The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-07-18

brave enough to go 10 llfe-boat to save
drowning folks! You deserve to he
nothing better than fish-hawk. Because
Dame Dutton lies i'll yonder, and the
Captain puts off to fetch doctor, Is that
any reason why you should go into
spasms of frightp 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, &c
get right down from here and see te
Ms. Dntton"
Closing the window she descended
from her perch to renew her exertion,
for the relief of the poor dame. Blu
toll as she might, nothing she could d.
would change the fixed attitude or cslu
the quick drawn breath that told OF bit
ter suffering. Presently the day begs'
to wane. The clouds ranged themselve
in solid masses. and darkness and storm
besieged the sea grted tower. Crossin!
to the clock 10 the corner she scannel
its face. "Five o'clock! So late2 VII,
the sun is down in less than half al
hour, and the Captain will lose his plac
il the beacon is not lighted by sundown
But what can do? It's the order, b.
says, tha, women and children shan
have anything to do with the lights"
| One moment she stood with tightly
compressed lips; then brave resolut
smile parted them.
"Well I'm hardly child, / suppose
but neither am o woman. Ships MAJ
be lost il the beacon is not lit." Ther
lighting the lantern the Captain always
used she hung 1t on her arm, and afte
one more look at the sick woman lef
the chamber.
Almost at the threshold began the
seemingly endless stairway, winding up
into regions OF height and loneliness
She did not allow herself to hesitate
now but began the ascent hurriedly. A
fearful journey it seemed through the
darkness. broken only by fitful glimmer.
ings of her lantern, and now and then
cross rays OF light from the slits of win.
dows in the thick walls. Casping the
iron rail she toiled on, her limbs failing,
her heart humping ani her brain 10 q
whirl. Not until she reached. the top
step did she drop down to rest. Ex-
hausted by fatigue and nervous excite
ment she had to recover strength before
she could even open the door to the lam
tern room.
Fortunately the great lamps were
trimmed and supplied with oil Every
part of the machinery was il working
order. Captain Dutton was one of the
most careful of lighthouse keepers.
"Aud he shall see do not mean him
to lose his place for one nights failure
to light the tower" Huldah said, her
heart warming sfor. the first time to the
silent man who had, in his way, done his
duty by her as we'll as by the place of
trust he flled. "Who knows, though,
this light may fall upon the very spot
where he has gone down to the bottom
OF the sea-"
Again shiver crept over the slender
figure, and only the blazing forth OF the
beacon dispelled her vivid fancy. One
by one the lamps Jared up. and we're
turned into place. The reAectors. pol
ished to their utmost. caught the cheer.
full rays and sent them in a far-reaching
circle Of radiance ont through the dark
ness and storm, to give warning to those
who were "gone down to the sea in
ships"
But this was only the beginEing OF
Huldah's work. 1t was chief part OF
the keepers duty, she knew, to see that
the lights burned undimmed throughout
the night Now, however, she must re.
turn to attend the dame awhile. But as
she turned to GO there was sudden
crashing of the glass above her, whir-
ring swoop of come swift winged crea.
ture overhead, gust OF wind, fiIaring
Of the circle Of lights, and then dark
ness, rayless. absolute. The storm
moaned and shrieked in her ears, and
Huldah shrieked, too, hiding her face in
her shawl.
What had happened? Again the
winged intruder whirred by, beating the
air with wearied and dripping plumage.
Alb! now she understood. Once Cap.
tain Dutton had told her of a stormbird
breaking one Of his transparencies.-
Attracted by the light, doubtless, this
wanderer had dashed against the glass
There was but one thing to be done.
She could not hope to relight the lamps
until those blasts were shut out. She
must find another frame and transpsr.
ency.
How the descent was accomplished
Huldah could never think without q
shudder. At the very outset, when she
had groped bel. way to the landing, aud
had succeeded in relighting her little
lantern, the door she had lstched behind
her dew open, giving outlet to those ter
rible winds, which tore at ber clothing
savagely, extinguishing her light, and
leaving her again in darkness. OF ne
cessity, she stood still until the currents
had strangled each other and sank down
into the depths of gloom below her,
Then, shutting her eyes tightly, she went
on her perilous journey.
From the basement stores she pro
cured the frame and fixtures, and re.
turning with them by the same winding
route upward, found it not such diffi.
cult thing to unhinge and replace ths
shattered Transparency, the tempest hav
ing lulled slightly, and the force of the
wind being broken. Yet by the timt
her task was complete, and the lamps
relit, her strength failed her. Vaguely
thinking that maybe she was going Il
die, she fell upon the floor, and with
deep drawn sigh her eyes closed.
II Four hours later an Inspector from
|, the mainland passing to the island light
! house, was hailed by the Captain OF
brig which had weathered the storm
, and come to anchor for repairs.
+ "What ails the tower light, sir 2" b
asked of the officer, nodding toward th
beacon, through the transparencies o
, which steady stream OF light was sti
, pouring. though the sun was doing hl
3 best to dim its glory.
r The Inspector frowned 81 only kno'
r that the keepers neglecting his duty"
= The sailor shook his head. Some
: thing more's amiss, I'm thinking. Th
Il light come near playing us q jack-o
b lantern trick just before day. She pt
# on her night-cap all of Sudden, In