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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 26, 1906)
'..! I v THE PILLAR of LIGHT CONTINUED. "The Inst two packages ferried to the lighthouse contained not only warm woolen wraps for the women mid chil dren, hut a big bundle of letters mid telegrams. l'.vne was the postman. There were lit least twenty notes addressed to the girls and several to Brand from friends ashore. Mr. Traill, of course, wrote to his nephew nnd Mrs. Vanslttart. Natural ly Pyno carried bis own missive to the kitchen, where he found that Con 'Stance and Enid had managed to wash in distilled water. They were cutting sandwiches and ondonvorlng to read their letters at the snmo Instant. No bowed with sar castic politeness. "I boo you are ready for the party," be said. Certainly bo offered a deplorable con trast to them. Ills face was Inerusted with salt and blackened with dirt nnd perspiration. Ills hands were like those of a sweep, but smeared with oil, which shone on his coat sleeves up to both elbows. Ills clothes were torn and soiled, his linen collar and cuffs limp as rags, nnd bis wnlstcoat was ripped open, having remained In that condition since It caught in a block ns be descended the mast. "Oh, you poor fellow!" cried Con stance. "How you must envy us! Here is n kettleful of hot wnter. I can't say much for the towel, but the soap is excellent." Refreshed, Pyno opened his uncle's Irtter. The girls were keeping up a running commentary of gossip. "Mousie (Mrs. Sheppnrd) says she hasn't slept for three nights." "Edith Taylor-Smith says she envies us." "That letter you are reading now Is from Lady Margaret. What does she say?" "She sends all sorts of love, and that kind of thing," cried the blushing Enid, who had just learned from Jack's mother that Stanhope had ap propriated her as his Intended wife without ever a proposal. "Is that all in four closely written pages?" "Well she hopes soon to see me to see both of us" Constance was too kindly to quiz her sister. Maybe she saw something In Enid's eye which threatened speedy re taliation. "Ilere's n note from the vlcnr. They liavo held a special service of Interces sion at St. Mary's." "And Hcttie Morris writes Good gracious, Mr. Pyue! Have you had any bad news?" Enid's wouderlng cry was evoked by the extraordinary way in which the young American was looking at her. "J sec you arc ready for the party." Some intensely exciting knowledge bad mastered stoicism. His eyes were dis tended, his lips quivering. Ho lcaued With one hand on tho kitchen table. In Hie other ho had clinched his uncle's letter. Constance stood near to him. That he, of ull tho men she had ever met, should yield to an overpowering emo tion startled her greatly. She caught his arm. "Mr. Pyue," she snld softly, "If It is any 111 tidings you have received wo are Indeed sorry for you." He pulled himself Btralght and gavo Constance such a glance that sho has tily withdrew her hand. It seemed to lior that ho would clasp her in his arms forthwith without spoken word. Her action served to stcudy him, and ho laughed, so softly and pleasantly that their fear was banished. "Girls," he suld slowly, "I have been parachuting through space for a min (FHlUn Louis Tracy, Author of "The Wings o! the Morning" Copyright, 1004, by Edward J. Clode ute or 85. "I'm an right. Everybody Is all right. But my head swims a bit. If I come back forgetting my name and the place where 1 last resided, remem ber that once I loved you." He left them. He could not trust himself to say more. "That letter was from bis uncle, I suppose," said Enid, awe stricken. "It must be something very dra matic which would make him act so strangely. Why has he run away? Was he afraid to trust us with his news?" There was a sharp vehemence In Constance's voice which did not escape her sister's sharp ears. "Connie," said Enid quietly, "as sure as Jack loves me, Unit mail is in love with you." "Enid" But the other girl laughed with a touch of her saucy humor. "Why did he look at you in that way Just now? Didn't you think ho was go ing to embrace you on the spot? Con fess!" "It was at you he was looking." "Xot In the way 1 mean. He gazed at me as If I were a spirit. But when you touched him he awoke, lie might have been asleep and suddenly seen you near him. I wonder lie didn't say, 'Kiss me, dearest, and then I will bo sure It Is not a dream.' " Constance discovered that she must defend herself. "Mr. Pymj hardly conveyed such tin- utternble things to me," she said, con scious that a clean face betrays a llush which smudges may hide. "Have you had a letter from Jack that you can Interpret other people's thoughts so sweetly?" "No, dear. Jack has not written. I have found out the cause. His mother expresses the hope that he will be tho first to convey her good wishes. So I think he meant to try to bring tho rope himself. Dad knew It and Mr. Pyue. That Is why they did not tell us." Constance gathered her letters into a heap. The tiny pang of Jealousy which thrilled her had gone. "Eighty-one hungry mouths expect to be tilled to repletion tonight," she said. "No more gossip. What curious crea tures women are! Our own affairs are sulllclently engrossing without endeav orlng to pry Into Mr. Pyue's." "Connie, don't press your lips so tightly. Yon are Just dying to kuow what upset him. But, mark my words, It bud nothing to do with any other woman." Wherein Enid was completely mis taken; sho would never commit a greater error of Judgment during tho rest of her days. When Pyno quitted the kitchen his Intent was to reach Brand without de lay. As he passed Mrs. Vanslttart's bedroom he paused. Something bad delighted him Immeasurably once tho first shock of the Intelligence had passed. Ho seemed to be Irresolute In his mind, for ho waited sonic time on tho landing before he knocked at the door and asked if Mrs. Vanslttart would come and speak to him. "Are you alone?" sho demanded, re maining Invisible. "Yes," ho said. I Then sho appeared, with that bor rowed shawl still closely wrapped over head and face. "What Is It?" sho said wearily. "You have had a letter from my uncle?" "Yes, a charming letter, but I cannot understand it. He says that some very important and amazing event will de tain him hi Penzance nfter we reach the place. He goes on but I will read It to you. I urn quite bewildered." Sho took a letter from her pocket and searched through Its contents until sho found n paragraph. She was about to read it aloud when some one came down the stairs. It was one of tho of ficers, yet Mrs. Vanslttart was so Hur ried that she dropped the sheet of pa per and bent to pick it up before Pyno could Intervene. "Oh, bother!" sho cried. "I am dread fully nervous, even now that wo are In no further peril. This is what I wish you to hear." And she read: Nothing but tho most amazing and un looUcd for circumstances would causo mo to ask you to postpono tho date of our marrinjjo for at least a month nftor you reach shore. This Is not the tlmo nor uro your present surroundings tho place for telling you why I mako this request. Sufllco it to Bay that I think Indeed, I am sure a great happiness has como Into my life, a happiness which you, as my wife soon to be, will sharo. Tho American, whllo Mrs. Vanslttart was intent on her oxcerpts from his uncle's letter, studied all that was visi ble of her face. That which be snw mere puzzled hail. . v had i no more than others, so he woi. tivi 1 why she wore such an air of tic I melancholy. Throughout the lighthouse gloom was dispelled. The sick became well, the lethargic beean lively. Hven the tipplers of methylated spirits, dead ly 111 before, bad worked like Trojans at the rope, as eager to rehabilitate their shattered character as to hind the much needed stores. What trouble had befallen this wo man, sa gracious, bo facile, so worship ful In her charm of manner and utter ance during the yearH he had known her, that she remained listless when all about her was life and Joyanee, she, the cynosure of many eyes bv her cos tumes and graceful carriage, cowering from recognition? Here was a mys tery, though she bad repudiated the word, and a mystery which, thus far, defeated bis subconscious efforts at so lution. She lifted her eyes to his. Her ex pression was forlorn, compelling pity by it.- utter desolation. "What docs be mean?'' she asked plaintively. "Why has he not spoken clearly? Can you tell me what It Is, this great happiness which has entered ko strangely Into his life and mine?" "I have never met any man who knew exactly what lie meant to say and exactly how to say It better than Cyrus J" said Pyue. "But he has written to you surely. Does he give no hint?" "Ills letter Is a very short one. To be candid, 1 have hardly made myself acquainted with its contents as yet." "You are fencing with me. You kuow, and you will not tell." Her mood changed so rapidly that Pyno was not wholly prepared for the attack. "It Is a good rule," he said, "never to pretend you can handle another man's affairs better than he can handle them himself." He met her kindling glance ilrtnly. The anger that scintillated In her eyes almost found utterance, but this clever woman of the world felt that nothing would be gained, perhaps a great deal lost, by any open display of temper. Shu laughed scornfully. "Mr. Traill Is certainly tho best Judge of those worthy of his confi dence. Excuse me If I spoke heatedly. Let matters remain where they were." "Just a word, Mrs. Vanslttart. My uncle has written you fairly and squarely. Ho has not denied you his confidence. If I understood you, he has promised it to the fullest extent." "Yes, that is true." "Then what aro wo quarreling about?" He laughed In his careless way to put her ut her ease. Sho frowned med itatively. She who could smllo in such a dazzliug fashion had lost her art of late. "You are right," sho said slowly. "I am Just a hysterical woman, starting at shadows, making mountains out of molehills. Korglvo me." As Pyno went on up tho stairs his reflections took this shape: "The old man shied at telling her outright. I wonder why. He is chock lull of. tact, the smoothest old boy I over fell up ugalnst. He thinks there juay have been little troubles here, per haps. Well, I guess he's right." In tho service room he found Brand cleaning n lamp calmly and methodic ally. All tho stores had been carried downstairs and tho storeroom key giv en over to the purser. "I am glad you have turned up," said the lighthouse keeper. "Oblige me by opening that locker and taking back the articles I purloined recently. If the purser asks for nu explanation, tell him the truth and say I am willing to eat this stuff now for my sins." Pyno noticed that Brand's own let ters lay in a small pile on tho writing desk. With two exceptions, they were unopened. As a matter of fact, ho had glanced at tho superscriptions, saw that they were nearly nil from stran gers and laid them aside until night fell and the lighting of tho lamps would give him a spare moment. "I'll do that with pleasure," snld the American, "but there's .ono thing I want to discuss with you whllo there ,b a chance of being nlone. My uucl says ho has written to you." "To mo?" "Yes. It deals with an important matter too. It concerns Enid." "Mr. Traill has written to me about Enid?' repeated Braud, stopping his lndusttlous polishing to see If Pyno were Joking with him. "That's so. See; hero Is his letter. It will tell Its own Btory. Guess you'd better road It right away." Tho young man picked up ono of tho sealed letters on tho tablo and hauded It to tho other. Setting aside a glass chimney and a wash leather, Brand lost no time in reading Mr. Traill's communication. Save that his lips tightened and his face paled slightly, there was no out ward indication of tho tumult tho writ ton words must have created in his soul, for this is what met his aston ished vision: Dear Mr. Brand I hopo soon to mako your acquaintance It will bo an honor to meet a man who has done so much for those near and dear to me, but there Is I ono reason why I am anxious to grasp 1 your hand which Is so utterly boyond 1 your present Unowlcdgo that I deem It a duty to tell you tho facts to prepare you, In a word. Circumstances have thrown mo Into tho company of .Lieutenant Stanhope. Wo r Fall and DHDEgWEflg Infants' all-wool Vests, button down front, all sizes 2 for 75c Infants' all-wool Rubens Vests, No. i Rising 5c per size Children1!! separate Cotton Garments with llfece back, size 16 at 12 Ac 2 i-2c rise per size Children's Cotton Garments, extra heavy fleece, size iS at iSc Rise .c on each size Union Suits in Cotton at 25c 50c, 60c and 75c Union Suits in Wool at $1 00 Ladies' separate Garments at 25c, 50c Ladies' separate Garments, extra large sizes, at 50c Ladies' Union Suits at 75c, $1.00, $1.25 YARNS! Our stock of Tarns was never so complete in colors and qual ity. Prices the lowest. INFANTS' WOOL HOSE at 15c and 25c CH I LDREN'S;,WOOL HOSE at. . . 15c, 25c, 30c LADIES' WOOL HOSE at 25c, 3c, 40c r. NEWHOUSE, m Dry Goods, Laces had n "kindred inspiration. TIo, T under stand, is, In effect if not In actual recorded fact, tho accepted suitor of your ndopted daughter, known as Miss Enid Trovllllon. I, although an older man, enn Bharo hla feelings, because I am engaged to bo married to Mm. Vanslttart, a lady whom you have, by God's help, rescued. Ilcnco Mr. Stanhopo and I have almost lived to gether, ashoro and afloat, during these troubled days. Naturally, ho spoke of tho girl ho loves and told mo something of her history. Ho described tho brooch found on her clothing, nnd a Mr. Jones, retired from tho lighthouse service, who was present when you saved tho child from speedy death, Informs mo that her linen was marked "E. T." These facts, combined with tho date nnd Mr. Jones' description of tho damaged boat, lead mo to bellovo that tho girl Is my own daughter, Edith Traill, whom you havo mercifully preserved to gladden tho eyes of a father who mourned her death and tho death of her mother for nineteen years. I can say no more at present. I am not making Inferences not Justified In other ways; nor am I setting up a father's claim to rob you of tho affections of a beautiful and accomplished daughter. I will bo content more than content If she can glvo to mo a tltho of tho lovo sho owes to you. for. Indeed. In Mr. Stan- ' hopo and In all others who know you, you havo eloquent witnesses. Yours most Blncerely, CYRUS J. TRAILL. P. S. Let mo odd us an afterthought that only my nephew and you havo re ceived this information. Tho agonized susponso which tho ladles must havo en dured on tho rock Is a trial moro than sufficient to tax their powers. If, as I expect, Mr. Stanhopo meets you first, ho will bo guldod wholly by your advlco as to whether or not the matter shall bo mado known to your Enid to my Edith beforo sho lands. Brnud dropped tho letter nnd placed his hands over his fuce. Ho yielded for an Instant to tho stupor of tho in telligence. Pyno came near to him and said, with an odd despondency in his voice: "Say, you feel bad about this. Guess you'll hate our family In future." "Why should I hate nny one who brings rank and fortune to ono of my littlo girls?" ( "Well," went on Pyno anxiously, "she'll be Mrs. Stanhope, anyhow, be foro she's much older." ' "That appears to bo settled. All things have worked out for tho best Most certainly your excellent uncle and I shall not fall out about Enid. If it comes to that wo must sharo her as a daughter." Pyno brightened considerably us ho learned how Brand had taken the blow. "Oh, bully 1" ho cried. "That's a clear n (flinter 40c 40c and Embroideries ft "Say, you fed bad about this." way our. uo you Know, l was Begin ning to feel scared. I didn't count a little bit on my respected unclo setting up a title to Enid!" CHAPTER XVI. HEY wero Interrupted. Elsie, with her golden hair and big bluo eyes, pink, cheeks and parted lips, appeared on tho ffl stairs, head. All that was visible was her Sho looked like one of Murlllo's angels. "Please, can Mamie 'n' me see tho man?" she asked, a trifle awed. Sho did not expect to encounter a stern faced ofllcinl in uniform. "What man, dearie?" ho said, and Instantly tho child gained confidence, with that prompt abandonment to a favorable first impression which marks ( tho exceeding wisdom of children nn-1 dogs. Sho directed an encouraging sotto voco down tho stairs:. TO BE CONTINTJID. Te Cure fold all ti t fit v. Take Lnxntivo Bromo quinine tab. lets. Drutrglsti refund monoy If it fails to ourn. E. W. Grove's signature i is on each box. 25 cents. i I SI : I I .. I im m ,i ' w I "i; ... ' ?; ii fi i3l I. T,. I'ltl it I I- m f )ii ht "7W : "wv - KK,