Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-12-06

with age. Men now tai ked OF war in
Africa. of the yellow peril. of some
baccarat squabble In a West End club
G,Gt its vitality fingered in Penzancc.
There were side issues which Pyne's
device had Kept from the public ken.
but which the towns folk pondered
Lady Margaret Stanhope. obcying her
sons behests. tantalizcd her friends by
smiling serencly and telling them moth
ing when they pestered her with ques-
tions-that is to say. she spoke not
one word about the lady who was be-
ing nursed back TO health in the light
house keepers cottage, but filled their
souls with bitterness when she limited
at marvels concerning Constance and
Enid.
In such n small place. whore every
mans affairs are canvassed by his
neighbors, 1t was impossible to pre-
vent an atmosphere of mystery from
clfnging to Mrs. Nansittart. Again,
the gossips We're greatly concerned
about Enid. For young woman Gin
her position" to be engaged to an Off
Ger In the royal navy and admitted to
the sacred ranks Of the aristocracy
was a wonderful thing in itself. But
that she should be on open terms Of
the greatest intimacy not alone with
the elderly Mr. Trail but with his
good looking nephew, even calling the
latter Charlie and treating, him as n
near relative, was an amazing circum-
stance only surpassed by the compla-
,,-tf a
her son regarded It.
The actors in this comedy seemed to
be sublimely Indifferent to public spin
Ion. That was the worst of It, Enid
was escorted about the town b. each
and all of the men at all hours. Now
she was at the hospital cheering Bates
and Jackson or the injured people from
the wreck, now arranging for the de-
parture OF some of the poorer sur
vivors when they were able to travel.
now fitting over to Narration 10 see
Tim Spence, and once actually visiting
Mr.. Jones, the innl;eeper.
At last a part of the secret ekcd out.
Enid went with her father to ask how
Mr.. Emmett, the sick chief officer. was
getting on. They found him smoking
III the front garden OF the house IN
which Brand hnd lodged him.
He started when be saw them ap-
preaching ana his weather beaten face
wore the puzzled look Wth which he
regarded Enid one night on the light
3ouse stairs
Trail noticed the sailors covert
slances at Enid, so he said
"By the way, Mr.. Emmett. you were
Oh the Britannia when lay wife and l,
her sister and two children came to
England before the Esmeralda was
)Ost?"
"Yes, sir" lie paused.
During many M Atlantic crossing he
md Mr.. Trail had talked of that last
Joyous journey when he, boy who
had just joined the service, sat at their
table, as was the custom Of junior Of
ncers in those years.
Mr.. Trail smiled He knew what
was in the other mans mind.
"Do you see likeness in this young
lady to any one you have ever
known" he asked.
well, sir, l hope it will not hurt
your feelings, and It's a good many
years ago now, brt ], could have sworn
well, I must out With it. She is the
living image of your wife"
Indeed that cannot hurt my feel
ings, as she is her daughter"
Her daughter. Your daughter
gasped Emmett.
A small serving maid with the ears
of rabbit was listening spe!lbound at
the open window. Here Indeed was a
choice tidbit for the milkman and the
postman and the butchers and gro
GERS boys. From this lower current
the stream Of talk flowed upward until
1t reached the august drawing room Of
Mrs. Taylor-Smth
She drove in frantic haste to Lady
Margarets villa and fred questions
broadside.
"Oh, yes" said Jacks mother suave-
~. 1T is quite true or course I have
known it from the first. According to
present arrangements, the marriage
will take place In the spring, Ends
marriage settlement will be nearly Il
quarter of million"
Like most women, she loved that
word. A million, even in fractions. Is
80 glib, yet so unattalnable.
The only person who was slightly
dissatisfied with the progress Of events
was Pyne. Constance never appeared.
She shared with Mrs. Sheppard the
care of her mother. Enid. bllthe and
guileless in the public eye. did the
housekeeping and represented the
household.
Brand, too, save for couple of Wis
its to the hotel, remained invisible He
did not mention Mrs. Vnusittart's
name. He was pale and worn. a man
at war with himself. The young Phila-
delphian-for Pyne's family home was
In the Quaker City, though his estate
lay principally in New York-was not
pleased by the slight signs perceptlble
behind the screen Of Brands reserve.
CONSTANCE takes after her father"
he told himself. There may be trou-
bic about her mother. In the scurry l
may get left. ! must think this out"
At last came a day OF warm sun
shine when Enid announced that the
invalid by the doctors orders was car
ried downstairs.
HAS Mr. Brand seen her yet?" asked
Pyne.
mo-" replied Enid, with a little
cloud on her fair face, "He never men
items her. And how we wish he would.