River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-03-31
THE KEEPERS DAUGHTER.
A PRETTY GOOD LOVE STORY.

side, thunder lightning wind and rain,
and great black waves dashing up
against the rocks and the foot of the
tower. Inside winding flight of stairs
leading to an octagon-shaped room con-
tanning the plainest furniture. The oc-
cupants, Il girl of eighteen, tall and
1.-the, with black hair hanging in mas
sive braids to her waist and luminous
grey eyes under straight black brows.
Her dress was of grey waterproof
cloth was short and scant, and
hung in wet folds about her limbs;
and strangest of all girdles, coil of
rope encircled her waist and traiied
one end on the floor. BY her side n
boy Of fourteen years, with his blue
blouse open at the throat, and a faded
plush cap on his dark curls. These
two were bending over a man who lay
in all his magnificent length on the floor.
A picturesque looking man, with fair
hair clinging in dripping masses to his
forehead a curling golden beard, and Il
white firm throat, and one might be
persuaded that the closed lids with their
long fringes covered a pair of steel blue
eyes.
Reckon he's a gorer, Liz said the
boy, as he paused in his vigorous rub
bing Ofthe mans hands.
The girl was forcing some liquor from
tin cup between the blue lips and did
not answer directly: but when their
patient gave faintest the possible sigh,
She exclaimed ioyfully: "See, Neddie,
be breathesl Now work fast" where
upon they both fell to rubbing him at
great rate.
When Allen Mcintyre opened his eyes
he looked about him cOnfusedly. The
odd little room. the girl with her black
braids and the boy looking so like her
that one would at once recognize the
the relationship; the drenched condi-
ton of ali three. and the strange langor
through all his frame-what did it
mean? He closed his eyes YEARLY,
and then the boy spoke up in his blnfi
fashion:
"You came near going under cap'n,
but Lizzie pulled you out"
Then Mcintyre remembered all, and
languidly raised himself into sitting
posture.
at is too wild night to be afoat in
a little craft like that" said the girl,
making Il gesture seward where a
tiny boat had broken up an hour be-
| fore.
1T was fair when l left the shore, %
replied the man. Il ventured further
than ] intended. Then the wind went
down, and | could only drift until the
storm arose. | have a recollection of
fierce rush of wind and wave that
upset my boat, and blow on my head.
probably from some part of the boat
as went over"
"Yes," said the boy, there came a
flash Of lightning, and Lizzie and |,
looking out, saw the boat capsize. So
Lizzie caught Il rope and ran, and l
after her"
Were used to that sort of thing, eh,
| l.iuie?" Lizzie nodded and the boy
continued animatedly: "You see, my
father keeps the light, but he is sick
| lust now, so Lizzie and | tend the
| light-we always do when father is
| sick or gone to the mainland-and
we've pulled out more than one fellow
more than halt dead. Why"
Never mind that, Neddie," inter
rupted his sister, gently, and the I'M
spoken reproof in her voice had the
effect of making the lad look some
what shame-faced as he went back tO
the first part of his story.
''Well, sir, we ran down the slope al
| the side of the cliff out there, where
the waves were tearing up like 10000
! wild prscs And every time 1t tighten
ed we could see you bobbing around
out there like Il piece of cork. We
were afraid of your striking against the
| Lodges, so Lizzie fastened one end o.
the rope about her waist anu | held :ht
ether while she went straight IN and
struck out for you"
| MCINTYRE uttered low exclamation
and turned his gaze from Neddie tC
Ncddie's sister The boy wagged his
lead proudly,
An, said he, with cleaning eye
that's nothing for our Liz to do! She
caught YOU, and | pulled you both IN
But you're monstrous heavy! | thought
| we'd never get you up stairs"
McIntrre laughed as he rose rather
doubtfully TO his feet
II feel trihe shakey," he said, anc
en-, 1T is easy to see that you are
brother and sister. In am Allen Nc
| Intyre, at your service, Miss Lizzie,
and he bowed in fashion that gave
| the lie to his declaration of soakiness
.'Ol course | realize that you and yOul
| gallant brother here have rendered me
| Il great service-onc for which you
shall not 90 unrewarded, although
can never hope to fully recompenss
you"
Lizzie raised her head haughtily.
Sir. such work as we have done to
night we do not for wages If you fee
strong enough, | will walk with You t.
the house. | think the storm is pass
ing over. Our accommodations are
| plain enough, but there is no othel
house on the island"
30, am as good as new, now sale
Mcintyre; 'but will you leave this boy
here all alone"
She smiled.
Ned is not afraid, and he can tenC
the light as well as |
Very well, will go with you.
He waved smiling adieu to the boy
and followed his guide down the mar
row stairway.
Two DAYS later a small sail boat put
out from the island, which, when it re
turned, brought Mcintyre luggage
Lizzies father who was laid up with
an attack of rheumatism, had taken q
fancy to the young man, who express
ed desire to spend few weeks there
nj any price they might charge. Capt
/ Clvds straigntway ordered Neddie of
in his new boat to the mainland for the
/ gentleman's traps. The youngstel
0beved this order with alacrity, for this
good hunored ease of the stranger. to
eether with MS evident appreciation o
"our Liz. had wrought favorably or
our Nedaie. Even the maiden aunt
who kept the house smiled freshly q
the prospect OF this pleasant adaif'ur
to their family.
Mcintyre who had been wandering
about three or -four hundred mile:
from home IN search Of a quiet place
to SPEND the summer congratulated
/ himself On haging drifted to the very