The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-06-15
Vancouver Independent
RULDAH DEANE'S HsROIsM.

A sky darkened by clouds hurrying
before driving winds, a sea grey-faced
and wrinkled tossing restlessly beneath
o mass of barren rocks upon which stood
q tall light house, made up the dreary
picture Huldah Deane was gazing upon
with such wistful intentness. Her grey
eyes presently followed the swoop of an
osprey, and his after-fight upward with
his prey in his talons.
81 would rather be a fish-hawk than
Hulhah Deane," she said, giving ex-
preston to her gloomy thoughts. 81
must stay here day in, year out-here,
where nothing happens. where the sea
frets, and fret with it,. So light the
Captains pipe, scrub the tower, and do
chores for the dame. Who cares what
else do, or what becomes Of me? Yes,
old sea. I'd rather be a fish-hawk and
snatch fish from you than be Huldah
Deane. Oh dear! If something would
only happen! If could do something
great or wonderful-go out in a life-boat
maybe. to save drowning people, Or"
'Huldy! Hubby Deanew The quick,
impatient call reached her, even above
the roaring of the surf. It was Captain
buttons voice. Come right on, quick;
mothers taken in a q spell, and l can't
make it out"
Huldah obeyed in awed silence. A
spell the Captain couldn't make out
must be very bad, she thought. What
if neither she nor anybody else could
make it out? And, alas! who could I'M
derstand the fixed stare of the danes
kind eyes, or the pinched shrinking of
the features 80 suddenly grown unfamil-
lar to the two who dwelt under the same
roof with her?
''She's got to hev the doctor as soon as
he can be fetched, Hubby"
"The doctor from shore?" questioned
the girl
"Certain. There's none closer, as I
know. Do your"
'No," she answered gravely; "but the
main lands long way off. and storm
is rising"
cit makes no difference" said Captain
Dutton, stubbornly. "She's been a good
mother to me, and she's is in very bad
fix. The doctor has got to be fetched,
that's ALL"
In his rough, good-hearted way the
nothing else.
''Ef she should die, I want her to
know somehow as / tried to do my duty
by her last of all. And Hubby laying
his hand on the girls SHOULDN'T ain t
concerned but she'll be took care on as
fur as you can do it, child. It's hard
lines to leave young one like you here
with such terrible trouble, but there's
no help for it. I'll fetch the doctor as
soon as kin-leastways, before the sun
drops. No sailor kin say as ever Kyle
Dutton missed hghtin' the beacon wi
the last ray o sunshine, or turnin' off
lamps as the sun stepped 'crost the hori-
zon. Livin,' I'll be here in time for
that, Hubby"
He nodded and went away.
Huldah shivered as she glanced down
at the motionless figure on the couch be-
low. Maybe she would be thus left alone
for two hours-for days. Her breath
came hurriedly. 1t seemed to her more
than she could bear. Frantically she
forced open the window, and, thrustiug
her head through, shouted herself hoarse
in vain effort to make Captain Dutton
hear her above the roaring of the sea.
The boat tossed from wave to wave, and
plunged further and further away.
And it was but few hours ago that
Huldah had wished she might have an
opportunity to do some great heroic
deed. Now she said to herself: "You
we're q pitiful coward then, Huldah
Deane. You brave enough to go in a
life-boat to save drowning folksl You
deserve nothing better than fish-hawk.
Because Dame Dutton lies i'll yonder,
and the Captain put of to fetch doctor
is that any reason why you should go
into spasms of fright? For shame! Re-
member what father told you that day
he sailed away never to come back any
more: ''Do your duty always, Huldah.
Isn't it your duty now, foolish girl, to
get right down from here and see to poor
Mrs. Dutton?"
Closing the window, she descended
from her perch to renew her exertions
for the relief of the poor dame. But
toll - she might, nothing she could do
would change the fixed attitude, or calm
the quick drawn breath that told of bitter
suffering.
Presently the day began to wane. The
clouds ranging themselves in solid
masses, and darkness and storm be-
sieged the sea-girt tower. Crossing to
the clock in the corner, che scanned its
face. Five o'clock /! So late? Why
the sun il down in less than half an hour
and the captain viii lose his place if the
beacon il not lighted by shutdown. But
what can do! It's the order, he says,
A. u a