The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-06-15

of her lantern, and now and then cross
rays of light from the Sits of windows in
the thick walls. Clasping the iron rail,
she toiled ON, her limbs failing, her
heart humping, and her brain in whirl.
Not until she had reached the top step
did she drop down to rest. Exhausted
by fatigue and nervous excitement, she
had to recover strength before she could
even open the door into the lantern
room.
Fortunately the great lamps were
trimmed and supplied with oil. Every
part of the machinery was also in work
ing order. Captain Dutton was one of
the most careful of the lighthouse
keepers.
"And he shall see that do not mean
him to lose his place for one nights
failure to light the tower" Huldah said,
her heart warming for 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 filed. "Who knows, though,
this light may fall upon the very spot
where he has gone down to the bottom
of the sea-"
Again a SILVER crept over the slender
figure, and only the blazing forth of the
U6tCOu ulSDcllCu AOf NlNlQ lduCys Ou0
by one the lamps Jared up, and were
turned into place. The refectors, polish
ed to their utmost, caught the cheerful
rays, and sent them in far-reaching
circle of radiance out the darkness and
the storm, to give warning to those who
were "gone down to the sea in ships"
But this was only the beginning of
Huldah's work. 1t was the 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 to the dame awhile. But
as she turned to go there was sudden
crashing of the glass above her, whir-
ring swoop of some swift winged crea-
ture overhead, gust of wind, a f1aring
of the circle of lights, and then darkness,
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 plumsge.
All now she understood. Once Cap
tain Dutton had told her of a storm-bird
breaking one of his transparencies. At
tracted by the light, doubtless, this wan
derer 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 transpar-
ency.
How the descent was accomplished
Hnldah could never think without a
shudder. At the very outset, when she
| 1. l, l. 10 10 c,,1
had succeeded in relighting her little
lantern, the door she had latched behind
her flew open, giving outlets to those
terrible winds, which tore at her cloth
ing savagely. extinguishing her light,
and leaving her again in darkness. OF
necessity she stood still until the currents
had stran3led each other, and sunk
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 diff
cult thing to unhing and replace the
shattered transparency, the tempest hav-
ing lulled slightly, and the force of the
wind being broken. Yet by the time
her task was complete. and the lamps
relit, her strength failed her. Vaguely
thinking that maybe she was going to
die, she fell upon the floor, and with
deep-drawn sigh her eyes closed.
Four hours later an inspector from the
mainland passing 10 the island light
house was hailed by the captain of the
brig which had weathered the storm and
come to anchor for repairs.
"What ails this tower light, sir?" he
asked of the officer, nodding toward the
the beacon, through the transparencies
of which a steady stream Of light was
still pouring, though the sun was doing
its best to dim its glory.
The inspector frowned. II only
know that the keeper is neglecting his
duty"
The sailor shook his head. "Some-
thing more's amiss, I'm thinking. The
light came near playing us q jack-o'-
lantern trick just before day. She put
on her night cap all Of sudden, and
twas like the polar star had let loose o.
the compass needle. A little more'n we'd
dashed upon the reefs, only she walked
up and showed us her sinners. And not
Q wink has she took since. Something's
wrong. Cap'n buttons been prompt as
the sun these twenty years."
Captain Dutton? Ist Captain Kyle
Dutton that's keeper of the lighthouse
yonder?" asked one of the briggs passen-