Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1907-01-14

- E-h%aAA@1 III" y liz. WuOSC GB44EOdGAl
was deadened by the outer noise.
There's kind Of general idea floating
round that this locality is an annex of
heaven, with ministering angels in at
tendance"
In the half light of the tiny lamps he
could not see Ends scarlet face. There
was moments silence. and this very
self possessed youth spoke again.
THE nice things we all have to tell
you will keep" he said. Would you
mind letting me know in which rooms
you have located the ladies?'
Constance, as major domo. gave the
information asked for:
They are in the two bedrooms over
head. Poor things! | am at my wits
end to know how to get their clothing
cried. You see. Mr.. Pyne, my sister
and have no spare clothes here We
only came to the rock this afternoon
| by the merest chance"
THAT is just what was troubling
me-" he answered. Il am sort of in
terested in one Of them"
oh said Constance. q do wish
| could help; but, indeed. my own skirts
are wringing wet"
''From what l can make out. then,
my prospective step-aUnt will catch a
very bad cold
The queer phrase puzzled the girls,
but Constance, rarely for her, jumped
at a conclusion.
Your prospective step-aunt. You
mean, perhaps. your iancee's aunt?"
she suggested
q don't know the lady. No. ma'am.
was right first time Mrs Vansittart
is going to marry my uncle. 50 l keep
an eye on her stock to that extent"
How stupid Of me- she explained,
while a delighted giggle from Enid did
not help to mend matters. So Con,
stance became very stately.
y will ask Mrs. VausittaTt to come
out and speak to you she began.
No no! l don't wish that YOU
might tel her l am all right That is
the limit And-may 1 make a sug,
gestion?"
Pray DO"
1T Will help considerably if the WON
en- folk take it in turn to get into the
beds or hunks. Then some Of theiI
linen could be dried at the stove.
business if l may; otherwise some OF
them viii die"
The girls agreed that this was a cap
ital idea. Constance went upstairs
In the first room she inquired:
us Mrs Vansittart here?
eyes" said a sweet but rather queru-
lous voice.
A lady who had already appropriated
the lower bunk raised herself on an ell
bow.
The little apartment like every part
Of the building save the rooms reserved
by Brands directions, was packed al
most to suffocation. This, if harmful
in one respect. was beneficial in an
other The mere animal warmth of SO
many human beings was grateful aft
er the freezing effect Of the gale on
people literally soaked to the skin.
The girl, not unmoved by curiosity
: held the light so that it illumined Mrs
: Vansittart A woman Of forty, no mat
ter how good looking and we'll pre-
served she may be, is in sorry plight
under such conditions. constance saw
a beautiful face, deathfy white anC
/ haggard, yet animated and clearly
chiseled The eyes were large and lus
trous the mouth firm, the nose an(
chin those of a Greek statue. JUS
now there were deep lines across thu
\ base Of the high forehead The thi1
lips, allied to a transient hawklikt
| orIo To 6
momentary glimpse Of a harsh, per
haps cruel disposition. A charming
2 smile promptly dispelled this feetins
, impression. Instantly Constance wa:
aware of having seen Mrs Vansittar
e before SO vivid was the fanciful ide;
l that she became tongue tied.
t DO you want me-" asked the stran
0 ger, with a new interest and still smil
r ing Constance found herself wonder
S ing if the smile were not cultivated t
|, hide that family caught suggestion o
$ the bird of prey. But the question re
r stored her mental poiSe.
: only to say that Mr.. Pyne''- sh
e began.
t "Charlie-is he sayed?
e Mrs. Vansittart certainly had tn
faculty of betraying intense Interest
: The girl attributed the nervous start
:. the quick color which tinged the whit
: cheeks, to the natural anxiety of VIC
O man who stood in such approXimat
degree. of kin to the young American.
d ''Oh. yes" said the girl. with read
IF sympathy Don't you know that a
of you owe your lives to his daring
It He asked me toto say he was a.
right, and-that he hoped you were nc
!. utterly collapsed"
IL The addendum was a kindly ont
a ! No doubt Mr.. Pyne had meant her
'e convey such message. Mrs. Nansi1
tart it was evident, had received
shock Perhaps she was a timorou'
1t shrinking woman, ayerse to the sudde
u stare of others.
L know nothing she murmuret
1T was all so horrible. 0 God, sha
u -