Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-08-16
HULDAH DEANE'S HEROISM.

COntOund III ! Here's your mOtner
j. Cheerer GOOdiDip IN Century Mdgdzilc.
HULDAH DEANE'S HEROISM.
A sky darkened by clouds hurrying
before driving winds, sea gray-faced
and wrinkled tossing restlessly beneath
a mass of barren rocks upon which
stood tall lighthouse, made up the
dreary picture Huldah Deane was gaz-
ing upon with such wistful intentness.
Her gray eyes presently followed the
swoop OF an osprey, and his after-flight
upward with his prey in his talons.
would rather be that fish-hawk than
Huldah Deane," she said, giving ex-
preston to her gloomy thoughts. II
must stay here day in, year out-here,
where nothing happens, where the sea
frets, and l 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
meP Yes, old sea, I'd rather be fish
hawk, and snatch fish from you, than
be Huldah Deane. Oh dearl il some
thing would only happen! II could
do something great and wonderful-go
out in life-boat, maybe, to save drown
ing folks, Or"
''Huldy Hubby Deane ~ The quick.
impatient call reached her, even above
the roaring of the surf. 1t was Cap
tain buttons voice. "Come right on,
quick; mothers taken in spell, an
l can't make il 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 outp And, alas! who could
understand the fixed stare of the
DANES kind eyes,or the pinched shrink
ing of the features so suddenly grown
unfamiliar to the two who dwelt under
the same roof with herp
"Shc's got to hev the doctor as soon
as he can be fetched, Hubby"
"The doctor from shorep" questioned
the girl.
Certain. There's none closer as
know. DO you?'
"No," she gravely answered.; "but
the mainland's a long ways off, and a
storms rising"
at makes no difference" said Cap
tain Dutton, stubbornly. "She's been
good mother TO me, an she's in bad
fix. The doctors got to be fetched,
that's all"
In his rough, good-hearted way the
Captain loved his mother as he loved
nothing else.
''Ef she should die, want her to
know somehow as tried to do my duty
by her last of all. And, Huldy"-lay-
ing his hand on the girls shoulder-"I
amt concerned but what she'll be took
care on as fur as you can do it, child.
It's hard lines to leave a young one like
you here with such terrible trouble, but
there's no help for it. I'll fetch the
doctor soon as l kin-leastways fore
the sun drops. No sailor kin say as ev.
er Kyle button missed lightin' the bea-
con wi the last ray o. sunshine, OF
turnin' off lamps as the sun stepped
'crost the horizon. Livin', I'll be here
in time for that, Hubby"
He nodded and went away.
Hu!dah shivered as she glanced down
at the motionless figure on the couch
below. Maybe she would be left thus
utterly alone for hours-for DAYS. Her
breath came hurriedly. 1t seemed to
her more than she could bear. Frantic
ally she forced open the window, and,
thrusting her head through, shouted
herself hoarse in vain effort to make
Captain Button hear her above the
roaring of the sea. The boat tossed
from wave to wave, 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
were pitiful coward then, Huldah
Deane. You brave enough to go in a
lfe-boat to save drowning folks! You
deserve to be nothing better than q
fish-hawk. Because Dame Dutton lies
i'll yondcr, and the Captain puts of to
fetch doctor, is that any reason why
you should 60 into spasms of frightP
For shame! Remember what father
told you that day he sailed away never
10 come back any more: DO your duty
always, Huldah,' Isn't il your duty
now, foolish girl, to get right down
from here and see to poor Mrs. Duttonp
Closing the window, she descended
from her perch to renew her exertions
for tho relief of the poor dame. But
toll as she might, nothing she could do
| WOuiu cnangc the nxeu attltudc, or calm
the quick-drawn breath that told of
bitter suffering. Presently the day
began TO wane. The clouds ranged
themselves in solid masses, and dark
mas and storm besieged the sea-girted
tower. Crossing to the clock in the
corner. she scanned its face. Five
o'clock! So latcp Why the sun is
down in less than half an hour, and the
captain will lose his place IL the beacon
Is not lighted by shutdown. But what
can dop It's the order, he says, that
women and children sha'n't have any,
thing 10 10 with tho lights"
One moment she stood with tightly
compressed lips. Then brave, reso-
lnIu smile parted her lips.
Wei, I'm hardly child, suppose,
butnCihcr am | woman. Ships NAV
hc lost II the beacon is not lit" Then
'ghlDg The lantern the captain always
r''f. she hung IL on her arm, and after
ne more look ut tie sick woman, left
ia chamber.
t's'nst ut the threshold began the
s"cuDrgly endless stairway, winding
NJ iiiio rsgions Of height and loneliness.
she did not allow herself to hesitate