The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-11-30

Constance Brand"
Brand did you say? And your
fathers nameT
stephen Brand. Really Mrs. Van.
sittart, you must try to compose your.
self. You are overweight and"-
She was about to say ''feversh." In
deed, that was mild word. The
strange glare in Mrs. Vansittart's eyes
amazed her. She shrank away, but
only for an instant. With deep sigh,
the lady sank back on the pillow and
tainted.
Constance was then frightened be-
yond question She feared that the Sci
zure might be u serious one under the
circumstances. To her great relief an
other woman, who could not help over
hearing the conversation and witness
ing its sequel, came to the rescue.
Don't be alarmed" she said. Mrs.
Vansittart is very highly strung. She
tainted in the saloon. She does not
realize that Mr. Pyne not only saved
her, but nearly every woman hare,
when the door was broken open. Now,
don't you worry, my dear l will look
| after her. You have great deal to do,
| am sure.
Constance realized that the advice
was good. She could not attend to one
| and neglect many.
Telling the women of the plan to dry
| their underclothing in sections, she ask
ed them to help her by arranging mat
| tiers so that their garments should be
divided into lots. Then she went to the
second bedroom and made the same
suggestion. The case Of the sufferers
in the hospital required more drastic
measures. The little girl she stripped
with her own hands and clothed her in
one of Brands flannel shirts and q
Communicated REFER jacket.
Two of Brands spare suits and q
couple of blankets enabled the two in
jured women, who were able to walk,
to get rid of their wet garments in the
crowded room beneath, and the lockers
of Jackson and Bates made it possible
for the men who most needed attention
to be made comfortable by the invalu-
able hospital orderly.
Constance was kept busy flying up
and down to the kitchen, while Enid,
having met all immediate demands in
the matter of hot beverage and some
thing to eat, supplemented her labors.
Pyne worked like Trojan. AS each
pile Of sodden garments was delivered
to him he squeezed out as much water
as possible with his hands and then
applied himself to the task of baking
them dry. He did this, too. in a very
efficient way, speedily converting the
kitchen into q miniature Turkish BATH
At the end Of an hour he had succeeded
so well that more than one-half Of the
females were supplied with tolerably
dry and warm underclothing. With
their heavier garments of course moth
ing could be done.
Once, on the stairs, Enid detained
Constance for moments chat.
Mrs. Vansittart is odd" she said.
Constance, so taken up was she with
many errands, had forgotten the lady.
"How thoughtless of me-" she cried.
"Is she betterT
"Yes, but when L went in just now
to give her her clothes she said to me,
Are you the sister Of the other-of
Constance Brandt 1t was no time for
explanations, so just said Yes She
gave me such q queer look and then
smiled quite pleasantly, apologizing
for troubling me-"
Constance laughed.
Perhaps she knew dad years ago."
she said.
"What do you think Mr.. Pyne said
about herr"
"How can I tell? Did you speak of
her to him?'
II told him she had tainted when you
delivered his message. He said, Guess
she can faint as easy as / can fall Off
a house. Isn't he funnyT'
II think he is splendid" said Con-
stance.
The wreck was now wholly demolish-
ed. The first big wave Of the retreat
ing tide enveloped the lighthouse and
smote 1t with thunderous malice.
Screams came from the women's quar-
tiers.
go, Enid" said Constance. "Tell
them they have nothing to fear. They
must expect these things to happen for
nearly two hours. Tell them what dad
said. Twenty-Five years, you know"
Brave hearts! What infinite penetra-
ton inspired the man who first said,
"Noblesse obliger'
Constance looked in at the kitchen.
Pyne doomed through fog Of steam.
"Pay no heed to these'-she was in
terrupted by another mighty thump
and cataract roar-"these blows Of
Thor's hammer" she cried.
"Play me for an anvil" he returned.
She descended to the depths to reas-
sure the men. Talking with shrill
cheerfulness at each doorway was
easy. 1t helped her to go down, down,
feeling stone and iron trembling as
every surge was hurled many feet
above her head. At last she stood on
the lowest floor. Beneath her feet was
naught but granite and iron bars. Here |
was solidity. How grateful to know |
of this firm base. rooted in Che very |
world Her heart leaped to her mouth, |
but not with fear. She was proud of |
the lighthouse, strong i'm the knowledge |
Of its majestic strength.
Nevertheless in this place, the source |
of her own sense Of security, she found |
among the men, They were |
all sailors in this lowest habitable |
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