Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-03-19
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

NIGHTIN A LIGHTHOUSE.
Polly Jane shut the door. She had
shut the same door more than thirty
times since the tall clock struck mid
day and it was then only half-past
four,
Il can't see TO tell whether he is
coming or not, much longer" she
sighed. Going to the bright blaze on
the hearth she threw herself on the
rug Polly Jane manufactured that
rug and spread her strong young hands
to catch every motor of heat the logs
threw out.
Presently Polly jane drew a long
sigh. That sigh drewsthe moment airy
attention of a young girl, scarcely older
than Polly herself, who sat reading.
DO you Think she asked, sit al
ters his coming one jot, or title, or
iota. your watching and slamming
that door all the afternoon?"
Cousin Sophronia," said Polly,
.'did you get all of those big words out
of that bookr l never thought of 1t
before. but now you ask, l guess 1t
does. I'll go out and look once more.
and add one more slam to the wind and
maybe it will fetch the boat in faster. !"
Polly Jane went out. As the echo
of the bang struck the cliff and came
rolling back, Polly said of Sophronia:
'She's no more i've to the things
going on around he le than a toad In
side rock is. She will just sit there
and read about some big shipwreck
that nobody ever saw, and let a real
one 60 on before her eyes and never
seem 10 know it,"
Polly looked out over the sea. Il
was cold, dismal outlook. A Decem-
ber night was closing down on black,
driven waves capped with foam. Long
and earnestly the large. steadfast gray
eyes of the girl wandered from near and
far. until they had scanned the hori-
IONS rim.
"Oh. dearI'' she sighed, as once
again she turned to the land. Behind
her lay a small, snug, comfortable
house, built by the government. Above
her lowered one of the tallest light
houses on the coast, although the light
was not on the coast.
In an instant, like fash, it ran
through Polly Jane, that she, by her
forgetfulness, had Periled her fathers
position as keeper of the light. In her
anxiety for him she had forgotten his
keenest interest. He had reminded
her before he left, over and over a. ain,
not to let the sun go down until the
light cleaned out; and Polly Jane had
promised, promised faithfully, but
without doubt of her fathers safe
return in time to do as he always had
done every night since she could re-
member.
Once more Polly threw open the
door. SophrOnia sat close to the win
dow holding up the book she was read
ing, to catch the last rays of the going
light.
"Comel come quick, and help mel'
cried Polly; az forgot to light up"
Sin a minute. l want to find out
whether Matilda"
Zone Sailer's life is worth all the
Matildas in creation" cried Polly
from the kitchen, where she secured a
box of matches. with which In her
band she sought the lighthouse. She
hastened up the stairs, long and wind
ing, gained the latter, and had sent
forth over the water five or six flashes
from the light before Sophronia was at
the foot of the stairs and alive to the
situation.
When al last the latter had gained
the light, she said to Polly Jane: Il
wouldn't worry about it, if l were
YOU '1isn't dark out doors yet, and
il wont make a might of difference"
Sad Polly, with tragic utterance:
mo differencel No differeDcel | don'i
suppose it does in novels, but in rea
lighthouse life it just means that if II
is reported to the board that Cliff
Head Light wasn't a-going when the
sun went down, off goes my father:
head, and all our living with it.
should think, SOphronia, that you
would know something, some time"
Who's going to tell, should like
to knOwS"
"WelI, now, if l everl Don't you
suppose the keeper at Trap Rock would
see? And down at Squirrel Bar, az
well? And then, how many ships dc
you suppose there are on the lookout
for just this flashing light? Oh! hope
no one will get on the sands, or into
the shoals, tonight, and lay it all tC
not seeing the Cliff light" moaned
Polly.
you've never had a wreck here
have you?' inquired SOphrOnia.
No. and |, for one, don't want
one said Polly.
We'll, now," continued Sophronia
81 think if the people were only rich
and handsome and could save theil
trunks. it would be rather NICE"
"a nice shipwreckF' repeated Polly.
THAT shows the ideas you get out OF
nOvels.''
Polly spoke with an echo of disdair
IN her voice. Polly had been born OF
C!lff Island-had always lived there
her visits to the mainland had been
brlef and mfTequent and the education
she had received had been given hel
by her mother. Polly's mother had
Deen dead nearly two years, and during
tnat time her father had never been q
night away from the island. Hel
cousin, SophrOnia Snyder, had beer
less than a month with them. At frs
Folly had admired Sophronia's pretty
airs and line clothes, but as the day:
went by SIZE tired of mere prettineS:
ana hne ralment and did her utmost +,
brlng SOphronla down from her worl(
Oh imagination to the real, practica
NE an American girl ought to live.
wish | was at home and nevel
came here!" lamented Sophronia.
foly's manner changed instantly
tou must forgive me-" she said, bu
Without taking her eyes from the light
forgot for the moment-I seem t,
forget every day now-that you are