Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-16
V A l..
BIZ KTTA. W. PIERCE.

grim prospect OF low beach and black rocks,
tumble-down at-houses, and beds of rank
Fell heard the harbOr-bar wailing and moaning
like a broken heart.
deuce take it," he muttered, looking rue
fully at his polished boots, all splashed with the
salt soil of Black Beach. How came Laura
May to exile herself to such an abominable
place as this? Pom my soul, i can believe in
love working wonders, since il has brought me
here seeking her. 1 feel like Orpheus at the
gate of Hades."
He stopped short on the single, and drew
from his pocket Perfumed card, on which was
traced. in delicate hand, :" Captain Kiburn,
Lighthouse. Black Beach"
A quick smile glOrified his plain, red-bearded
face He pressed the bit of scented pasteboard
rap;urously to his lips. He could see her just
A. che stood in that dim alcove on the night of
the ball, playfully penciling the above address,
her golden hair almost brushing his cheek her
lace and silk all in a simmer, her fair face
flushed like a ssa-shell, and all around her the
music of Strauss waltzes, and the scent of hello
tropes breathing out their purple life.
Whir-r went plOver over Lutrells head. 1t
awoke him TO a vivid sense of existing realities.
He looked up and down the bleak. blurred Shore
over which the twilight was now beginning to
fall.
''COnfOund il! where is the lighthouse? and
how the devil Is one To find il in this fOg?' he
said; and thrusting Miss Mary's card back into
his pocket, he started of with tremendous
strides across the single.
HsTk! Out of the thick atmosphere, some
where near at hand. broke out that moment a
mingling with il LutIell heard the measured dip
Of oars:
..COmel breathe thou soft or plow thou hold,
Thou coming be it kind OF cold
Oh. soul Of the needless ocean wind
Little rode and little rock,
s. thou blow her iaSt Kiss from t1In nv neck,
And her memory from my minl.'
Iutrtll stopped short in his tracks.
80 Halloa!' he shouted.
No answer; but the dip OF oars grew louder.
Halloa, there, say, whoever You are!'
"Halloa YOURSELF" answered a voice from the
fog, gruffiy.
ave lost my way cried Lutrell, gazing dis
sonsolately outward, but seeing nothing Of the
rover in that impenetrable weather. where's
Captain kilburn's lighthouse-do you know?'
Dip, dip.
1.-Two miles, more or less, down the shore,
"The deuce il l.. And the tide sweeping in
like this. Can a man walk over sanJ-dunes?''
"Cant say-never tried it."
"Got a boat there?"
"what else should have?'' answered the ex-
"Oh. confound your Come out of that fog
and show YOURSELF I'm lost, 1 tell you. and
don't know a foot of your ab0minable beach.
Can't you take me aboard?'
A rattle OF oars in the row-locks. As Lutrell
stood gazing anxiously seward, boat-darted
out Of the dense fog, and grated against the
traveller amid the wilds OF Black Beach.
Itwas a crazy old wherry, occupied by single
Tsh ssaTei handkeHeSief under hsr chin
She made piece OF costly color fit for Rem
brandt's pencil. Her face WAS like Florentine
red. wicked mouth; and wild black hair lowing
in confusion from under that bright head-gear.
''You can come into the boat IL sou like" she
stood there on the single, pulling his red beard
and staring at her in amazement- Z" am going
over to the light"
weIl-realIy-bless nv soul?'' s.ammered
LutreII Mot If it will Inconvenience YOU. I
beg thousand pardons; didn't suppose 1 was
addressing lady,
black eyes. take that seat opposite, and be
quick about il, I've no time to lose."-
Lutren leaped for the whcrry, missed it, and
sprawled like an enormous crab across the gun
vale. The giri seized him by the shoulders.
and dragged him over.
There! sit down and keep quiet" she said,
sharply; ''the boats ticklish a tight-rope.'
on they shot into the dense fog. Lutreli sat
staring at her-at the rich, glowing face; at the
small plant figure; at the round, dark arms,
and 50 beautiful that he ached to bite them.
How, may ask, are you going to make the
light in this mush?" said he. "Shall not take
the oars?'
She glanced AT his elegant hands-about the
only sign OF gentle blood the awkward, red
haired fellow possessed.
"NO-thanks. know the way with closed
eyes. Are you expected over there?"
well, yes, answered Lutren sheepishly;
"Ithink am"
"Who expects you. pray?n
81 have friend boarding with the Kilburns-
Miss May, from New York"
.Ah, indeed" said she Of the eyes. "Your
Dsme?"
Jack Lutrell-a at your service. And yours?''
The spray few from the oars over the boats
side.
.The-schafs" cried Lutrell, thinking he could
not possibly have heard Alright.
The lighthouse keeper"
sob, but that's jesti"
90 do not tnd il SOL" she answered, with a
sbrug.
GOOD Lord" burst out Lutrel; "do YOU
mean to tell me that you, gJrl, tend the lamp
and all that sort Of thing? Who, then, is Cap
tain kiiburn?"
"My father" she replied, with bright
scorniul eyes-''a psralytic, confined TO his
chair. Certainly tend the lamp, and all that
sort of thing, and a great deal more. Nothing
well" said Lutrell, drily, .sit's according to
how You look at it. L didn't suppose women
ever did such things"
Not those whom you are accustomed to meet
j dare say" she answered, and then relapsed
on went the boat through the fog. propelled
by long, steady, practiced strokes. Suddenly a
black object grew out OF the dimneSs and dark
ness ahead IL was a beetling mass OF barren
rock. On its tarthiest point rose a tall white
tower, from the base of which an iron railing
stretched out TO a low, wbitewashed cottage
This latter stood facing the sea, with a few
dwarfed shrubs and eyergreens growing around
Alta aight Of rough steps leading up from the
waters edge, Val drew up the OLD boat, and mo-
toned her companion TO ct out
This is the place." She said; ego in and
make yourself comfortable. Miss May went
sailing this Afternoon, and doubt if she is yet
back
Lutrelrs face fell
sailing" he echoed a. where?-with whom
In this weather? Great Heaven! isn't i. dan
gerous?"
"a think not" answered the dark girl who
kept the light; ''Mr. DAVIS seems quite at home
in a boat.
Lutren grew raging red, then pale.
81 beg your pardon-Daws? Not Arthur
DAVIS. the srtist?-surely hes not here?"
a. The same!" she answered, drily.
lie turned and mOuntsd the steps; then, re-
Wondering himself, stopped short, and looked
back
"Greatly obliged, I'm sure, for the row
Shznt cary up your oars, or something
She stood erect in the boat, the water drip
ping in a thousand crystals from her oar-blades
her handsome face uytaraed, the grand black
EYES following his ascent OF the rocks
"a face for which another Antony might for
feit-a world" muttered Lutrell. p" 1 wonder
how she and my Lady Laura get on together
here?"
In a nom overlooking the sea, and brightenet
by q drift-wood fire, he sat down TO await Laurs
MAYS coming The door WAS white as beach