Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-09-21


Do you mind-I find it hard to explain
your name is familiar. I knew-some
people-called Brand-a Mr.. Stephen
Brand-and his wife,"
She halted. seemingly at 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
been quite girl. Mrs. Brand died
many years ago"
Mrs. Vansittart flinched from the fee
bic rays Of the lantern.
THAT Is SOL think heard of-of
Mrs Brands death-in London.
fancy, but they had only one child"
Enid laughed.
81 am O mere nobody" she said.
'Dad adopted ME. I came here one
day in June, nineteen years ago. and I
must have looked 50 forlorn that he
took me to his heart, thank Godw
Another solemn chord Of the hymn
doated 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 1t of, SO
to speak, she went on quickly:
II imagine 1 am the most mysterious
person livingln my early history, I
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. Ny
linen was marked e. 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 1t. Can I get you any
thingr
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. I
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-
nerving manner. She heard the clang
Of a door above and knew that Enid
had gone into the second apartment
given over to the women. Somewhere
higher up was the glazing light of
which she had q faint recollection.
when unbound from the rope and car
ried into the service room.
And at that moment, not knowing it
she had been near to Stephen Brand
might have spoken to him, looked into
his face. What was he like? she won
dered. Had he aged greatly with the
years? A lighthouse keeper! OF al
professions in this wide world how
came he to adopt that? And what ugly
trick was fate about to play her tina,
she should be cast ashore ON this desc
late rock where he was In charge,
Could she avoid him? Had she beer
injudicious In betraying her knowledge
Of the past? And how marvellous was
the likeness between Constance and
her father! The chivalrous, high mind
ed youth she had known came back t.
her through the mists Of time. The
calm, proud eyes, the firm mouth. the
wide expanse Of forehead were his
From her mother-the woman WHIT
died many years ago." when she. Mrs
vansittart, was quite a girp'-the CIR
Inherited the clear profile, the wealth
Of dark brown hair and a grace Of
movement not often seen in English
women.
Though her teeth chartered with thu
cold, Mrs. Vansittart could not bring
herself to leave the vaultlike stairway
Once more the hymn singers cheeret
their hearts with words Of praise. Evi
IDENTITY there was one among them WHIT
not only knew the words, but coult
lead them nightly In the tunes o.
many old favorites.
The opening Of door-caused by thu
passing to and fro Of some Of the ship'i
oflcers-brought to her distracted earl
the concluding bars Of verse. Wher
the voices swelled forth again she
caught the full refrain:
''Raise thine eyes to heaven
When thy spirits quail.
When. by tempests driven,
Heart and courage fall"
Such a message might we'll carry
good cheer to oil who heard, yet Mrs
vansittart listened as one in q trance
to whom the divinest promise was &
thing unasked for and unrecognized
After passing through the greater peri
Of the reef in q state of supine con
seriousness, she was now moved to ex
treme activity by a more personal and
selfish danger. There was she, hui
man atom. to be destroyed or saved al
the idle within of circumstance; here
with life and many things worth Twins
for restored to her safe keeping. she