The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-08-05
THE LIGHT HOUSE AT AVON
DALE.

Merldeth House. A wet wind, that
blew nobody good, but was full of
miasms, and heavy with the Odor of
decaying nature. / sat by the window
and looked out upon the dreary autumn
landscape, almost hidden now by the
shadows of the dreary autumn gloam-
ing.
Mamma moved the lamp upon the
table, so that its rays fell upon the win
dow near which l was sitting, and out
upon the gravel walk beyond, lighting a
small space with the radiance of day.
/ gazed out hstlessly. A figure came
out from the dark shadows, into the
lighted space. The erect figure of a
man, and he stood, motionlcss, looking
up at the window, the blaze of light
falling upon his handsome, daring face.
! bit my lips TO keep back a scream,
and my heart thumped so loudly I feared
mamma would hear it. The man out
side smiled, and made a gesture which
signified "COme out" But / turned
my face away, determined not to betray
my knowledge of his presence. Why
did he haunt me so, when he knew how
/ had determined to forget him-when
he knew how absolutely necessary it
was that / should put all thoughts of
him out of my mind, now and forever.
Mammals voice broke the oppressive
silence. II hope this is not the fore
runner of the equinoctial storm, " she
said, "b but 1 almost fear it is. 1t Will
be an unsafe time for ships to cross the
lake, if the storm comes on with its
usual force. Rollin will be here Thurs
day night, he wrote, and this is Satur-
day. / hope the storm will blow over
in a day or two. I should not like to
account. It is an evil omen"
"My weddingl" yes, l was TO be
married the following Friday TO Rollin
Weatherbee, heir Of the Wetherbee
estates, and the Wetherbee pride and
blonde beauty. / had been engaged to
him two years, and all that time it had
been understood that 1 should we'd him
on my eighteenth birthday, and the
day drew very near. I had loved him
very dearly, I thought, and was very
proud of him. But three months ago,
"A few months after our arrival at the
Merideth House, where we had come to
remain until after the wedding, met
with n little adventure, which had
altered the whole matter, so far as was
concerned, and put my foolish young
heart in tumult. ! was ont for a gal
Top, on my pony Sinbad, when n gale of
from my head. / felt IL going, and
threw up both hands, Just as Sinbad,
with a snort, gave leap which unseated
me; and l toppled over his side, and
down upon the ground, and lay stunned
for n moment, while Sinbad gallOped
away. 1 was not seriously hurt, only
stunned, and soon rose to my feet, and
brushed my tangle of brown hair out of
my eyes, TO see Sinbad struggling to
free his bit from the iron grip of a
mans hand. A young man, with n
1.-the, erect figure, dressed in a hunting
suit, that well displayed the tiger like
grace Of his persen. He held the
frightened animal until he ceased to
plunge and rear, and then led him to-
ward me, touching his cap lightly as he
neared me, and looking me through
with his dark eyes. "I beg pardon, 4"
he said 81 saw the accident that befen
you, and was just in time to catch your
beast by the bit as he plunged by. 1
hope you are not seriously injured"
Not at all, answered. "Only a
little bruised. Thank Won for saving
mo a two-mile tramp home, to find
mamma frightened to death at the re-
turn of Sinbad without me.
He assisted me into the saddle, and
walked by my side, on toward Merideth
House.
% 1 am going to see you safe home,
unless you forbid it, " he said. You
may have received injuries that YOU do
not know of, and l do not think il safe
for yoU TO ride home alone. You are
very pale, assure you, and your hands
unsteady at the rein"
did feel nervous and weak, and was
not at all unwilling the young stranger
should walk at my side; he looked so
handsome, with his gun slung caro-
lessly over his shoulder, and his rather
reckless face turned mp to me. He
walked by my side TO the house, and,
at my urgent request, came in and re-
ceived mammals thanks for what he
had done. He bowed with princely
grace, saying" Breeze Roger, ma
dame, is highly honored in having the
opportunity to DO Won or your daUSbter
service" And tken he left MS. with
one last glance of his dark passionate
eyes.
The very next day he came back,
bringing my scarf, which was lost when
| fell from my horse. And after that
he came off and on, whenever he could
find pretext or excuse, until mamma
became annoyed at the frequency OF
ms calls and, fearing that he was not
+ utable person for an associate,
made inquiries of the man who had
taken charge OF the Merideth House all
the years we were absent. What he
- told her did not help the matter any.
Breeze Rogers, man Yes, 1 know
him, His father was old Squire
Rogers, and a fine old gentleman he
WINS, with good property that he had
amassed by hard work. But Breeze
was wild lad from the first and as
soon as he came of age he grew worse.
instead of better, and in three years
time had spent all his own property.
and then his father died, leaving him
his. That was scarpe two years ago,
but the fine estate is nigh used up with
last living, and the young man is going
10 the bad, ma'anl, as quick as he can
go. He is handsome lad, but a wild
one, and will never be a ne'er. do we'll.
fear"
And now, Rose, mamma said. after
reporting tins conversation TO me. "you
must discourage any further attentions
from this Breeze Rogers. He is no
companion for you, the betrothed of
Rollm Weatherbee. / think we have
been sufficiently kind to him for the
service he did You, and do hope the
acquaintance, or at least the familiar
footing ON which he has placed himself.
will be discontinued in the future. II
IL not proper for bride elect to be as
ISOLATED so Familiarity with a strange
Young man OF whom she knows no good
You should tell him of your approach
ing marriage, and then his attentions
would undoubtedly cease, if he has any
sense of honor whatever"
The necessity was saved me. That
very afternoon my mother took the task
upon herself. Breeze came to Merideth
House, and found me absent, gathering
MOSES. He sat down in the cool porch,
and fell to chatting, in his light, care
less, easy way, with my mother. How
u happened do not know, but mother
managed to speak of my approaching
marriage.
1t was almost dark when 1 reached
tse avenue that lod up TO the NIeridetb
House. A 1.-the figure stood LEANING
against the stone gateway, as l saunted
10y, my hands full of MOSES. Good
evening" said, gayly. "WilI Won
walk up with me ?"
He did not answer, save to step for