Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-08-19
A KEEPERS DAUGHTER.

Outside, thunder. lightning, wine
and rain, and great black waves
dashing up against the rocks at ths
foot of the tower. Inside a winding
flight of stairs leading to 90 octagor
shaped room containing the PLANES
furniture. The occupants, a girl o.
eighteen, tall and 1.-the. with blacl
hair hanging in massive braids to
her waist, and luminous grey eyes
under straight black brows. Hel
dress of grey waterproof cloth was
short and scant, and hung in wei
folds about her limbs; and strangsst
of all girdles, q coil of rope encirclec
her waist and trailed one end on the
floor. By her side boy of fourteen
years, with his blue blouse open al
the threat, and faded plush cap on
his dark curls. These two were
bending over man who lay all bis
magnificent length on the floor. A
picturesque looking man, with fair
hair clinging in dripping masses to
his forehead; curling golden beard
and white, firm throat, and one
might be persuaded that the closed
lids with their long fringes covered
o pair of steel blue eyes.
Reckon he's goner, Liz said
the boy, as be paused in his vigorous
rubbing of the mans hands.
The girl was TO- cling some liquor
from tin cup between the blue
lips, and did not answer directly /;
but when her patient gave the
faintest possible sigh, she exclaimed
joyfully: See, Neddie, he breathes
Now work fast whereupon they
both fell to rubbing him at a great
rate.
When Allen Mcintyre opened his
eyes he looked about him confused.
ly. The odd little room, the girl
with her black braids. and the boy
looking so much like her that one
would at once recognize the rela
tionship; the drenohed condition of
the three, and the strange languor
through all his frame-what did il
all mean? He closed his eyes
YEARLY, and then the boy spoke out
ia his bluff fashion:
you came near gsing under, osp'n
but Lizzie pulled you out
Then Mcintyre remembered all,
and languidly raised himself into a
sitting posture
1t IS too wild s night 10 be sfpat
in little craft like Lhat,' said the
girl, making a gesture seaward,
where q tiny boat had broken up an
sn hoa, before.
IT was fair whom | Jeff the shore,
replied the man. / ventured furth.
or than | ir ended Then the wind
went down, and | could only drift
until the storm arose. | had rec
election of fierce rush of wind and
wave that upset my boat, and a
blow on n.y head, probably from
from some part of the boat as L
went over
Yes, said the boy, there came a
flash Of lightning, and Lizzie and l
looking out, saw the boat capsize.
50 Lizzie caught rope and ran,
and l after her.
Were used to that sort of thing,
eh, Lizzie? 2 lizzie nodded and the
boy continued animasedIy, you see,
my father keeps the lighthouse, but
he is sick just now, so Lizzie and
tend the light--we always do
when father is sick or goes to the
mainland, and we've pulled out
more than one fellow more than
half dead. Way
'Never mind that, Neddie, inter-
rupted his sister, gently, and the
unspoken reproof in her voice had
the effect of making the lad look
somewhat sheme-fscad as he went
back to the frat part of his story.
tWell, sir, we ran down the slope
at the side of the cliff out here,
where the waves were tearing up
like 10000 wild horses. And every
tins it lightened we could soc you
bobbing round out there like a
piece Of cork. We were afraid of
Of your striking against the lodges,
so Lizzie fastened one end of the
rope about her waist and i held the
other, while she went straight in
and struck out for you.'
Mcintyre uttered loud exclams-
tiop, and turned his gazo from Ned
die to Nsddie's sister. Tbs boy
wagged bis head proudly,
'Ah,' said be, with cleaning eye,
that's nothing for our Liz to do !
She caught you, and | pulled you
both in, but you're monstrous
heavyl | thought we'd never get
you up stairs.'
Mcintyre laughed as he rose rath-
er doubtfully TO his feet.
i feel trihe shaky,' no said, and
then 1T is easy to see that you are
brother and sister. l SIN Allen
Mcintyre, at your service, Miss Liz.
zie, and he bowed in fashion that
gave tho lie to his declaration Of
shakiness. 'Of course | realize that
you and your brother here have
rendered me a great servics--one
for which you ehalI not go ua
rewarded, sl.hough l can never hope
to fully rocompense you
Lizzie raised her head haughtily.
Sir, such work a. we haye done
tonight, we do not for wages. If
you feel strong enough | will walk
with you TO the house | think the
STERN is passing ever. We live q
quarter of mile from the light
house, Our aecommodsti are
plaio enough, but there is no other
house on the island
'Oh, am sn good as new, now,
said Mcintyre. bat will you leave
this boy here sIl alonep
she smiled.
Ned is not afraid, and he can tend
the light SIS we'll as
Very well, | will go with you
He waved $ smiling sdieu to the
boy, and followed his guide down
the narrow stairway.
Two days later small sail boat
put out from the island, which
when it returned, brought Ms
Intyra's luggage,
lizzie's father, who was laid ar
With sn attack of rheumatism, had
| taken q fancy 10 tha vounO man