The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1870-01-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE CHRISTMAS NIGHT OF A FISH
ERMAN.
A TALE OF THE PACIFIC COAST

Dark fantastic clouds envelOped the
western horizon. Darker and darker
they became as the northwestern breeze
arose, and soon the veil of night envel-
oped land and sea, and nothing could be
seen except the phosphorescent sheen of
the foam crested waves, over which shone
the beacon light of Point ST. Isabelle.
Sometimes the wind drove the clouds
asunder, and the moon became visible,
shedding flood of gorgeous light over
the dashing waves, and seeming to battle
the shore and lighthouse in halo of glory,
and lighting up the hull, spars and sails
of a brigantine 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.
Hank! Distinctly the boom of gnn
could be heard above the roar of waters.
A minute after another and another
boom came over the waves. 1t was the
call tor help OF a vessel in distress.
Two men stood before the door of the
lighthouse. They were gazing towards a
Pickering light that was ascending the
path, borne in the hands of a woman.
Its Dora Grayton. Poor woman she
is looking for her husband. What shall
we tell her ?" asked the lighthouse keeper,
taking his night glass from his eyes.
Tell her." answ cred the other, q rough,
weather-beaten fisherman, tell her he's
gone down, boat and all p
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, but Grayton was fur
Their out than you. The last l saw before
it got too dark was his boat near the brig
antinel" sfy
"P'raps he got aboard Of her; p'raps
not for q boat can't live ten minutes in
such scar cried the fisherman, point
ing with his hand towards the huge
waves that Numbered against the shore
over which they broke, throwing the spray
far inland.
"My-husband-my husband | have
you seen him," painted the woman, as
she rushed passed the two men into the
shelter of the arched doorway.
A bowling gust of wind sweeping
around the corners of the lighthouse
drowned the answer of the fisherman She
grasped his arm and again demanded the
whereabouts of her husband.
He hasn't come in. / guess he's
aboard the brigantine!" answered the
man. eiE
What vessel fred the guns ," inquired
Dora.
We'll, guess it was the brigantine,"
cried the lighthouse keeper. See she s
sending up signal rockets !" he shouted
moment after.
Again lurid light Illuminated the wild
scene; 1T was the second rocket-another
call for help from the vessel.
" Ii she's firing another rocket she's on
the bank or on the rocks. 1t matters lit
tie which way she goes down" shouted
the fisherman
The next moment he rushed down the
path to the shore, for third rocket had
been fired.
Take my child-take my child
must save my husband p screamed Dora,
pushing bundle into the hands of the
lighthouse keeper. aG 3s- w. 3
Stop! stop" cried he, but she had al
ready vanished from his sight.
With a doubtful shake Of his head the
found his wife. into whose charge he gave
the bundle.
Poor babe, only six months old and
already fatherless!" exclaimed the kind
woman unrolling the large shawl in which
was wrapped a sleeping child.
lisa pity, sure enough" sympathi7ed
the kind-hearted keeper. If" added he
after short pause, "the old man had
relented and taken the couple to his house,
Charlie Grayton would never have be-
come fisherman" r,--7
Dora loved him and told the old man
that she'd rather drown herself than mar
ry the rich fellow. Ard the old man said :
DO so, you can do as you like. If you
marry the poor boatman you will never
receive cent of my wealth. If you ever
get tired OF living in a hut then come to
me-but don't bring your husband My
door will never be open for him." -e
Yes, that's SC And remember when
Dora received letter from her father in
which he begged her to return and leave
herr husband and baby. That he had
money enough to pay for thousand di-
vorces if she wanted to free herself from
the bonds Of matrimony," said the light
house keeper, who had put On his coat
and hat.
Now" he continued, "Pm off for the
cave Look out for the light and take
care of the babel" s-. .---- =.
With these words the lighthouse keeper
left tie room.
Let us follow him.
The sea was now In q perfect swirl
tossing its white capped waves, high into
the lnurky air, and the puffs Of the gale
seemed TO have increased in strength
Tie waves leaped lnadly over the rocks
tina, lined the shore aud the salt spray
flew in feathery showers over group Of
four men and one woman who were stand
ing rear the white line Of the surf.
They all gazeI seward
Again the veil Of driving clouds rent