Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-07-11
TIE LIGHTHOUSE D KEEPER.

life, but two or three narrow escapes from
shipwreck had convinced him that it was
desirable to have something solid beneath
ones feet, and he had, with considerable
Giniculty-for there had beer suspicion
that Saul was not quite STEADY
enough for lighthouse keeper-obtained
the position on Plum Pudding Rock.
Phoebe WAS born there, and, her mother
diving when she was very small, had
grown up there almost as wild and un-
trained rs the sen gulls that built their
nests in the crevices Of the rocks. Quite
as unframed, she might have been if il
had not been for Aunt Huldah Maria, who
lived on Mouse Island.
There was n school on Mouse Island for
six months in the year, and Phoebe went
to 1t sometimes; she could not go regular
", because-wcll, although it is very sad
it must be told-because it was not al
WAYS safe to leave her father in charge Of
the lighthouse. He had been "steady'
ever since he assumed the position OF
lighthouse keeper, fiften years before,
until the last year. Even after that long
period of successful resistance his Old en-
envy, the love of drink, had fallen upon
and conquered him. And nobody knew
it but Phoebe.
Captain Saul, as everybody called him,
had always been in the habit of going to
Jim Bowling's shop, Mt Pondunquit Har-
Dor, which was Il sort OF sailors' snug
harbor," to smoke his pipe and spin yarns
with his old cronies, but he never drank
anything there. And it was only within
the last year that he had brought anything
home from the harbor to drink. Now he
did it often; indeed, il was seldom he came
home without it, and, all by himself, he
would have drinking bout, growing
merry ut first and singing Old sea songs
and cracking jokes, and poor little Phoebe,
who did not know the cause, thought his
mood delightful, and wished lie would al
ways seem as happy; but soon he began
to drink more heavily, and would pass
from the merry stage into the cross and
irritable one, and then become stupid,
sleepy and utterly helpless. And, besides,
her grief and humiliation were constantly
anxious lest her father should lose his sit
uation. They had no money, and whore
in the wide world could they find another
home if they had to leave the Plum Pud-
ding!
This was the sorrow and care that had
changed PhGbe's face from a round and
rosy and dimplcd little one so that 1t was
now pinched and wan, and had care
worn look that was so sad TO see. There
were several men who wanted Captain
Saul's position at the lighthouse, and
would be glad to report anything that
they could discover to injure him. Every
day Phoebe expected that the blow would
fall, and they would be obliged 10 leave
their home.
There was to be great merry-making
on Mouse Island. PhGbe's oldest cousin,
Marie Cordilly, was to marry Jed Collins,
who was soon to sail as mate Of the Firing
Scud, the finest ship that ever hailed from
Pondunquit. But when Phoebe said "she
didn't think she could come; she would
rather stay ut home and let her father
come" there was a terrible outcry.
Aunt Huldah Maria said "Phebe should
come or she would know the reason," and
that was just what Phoebe didn't want
that Aunt Huldah Maria should "know
the reason why" So she said, IL she pos
sibly could, she would come. She tried
to persuade her father not to 60 to Pondun-
quit Harbor two or three days before the
wedding, but on that very day nc had IN
errand that could not be delayed, he said.
lie came back only just in time for Phoebe
to get Of to be at Aunt Huldah Maria's as
early as she had promised. But he seemed
very kind and affectionate, and told her
"not to worry; he would take good care
of the light" and kissed her, which had
become quite unusual, and said cit was a
great pity il the mate couldn't go off on a
little lark when the captain was left be-
hind to take car. OF the ship" He always
called the lighthouse ship, and Phoebe
had been the mate ever since she was five
years old.
Aunt Huldah Maria rejoiced, even in
the niIst Of her labors rs hostess, at
Phebe's bright face, Perhaps the child
had ONLY been a little overworked or all
inc. or there was not so much trouble at
the Plum Pudding as she had fancied.
But even while the fiddler was playing
his most enhancing strains and the wed
ding cake was being passed in the most
generous slices Phoebe heard whisper
that made her heart stand still. David
Judkin, the SON Of the man who wanted
her fathers place, was talking to another
young man.
"It isn't such very thick fog, and
never saw fog so thick that you cOuldn I
see some sign of the Plum Pudding light
from Mouse Island; and If it can't be
seen tonight it is on account Of the fog
but because the light isn't there"
"AnG the Advance is up in the harbor, u
said the other. "Captain Saul is at the
end of his lighthouse keeping, If you are
right"
awe might skirmish round little and
sce," said David Judkins. at would be
pity for the officers not to find 1t out
you know"
The two young men went out Phoebe