Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-10-25
lie held up the lantern.

lie held up the lantern
"Well, that's curious" he cried. "I
Imagined you were the other young
lady. The water is needed in the hos
pital."
why didn't you say SOL" she snap
ped. being in reality very angry with
herself for her flppancy. She gave
him full pail. and lie quilted her.
Constance. having delivered her ia
Tiers message to Mr. Emmett, was
greeted with a tart question when she
re-entered the kitchen.
"Why on earth didn't you tell mo
that young man was attending to the
injured people? Is he doctor?"
II think not. What happenedy"
Gle came for second supply Of wa
ter and nearly bit my head Off"
ooh, Enid! | am sure he did not
mean anything. Didn't you recognize
him? 1t was he who climbed the mast
and flung Tie rope to u.s."
There" said Enid, "Ive gone and
done It! Honestly, you know, it was
l who was rude. He will think me
perfect cat"
THAT isn't what people are saying"
explained Mr.. pyne. whose approach
was deadened by the outer noise.
There's kind of general idea floating
round that this locality is an annex Of
heaven. with ministering angels in at
tendance"
In the half light Of the tiny lamps he
! could not see Ends scarlet face. There
/ .,ilu Ill.
self possessed youth spoke again.
"The nice things we all have to tell
| you will keep" he said. would you
mind letting me know in which rooms
you have located the ladies'"
! Constance, as major domo. gave the
information asked for:
"They are in the two bedrooms over
head. Poor things! | am at my wits
end to know how to get their clothing
| dried. You see, Mr.. Pync, my sister
and | have no spare clothes here. We
/ only came to the rock this afternoon
by the mcrest chance"
"That is Just what was troubling
mo-" he answered. II am sort of in
terested in one of them"
could help; but indeed, my own skirts
are wringing Ypt."
From what | can make out. then,
my prospective step-aunt will catch a
very bad cold"
The queer phrase puzzled the girls,
but Constance, rarely for her, Jumped
Mt a conclusion.
''Your prospective step-aunt. You
mean. perhaps, your fianceo's aunt|
she suggested.
81 don't know the lady. No. manm
I was right first time. Mrs. Vansittart
IS going to marry my uncle. so keep
an eye on her stock to that extent"
"IIow stupid Of mc.' she explained
while delighted giggle from Enid did
not help to mend matters. SO Con
stance became very stately.
II will ask Mrs. Vansittart to come
out and speak to you she began.
NO, no. l don't wish that. You
might tell her ! am all right. That is
the limit. And-may l make sug
gestion?'
Pray do"
at will help considerably If the WON
en- folk take it in turn to get into the
beds or hunks. Then some of theil
linen could be dried at the stove.
will take charge of that part of the
business If may; otherwise some OF
them will die"
The girls agreed that this was a cap
ital idea. Constance went upstairs
In the first room she inquired:
as Mrs. Nansittart here:'
yes" said a sweet but rather queru
lous voice.
A lady who had already appropriated
the lower bunk raised herself on an ell
bow.
The little apartment, like every par
of the building save the rooms reserved
by Brands directions, was packed al
most to suffocation. This, if harmful
in one respect, was beneficial in an
other. The mere animal warmth of s.
: many human beings was grateful aft
: er the freezing effect of the gale oil
people literally soaked to the skin.
The girl not unmoved by curiosity
held the light so that it illumined Mrs
: Vansttart. \ woman of forty, no mat
: ter how good looking and well pre-
I served she may be, is in sorry pligh
under such conditions. Constance saw
beautiful face, deathly white ant
haCgard yet animated and clearl,
, chiseled. The eyes We're large and lus
} trous, the mouth firm, the nose an
chin those of Greek statue. Jus
/ now there We're deep lines across tn
2 base of the high forehead. The thi
| lips. allied to a transient hnwklik
CLEAN in the prominent eyes, gave
; momentary glimpse of a harsh, pei
= haps cruel disposition. y charmin
smile promptly dispelled this tleetin
= impression. Instantly Constance wa
2 aware of having seen Mrs. Nansittar
| before. SO vivid was the fanclful ide
that she became tongue tied.
4 DO you want me:' asked the strar
5 ger, with Il new interest and still smi
: ing. Constance found herself wonder
t ing If the smile were not cultivated
hide that family caught suggestion
h the bird of prey. But the question r.
stored her mental poise.
i "Only to say that Mr.. Pyne'- sh
< began.
"Charlle-is he saved?"
@ Mrs. Vansittart certainly had til
o faculty of betraying intense interes