Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-10-10


Mrs. Vansittart was sheltered in La
burnum cottage. He admitted that he
directed the lady to the house in the
first instance and that Mr. Brand told
him subsequently to convey the stated
message TO the hotel.
Nevertheless lie was the richer for
sovereign as he went out.
Mr. Trail helped himself to whisky
and soda.
Here's to the reconciliation of
Brand and his wife," he said, with
lighter tone and more cheerful manner
than he would have deemed possible
five minutes earlier
Pyne followed his example.
Say, uncle" he cried, there's
queer item! When first met Con-
stance I spoke of Mrs. Vansittart, and
called her my prospective step-aunt."
"a very silly name too.'
Constance seemed to think that, or
its feminine equivalent. She corrected
me, You mean your 1ancee's aunt
she said.''
"Oh, did she?'
Yes, and here's to her being my
fiancoe's mother"
With the morning came doubt. A
maid who was given charge of the two
children Aold Pyne that Mrs. yansit-
tart had been greatly upset the pre-
vious evening. The girl was sure that
the lady had passed nearly an hour in
tears kneeling by the side of the bed.
Then, having regained control of her.
self to some extent, she rang for the
maid and asked at what time the first
train left for London next day. She
ordered her breakfast at an hour which
seemed to indicate her intention to de-
part by that train, said that she would
leave Instructions with Mr.. Pyne con-
corning the children, and gave the maid
two letters which she had written.
These We're to be delivered ut 0 O'Clock.
What was to be done with the letters?
AS they were addressed to Pyne and
his uncle respectively, he soon settled
that point.
His letter read:
Dear Mr.. Pyne-I am leaving for Lon
don quite early. SO l will not see you
again in PenZance. have supplied the
little girls with all the garments they will
need during the next few days. If, on in
puiry, YOU ascertain that they have no
relatives anxious, not merely willing. to
take charge of them. shall be most
pleased to assume that responsibility. In
that event. kindly write me, care OF my
bankers. Yours very sincerely,
L. VANSITTART.
The communication to his uncle was
equally brief. Mr.. Trail read 1t to
him. 1t ran:
Dear Mr. Tra!ll-I cannot marry you.
Please forgive me. l did not realize when
you honored me with your proposal that
an insuperable obstacle existed. That is all
"a lame explanation. but complete SO far
as 1t goes. A woman who has wrecked
her life finds 1t hard to choose her words.
Your sincere friend, Z. VANSITTART.
They discussed these curt notes dur
ing breakfast.
Il do not like their Tone" said Mr..
Trail gravely. "They impress me as
the hurried resolutions of n woman
driven to eXtremetics. Were it not for
her request about the children should
think what you thought last night,
Charlie. when that policeman turned
up"
Il must have telephoned my ideas to
you mighty quick" was the retort.
My dear boy, even Mt this moment
we don't know what she intended to
do. Why did she go out? What is the
nature of her sudden illness? How
comes it that she is ut Brands houseY
81 may be mistaken, but think We
will be given answers to all your ques
lions in due time. Nothing really seri
GUS can be amiss or we should have
heard Of it from Brand himself. Now
will you remain on guard here while
go out with Elsie and Mamie? Tho
one thing that matters in their little
lives this morning is that shall hurry
up and go doll hunting with them"
II will hold the fort until you return
You will not be long?"
Perhaps half an hour While an
out | will make some inquiries as tt
the condition of our other friends OF
the Chinook" .,
by the way, many Of them must be
destitute. 1t is my desire, Charlie. te
pay the expenses Of any such to theil
destination and equip, them properly
for the journey"
you are first rater, uncle, but it'll
make your arm tired if you o. X. tho
bill all the time. Now, here's fail
offer. Let me go halves"
BE of, you rascal! You are keeping
two ladies waiting"
With seeming anxiety to atone fol
the excuses of the week, the weather
that morning justified the claim o
Cornwall to be the summer land Of
England. The sun shone from blut
sky feckcd with white clouds. The
waters of Mounts buy sljarkled ant
danced In miniature wavelcts. The ali
was so mild, the temperature so equa
bic, that it was hard to credit sea an,
wind with the havoc of the preceding
days.
The Gulf Rock disaster did not stan,
alone in the records of the hurricane
Even the days papers contained be
lated accounts of casualties on til
coasts of Normandy, Holland and fan
off Denmark. But nowhere else ha
there been such loss Of life. while re
newed interest was evoked by the tlna
relief of all the survivors.
Pyne's appearance outside the sill
ting room was hailed with u yell. Not
withstanding her own perflexitie
Mrs. Eansittart had taken good car
that the children We're well provide
for. They We're beautifully dressed
and the smiling maid who freed ther
from control when the door opene
said that they might go out withou
jackets. the day was SO fine.
He descended the stairs with ciga
in his mouth and a delighted young
stcr clnging to each hand
III the hall he encountered doze
journalists waiting to dcvour hin
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