The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-02-11

OhNIkuts cue Jul Oh TIC
and saw Benny struggling 10 plant his fsh-
rcd close 10 the water. From its top waved
three long streamers. This was in accord
ance with an agreement the two had made
just before she left him for the night.
who will think it means anything?" she
ssked herself. Still the sight Of it gave q bit
of comfort.
Then she began her work. For the first few
times che fancied it would be quite easy to
turn the machinery. But in half an hour
she began to tire, and soon every muscle
achtd, and q binding glare was in her
brain, for unconsciously she had kept eyes
fixed on the flames of the lamps.
Then she grew anxious. "Oh, can not l
hold out even one nightm she thought.
She hurried to the window and put her
bead into the cool air. But she was nerv-
ously afraid the time would pass, and she
shon miss her duty.
The night then grew cloudy and very dsrK.
When it was ten she thought it was after
midnight. There was no cessation, no rest
IL was like the drop of water falling regu-
larry on the head, the old, dreadful torture.
By twelve the girl thought she would have
given countless treasures to be able to throw
herself on the floor and stay there half an
hour. Once when she thrust her her out Of
the window she saw beautiful FURNISHED
purple and green wild duck suddenly dart
into The glow of the light, coming straight
toward her. In the next breath he had
dashed his head against the closed wire
screen. He carled over and fell dead to the
ground. The sight Of this poor creatures
fate turned her cold. 1t was like premo-
milton.
III give up for one minute, shall be
bysterlcall she said to herself, and she
turned resolutely back to the lantern. In
half a minute she revolved the light. So
the night went on, until it was half after
two.
Then there was a little sound behind her.
She looked and saw Benny's head just above
on the stairs, and had cup and saucer in
his hand.
Mothers awake" he said. "She told me
how to make some tea. She thought you'd
SOh. thank you! Thank your cried the
girl. and she drank the tea eagerly.
How does it 60 here?' he asked.
at has gone somehow. / suppose it will
come morning sometime! How are your
mother and father"
Il think mothers better. But fathers
bad" And he hurried away.
The tea was strong, and stimulated her for
three hours. 1t was daylight then, but
there was fog. All at once the watcher
was so sleepy that her eyelids would drop as
she turned at her work. Then she would
grow frightened at herself, and for five min
utes thereafter she would be wide awake,
and thinking OF the sailors who might be
watching for the fash OF the light.
The moments now were terrible, Should
she live to see the hand of that watch point
to seven? Was it only one night that she
had passed, and there were SO many more to
come. Can l endure it," she thought.
at seven o'clock she mechanically extin-
guished the lights. II will sit down one mo-
n ent," she murnured.
Half an hour later Benny peeped in and
saw DOOR heroic, tired Kate sitting on the
floor, her back against the wall, dead with
sleep. as he told his mother.
Mrs. Shafto sent him back with a blanket,
which he threw over her. at ten O'Clock
she was Weakened by the sun shining in her
face. She ran down stairs to find Mr.. Shafto
tossing with fever; but her aunt looked
brighter.
'Its kind of slow fever that's got me"
said Mrs. Shafto. 1--we had it at0re. It's
tedious, but 1t amt dangerous. 1 sh'll be
able most of the time to direct Benny. Eat
your breakfast, Kate. Then I'll tell you
what to do. One thing sure, you've got to
How did the next week pass, and the week
after, and still another?
David Shsfto's fever ragged fercely, but
Mrs. Shafto's illness only kept her weak and
dizzy. Once the woman tried to mount the
tower stairs and was found by Benny lying
at the 1901 Oh tlem.
kate will die! She looks like ghostl"
cried Mrs. Shafto,
And Kate felt like ghost. Only ghosts
should not know such mortal WEAKNESS of
flesh and blood. When green tea ceased to
have power she said that would be the end
of her. About two o'clock every night
BenBp brought her the tea, and she worke
on the stimulus that gave her for the re-
naming hours. She did what she could
in the day, but her aunt made her go to her
attic to sleep for several hours. For many
days she would fall asleep the instant she
lay down.
But the third week she found when she
tiled to sleep that her brain was on fire, and
every nerve seemed alive. She could not
keep still. so much the BETTER" she said
with a laugh. But she little knew the sad
and fearful significance of this.
AS long as / live, the sailors shall see that
light" she said one evening, on that last
third week. THAT is my duty, and 1 shall
stick to it. OH" she exclaimed, with a sud-
see my mother! wish / could see my moth
er!"
On the last day of the third week, at about
eleven in the forenoon, Kate had just finished
filing and cleaning the lamps, when she
heard the sound of laughing, and the voices
of men and women.
She ran out on the tiny balcony, and
leaned over. a boat had 1Qst landed near
Benny's signal. Three men and two women
walked up toward the house. Kate's eyes
burned and ached, Round and round went
her brain. Then something snapped in her
head, and she thought binding, ineffable
food of light poured upon her.
"Oh, there is mother" she shrieked, "there
is motherr' She reached out her arms over
the balcony and laughed so loud and so
strangely that Mrs. Devins cried out IN ter
ror.
Mother motherl" screamed Kate, 81 will
Jump down to you'll" and she began to
scramb BILE upon the railing.
"Stop stopl" cried Mrs. Devins, and she
ran swiftly toward the door of the tower.
Some one clutched at Kate's skirts. It'll
hold her!" shouted Benny, behind, strug-
Cling with her. "She don't know what she 9
doing.'
Painting, half dead, the mother reached
the turret. Kate was laughing and crying
Historically, and for the time had lost all
control of herself.
II stuck to the light" she kept saying
and would sometimes add, There's no
need of sleeping. No, there's no need of
sleeping"
The girl did not have fever, but the