Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-19


know, and you viii not tell"
Pync was not wholly prepared for the
attack.
1T is good rule" he said, never
to pretend you can handle another
mans affairs better than lie can handle
them himself"
He met her kindliiig glance firmly.
The anger that scintillated in her eyes
almost found utterance,, but this clever
woman Of the world felt that nothing
would be gained, perhaps great deal
lost, by any open display of temper.
She laughed scornfully.
'Alr. Trail is certainly the best
judge Of those worthy Of his conf
dcnce. Excuse me If spoke heatedly.
Let matters remain where they WERE"
"Just word, Mrs. Vansittart. My
uncle has written you fairly and
squarely. He has not denied you his
confidence. If l understood you, he
has promised it to the fullest extent"
Eyes, that is true"
"Then what are we quarreling
aboutY''
He laughed in his careless way to
put her at her ease. She frowned med
itatively. She who could smile in such
a dazzling fashion had lost her art of
late.
"You are right" she said slowly. II
am just hysterical woman, starting
Mt shadows, making mountains out of
molehills. Forgive me-"
AS Pyne went on up the stairs his
reflections took this shape:
1.-THE old man SHE'D at telling her
outright. wonder why. He is chock
full Of tact, the smoothest old boy
ever fell up against He thinks there
may have been little troubles here, per-
laps. Well, guess he's right" =.
In the service room he found Brand
cleaning lamp calmly and methodic-
ally. All the stores had been carried
downstairs and the storeroom key CIV
en- over to the purser.
81 am glad you have turned up" said
the lighthouse keeper. ''Oblige me by
opening that locker and taking back
the articles l purloined recently. II
the purser asks for an explanation, tell
him the truth and say am willing ia
eat this stuff now for my SINS"
Pyne noticed that Brands own let
tiers lay in small pile on the writing
desk With two exceptions, they were
unopened. AS a matter Of fact, he had
glanced at the superscriptions, saw
that they were nearly all from stran-
gers and laid them aside until night
fell and the lighting Of the lamps would
give him spare moment.
''I'll do that with pleasure" said the
American, "but there's one thing l
want to discuss with you while there
is chance of being alone. My uncle
says he has written to you"
ITO met"
Eyes. 1t deals with an important
matter too. 1t concerns Enid"
"Alr. Trail has written to me about
EnidY repeated Brand, stopping his
industrious polishing to see If Pyne
We're joking with him.
THAT'S SO. See; here is his letter.
1t will tell Its own story. Guess you'd
better read it right away"
The young man picked up one of the
sealed letters on the table and handed
it to the other.
Setting aside n glass chimney and n
wash leather, Brand lost no time In
reading Mr.. Trails communication.
Save that his lips frightened and his
face paled slightly, there was no out
ward indication of the tumult the writ
ten words must have created In his
soul for this Is what met his aston
ished vision:
Dear Mr.. Brandt hope soon to make
your acquaintance. 1t will be an honor to
meet n man who has done 80 much for
those near md dear to me. but there Is
one reason why I am anxious to grasp
your hand which Is SO utterly beyond
your present knowledge that deem 1t u
duty to tell you the facts-to prepare you.
in word.
Circumstances have thrown me into the
company of Lieutenant Stanhope. We
had kindred inspiration. He. under
stand. is, in effect If not In actual recorded
fact, the accepted sutton of your adopted
daughter. known as Miss Enid Trevillion.
I. although an older man. can share his
feelings, because l am engaged to be
married to Mrs. Vansittart. lady whom
you have. by Gods help. rescued. Hence
Mr.. Stanhope and l have almost lived to-
gether. ashore and afoat. during these
troubled days. Naturally. he spoke Of the
girl he loves and told me something of
| her history. He described the brooch
found on her clothing. and Mr.. Jones.
retired from the lighthouse service. who
| was present when you saved the child
from speedy death. informs me that her
| linen was marked "E. T."
These facts. combined with tho date and
Mr.. Jones' description of the damaged
boat. lead me to believe that the girl Ia
my own daughter. Edith Traill whom
you have mercifully preserved to GLADDEN.
the eyes OF father who mourned her
death and the death of her mother for
nineteen years.
can say no more at present. I am not
making differences not justified in other
| ways; nor am setting up fathers
claim to rob you of the affections Of O
beautiful and accomplished daughter. ]
| she can give to mo o 1.-THE OF the love
Ishe owes to you. for. indeed. In Mr.. Stan.
| hope and in all others who know you.
| you have eloquent witnesses. Yours most
| sincerely. CYRUS J. TRAIL.
P. S.-Let me add us an afterthought
that only my nephew and you have re-
ceived this information. Tho agonized
durcd on the rock is trial more than
sufficient to tax their powers. II. as ]
expect. Mr.. Stanhope meets you first. he
will be guided wholly by your advice as
TO whether or not the matter shall be
made known to your Enid-to my Edith
| before she lands.
Brand dropped the letter and placed
his hands over his face. He yielded
for an instant to the stupor of the IN.
telligence.
| Pyne came near to him and said.
with an odd dependency In his voice:
Say. you feel bad about this. Guess
you'll hate our family in future"
"Why should l hate any one who
brings rank and fortune to one of my