Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-08-21

having met an immediate DEMANDS in
the matter of a 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 very
efficient way, speedily converting the
kitchen into 4 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.
ssMrs. Vansittart is odd" she said.
Constance, SO taken up was she with
many errands, had forgotten the lady.
''How thoughtless of me-" she cried.
ssIs she better?'
'sYes, but when went in just now
to give her her clothes she said to me,
Are you the sister of the other-of
Constance Brandt It was no time for
explanations, SO just said Yes She
gave me such 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 her2'
'sHow can 1 tell? Did you speak Of
her to him?'
''I told him she had tainted when you
delivered his message. He said, Guess
she can faint as easy as can fall of
a house, Isn't he funny?'
81 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 it with thunderous malice.
Screams came from the women's quar-
ters.
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-
tion inspired the man who first said,
'Noblesse obligev'
Constance looked in at the kitchen.
Pyne loomed through fog Of steam.
''Pay no heed to these"-she was in
terrupted by another mighty thump
and cataract roar-"these blows Of
Tbor,c cho
"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 the very
world. Her heart leaped to her mouth,
but not with fear. She was proud Of
the lighthouse, strong in the knowledge
Of it's majestic strength.
Nevertheless in this place, the source
Of her own sense of security, she found
uneasiness among the men. They were
all sailors in this lowest habitable
region. Their preconceived ideas had
been rudely reversed. The ship, the
noble structure which defed the storm
by yielding to it's utmost fury, had for
them no terrors. But the stark pillar
which f1inched from no assault be-
wildered them. 1t was impossible to
believe that it could Withstand the
strain Ha! Listen to that. The bat
tering ram of ocean applied to a thin
shaft Of stone. Surely it must be
pounded into fragments.
Said one with indefinite below amid
the black turmoil: II can't stand this.
mates"
."up aIoft, for mev' cried another.