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

as though something dreadful was
coming of it."
you'll feel better when your father
comes here" comforted Sophronia.
ssBut he was not even in sight when L
came up" said Polly; and then came
her fear that he might not get to the
island that night.
.sOnly to think of i'll All night alone!
Just two young girlsl 1t would be ever
so nice in a story, but here L shouldn't
like it one bit," said Sophronia.
Poor Polly ADJUSTED wick at that
moment. Watching the flashes rise
and fall over the sea. she ammo unced
that all was right; and they would 60
down and have tea
A half hour later the two girls sat at
the little round table in the tidy kltch-
en-. taking their tea. Outside the night
darkened, grew cold very fast, and
every instant a keen, cutting wind
skurrled across the water. Their SIM
pie repast taken, they went out where
they could get good look at the light;
and, finding it doing its duty, they
went down to the landing. Govern
ment had built a small breakwater and
made a tiny harbor; just enough room
was there for the landing OF needful
supplies and to give shelter to the light
keepers small craft.
FlashI flashl came the light of the
great eve looking out at sea and lllu-
minating the little island, only to leave
it in intense darkness the next mo-
ment.
Peer as they would, not sign of an
incoming boat could be seen. Far on,
very far of, the educated eyes of Polly
dlscerned a steamships lights.
Meanwhile Polly's father in his at
tempt to reach home, had met with an
accident. In going down the river, to
avoid, if possible, a collision with an
upward bound craft, the channel being
narrow and the wind out Of the wrong
quarter, he ran too close III, and not
only got aground. but had his sail
scraped and rent by the boom OF the
other boat. Now. Peter Carson was a
good man, with his heart bound rp in
Polly and the light; and when the
small disaster defeated his purpose he
was out of patience. For full ten Sec
onds he never stirred; then he rose up,
in order to see over the sedgy bank OF
the river, looked steadfastly at Cliff
Island, lying like a small bog in the
midst of the great sea, and said: This
is fix"
He was five miles from the island,
and two from the village up the river
whence he had come. In his boat lay
the choice delicacies and extra provi-
sions Tor the coming Christmas. Ii
was for the purpose of procuring these
that he had set forth. And now, tC
add to his discomfort, the boat that had
damaged him was sailing serenely up
the river, regardless of his hurt.
The tide was still falling. In fouI
hours, that is at o'clock in the De
cember evening, he might be atiOat
and, as to tie sail, he might double
reef that and be all night getting
home. To walk back two miles on the
uncertainty of procuring a craft that
he could man would take a long time
and then he must risk his boat. Peter
Carson did not forget that it was &
government boat, and that one of his
duties was to stand by 1t. He reefed
his sail, reefng in the rent. and then
as 1t grew cool, he landed end walked
up and down the reedy bank to keel
warm. The sun began to sink, lowel
and-loWer until at last the hills hiC
it.
Then Peter Carson bent his eyes OF
the island. He took out his watch ant
counted the minutes. Its time i
fiashedr' he said to himself, breath
lessly, and watched again. Newhert
around the horizon was there toker
of the suns shining. The lightkeepel
greaned out: "Oh, Polly! Polly!' anc
still the minutes passed, and no sigI
came.
The great revolving light on Squire
Bar was going-had been going full 2
! minutes. Peter Carson was almos
wild with nameless agony. He knew
that his position was one to be desired
of lightkeepers; he knew that any de
reelection IN duty would be certain to b
reported; be knew that should this pO
sition be lost to him no other would
open, for all the lighthouses were unde
the same master; all these things h'
knew, and yet not for moment did b.
think of them. His thoughts ran ou
TO some possible peril to passenger
crew, or ship that trusted him to do hi
duty-and it was not done.
What coulo nave happened at the is
!, land to make his daughter forget he
! promise? Tie very thought of poSsibl
danger to her MADE the man frantic
He leaped from his boat and ran up III
2 ha 70 rI- tho uillanQ
He went on until, out of breath, b.
paused half way to the town and looke'
around. There, in its wonted bright
ness, flashed Cliff Island light. Pete
Carson stood still, and looked at
until tears of gratitude dimmed it
, lustre. Then calmly and slowly h,
trod the way back to his boat, AM
waited through wind cold and darknes
for the mysterious tide to flow in upO
him and bear him down to the grea
deen.
This, Peter carson intended, shoul
be his last trip to the mainland until th
spring.
1t was 9 of the clock when he wa
again atloat. Down the river, out Q
the shelter of its protecting banks, tn
wildness of the night swooped aroun
him and his sdouble1reefed sail. AT las
he was off for the island, and there wa
the light to cheer him on. The win
was contrary, it was hard work tack
ing, and his course was very slow.
1t was 9 O'Clock at the island whe
Sophronia declared that she could nc
keep awake another minute, not for al
the lighthouses in creation: and Poll
Jane said that she was going up ono
more to the harbor, and then she, toe
would go to sleep on the sofa in th
r sitting-room.
| Sophronia yawnea and Polly yawnet
: and the very wind seemed to yawn, a
i the two girls, with shawls over the
r heads, ran down to the place wher
! Peter Carson's boat would land. Shor
{ black waves chopped around the breal
? water and hurried into the shore wit
! an icy rush that made the girls shive
; Il hope" sighed Polly, THAT fatht
/, didn't start out, for he'd be nearly fr'
| zen to death before he got here"
| Then they turned away and went U
to the honse. Within, all was brigf
r and snug. the fire glowing with he;
A. lo,,o,, .I1inn ttl phQprV liOt