Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-10-18

ever" said Enid. striving desperately
to be unconcerned. In reality the an.
cry wind was no longer able to behead
the waves. With a rising tide and the
gale assisting there would soon be
sea worthy Of Turner in his maddest
mood.
Good gracious, dad" cried Con
stance, how pale you are And yout
forehead Is wet. What have you been
doing"
Brand hastily mopped his face with
a handkerchief.
During some Of the heavy gusts"
he explained. II was compelled to
stand OH the trimming stage. And-ths
micrometer valve required adjust.
ment."
She eyed him narrowly. The margin
Of suspicion was wider.
There Is nothing else wrongT" she
asked.
He approached and kissed her ear.
"Since when did my little girl begin
to doubt me-" he said quietly.
Her eyes filed Even the hint Of q
For the life OF her she could no longer
control the flood of terror which welled
up beyond restraint.
Forgive inc, dad" she murmured,
but | thought. and I still think. that
we We're and are in position Of the
utmost peril. l can't help knowing
that it is high water about o'clock.
1t is now only quarter to /. The
worst is not over. Do you think | can.
not read your dear face! Dad. if there
Is danger don't send us away again"
Tears were streaming down her
white checks. Enid. holding the tray
in speechless bewllderment during this
outburst from her proud and SELF re-.
liant sister, set it down on the writing
desk with n crash.
"Oh, dear" She walled. 81 don't want
any cocoa IL were gug-gug going to be
drowncdr'
Certainty If stephen Brand had I'm
acined two minutes earlier that he wa,
about to laugh long and loudly in gen.
uine surrender to an uncomfortable
spasm Of mirth he would have feared
lest his wits wcrc leaving him. Yet
he laughed now until his vision was
blurred And the wonderful relief Of
it, What tonic after the ordeal he
had endured!
1t CHANGED lust then that an eman-
cipated wave embraced the granite coll
umn, hit the cornice and deluged tn q
lantern its disntcgrated mass strikin.
the glass Wa force enough to break
any ordinary window. The astounded
girls could not refuse the evidence Of
eyes and ears. Here was the frantic
sea leapng to a height of 40 feet and
more, yet their father was treating the
Incident as the merrlest Joke of many
month.
No better cure for their hystera could
be contrived. Brand was obviously not
acting. The hearty pulsations of laugh
ter had restored his rudy color. Evi.
IDENTIFY they were alarmed about moth.
ing.
Here, Enid, drink your parting cup!'
he cried. "Have no fear. 1t is only
the dochan doris before many another
feast
ceIllS SOMEWHAT ashamed or them.
selves, though smiling very wistfully,
they obeyed him. He slipped his cocoa
with real nonchalance Another wava
turned a somerSaut over the lantern.
Brands only anxiety was to blow at
the steaming liquid and cool it sufn-
GENTLY.
Yet was he watching them and ham
mering out the right course to adopt. |
He alone understood that to the novice
the amazing ordeal from which the
lighthouse had successfully emerged
was as naught compared with the
thunderous blows of the waves, tho
astounding reverhcrations Of the hollow
pillar, the continuous deluge of spray
striking the lantern, which the infur- |
ated sea would inflict on them.
To urge any further effort to seep
was folly. They must remain with him
and be comfortcd.
Being reasonable girls. of fine spirit
under conditions less benumbiur II