The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-06-25

of it, and she has forgiven me, will moi
you do the same, and come to me?'
He took step toward me, but l re
treated. 81 have nothing to forgive"
answered, coldly. IF she whom you SC
wronged has forgiven you, well and good
owe you no i'll will but l do not love
or respect you now, and never can"
"Rosep' he cried, ''you are cruell Oh,
come to me- and ay before it is to late.
Hush" | said, sternly. "All that
wild folly is past, and forever. shall be
the wife of Rollin Weatherbee next week
at this time, and far from here. The
wife of the only man ever loved. That
mad fancy | conceived for You died as
suddenly as it sprang to life. and can
never live again. Go away now and
leave me- Goodnight and goodbye"
| sped back into the house, and locked
the door behind me, leaving him alone in
| the darkness. l found mamma had fall
en- to sleep in her chair by the stove, and
was relieved that l would thus be spared
answering any questions.
The wind blew colder and harsher
across the moorlands. A dreary rain be.
gan to fall, and the night settled down,
desolate and lonely. Meredith House
was oppressively quiet, and my heart was
full Of sad torebodings. What if the
! dreadful autumnal storms should come
on, Just alter Rollin embarked for Avon
dale! What if his ship went down in the
waters of the lake, and he never came to
me? Would it not be just punishment
for my wild folly? Had I not been I'M
true to him in thought and almost brok.
en- my vows, and fled with another, and
that other base-hearted, unprinciple
villain? Had not let his kisses fall on
my lips, aud listened to his words of love?
Oh! ! was aShamcd-ashamed; and hid
my face in my hands, praying God to for
give me, and send Rollin to me in safety.
The days that followed were damp and
chill, with mist and wet east winds.
But the dreaded storm did not come on.
| Eight nights ! went to rest with u heart
full of anxious fear; each morning | arose,
thankful to find only wet winds and SOM
bre skies. Thursday morning came,
| grey, cold, chill, like the ones that had
preceded it. Thursday night the ship
Cora Bell was expected, and by that ship
| ROllin Weatherbee would come to me.
! was restless and uneasy ali the long
! day No glimmer of sunshine lighted
the dull, gray skies. A damp mist fell,
and the cold east wind blew over the
moor. By night | was almost hysterical,
| and my heart was like lead in my breast.
"a wan faced bride yell be, if we dinna
brighten up bit Harwood said to me,
and did not wonder as | caught sight of
my dead white face in the mirror.
The evening came on dark ana desc
late. No moon, no stars, only gray sky,
varied here and there with dense black
clouds. | could not stay in the house. 1t
seemed like prison to me- and selling a
cloak | threw the hood over my head, the
cape over my shoulders. and walked
down the avenue and leaning on the
stone pillars OF the gate looked out toward
the lake. Suddenly something caught
my eye; it was bright light, high up in
| theair. "a lighthouse ofcOurse," | said,
mentally, but why have | never seen it
before2 That is not the light house that
directs ships to Avondale landing, for the
landing is exactly opposite Meredith
House. have seen the light night after
night from my chamber window" !
turned my eyes in the direction of the
landing. 1t was dark as pitch. But off
to the left, full half mile, shone that
brilliant light. Suddenly thought
| struck me. any God, it is the light
house on the rocksr / cried and my
heart seemed to stand still. | remem-
bered that | had been out there once, in
my boat An old fisherman, sitting on
the rocks, and dropping his line in the
water, had answered my queries concern
ing the lighthouse at is where the red
/ light Is hoisted OF very stormy night,
he said. "Not often used, Miss, for the
/ beacon at Avondale guides the ships safe
to the landing. But this is lighted some
times to show where the danger lies, if the
night is DER dangerous
His words all came back to me now,
with dreadful distInctness. The light
seemed to burn INTO my very eye-b balls
the light that shone clear and white-not
the red signal of danger high up on the
cruel rocks. Quick rs lightning it all
flashed through my mind. Some one had
lighted the lamp. 10 wreck the Cora Bell
upon tie rocks. Who could that some
one be but Breeze Rogers. He knew
Rollin Weatherbee was coming to me on
that ship, and he was fend enough to
wreck one hundred lives, for the sake Of
killing one man. What could be done
how could the danger be averted?
Without even glance back to the house,
| opened the gate and sped toward the
lake. | knew every inch of the ground
On | went till | reached the hut of a
fisherman. gave loud knock ut the
door, then burst it open without waiting
to be hidden. A stalwart man and his
burly son sat over the gate. Both started
to their feet at the sight of my deadly
face and staring eyes. "Why, Miss Rose,
but" | stopped them.
"For Gods sake" | cried, "come with
has not been lighted, and the house on
the rocks is burning white light and
the Cora Bell will be a wreck unless
something is done. One of you 90 to
Avondale and see why the keeper has
neglected his duty, and one of you come
with me to the lighthouse on the rocks. 4"
with you, Miss Rose, why"
"Ies, with mel | cant stay here,
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 we hurried, 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
| ly. Would we meyer reach the rocks?
And all The time that wicked, hateful
light burning into my very eye-balls.
There at last! The light made the land
ing less dangerous than had thought.
The old man fastened his boat, and |
al. . h..