Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-10-19

very careful, but every look, every syl-
liable, shows that her mother is In no
doubt on that point
Its pretty hard nut to crack said
Pyne. He blew cigar smoke into rings.
Seemingly the operation aided refec-
ton.
s.Say. Enid he went on, s'if the
weather is fine tomorrow do you think
Connie would come out for driver"
.I don't know. Certainly she needs
some fresh air. What between her
anxiety and her mothers illness they
are beginning to look like sisters"
Just mention to Connie in her IA
theirs presence that if the sun shines
at IL l will be along in dogcart.
Mrs. Vansittart will be downstairs by
that time"
Yes
sAnd if Connie comes out with me
you just fiEd an errand in town. Rope
Jack into the scheme or any old dodge
of that sort. Take care Mr.. Brand
knows of it. By the way, send Mrs.
Sheppard out too"
.'What in the world
YOURS just too pretty to think hard,
Enid. 1t causes wrinkles. Do as ask,
there's a good girl
Enid was delighted to find that
Brand strongly supported the sugges-
ton that Constance should take the
drive Pyne, sharp on time, drew up
smart pony in front of the cottage and
did not twitch a muscle when Con-
stance, yelled and gloved, ran down
the pathway.
Excuse me getting down." said
Pyne II dispensed with a groom. l
guess you know the roads round here
She climbed to the seat beside him.
1T is very good of you to take this
trouble,'' she said, and when he looked
at her a slight color was visible through
the veil.
'HoN is your mother?" he asked alb
ruptly.
He felt rather than saw her start of
surprise.
She did not expect the relationship to
be acknowledged with such sudden
candor.
"she is much better,' she assured
him. Q =
That's all right he announced, as
if a load were off his mind, and then,
somewhat to her mystification, he en-
tertained her with the news.
Elsie and Mamie had quilted Pen
zance the previous evening, an aunt
having travelled from Boston as soon
as the first tidings of the wreck reach
ed her.
s'She was young, nice looking aunt,
too,'' he said cheerfully. "And was
powerful fond of those two kiddies.'
'The association of ideas might
prove helpful" she suggested, with a
touch of her old manner.
.That is what struck Elsie" he ad-
mitted. "She said she didn't know why
couldn't marry Aunt Louisa right off,
and then we could all live together So
ciably.''
"Oh! And what did the lady say?'
"She thought it was a great joke un-
til said that unfortunately 1 had
made other arrangements. Then she
guessed her nieces had got bit out OF
hand"
"Haye YOU seen the poor fellow
whose arm was broken? Enid has not
had a moment to give me details OF
events since we landed"
From that point their conversation
dealt with generalities. Soon the girl
perceiyed his intent. His sole desire
was to place her at her ease, to make
her realize that no matter what trou
bles life held they could be vanquishe6
If faced with a smile. She responded
to his mood and enlivened the drive
with comments on the people they me-
| 1oc 10 n g
ed. For two hours the world went vel
: because it was forgotten.
Enid, the conspirator, waited unit
, the pair in the dogcart were out o
sight. Then she went to the little room
at the back of the cottage where Brant
l pretended to be busily engaged in com
piling a scientific account Of his aurl
scope.
) 81 am going out, dad" she said, try
ing to appear unconcerned.
"AH right" he answered. layin
down his pipe.
l. 81 only came to tell you because Mrs
{ Sheppard is out too"
Obviously Enid was determined tina
e if Pynes calculations were worth any
thing they should have fair play.
ooh" he commented sharply, ''bu
the maid is in?"
e "Yes. She is such a stupid girl /
5 some things. If-if our guest rings 70
Ii will hear her. Would you mind askin
| Mary what it is in case she gets mut
. dled?"
e He glanced at her. She was tpullin
~ on her gloves and vastly bothered by
e refractory button.
eff 1 hear the bell l will inquire" b
said, and she escaped. feeling quit
= wicked.
When he was alone he did not r
sumo his task. In the next room, sep
rated from him only by brick wa
le was his wife. A wall! Why shoul
there always be a wall between then
1t was not of his building. Had 81
~ made it impossible during the lor
wears? And what would be the ou
le come row that Constance was in dai
communion with her mother? The do
=. u to- il kindly ignorance had told hi