Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-09-14


He was about to feel in pocket for
his pipe-he experienced the worst
pangs of hunger after waking in such
fashion-when he saw woman's head
and shoulders emerging out Of the
stairway.
AT first he thought it was Constance.
and he wondered why she had mutfied
her face i'll the deep collar of cloak,
but the visitor paused irresolutely when
her waist was on a level with the floor.
She uttered little gasp Of surprise.
You, Charlie?' she cried. Il thought
you slept in the kitchen?"
NO. Mrs. Vansittart" he said. 81 am
assistant keeper, and 1 am here most
all the time with Mr.. Brand. But what
in the name of goodness
81 was restless" explained the lady
hurriedly "If I had remained another
minute among those women | should
have screamed aloud. How peaceful
YOU are here. Where Is Mr.. Brand?'
Guess he's gone outside to squint at
the weather But come right in. l can
offer YOU chair. Mr.. Brand wants to
see you, and this is a quiet time for a
chat"
''TIow does he know me? What did
he say?"
Mrs. Vansttart pressed her left hand
to her breast. With the other she kept
the high collar over her mouth and
cheeks. Pyne could only see her eyes,
and the alarmed light that leaped into
them increased his astonishment at her
unexpected presence.
"It seems to me-" he answered, 'that
if you just walk up four more steps
and sit down you can ask him all those
things yourself"
Were you speaking of me to him?"
81 did happen to mention you"
"And he said he knew me?"
mo, ma'am. He said nothing of the
sort But, for mercy's sake, what mys-
terry is there about it?"
Mystery! None whatever. I was
mistaken / have never met him. /
came now to explain that to him.
OH
She dived suddenly as the gallery
door opened. Brand caught ieeting
glimpse of her vanishing form.
'eWho was tharT' he asked.
Pyne had found his pipe and was fill
ing it with tobacco.
Mrs. Vansittart," he answered.
Paying her long deferred visit
suppose. She chose a curious hour"
80 1 thought But she just popped
her head in to tell you that she didn't
know you at ALL
Brand smiled.
poor ladyw he said. "She, like the
rest of us, is perturbed and uneasy.
imagine she is of somewhat hyster
ical temperament"
That's So" agreed Pyne.
There were puzzling discrepancies IL
Mrs. Vansittart's explanation OF he!
untimely appearance. Evidently She
did not expect to meet him there. Sh'
thought she would find the lighthouse
keeper alone. The ready deduction
presented itself that when she did en-
counter Brand she did not wish an.
third person to be present at the inter
view.
That Constances father had no caus
to look at matters in the same light h.
was quite certain. Anyhow, it wa
not his affair, and he declined to trou
BILE his head about Mrs. NanSittart'
vagaries.
So the young philosopher lit his pip
and delivered n dictum on the sex.
"Some women" he said, "are mad
up of contradictions. She is one.
have known her for some time, and
thought no,hing could feaZe her. Bu
there must be sort of society crus
over her emotions, and the wrec
broke it. Now, for my part. 1 like
woman with clear soul, one in who's
+1on irf of
inner crystal
"TheY are rare" said Brand.
Il suppose So Indeed, it used to
mere ideal of mine, built up frol
books. But they exist. and they al
worth looking for"
He waited, lest perchance the othe
man should take the cue thus offere'
but Brand, for the twentieth tim
was porting over the records of tt
days which followed the hurricane r
ported by former keeper. The Anne
lean pursed his lips,
''He has had a bad time with W
man once in his life," he unused. "
must have been Constance's mothe
and that is why he doesn't believe
heredity. Well, guess he's right"
Had he seen Mrs. VanSittart cove
ing on her knees outside her bedroo
door, he might have found cause f
more disturbing reflections. She w
crying softly, with her face hidden
her hands.
"Oh, 1 dare not! I dare not!' S
moaned Il am the most miserable "
man in the world. 1t would have be
better if 1 had gone down with t
vessel. The Lord saved me only
punish me. My heart Will break. WI
shall 1 do? Where shall hide?"
And her sobbing only ceased wh
the noise of ascending footsteps dro