The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-11-09

during the fog which had prevailed for
several days previously. Those who
were caring for you were probably
knocked overheard and drowned"
but alone, utterly alone! That is
the strangeness of 1t. l must be an
American. Americans start out to hus-
tie for themselves early in life, don't
they?"
Certainly In that respect you might
claim the record"
Brand had not told her all the facts
OF that memorable June morning. Why
should he? They were not pleasant
memories to him. Why cumber her
also with them? For the rest he had
drawn up and read to her long ago a
carefully compiled account of her res
cue and the steps taken to discover her
identity
81 entered on an active and useful
career with no such halo of glory"
broke In Constance. 81 am just plain
English, born in Brighton, of parents
not poor, but respectable. Mother died
a year after my BIRTH didn't she, dad|
"You were thirteen months old when
we lost her." he answered, bending
over the clockwork attachment of the
fog bell to wipe off an invisible speck
of dust Since his first term of service
on the rock the light had changed from
an occulting to fixed one.
''She is buried there, isn't she?" the
girl went on. "How strange that amid
our journeying we have never visited
Brighton"
IF 1 were able to take you to her
graveside, l would not do it," said
Brand. II do not encourage morbid
sentiments even of that perfectly nat
ural kind. Your mother to you, Con-
stance, is like Ends to her-a dear but
visionary legend. In degree it is al
ways so between loved ones lost and
those who are left. Truth, honor, work
these are the highest ideals for the
individual. They satisfy increasingly.
Happy as am in your companionship,
you must not be vexed when tell you
that the most truly joyful moment of
my life was conferred when my little
friend here first responded accurately
to external influences"
He laid his hand on an object resting
on a table by itself. 1t looked like an
anerOid barometer, but the others knew
it was the marine auriscope to which
he had devoted so many patient hours.
''Is it in working order now?" asked
Constance instantly, and Enid came
nearer. Together they examined the
small dial. 1t was equipped with an
arrow headed pointer and marked with
the divisions of the compass, but with
out the distinguishing letters.
These three understood each other
exactly. By inadvertence the CONVEX
sation had touched on topic concern
ing which Brand was always either
vague or silent. Both girls were quick
witted enough to know that Con-
stances mother was never willingly
alluded to either by the lighthouse
keeper or by the elderly Mrs. Shep-
pard, who looked after them in in
fancy and was now the housekeeper
of Laburnum cottage
Constance was annoyed. How could
she have been so thoughtless as to
cause her father a moments suffering
by bringing up painful "reminiscences!
But he helped her, being master Of
himself.
He adjusted a switch in the instru-
ment.
81 had no difficulty in constructing
diaphragm which would intercept all
lie, hA no chr
when 1 wanted an agent which would
distinguish and register a particular
set of sounds, no matter what addi-
tional din might be prevalent at the
same time. My hopes were wrecked so
often that 1 began to despair, until 1
tension induction coil could be tuned
to disregard electrical influences other
than those issued at the same pitch
My anxiety, until I had procured and
experimental with properly con-
structed coil, was very trying assure
you"
81 remember wondering what on
earth it was" volunteered Enid. at
sounded like a mathematical snake"
"And am sorry to say that even yet
] am profoundly ignorant as 10 its true
inwardness," smiled Constance.
"Yet you girls delight in poets who
bid you hearken to the music Of the
spheres. suppose you will admit that
the ear Of, say, Ben Pollard is not tun-
ed to such q celestial harmony. How
ever, 1 will explain my auriscope in
sentence. It only listens to and indi-
Gates the direction Of fog horns, sirens
and ships bells. A shrill steam whistle
excites it, but the breaking of seas
aboard ship, the loud tapping of pro-
peller, the noise Of the engines, of a
gale, or all these in combination, leave
1t unmoved."
Il remember once, when we were
going, from Falmouth to Porthalla in
fog, how dreadfully difficult 1t was to
discover the whereabouts of another
steamer we passed en- route" said his
daughter.
"Well, with this little chap on the
bridge, the pointer would have told
the captain unerringly. / don't suppose
it will be thick while you are here or
you would see it pick up the distant
blasts of steamer long before we can
hear them and follow her course right
round the arc Of her passage. 1t is