The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1880-01-29
THE LIeHTkeEPeR's DAUGHTER.

THE uGHTkEEPER'S DAUGHTER.
Twilight settled darkly down on the
rush Of white-capped waters round the
lighthouse base-twiligbt over the
rocky shOre-twiiight folding the far
away land in its gray mantie-ani L
sitting by the little slit Ofa window,
my chin resting on my hand, looking
out over the darkness and ieso!ation
: of the waving world Of waters was
alone, hut minded il not q whit. |
was used To that. and it was with
-uch sweet peace and rest.
| Father was away for two days and
two nights; but felt myself fully
competent 10 manage the lights. had
/ done il often, and there was sense of
I human coinpanionShip in the idea Of
I all the eyes that WERE turning, in the
| darkness. 70 the Trsi beacon star of the
Whiteiedge Lighthouse.
( a, sunrise 7 cxtinguishci The light
and busted myself singing at my work.
i With cleaning the glasses, trimming
! the wicks and replenishing the grea,
! receivers with oil ; and what with one
| thing and another, was pretty com
p!eteIy occupied until noon. Then a.
l CHANGED 10 look out toward the near
est point OF land. saw white flag
| fiuttering from the tall pole among the
rocks, the signal father and had
agreed on In case of any help needed.
| NV heart stopped heating and then
gave a great lump again. What did ii
mean InvoiuntariIy I caught nv hat
| and shawl from their pegs against the
door. and then laid them down again
| desparinyly. How could I leave the
lighthouse all alone:
BUT if NV father was Hin trouble
needed me? knew how To man
age the little boat as well as any Grace
DarIing that ever figured in romance
or real life, l could easily pull 10 shore
| in half an hour. in the present state of
tides. and there was no need OF lights
for six hours to come. And without
stopping TO argue the matter further.
I rushed down stairs. Ioosenei the
boat from its hooks. and was half
dozen wards away from the rocky
tower before any mi,yiyiny entered
NV mind.
FOO late TO look back now. kept
nv eyes fixed ON the fiu,ter OF til.
white fisv AMI pulled long rcsolute
| strokes "a II had been a man,
AS drew near shore could discern
figures pro,Iped around TIE rocky
| noints. and nv heart sickened within
me with the apprehension of some
OyershadOwing calamity.
But they were only girls, as pres
! emily observation-disclosures stokes da,lyh-
! ters from the old farm.ho under the
hill. who gathered about me ~
| sprsnp ashore with dimpliny laughter
| and ewes of merry mischief.
| ~ knew we should bring YOU, Liz
| zie." said Ellen Stokes. IL knew
what the signal was" | gaZcd iioE
one To the other with white Iips and
| iuuuirino gaze.
| 1T means that we wanted Ia see YOU
Lizzie. child-about Hates wedding
dresses. YOU knOw-and here YOU are.
| So come up to the house ~ fast a. YOU
can"
| at was wrong, Miriam" | said,
yrayeIy 81 must 90 back al once
when YOU have looked mt the
dresses. Lizzie. and not before" said
sbe claspinp both my hand. rcsolutcly
i'm hers. Come, il won't take you
halfa minute"
! And half vcXed with myself, and
| wholly with them. l Welded. 1t was
| unite true what she said. 1t would
take me but a short time to 90 down
to the farmhouse and look at Rates
things; and had a wOman's natural
curiosity about such matters. II want
ed a good three hours vet to dusk. |
had been prisoned more than "A week
i'm the octayonal walls of the lighthouse
and So yielded
The girls took me back with them
in triumph. liked them well enough
they were oil merry. wurH.-hcarted
| Girls. with no harm in them. ont had
| a,wav, managed Ia cvade their broth
rr Laurence since that evening among
the pine. when told linn could
never be his wife.
II must get back 10 the lighthouse,
said. starting up before had fairly
seen all tie gaud, AMI scwgaw> PIE
JARED for Kate Stokes wc,ldiEg.
| He put On his nat AMI walked with
| me 10 inc point Of rocis. I;u' when
We cot Ia the Jagged stone over which
had cast my mIooring- line. only u
piece Of rope remained. The boat had
got lun-c and Heated away.
/ turned with Il frightened look To
Laurence
bring Your lpat round here I.au-
renee. For the love OF Heaven. do.
See tho.. heavy clouds darkrnins
round the sunset: il will hc dusk he.
fore we know IT,"
Lizzie, YOU know what tave most
at heart in thi. world Promise me
that and | will 40 everything for you.
Ifnot-why, tiii. nights work will
lose Your father hi. place a. light
kec,sr."
"i.aureucc, you-you wOu,i not he
SO base -
~ have told you the alternative
YOU have only to decide" he answer
ed indiffcrpntIy.
"Neveru'
He looked at me for minute with
intense malace in his eyes: then turn
ed deliberately and walked away. leav-
ing me alone
Alone among the ragged rocks, with
the rush of the mercil,-,-, never. wear
ing tides filling nv ears with horrible
iteration. called after him but lie
never turned HIS head: and then.
clasping nv hands. | sank down
among the stones. careless of the -pr,iy
that almost spriukled nv face, and be-
| gan 10 weep
The sun had long since set in q
| stormy sky "a IL il were n sea of blood
| the darkness Wa. ere, ping in black
| ,hadows over the face of the deep
and n horrible vision swept over NV
mind of preat ships wrecked al sea.
unn the reef.. and the watchfuI eve