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

r. The days that followed were damp and
chill, with mist and wet east winds. 1, But
the dreaded storm did not come on.
Each night went to rest with heart
iuaa OF anxious fear each laorning Iarose
thankful to fint only wet winds and SOM
bre clouds. Thursday morning came,
gray, 'ccld,Y chill, like the ones Chat had
preceded its Thursday night the ship
Cora Bell was expected. and by, that ship
Rolfn Wcatherbee would come to me.
I1was restless and uneasy all the long
gay. No glinmer of sunrise lighted the
dull gray skies. A damp, mist fell, and
Tthe bold east wind blew over the moor.
| BY night I was almost hysterical. and my
heart. was like lead in my breast. "A
wan.!accd bride yen be, if ye dinna
brighten upa bit,'' HARDWOOD said to me,
and did s-'ot,wondcr as caught sight Of
my dead white face in the mirror. .<rn,
The evening came on dark and desolate.
No moon, no stars, only d gray sky,
varied here and there with dense black.
Clouds | could not stay in the house.
1t seemed like prison to me,, and, seiz-
ing cloak, I threw the hood over my
head, and the cape over my shoulders,
and walked down the avenue, and lean.
ing on the stone pillars Of the gate, look.
ed out toward the lake. Suddenl y'some-
thing caught my eye; it was ! bright
light, high up in the air. "Alight house,
OF course said mentally. ''but why
have never seen it before? That is not
the lighthouse that directs ships to
Avondale landing, for the landing is
exactly opposite Merideth house, have
seen the light night after night from my
chamber Window turned my eyes in
the direction of the landing. 1t was as
dark as pitch. But off to the lett, full
half mile, shone that brilliant light.
Suddenly a thought struck me. my
God, it is the lighthouse on the rocks r.
| cried, and my heart seemed to stand
still. remembered that had been out
there once in my boat. An old fisher:
man sitting on the rocks, and dropping
his line in the water, had answered my
queries concerning the lighthouse. It 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 safely to the landing. But this
is lighted sometimes to show where the
danger lies, if the night is Ger danger.
ous.'
His words all came back to me now
with dreadfa distinctness. The light
seemed to burn into my very cy e. balls
the light that shone clear and bright, not
the red signal Of danger-high on the
cruel ROCKS. Quick as lightning it all
flashed through my mind. Some one had
lighted the lamp to wreck the Cora Bell
upon tho rocks. Who could that some
one be but Breeze Rogers! He knew
Rollin Weatherbee was coming t. me on
that ship, and he was fend enough to
wreck a hundred lives for the sake ofkill-
ing one man. What could be done-how
could the danger be averted? Without
even glance back at the house. opened
the gate and sped toward the lake.
knew every inch Of the ground.
On went till l reached the hut of a
fisherman. gave loud knock at the
door, then burst it open without waiting
to be hidden. A stalwart man and his
son sat over the CRATE. Both started to
their feet at the sight of my deadly face
and starting eyes. "Why, Miss Rose
but" I stopped them.
"For Gods sake" cried. scome with
me! The beacon 1t Avondale landing has
not yet 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 go to
Avondale, and see why the keeper ha.
neglected his duty, and one of you come
with me to the lighthouse on the rocks
''With you, Miss Rose, Why
Eyes, with me! can't stay here.
must 60 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 threat
ening the Cora Bell. We must b.
quick
On We hurried, keeping pace with thu
long.legged fisherman. Down to the
landing the young man fastened, and W
into the lighthouse while sprang into
the boat which the old man unlocked
and scarcely waiting for him to seat him
self. seized an oar and rowed with all my
might. How slowly We went--how slow
~. Would we never reach the rocks
And all the time that wicked, hateful
4 light shining into my very eye-balls
There at last! The light made the land
ing less dangerous than 1 had thought
The old man fastened his boat and
clambered up the rocks.
"Careful, Miss he continued, "those
rocks are wet and slippery; but reach
ed tic lighthouse, and entered with 9
heart so weak with fears for the Cora
Bell, that forgot all danger for myself
ran like squirrel up stairs, up the lad
dcr--ons up-up-till I reached The
tower. opened the door, leaped into
/ the loft where the lamp cleaned anc