Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-08-24

otter matters. -Four O'Clock IN m,
morning was an unconventional houl
Tor an interview, but time itself wa.
topsy turvy under the conditions prev
alent on the Gulf Rock.
.I will ask him." she went on hur
riedly, with an uncomfortable feelins
that Mrs. vansittart resented her iu
dicial pause
Thank you"
To the girls ears the courteous ac
knowledgment conveyed an odd note
of menace. If the eyes are the win
| dows of the soul surely the voice is its
subtle gauge. The more transparently
simple. clean minded the hearer, the
more accurate is the resonant impress
sion. Constance found herself vaguely
/ perplexed by two jostling distractions.
If they took shape it was in mute qucs-
| tioning. Why was Mrs. Vansittart so
anxious to revive or, it might be, probe
| long buried memories, and why did her
| mobile smile seem to vein a hostile in
tent?
But the fresh, gracious maidenhood
in her cast aside these unwonted
studies in mind reading
''He has so much to do" she ex-
planned. although there are many of
us on the rock tonight he has never
been so utterly alone. Won't you wait
inside until return?'
'Not unless am in the way plead
ed the other. 81 was choking in there.
The air here, the space, are so CRATE
full"
So Constance passed her. Mrs. VAN
sittart noted the dainty manner In
which she picked up her skirts to
mount the stairs. She caught a glimpse
of the tailor made gown, striped silk
underskirt, well fitting, low heeled,
wide welted expensive boots Trust
women to see all these things at a
glance, with even the shifting glimmer
of storm proof lantern to aid the
quick appraisement.
AS the girl went out of her sight a
reminiscence came to her
No wonder was startled" she COM
muned. THAT sailors coat she wears
helps the resemblance. Probably it is
her fathers.''
Then tho loud silence of the light
ceased or was shut off by a closed
door. One might as well be in tomb
as surrounded by this tangible dark
ness. The tremulous granite, so cold
and hard, yet alive in its own grim
strength, the murmuring commotion of
wind and waves swelling and dying in
ghostlike echoes, suggested a grave, a
vault close sealed from the outer
world, though pulsating with the far
away existence of needless multitudes.
Thus, brooding in the gloom, a tor
tured soul without form and void, she
awaited the return of her messenger.
!. Constance, after looking in at the hos |
pital, went on to the service room. Her
father was not there. She glanced up |
to the trimming stage, expecting to see
him attending to the lamp. No. He
had gone. Somewhat bewildered, for !
she was almost certain he was not in
my Of the lower apartments, she climb |
I'd to the little door in the glass frame.
All! There he was on the landward
side of the gallery. What was the mat
er now? Surely there was not an
'ther vessel in distress. However, be-
ng relieved from any dubiety as to his
she went back to the
ervice room and gave herself the lux
Try Of moments rest. Oh, how tired
he was! Not until she sat down did
he realize what it meant to live as she
ad lived and to do all that she had
one during the past four hours
Her respite was of short duration.
'rand, his oilskins cleaning with wet,
ame in. -: :,
Hello, sweetheart! What's up
ow?" he cried in such cheerful voice |
hat she knew all was well.
"That was exactly what 1 was going
, ask you," she said.
"The Falcon is out there" he replied.
18th side rod toward Mounts bay. l.
Constance knew that the Falcon was
sturdy steam trawler, a bulldog little
nip, built to face anything in the
lape of gales.
mo. 1 stood between them and the
ght for a second, and they evidently
nderstood that was on the lookout,
J a lantern dipped several times,
hich l interpreted as meaning that
ey will return at daybreak. Now
ey are off to Penzance again.
"They turned safely then?''
Shipped a sea or two, no doubt. The
ind is dropping, but the sea is run
ng mountains high"
He had taken off his oilskins Con-
ance suddenly felt strong disincli-
tion to rise. Being a strong willed
ung person, she sprang up instantly.
Il came to ask you if you can see
rs. Vansittart,'' she said.
Mrs. Vansittartv' he cried, with a
nuine surprise that thrilled her with
pleasure she assuredly could not ac-
unit for.
Yes. She asked if she might have a
'rd with you.''
lie threw his hands up in comic de-