Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1874-02-09
Whitledge Lighthouse,
by e. W

n1CleuSo AhSnI.nOuSeI
BY E.w.
Twilight settling darkly down on the iush
OF whiie-capped waters around the lighthouse
base-twilight over the rocky shOres-tw wilkht
folding the tar away land in It's gray mantk-
and sitting by the little silt of u window ,my
chin resting on my hand, looking out over the
darkness and desolaiion Of the waving world
Of waters. was alone, but minded i Ipt a
whit. was used to that, and 1t was such sweet
peace.
Father was away for two days and Two
nights, but | felt myself fully competent to
manage the lights.-I had dons II ofteu, and
there was sense of human cOmpanionship In
the idea uf all The eyes that were turning In
the darkness, TO the red beacon-star Of the
Whitledge Lighthouse.
SO stayed all night, with the light shining
beside me, sleeping sometimes on the settee,
where had laid blanket aud pair OF pill
lows, sometimes lying awake to listen to the
rocking lullaby OF the tides.
AT sunrise l extinguished the lights, anil bus
led IN, sell, singing at my work, with cleaning
the glasses, trimming the wicks, aud rsplenish-
ing the great receivers with oil; and what with
one thing and another was pretty well Occu-
pied till noou.
Then as CHANGED to look out towards the
point Of land, | saw a white flag fuLtering
from the tall pole among the rocks, the sigma
father and had agreed on ia case of amy help
needed.
My heart stopped beating, aud then gave a
great jump again. What did that signal
| mean?
luvounlarly caught my hat and shawl
from the pegs against the door, and then laid
| them downagaln despairingly. How could
leave the lighthouse all alone?
But II my father was ill-in trouble-uaece
me? knew how To manage the little boat as
well rs any Grace Darling that ever figured IN
romance or real life. | could easily pull to
shore in half all hour, in the present state Of
the tides, anu there was no need OF lights fol
| six hours to come. And without stopping tC
/ argue the matter farther rushed down stairs
loosened the boat from its hooks, aud wa.
& uoae9 @ yaSs Away yteI., iG9m ths h r4Stsa
| fixed on the lntter Of the white flag, amt
pulled long, resolute strokes as II had
been IA man.
As drew nearer shore, / could discern fig
uies grouped round the rocky point, and m,
heart sickened within me- with the apprehen
SION of some overshadOwing calamity.
But they were only girls, as presently per
cclved-Adam Stokes daughters, from the olt
ia n-house under tue hill, who gathered abou
me as sprang ashore, with dimpling laughte
and eyes ufmerry mischief.
II knew we should bring you, Lizzie,
said Ellen Stokes. 81 knew what th'
sigual was"
1 gazed from one to the other, with whit
lips.
"ls anything the matter?'
"No; what should be the matter9"
Father? Where is hep"
"At tile lighthouse, ISN'T hef" said Il lie
laughing, we don't know anything about hiu
poiuled with trembling fingers at the ,whlt
flag.
What does that mean?"
| Al a.. ,,...tt t..
zie, chiId-about Kate's wedding dresses, ye
know-and here you are. So come up 10 III
house as fast as you can"
drew long sigh OF relief.
But you shouldn't have signaled me o
girls. am all alone theie,"I said, reproac
fully.
Nv hat theu?" sauci!y flashed out Miriar
the youngest and prettiest Of the three. "rl
ighl-house will take care Of itself by bros
daylight, fancy, and you will be back long b
l. isie dark. There, now, don't look arrow
;, lightnngs ont If those dark eyes!' she laughe
d Its all Lawrence's fault, he told us the Sign
' Aud we did want you so much"
p at was wrong, Miriam" said. "l must
'r back at once"
-, "When you have looked a, tho dresses. l.
e, zie, and not BEFORE" said she, casping both |
as hands resolutely III hers. "Come; II wo
=, take half minute"
And half vexed with myself, aud who
- with them, yielded.
1t was quite True what she said. II wo,
take int but short time 10 90 down To
farm house, and look at Kate's things, AMI
had a wuman's natural curiosity about 81
N | matters.
1t wanted good three hours before dusk
lad been prlsoned more than week in
rms octagonal walls OF the lighthouse and 81
cry yielded.
no no Tie girls took me back with them in trium
l 1 lac, wall bay a
in hearted, merry girls, with no harm in tn
M uo but had always managed to evade thir brot
.tk- Lawrence since that time among the PHI
i'm when told him could never be his wife.
1t "l.et us forget it'll had pleaded, "as Il
!, - 81 had never been"
s,s, But tins afternoon, as | met the sidel
Ia IA glance Of the mans small, slit-llke eyes, l
ters ,s ognized a something in then shine That IL
''' ME uneasy.
tho 81 must get back to the lighthouses s
lres starting up before | had fairly seen all
har' ! gauds and gewgaws prepared for Kate ST.
lila, wedding.
fore alt is not very ate,' smoothly urged
49,, renee.
W' Ro'' "sut it is late, and must CO."
II lie put OH his hat, and walked with mi
the points OF rocks. But when we got to
jagged stone over which had cast my IL
ing line, only piece of rope remained.
boat had got loose and hoated away.
tufHeu Will HiSuteHcu looh 10 la
renee.
"Brng your boat round here, Lawrenc
~ For the love Of Heaven, do. See those h
clouds darkeniug around the sunset; it wi
ITS, dusk before we know IT,"
lie looked at me with an odd smile.
son one couliliop, Lizzie"
Il, "ls this time for conditonsf Look at
lighthouse, untenanted aud solitary. L
O7 what may happen, if"
/ stopped, my throat too full for utters
- as the certainty flashed across my mind
Lawrence Stokes hand had loosed my boa
5 In il adrft.
"lhzLe, you know what have most ut
ia this world. Promise me- that, and W
Gar, ! everything for you. If not, why, this n
s"StT smTtT work willlo your father bis place as
ns house keeper"
IS, Lawrence, you-would not be so bas'
p,ps 81 have told you the alternative,
-"- YOU have only 10 decide" he answered int
dys, entity.
thing "Never!"