Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-03-12

don't count Mlt u~uiAlthiulness. no yoni
M" replied, for lem morrteA, toO,''
$50 ss--
ATALE Of THE PACIFIC COAST.
1t was near The Eve of Christ
mas.
Dark fantastic clouds developed
the western horizon. Darker and
darker they became as the north
western breeze arose, and soon the
veil OF night envelOped land and
sea, and nothing could be seen ex-
cept the phosphoFescent sheen OF
the foam.crested waves, over
which shone the beacon light OF
Point 81. IsabeIle. Sometimes the
wind drove the clouds asuhder,
and the moon became viSible,
shedding a food Of gorgeous light
over the dRshing waves, and seem.
ing TO battle the shore and light
house IN a halo Of glory, aud light
ing up the hull, spars and sails OF u
bFigAntine that tossed upon the
waves, not many miles from shore,
The next moment another darker
bank Of clouds advanced and again
nothing would be visible but the
sheen Of the waves and the steady
beacon Of the lighthouse,
Harkl Distinctly the boom Of d
gun Gould bo heard above the roaI
Of waters. ...T ,....s t.e .
A minute after another aud an.
other hoom came over the waves.
IthRas the call for help Of d vessel
IN distress. .,
Two men stood before the door
Of the lighthouse. They wefe gaz-
Ing towSrdsA lickering light that
was ascending the path, borne ~
the hands of a woman.
sits Dora Graytbn. Poor wo'
man size In looking for her hps'
band. What shall we tell herr
asked the lighthouse keeper, taking
his night glass from his eyes.
"IUlli her, ans weredfhs other "a
rouGhsy weattear.beatep fisherman,
"lell her he's gone down, boat and
gov .p ~ n
"You can't tell her that Besides
you are not sure that his boat hasn't
weathered the gale. You did well
to make for the shore before night
hut GraytOn was further out than
you. The last saw before it got
too dark was his boat near the
brigantine."
"P'raps he got aboard OF her
p'raps not, for a boat can't live ten
Imlnutes In such q sea" cried the
fisherman, pointing with his hand
to the huge waves that Numbered
against the shore over which they
broke, throwing the spray for in
land.
"My-husband-my husband
have you seen him ? painted the wo.
man, US she rushed past the two
men into the shelter Of the arched
doorway.
A bowling gust Of wind swept
around the corners Of the light
house drowned the answer Of the
fisherman. She grasped his arm
aud again demanded the Wherea.
bouts VI her husband.
"He hasn't come In. guess he's
aboard the brigintinel answered
the man.
"What vessel fred the guns? in.
qulred Dora.
"Well, l guess It was the brigan.
tine" cried the lighthouse keeper
"Seel she's sending up signal rock.
etsl" he shouted o moment after.
Again q lurid light Illuminated
the wild scene; II was the second
rocket-another call for help from
the vessel.
"If she's firing another rocket
she's on the bank or on the rocks.
1t matters little which way she
goes down." shouted the fisher
man.
The next moment he rushed
down the path to the shore, for a
third rocket had been fired.
"Take my Child-take my child
Il must save my husband y
screamed Dora, pushing a bundle
into the hands Of the lighthouse
keeper.
"Stopl stop!" cried he, but she
had already vanished from his
sight.
with a double shake Of his head
the keeper entered the kitchen
where he found his wife, into
whose charge he gave the bundle.
"Poor babe, only sir months old
and already fathcrless! !" exclaimed
the kind woman, unrOlling the
large shawl in which was wrapped
a sleeping child.
at ls a pity, sure enough" SYM
Dathised the kind hearted keeper.
'IG," added he aftera short pause,
"the old man had have relented
and taken the couple to his house,
Charlie GRAFTON would never have
become o fisherman"
"DOra loved him, aud told The
old man that she'd rather drown
hersolf than marry the rich fellow.
And the old man saids "DO 50,
You can do as you like. II you