The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-07-15

bad just come down from m,
watch, and was thinking Of turning 10
congfAtulating myHelf that duty dil
not call me TO 60 out on such night
when, borne to inc on the gale, cam,
tho sound Of cry something betwee,
n shont for help aud a cry Of distress
| listened. Could it be bort in neet
Of help7 No IL came from land
ward listend again, hut noilin.
further caught my ear
tried 10 persuadc myself that m,
imagination had deceived mo, and thaI
IL was only the cry Of some sea bird
that | Lad heard, or more than or.
dinarily unearthIy wailing Of the wind
But, do what / could, could not pot
over the feeling that the cry | heard
was Of human being in distress. The
feeling grew no strong that, ut last
seiz!ng u ntoEt ssick. and taking up d
lantern, prepared 10 face the gale
and make search round about "a
landward.
! searched, waded through the sand
hills that lay behind us, stumbling
ovor bushes and pieces Of loose timber,
half blinded by the drifting hapd and
slect, but could find no one. VIA
preparing to return again after my
fruitless hunt, whom, aS got within n
hundred yards Of the lighthouse, man
--gaunt, tall, wild and dishevolled he
yond description advanced, or rather
tottered toward me.
lie stretched out his arms To me
with an imploring gesture, and, utter
ing n half inarticulate cry, fell at my
feet insensible. had my flask with
me, and poured some brandy down tho
wretehed mans throat, and when he
was somewhat revived, guided him
with difficulty TO the lighthouse.
When the light fell upon him,
beheld one Of the most fearful sights
have ever witnessed. The man before
me was almost skeleton ths skin
seemed scarcely to cover his high cheek
bones, his hair hung over his forehead
in unkempt locks, and the lower part
Of his face w.,s covered by beard Of
fortnight's growth. The few garments
he had OH hung in rags. aud his feet
and head were bare. IIc covered by
the fire %ithout uttcring - y ord, while
| went 10 get food and dill, for him (;
his eyes wandered .st.l..,ly u.I sus.
piciGualy around, alli half itarcd
had picked zap some fhc,ped maniHc
He ate favcnon.ly. Hn man eats ~lio
has not tasted iood los many hours, or,
may bc, for day. aud then Eat gazins
into the fire again without wori.
"Well, mate" said /. how do you
feel nov =
IIc started, passed lis band over las
forehead, aud for a reply i.ur,t into a
passion Of tears aud apbs. r.s 'Ipm-
founded.
"Comc, come, mate, don't take on
the w0rai's over nov You're sale
with ua, and will be strong ia a few
days time bat it's been nigh too much
for you this time eh' | said, ut
length.
Gay, indecd, he inuttered 81 could
not have held out another night IN
this weather. owe you my life" lac
added, after moments pause-"I
owe you my life ;" these words hc re
peated several times very slowly, and
with his great hollow eyes staring
vacantly before him.
"Queer chap this" ! thought. "The
worlds been too hard for him, fancy"
"Well, mate" / continued, in a
cheerful voice, sits full time We should
turn in here's "a shake-down for you Z"
"What, can ! stop here tonight :"
he interrupted, in tone OF surprise.
"Why, friend" said I, astonisbed
in my turn, 81 wouldn't turn dog
out of doors such night AZ this, let
alone n fellow-creatrre. Stay, and
you're welcome. You'd best bide with
us till you're bit healthy again, for
it's but poorly you look"-and / gave
plying glance at his emaciated face
and great, hollow sunken eyes.
He moved uneasily on his scat.
"Can stop safely ] mean will
any one come Are you expecting
any one 7" and he eyed me keenly.
"No one" said /, with laugh.
"Wby, in weather like this, we're cut
off from the mainland sometimes for
days"
He nodded, and looked more satisf-
ed, and muttered a few words to him
self. which ] didn't catch.
"Queer customer" | thought and
taking an old mattress from beneath
my bed, / gave it to him, together with
ono Of my blankets, TO make h bed
with, and then turned in myself.
didn't go to SLEEP at once, how.
ever. wanted to keep an eye on my
strange guest for a bit He rolled
himself quickly in the blanket and lay
down before the fire, and in a few
minutes seemed to be fast asleep, and
/ was just doing of, when, with cry
of terror, he started from the ground,
"Mercy mercy Don't touch
me r he cried
Then, with shivering sigh, he
covered his face with his hand.
"Blood, blood, blood = he muttered
"Hello, mate !" cried |. might
mare, l guess. Wake up =
The sound Of my voice aroused him,
and looking curiously around the
room, mumbling few broken excuses
he arranged his blanket again and
settled himself to sleep, and did thu
same.
When I woke for my watch my
curious visitor WAS still wrapped in hi
blanket, and seemed to be slumbe rim.
as peacefully as might be, b~lofc th'
dying embers of the fire. looked a
his face-the face of a man about forty
or, may be, year or two less ; no wa
! on amac;atad conldn't say exactly