The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-10
TIE LIGHTHOUSE AT AVoNDALE.

From Peterson's Magazine]
A wet east wind was blowing across
the moor, that stretched eastward from
Merideth House. A wet wind, that blew
nobody good, but was full Of miasma. and
heavy with the odor Of decaying nature.
l sat by the window and looked out upon
the dreary autumn landscape, almost
hidden now by the shadows of the dreary
autumn cleaning.
Mamma moved the lamp upon the
table, so that its rays fell upon the win
dow near which was sitting. and out
upon the gravel walk beyond, lighting q
small space with the radiance of day. I
gazed out listlessly. A figure came out
from the dark shadows, into the lighted
space. The erect figure of a man, and he
stood, motionless, looking up at the win
dow, the blaze Of light falling upon his
handsome, daring face. l bit my lips to
keep back scream, and my heart thump-
ed so loudly feared mamma would hear
it. The man outside smiled, and made
gesture which signified "Come out"
But turned my face away, determined
not to betray my knowledge of his pres.
ence. Why did he haunt me so, when
he knew how i had determined to forget
him-when he knew how absolutely nee
essarY it was that / should put all
thong hts Of him out of my mind, now and
forever.
"Mamma's voice broke the oppressive
silence. II hope this is not the forerun-
ner Of the equinoctial Storm she said,
s'but I almost fear it is. It will be an
unsafe time for ships to cross the lake, if
the st6rm comes on with it's usual force.
Rollin will be here Thursday night, he
wrote, and this is Saturday. I hope the
storm will blow over in a day or two. I
should not like to have your wedding
postponed on any account. 1t is an evil
omen.'
"My wedding!' - yes, I was to be mar
ried the following Friday to Rollin
= Weatherbee, heir of the Weatherbee es-
tates, and the Weatherbee pride and
blonde beauty. l had been engaged to
him two years, and all that time it had
been understood that should wed him
on my eighteenth birthday, and the day
drew very near. I had loved him very
dearly, thought, and was very proud OF
him. But three months ago, few
months after our arrival at the Merideth
House, where we had come to remain
until after the wedding, met with lit
tie adventure, which had altered the
whole matter, so far as l was concerned
and put my foolish young heart in tu
multi. was out for a gallop, on my pony
Sinbad, when gale of wind came up
and my hat was blown from my head.
felt it going, and threw up both hands
Just as Sinbad, with snort, gave leap
which unseated me; and toppled over
his side, and down upon the ground, and
Law stunned for moment, while Sinbad
galloped away. was not seriously hurt
only stunned, and soon rose to my feet
and brushed my tangle Of brown hair out
of nv eyes, to see Sinbad struggling tc
free his bit from the iron grip of man.
hand. A young man, with 1.-the, erect
fieure, dressed in hunting suit, that
we'll displayed the tiger.like grace of his
person. He held the frighted animal un
til he ceased to plunge and rear, and Their
led him toward me, touching his cal
Lightly as he neared me, and looking MT
throug Oh with his dark eyes. 81 beg par
don,' he said; II saw the accident tina
bcfell you, and was just in time to catch
your Beast by the bit as he plunged by
hope you are not seriously injured
"Not at ALL answered. "Only lit
tie bruised. Thank You for saving me
two mile tramp home to find nam
ma frightened to death at the return o
Sinbad without me-:
He assisted inc into the saddle, ant
walked by my side, on toward Meridetl
House.
81 am going to see you home, unless
YOU forbid it." he said. "You may hav'
received injuries that you do not know
ond do not think it safe for you t,