The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-07-15
RIDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA, THURSDAY,

could be done-how could the danger
be averted2 Without even glance back
to the house, opened the gate and
sped toward the lake. l knew every
inch of the ground.
On went till 1 reached tlfe hut of a
| fisherman. L gave loud knock at the
door, then burst it open without waiting
to be hidden. A stalwart man and his
burly son sat over the CRATE. Both
started to their feet at the sight of my
deathly face and staring eyes. "Why,
Miss Rose-but"- L stopped them.
"For Gods sake," I cried, "come
with me The beacon at Avondale
landing has not been lighted, and the
house on the rocks is burning white
light, and the Cora Bell will be wreck
unless something is done. One of you
go TO Avondale and see why the keeper
has neglected his duty, and one of you
coma with me to the lighthouse ON the
rocks"
"With you, Miss Rose, Why
eyes, with me 1 can't stay here,
must go with you in the boat and see
that the light is put out. L 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, 1 keeping pace with
the long-limbed fisherman. Down to
the landing the young man fastened,
and up into the lighthouse, while L
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. Howslowly we went
how slowly. Would we never reach
| the rocks? And all the time that wicked,
hateful light burning into my very eye
balls. There at last The light made
the landing less dangerous than L had
thought The old man fastened the boat,
and clambered up the rocks.
" Careful, MISS" he continued,
"those rocks are wet and slippery;" but
1 reached the lighthouse, and entered
with heart so wild with fears for the
Cora Bell that 1 forgot all danger for
myself. l ran like squirrel up the
stairs, up the adder-on-up-up-t
l reached the tower. Iopened the door,
L leaped into the loft, where the lamp
cleaned and flashed its white light into
my very eyes. A man, with a dare
devil face, turned at the noise. He had
been so intently gazing through glass
out upon the waters that he had not
heardmy approach. offend - cried,
"what would you do?" and with one
bound dashed my whole force against
the lamp, shattering it in pieces, and
extinguished the baleful light. For one
moment we were left in utter darkness
and mans voice hissed "Girl, you
shall rue this. 1 have You in my power
now." I 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
| beside us. "Seize him-bind him 70 l
cried. "He will kill mel"
The burly fisherman set down his
lamp and caught the arms of
Breeze Rogers, and quick as thought
plnioned them at his back. 1 tore up
the skirt of my dress and twisted it in a
stout cord that securely fastened the
villains limbs. He scarcely moved---so
sudden had been the tisherman's attack,
so iron-lil1e his hold. "Now bring him
down." 1 said, "I will lead the way
with the lantern" He took Breeze
Rogers 1.-the, slender figure in his arms
as if it had been child's, and followed
me down the ladder. 1t was a treacher-
Gus descent, but we landed safely upon
the rocks and took our seats in the boat.
Breeze was not gagged, yet he 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 beaconhouse, reach
ing far over the waters, and knew the
Cora Bell was saved.
The strain upon my nervous system
| ho1 haan too frlant Ac rnoo1ol tho
Avondale landing L fell in dead faint,
and knew no more till woke in my
room surrounded by crowd of anxious
faces. Harwood was rubbing my hands,
mamma bathing my forehead, some
strange faces were scattered about the
room, and-Rollin, my Rollin, bent over
me, with tears in his blue eyes. When
1 was strong enough they told me all.
How I had been brought back by the
! fisherman, hours and hours before,
and the story of my adventure briefly
stated by him. How the. fshermans
son had found the keeper of the light
house in dead stupor, drugged sleep,
and the lamps so tampered 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 wedding 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 wasstried, convicted, and SEN
fenced to prison, where he died two
years later. Rollinknew the whole story
of my folly before 1 became his wife.
He did not censure me-since 1 had
risked my life to save his, and to atone
for my error.