The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-09-27
THE LIGHl-KBEPER'S DAUGHTER.

THE LIGHlH-KBEPER'S DAUGHTER. !
Twilight settled darkly down on the rush
of white-capped waters round the Lighthouse
base-twIlight over the rocky shore-twi.
| light folding the far-away land in its gray
mantel-and l sitting by the little slit of
window, my chin resting on my hand,
looking out oyer the darkness and desola-
ton of the waving world of waters. was
alone-but minded it not a whit. l was
used to that, and it was such sweet peace
and rest.
Father was away for two days and two
nights but felt myself fully competent
to manage the lights. 1 had done it often
and often, and there was a sense of human
companionship in the idea of all the eyes
that were turning, in the darkness, to the
red beacon-star of the Whitledge Light
house.
At sunrise extinguished the lights and
busted myself, singing at my work, with
NINdulllS AhN bldSSNoy NlllllllllliB AuC WINS
and replenshiug the great receivers with
oil aud what with one thing and another,
was pretty completely occupied until noon.
Then, as chanced to look out towards the
nearest point of land, saw a white flag
hutterng from the tall pole among the rocks,
the signal father and | had agreed on in
case of any help needed.
Ny heart stopped beating and then gave
a great jump again. What did it mean
Involuntarily l caught my hat and shawl
from their pegs against the door, and then
laid them down again despairngly. How
could leave the lighthouse all alone?
But if my father was ill-in trouble
needed me? | knew how to manage the
little boat as well as any Grace Darling that
ever figured in romance or real life. could
easily pull to shore in half an hour, in the
present state of the tides; and there was no
need of lights for six hours to come. Ard
without stopping to argue the matter farth-
er, rushed down stairs, loosened the boat
from its hooks, and was half dozen yards
hNdN llOlll INC lbChO toWtI DclOIS lAllo-
giving ever entered my mind.
Too late to look back now. I kept my
eyes fixed on the futter of the white flag
and pulled long, resolute strokes as if had
been a man.
As drew nearer shore | could discern
figures grouped round the rocky point, and
my heart sickened within me with the
apprehension of some oYershadowing cal
amity.
But they were only girls as I presently
perceived-Adam Stokes dauchters from
the old farmhouse under the hill, who
gathered about me as l sprang ashore with
dimplng laughter and eyes of merry mis-
chief
81 knew we should bring you, Lizzie"
said Ellen Stokes. l knew what the sig
0 nal was" gazed from one to the other
with white lips and inquiring gaze.
1t means that we wanted to see you,
Lizzie child-about Kate's wedding dresses,
you know-and here you are. SO come up
to the house as fast as you can"
at was wrong, Miriam" said, gravey.
81 must go back at once"
"When you have looked at the dresses,
Lizzie, and not before" said she clasping
both my hands resolutely in hers. "Come )
it won't take you half minute"
And half vexed with myself and wholly
with them, l yielded. 1t was quite true
what she said 1t would take me but a
short time to go down to the farmhouse
, and look at Hates things and had wo-
mans natural curiosity about such matters.
1t wanted good three hours yet to dusk.
had been prisioned more than a week in
the octagonal walls of the lighthouse, and SO
yielded.
The girls took me back with them in
5, triumph. liked them well enough-they
h We're all merry, warm-hearted girls, with
~ no harm in them but had always man
II aged to evade their brother Laurence since
$ that evening among the pines when told
Z him never could be his wife,.
" ~ must get back to the lighthouse"
y said, starting up before had fairly seen all
to the gauds and gewgaws prepared for Kat
rs r. Stokes wedding.
or lie put on his hat, and walked with m,
~ to the point of rocks But when we got u
MS the jagged stone over which had cast m!
m Tooring line, only piece Of rope remain
al ed. The boat had got loose and aOate,
Is, away.
Sel turned with a frightened look to Laur
,rs ence
G. Bring your boat round here, Laurence
FL For the love of heaven, do. See those heav
''' clouds darkenng around the sunset it vii
- be dusk before we know it,"
ar "Lizzie, you know what have most q
N heart in this world. Promise me that, an
nc | will do everything for you. If not-wh
:, this nights work will lose your father b
place as light-keeper."
Laurence, you-you would not be
basel"
S 81 have told you the alternative-yo
have only to decide" he answered inditiei
emily.
A" Neverw
He looked at me for mintue with il
tense malice in his eyes then turned d.
liberately and walked away, leaving II
= alone.
Alone among the ragged rocks, with Il
=, rush of the merciless, never wearying It'd
filling my ears with horrible iteration,
called after him, but he never turned j
80 head and then clasping my hands, saI
To- down among the stones, careless ofthe spf'
any that almost sprinkled my face, and began
weep,
apT94l The sun had long since set in a storm
~ sky, as if it were a sea Of blood-the dar