Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1875-07-23

must go with you in the boat and see that
the light is put out. | am not afraid. The
night is dark but the lake is not rough.
The only danger is threatening the Cora
Bell. We must be quick"
On wehurried, keeping pace with the
long limbed fisherman. Down to the
landing the young man fastened, and up
into the lighthouse, while sprang into
the boat which the old man unlocked and,
scarcely waiting for him to seat himself,
seized an oar and rowed with all my
might How slowly we went-how slow
lyi Would we never reach the rocks?
And all the time that wicked, hateful light
burning into my very eyeballs. There at
lastl The light made the landing less
dangerous than | had thought. The old
man fastened his boat and | climbed up
the rocks.
Careful, MISS" he continued, those
rocks are wet and slippery;" but reached
the lighthouse and entered with a heart
so wild with fears for the Cora Bell that |
forgot all danger for myself / ran like a
squirrel up the stairs ND the ladder-on
-up-up-till | reached the tower. /
opened the door, | leaped into the loft,
where the lamp cleaned and flashed its
white light into my very eyes. A man
He had been so intently gazing through
had not heard my approach. "Fiend" /
cried, "what would you do?" and with
one bound I dashed my whole force
against the lamp, SCATTERING it in pieces,
and extinguished the baleful light For
one moment we were left in utter darkness
and mans voice Kissed: "Giri, you
shall rue this. | have you in my power
now" / felt his iron grip upon my wrist
and screamed outright. Then the door
burst open, the light of lantern flashed
into the tower and the burly form of the
fisherman entered and stood behind us.
"SeiZe him-bind him!' [ cried. "He
will kill me-"
The burly fisherman set down his lamp
and caught the arms of Breeze Rogers,
and quickly as thought pinioned them at
his back. / tore up the skirt of my dress
and twisted it in a stout cord that securely
fastened the villains limbs. He scarcely
moved-so sudC en- had been the fisher
mans attack, so iron-like his hold "Now
bring him down." said. " will lead the
way with the lantern" He took Breeze
Rogers 1.-the, slender figure in his arms as
if it had been childs, and followed me
down the ladder. 1t was treacherous
descent, but we landed safely upon the
rocks and took our seats in the boat.
Breeze was not gagged, yet he had said no
word-made no sound We had not
rowed half the distance back to the land
ing when, joy of joys! the light flashed
out from Avondale beacon house, reach
ing far over the waters, and l knew the
Cora Bell was saved.
The strain upon my nervous system had
been too great. AS we reached the Avon
dale landing 1 fell in dead faint and
knew no more till l woke in my room
surrounded by a crowd of anxious faces.
HARDWOOD was rubbing my hands, mamma
bathing my forehead, some strange faces
were scattered about the room, and-ROl-
lin, my Rollin, bent over me, with tears
in his blue eyes. When / was strong
enough they told me all. Howl had been
brought back by the fisherman, hours and
hours before, and the story of my advent
ure briefly stated by him. How the nsn-
ermans son had found the keeper of the
lighthouse in dead stupor, drugged
sleep, and the lamps so tempered with that
it took him full half hour to right them
and make them burn. How they did burn
at last in time to guide the Cora Bell
safely to shore and bring Rollin and the
guests in season for the morrow's bridal.
was pale bride and had to be sup
ported by my husbands arm, but it was
glad bridal for all that. We left Avon
dale, mamma, Rollin and some few of the
wedding company, that very day, and !
have never set foot there since. Breeze
Rogers was tried, convicted, and sentenced
to prison, where he died two years later.
Rollin knew the whole story of my folly
before I became his wife. He did notcen-
sure me-since I had risked my life to
save his and to atone for my error
Doforoor,o NOnn1Sop