Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1907-04-01
Ole PILLAR
OF LIGHT
BY LOUIS TRACY,
Author Of The Wings Of the Morning.
Copyright, 1905. by Edward J. clOds

Now. Eta. my dear. you will not
desert US tonight. Why, ii seemed to
me 10 he the only way In which we
could all come together at once. am
only too sorry that Mr.. Brand cannot
be present Surely he might have been
spared from further duty at the light
house after what he has endured"
They offered TO relieve him at once,
but he declined" said Pyne.
lie looked out Of the window Of the
carriage in which they were driving to
the hotel Constance had told him of
the dinner arrangement but he wished
20 ascertain II the definite absence of
the lighthouse keeper would tend to
rcassure Mrs. Vansittart
He was not mistaken. She did not
reply az once. When she spoke, it was
with a sigh OF relief.
Il will not be very entertaining, 1
fear. but the young people will have
plenty to tell YOU"
For goodness sake. Eta. don't
class yourself among the old fogies"
cried Mr.. Traill Look at me-ffty
five and lively as n grasshopper."
Please, IS Mamie an me 'vited.
too" whispered Elsie to Pyne.
you two chicks will be curled up
among the feathers at O'clock" he
told her. Don't you go and worry
bout any dinner parties. The sooner
you 20 TO sleep the quicker you'll wake
up in the morning. and then we're go
Ing ont to hunt-for what do you
thlnkT"
Candles" said Mamie
Toys cried Elsie, going one better.
We're just going to find two Of the
loyeliest and frilliest and pinkiest
checked dolls you ever saw They'll
have blue eyes as big as yours, Elsie,
and their lips will be as red and round
as yours. Mamie. They'll talk and say
and say all sorts of things when you
pinch their little waists. SO you two
hurry up after you've had your supper,
say your prayers and close your eyes,
and when you open them you'll be able
10 yell for me to find that doll store
mighty sharp"
"Say. Charlie" cried his uncle, 81
never heard you reel off a screw like
that before. Now, if l didn't know
you We're q confirmed young bachelor
/ would begin to have suspicious. Any
how. here's the hotel"
Two hours later. when uncle and
nephew met in the private sitting room,
where busy walters were making prep
arations for dinner, Trail drew the
younger man to the privacy Of a win
dow recess.
Charlie he conhded, affairs are in
a tansle. DO you realize that my mar
rage was fixed for today?"
That's So was the lacOnic answer.
cot course the wedding was post
poned by fate, and, to add to my per-
plexities, there is a new attitude on
Mrs. Vansttarts part. 1t puzzles me.
We have been friends for some years,
as you know. 1t seemed to be a per-
fectly natural outcome of our mutual
liking for each other that we should
agree to pass our declining years to-
Ecther. She is a very beautiful and
accomplished woman, but she makes
no secret Of her age. and the mattel
was a suitable one in every respect"
"You can see as far through stone
wall as most people,"
Pyne knew that his uncle's sharl
eyes were regarding him steadily, bu
he continued to gaze into the street.
There was a moments hesitation be
fore Mr.. Trail growleA:
You young dog, you have seen
too Mrs. Vansittart avoids me- Som,
thing has happened. She has change
her mind. DO you think she has hear
gbout Edith?'
Edith! Oh, of course-Enid must b
christened afresh. No; that isn't
1t would not be fair to you to say tbs
think you are mistaken; but, frol
what | know Of the lady, feel SUI
she will meet you fairly when the tin
comes"
"Ah. you agree with me. Them"
"In admitting a doubt-in advisiI
the delay you have already suggestC
yes"
"She told you l had written|
more than that She asked me If
was aware of its explanation"
"And' you said?"
Exactly what said TO you. "
are both sensible people. can nara
imagine that any misunderstandil
can exist after an hours talk"
Mr. Trail looked at his watch.
carriage stopped AT the hotel.
Here's Stanhope and his mother
cried Pyne. So his uncle hurried {
TO receive his guests.
Lady Margaret was a well preserv
woman of ariStOcratic pose. but b
serenity was disturbed. Although t
land was ringing with the fame of b
sons exploit. and her mothers hea
was throbbing with pride, there b
been fearful hours Of vigil for b.
Not without a struggle had she aba
doned her hope that be would make
well endowed match.
When Constance and Enid arriv
she was very stately and dignifi'
scrutinizing. with all a mothers inc
Trrfffr~ 4Ia OWL who hNd p1frSnI her