Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-11-22
CHAPTER XIV (Continued)

lures women are! our own auGirS are
sufficiently engrossing without endeav-
bring to pry into Mr.. Pynes"
Connie, don't press your lips so
tightly. You are just dying to know
what upset him. But, mark my words
1t had nothing to do with any other
woman"
Wherein Enid was completely mis-
taken; she would never commit a
greater error of judgment during the
rest of her days.
When Pyne Quilted the kitchen his
intent was to reach Brand without de-
lay. AS he passed Mrs. Vansttarts
bedroom he paused. Something had
delighted him UNNECESSARILY once tie
FIRST shock Of the intelligence had
passed.
He seemed to be irresolute IN his
mind, for he waited some time on the
landing before he knocked ut the door
and asked il Mrs. Nansittart would
come and speak to him.
Are you aloncT she demanded, re-
naming invisible.
YES" he said.
Then she appeared, with that Dor
rowed shawl still closely wrapped over
head and face
What Is IT. she said YEARLY.
You have had a letter from my
uncle?"
Eyes, a charming letter, but cannot
understand it. lie says that some very
important and amazing event will de.
tain him in pCnzance after we reaca
The place. He goes on--but will road
Il to you. am quite bcwillored.'
She took Il letter from her pocket ana
searched through its contents until sh"
found para graph. She was about -
read it aloud when some one came
down the stairs. 1t was one of the Of
fcers, yet Mrs. Nansittart was SO fur
ried that she dropped the sheet Of pa
per and bent TO pick it up before pyne
could intervene.
"Oh, bother" she cried. 81 am dread
fully nervous, even now that We are in
no further peril, This IS what l wish
you to hear"
And she read
Nothing but the most amazing and un-
looked for circumstances would cause me
to ask YOU to postpone the date OF o"r
marriage for at least n month after you
reach shore. This Is not the time nor arc
your present surroundings the place FOL
telling YOU why l make this request
Suffice it to say that | think-indeed,
am sure-a great happiness has come into
my life, Il happiness which You, as m
wife soon to he, will share.
The American. while Mrs. Vansittart
was intent ON her excerpts from n,
uncle's letter. studied all that was visi
BILE of her 90 That which he saw
there puzzled lin. She had sui1cret
no more than others, 50 he wondered
why she wore such an air of settled
melancholy. Throughout the lighthouse
gloom was dispclei. The sick became
well, the lethargic became Lively. Ever
the tipplers Of methylated spirits, dead
~ i'll before, had worked like TroianS
at the rape, as eager tc rchabilitatt
their shattered character as to land tho
much needed stores.
What trouble had befallen this wo
man, so gracious, so fac!le, so worship
full in her charm of manner and utter
ance during the years he had known
her, that she remained listless when al
about her was life and joyance, she
the cynosure OF many eyes by her COS
tunes and graceful carriage, GOVERNS
from recognition! Here was mys
terry, though she had repudiated tn,
word, and Il mystery which, thus far
defeated his subconscious efforts at 80
luton.
She lifted her eyes to his. Her ex
preston was forlorn, compelling pit.
by its utter desolation.
"What does he mean" she asked
plaintively. "Why has he not Spoken
clearly? Can you tell me what it is
this great happiness which has entered
so strangely into his life and mineT
Il have never met any man VIII,
knew exactly what he meant to sa.
and exactly how to say it better thar
Cyrus j." said Pyne.
But he has written to you surely
Does he give no hintT
His letter is very short one. II
be candid, l have hardly made mysel
acquainted with its contents as yet"
know, and you will not tell
Her mood changed so rapidly tina
Pyne was not wholly prepared for tn
attack.
ut is n good rule" he said, "neve
to pretend you can handle anothe
mans affairs better than he can Landl
them himself"
He met her kindling glance firmly
The anger that scintillated in her eye
almost found utterance, but this cleve
woman Of the world felt that nothin
would be gained, perhaps great dea
lost, by any open display Of temper.
She laughed scornfully.
"Mr. Trail is certainly the bes
judge of those worthy of his conf
dence. Excuse me If spoke heatedly
Let matters remain where they were
"Just a word, Mrs. Vnnsittart. NJ
uncle has written you fairly an
Gquarely. He has not denied you hi
confidence. If | understood you, h
has promised it to the fullest extent"
Eyes, that is true"
Then what are We quarrelin
aboutT'
He laughed In his careless way t
put her at her ease. She frowned met
itatively. She who could smile in sue
a dazzling fashion had lost her art {