St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-09-20
The kgHthOuse Keeper.
4 STORY OF LOVE. MURDER, AND WOMAN )
FORGIVENESS.

shore: on IA rect OF rocks which was en-
trely covered by the sea at high water.
and barely visible even at low water, ex-
cept during the spring tides. 1t was a
rude old wooden structure, which shook
and ratified trightfuily whenever there
was any SEA.
OF this lighthouse | was the tead-
keeper, having subordinate to assist me
IN the duties. There was only two of
us, the rule which now prevails in the
service that there shall always be three
men not being then in force. had been
10 sea IN my youth. and had managed,
during my wanderings, to pick up an
amount OF education very rare in Hun
cilit. Owing to this, AMI some little in
tcrcst | possessed, | found no difficulty.
soon after my return to my native place.
III obtaining the Situatlon-the office of
. keeper being vacant about the time. /
had Iotcred about lIunclitf for some
months. however, before the vacancy oc-
CURED, doing odd jobs for the squire of a
ncI9hborlng inland village. During that
time had somehow fallen violently in
love with Lucy Wilson, the daughter of
the Old lmnkccpcr, for whom all the
Young men of the place We're signing.
but who, on the strength of what her
father called gentecI brincng-up.
thought herself, We all believed. far above
any llunclltf' swain. Lucy had the sun
lest of hair and light blue laughing ewes.
and the Sea-breczcs of lIuncliti' were rap
idly drivim" from her checks the paIlor
which had settled there during her resi-
dence at a boardingSchooI in manufact-
urlng town some miles from us Iiremem-
btred Lucy well as curlv-headed baby.
and coming home to find her blooming
maiden, ! attempted much tenderness on
the score of old "reminiscences but
must confess. without much success. She
always wore 4 prr-Occupled look, and as
| felt sure 1t cGud not he from a liking
ior any CHE in IIuncliif., | wondered If
She had lett her heart behind her in the
care OF some fascinating visitor to the
Young ladies seminary Of her younger
DAYS.
vas very clad 70 get the situation in
the lighthouse, for | intcHicd to save
money there and knew ii would not
involve entire bami>hmcut from Lucy. for
besides my occasional holidays, her ia
ihcr supplied the lighthouse with pro-
visions. and often took Lucy oil with hin.
at h, monthly trips. Nn these occa-
sion, | had frequently accompanied them.
and seen Lucy tug at an oar, with her
bright hair blowing about her face. and
ner cheeks rosy with the exercise. in a
way very bewilderlng to 4 man with a
over feelings for the pretty sailor.
went to the lighthouse for some time
before assumed the entire management.
to learn ny duties. and partly to see how
the HE suited ne and after due proba-
ton was installed 4, headkeeper. with
4 man lltd known from his bovhood.
WHO was also native OF IIuncliff, as nv
companion ami subordinate had pre-
yiou-iy spent some time Mt a large light
hou~e-Station to gain familiar acquaint-
ancc with the various kinds Of lighting
apparatus, and everything necessary for
keeping them i'll perfect order.
Our duties At the lighthouse were not
very oncrou>, but, Of course, they had to
be performed with the order and rcoul-
Isri.y Of machinery, the first article in
the regulations i,-ued to all lighthouse
keepers running as follows You are to
light the lamps every evening at sun-Sct-
tim. and keep them constantly burning
bright and clear till -uli-ri>ing" What
ever may happen. come fair or foul
weather. aS sure rs sunset, Is the beacon
light to shine across the trackless sea. a
warning to sailors of some trcacherou>
and shifting sand-bank.
The monotony of our life was broken
Only 10y storms. and visits from oul
friends on land. 1t was trying to a man:
nerves to sit up in the watch-room immc.
iiately below the lantern during a yale
The waves seemed to leap in ANGER
against the light, which steadily shon,
to warn ships against the lurking rock
the ocean dashed against the shore witt
rcvcrbcrating thunder. and our stou
wooden beams and rafters, dovetailct
and cIamped together by massive iror
bands. ratified and shook as if the next
moment would see the whole fabri
whlrling IN the angry sea.
4 strong contrast TO such nights wcr,
the calm summer evenings. when tin
ocean stretched FOUND us for milss, dot
. ted here and there with white sails, ano
. troubled only by passing shoai OF mack
erel or putt of the summer breeze, A
such times Il little boat would put OF
. from iIuncliti, and breaking the water
INTO golden ripp;es i'll the sunset, woul'
come gently on towards our rocky home
Old Wilson and Lucy had come to brin.
Us our stock of provisions, or pay us
friendly visit. Very eagerly we watcha
the little boat come over the water, an
> ha>teDcd down to our narrow Landing
= place to make it fast, and welcome Lucy
bright face, and her fathers gool-humol
;, ed smile.
d OF course they gave US all the Hun
t" cliff news, welcome enough to men VIII
.r hNed out of the world as we did an
l. Lalr is { Lucy looked in old day
ashore, She came like an angel of ligh
u u. and beauty to our lonely dwelling out q
sea. My love increased a thousandfolc
y and ! felt sure OF winning her. So sure
i. indeed, that it was with sort of mao
'e unanimous gladness that observed no,
kind. in a certain way. She was to m
ID companion, William Gisborn. who seen
ii ed to regard her with kindly feeling
n and to watch for her coming as cagerI
1t as did myself. Lucy was frank al
:, kind to me, as, indeed, she had alwa,
r. been and, as will be seen, l mistook tn
kindness for love, and thought it certai
that she would one day bp mine