The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-08-20
THE KEEPERS DAUGHTER.

4 lighthouse on "A rocky coast. Out
side, thunder, lightning wind and rain,
and great black waves dashed up against
the rocks mt the foot of the tower. In
side, winding flight of stairs leading
Ia an octngon shaped room containing
the plainest furniture. The occupants,
girl of eighteen, tall and 1.-the, with
black hair hanging i'll massive hraids Ia
her waist, and luminous gray eyes under
straight black hrows Her dress of gray
waterproof cloth WIS short and scant,
and hung III w.t. folds about her limbs;
and strangest of all giIdlcs, II coil Of rope
cncircled her waist and trailcd one end
on the floor, by her side boy of four
teen years, with his blue blouse open ut
the throat, and n faded plush cap on his
dark curls. These two were bending
over n man who lay i'll ali his magnificent
length on the floor. 4 picturesque
looking man. with fair hair clinging iii
dipping masses Ia his forehead; Il curl
ing golden beard and white, firm
throat, and one might be persuaded that
the closed lids with their long fringes
covered pair of steel blue eyes.
Reckon he's goncr, Liz" said the
puN, Hs 1T Idllsttt Ill HIS VIGOROUS rlb-
blng of the mans hands.
The girl was forcing some liquor from
n tin cup between the blue lips, and did
not answer directly; bur when their
patient gave the faintcst possible sigh,
she exclaimed ioyfully: "Sce, Ncddie,
he breathcs! Now work fast, where
upon they both fell To rubbing him ut Il
great rate.
When Allen Mcintyre opened his eyes
hc looked about him confuscdly. The
odd little room, the girl with her black
lrnids, and the boy looking 50 like her
that one would at once recognize the re-
latiunship; the drcnched condition of all
three, and the strange languor through
all his frame-what did II al mean? He
closed his eyes YEARLY, and then the boy
spoke out in his bluff fashion:
lyon came near going under, cap'n,
but Lizzie pulled You out.
Then Mcintyre remembered all, and
languidly raised himself into Il sitting
posture.
1T is too wild night to be ahoat in
little craft like that" said the girl,
making gesture seaward, where n tiny
boat had broken up an hour before.
"lt was fair when | left the shore, 4"
replied tn" man. ~ ventured further
than | intended. Then the wind went
down, and / could only drift until the
storm arose. have recollection of q
fierce rush of wind and wave that upset
my boat, and blow on my head, proba-
bly, from some part OF the boat rs l went
over"
Yes" said the hoy, there came a
flash of lightning, and Lizzie and ], look
ing out, saw the boat capsize. So Lizzie
caught n rope and ran, and after her.
Were used to that sort of thing, ell,
Lizzie" Lizzie nodded and the boy
continued auimatedly: "You see, my
father keeps the light, but he is sick just
now, so Lizzie and tend the hght-we
always do when father is sick or gone to
the mainland-and we've pulled ont more
than one fellow more than half dead.
Why"
Never mind that, Neddie," interrupt
al his sister, gently, and the unspokcn
rcproof i'll her voice had the effect of
making the lad look somewhat shame
faced as he went back to the first part of
his story.
"Wcll, sir, we ran down the slope at
waves were tearing up like 10000 wild
horses. And every time it lightened VT
could SEE you bobbing round out there
like piece of cork. We were afraid OF
your striking against the lodges, SO LIZ
Zie fastened one end of the rope about
her waist and | held the other while
she went straight i'll and struck out for
You.
Mcintyre uttered low exclamation,
and turned his gaze from Ncddie 10 Ned
dies sister The boy wagged his head
proudly.
"Ah," said he with cleaning eye,
" that's nothing for our Liz to do! She
caught you, and / pulled you both i'll,
but you're monstrous heavy! thought
we'd never get you up stairs.
Mcintyre laughed as he rose rather
deubtfully to his feet.
Il feel tritle shaky," he said, and
then at is easy to see that you are
brother and sister. / am Allen Mcln-
tyre, AT your service, Miss Lizzie" and
he bowed i'll fashion that gave the lie
To his declaration of shakiness. "Of
course realize that you and your
gallant brother here has ren-
for which you shall not go unrc-
warded, although / can never hope to
fully recOmpcnse you.
Lizzie raised her head haughtily.
"Sir, such work as we have done to-
night, We do not do for wages. If you
feel strong enough, will walk with you
to the house. think the storm is pass
ing over. We live II quarter of n mile
from the light. Our accommodations
are plain enough, but there is no other
house on the island.
80, j am as good as new, now, said
Mcintyre; "but will you leave this boy
here all alone?"
She smiled.
Ned is not afraid, and he can tend
the light as well as |.
every well, / will go with you."
He waved "A smiling adiCu to the boy,
and followed his guide down the narrow
stairway.
Two days later a small sail boat put
out from the island, which, when it re-
turned, brought McIntyres luggage.
LiZZie's father, who was laid up with
au attack of rheumatism, had taken Il
fancy to the Young man, who expressed
desire TO spend few weeks there ut any
price they might charge. Capt. Clyde
straightway ordered Ncddic off III his
new boat to the mainland for the gentle
man Is traps. The yOungster obeyed this
order with alacrity, for the good hu.
morcd ease of the stranger, together
with lis evident appreciation Of "oui
Liz" had wrought favorably Oh Ncddie.
Even the maiden aunt who kept the
house smiled frostily at the prospect OF
this pleasant addition to their family"
Mcintyre, who had been wandering
about three or four hundred miles from
home in search Of a quiet place to spend
the summer, congratulated himself on
having drifted to the very spot.
Although it WAS an expensive style
OF drifting" lac remarked, with smile,
as he enclosed bank note in an envcl.
opc To be sent to the owner of the little
craft which had slipped him out into the
waves abreast Of the lighthouse.
A week later, AZ he sauntered shore.
ward, there came to his ears wildly
sweet strain of melody. As he listened
in Arrangement, for lac had seen 10 m,l.
steal instrument about the place, he DE.
gan to realize that it was part OF
Strauss artist life waltZes that he heard
n strain that he often whistlcd. He
stepped round the jutting of cliff and
there, leaning against the granite wall
was Lizzie, her chin dropped carelessly