The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-08-26
THE BEST REV. NGE.
CHAPTER THE FIRST.
4 TERRIBLE BLOW.

We were all so happy and cheerful
in our little cottage when Aunt Blu
CHAINS letter came and told us that
Fred Brastome had jilted" my sister
Agnes. We were thunder-struck
Agnes herself refused to credit the re-
port. They had only been engaged a
few months, and the arrangement was
a secret. My aunt was ignorant Of the
actual engagement, but when she wrote
and told us that Brastome was engaged
to Sir Somebody something's daughter,
and Just inherited his uncle's property,
quite unexpectedly, it was a terrible
blow to us at home. Yet here was his
letters full of affection.
Agnes borne up wonderfully, but at
length even she succumbed. We had
heard nothing from Fred very lately,
and my inquiries only elected the
statement that he had gone abroad and
suddenly. Even our neighbors, the
Pendrewitts, ut whose house Agnes had
first met him, were away yachting, and
we could not get at the truth. I wrote
10 his bankers and got his address, and
then wrote to him "a stiffish letter. for
explanation, and then waited.
Agnes got worse. We could not rest.
vowed vengeance against the man,
unable to stand the suspense and lone
illness when darling Agnes life was al
most trembling in the balance, I rushed
out to do something, ready to encount-
er any danger in search of fcrgetful-
ness Of our injury. Only a few weeks
since he had gone, and this was the
result I could scarcely credit it.
T
stood upon the step and looked across
the moonlit bay, at the southern side
of which the lighthouse rose disdain-
fully. A flash came full upon my face,
and with it came the thought will
go out to the lighthouse.
descended rapidly at first and then
more slowly, and began to think; but
still [ went down and met Bob Murray,
my boatman, as / entered a shop to
make a purchase.
"Good night, Bob. Going homer"
'Aye, aye, Master Harry. Homo it
is, and timer
"Well, Bob, Pm going out"
"Out tonight! And where, if I may
make SO bold as to ask"
''To the lighthouse. Bob and you
must take me there, and call, to-mor-
rows flood, to take me back"
''But, sir, my lady? Will she %
Bob always called my mother "my
ady," not that she, except as every wo-
man is, was entitled to the courtesy;
but she deserved it, and the compliment
passed unnoticed now, as ever.
silenced him, and he agreed, 'Pm
your man, Master Harry, but 1 think
you'd better bide day or two; there's
look about the sea that dislike"
''Wind Bob I should like breeze
out there Tomorrow"
"Aye, aye! Wind is nothing to the
lighthouse It's sea. Suppose an
accident should happen-suppose a
ship"
'suppose you give up croaking, Bob
Murray, and bear Il hand with the
boat" wrapped up my purchase and
went out.
He responded with alacrity, and said
no more. Somehow his tacit obedi-
ence impressed me more forcibly than
his well-meant warming
"All ready now, your honor" said
he at last.
'Thank you, Bob. Will you take
the tiller, please ?" knew the coast
almost as well as he, and yet I would
not have touched the tiller. It was a
tribute to his superior skill and to my
mothers fears.
We ran out quickly, and in about an
hour were close to the lighthouse. A
simultaneous roar of "Ahoy, there"
brought my old friend Dobson to the
gallery.
"Boat ahoy," he cried. "What
cheer %
@Dobson ahoy! IT'S 1-Mister
Emery" (he always insisted upon calling
me sS sensry We'll, and what brings ye
here at this time o. night, STRIP
II want to come in, Dobson, to stay
the night. Will you let me come up ?"
There was pause, and at last he
said, as we tossed upon the rising sea-
EN- come down. sir-I'll dis-cend, sir,
ifyou please"
He disappeared, and must have de-
scended very rapidly, for in moment
or two he appeared at a small door
opening just above the rock ON which
the lighthouse was erected; there he
parleyed:
Eye. see, sir, this is quite out of regu-
lar orders; I darsen't let you in, not
now-keep her off, Bob Murray, yew;
yell have her stove in three threes'-
so we see, sir"
''Dobson," I replied firmly, "it's no
use. Regulations or no regulations, 1
want to spend the NIGHT in the light