevalent excitement. At
last Elsie asked him:
"Where's mamma? You said she
was sick. But the men haven't car
ried her of the ship, an she wasn't in
the boat"
Don't you worry, Elsie" he said.
'I'm going to take you to big house
where you will find everything fixed
Just right"
His uncle and Mrs. Vansittart ap-
preached. The lady's face was no
longer hidden.
"What are you going to do with those
childrenT she inquired.
There's none here to claim them"
he said. Il can't let them leave me in
that haphazard way"
LET me help you. 1t Is a woman's
privilege"
She stopped toward the tiny mites.
you dear little Babes" she said
fo1y n
q time"
They knew her quite we'll, of course,
and she seemed to be so much kinder
and nicer now In her smart clothes
than she was In the crowded disorder
Of the bedroom.
Mamie looked at Elsie, and the self
reliant Elsie said valiantly:
"Mamie an NELL be glad If Mr.. Pyne
comes too"
Mr.. Trail, who had never before
seen tears in Mrs. Vansittart's eyes,
found ready excuse for her womanly
sympathy.
1T seems to me-" he said genially,
I'VE are all of one mind. Come this
way, Eta. And mind you stick close
to us. Charlie. or the hall porter will
throw you out If you attempt to enter
the hotel in that costume"
He ratified on cheerfully, telling them
how clothiers and milliners and all the
storekeepers in the town. IL they were
needed, would wait ON them at the
hotel.
"In q couple Of hours" he said, "you
both can obtain sufficient things to
render you presentable for day or
two. Don't forget We dine at 8. We
ought to be jolly party. have asked
Stanhope and his mother and those
two girls to Join u.s."
''Oh!" cried Mrs. Vansittart family.
"You must excuse me. r.
Nov. Eta. my dear, you will not
desert us tonight. Why, it seemed to
me to be the only way in which we
could all come together at once. I am
only too sorry that Mr.. Brand cannot
be present. Surely he might have been
spared from further duty at the light
house after what he has endured"
"They offered to relieve him at once,
but he declined" said Pyne.
He looked out Of the window of the
carriage in which they were driving to
the hotel. Constance had told him of
the dinner arrangement, but he wished
to ascertain if the definite absence of
the lighthouse keeper would tend to
reassure Mrs. Vansittart.
He was not mistaken. She did not
reply at once. When she spoke. it was