Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-17

II,
and this bad weather there'll be yes.
sells on the rock afore morning, and
my' Robert will have to bear the
blame, and he sick in bed"
''Isa't there enough oil there to run
the light till morning?" asked Flor
ence, pointing to the jar.
GAY, sure; but never a soul has
been near me since the bit Of a child
dropped the note and ran off, and me
tied to my bed like log"
'Let me fetch a man from the VIII
lage," said Florence.
But the old woman shook her
head
'The time wouldn't serve," she said,
this west wind, if body ran straight
for their lives, they couldn't only just
get there and back before the tide
comes in"
81 will CO." said Florence, "there is
time for that; I know all about it;
Robert showed me how to put the oil
into the lamp the day grandfather and
l went over there;" and she took the
pitcher IN her hand. ''The key,
Bridget. All, see it; and before the
old woman could get out the blessings,
fears, and warnings. which quickly
followed one another, Florence had
left the cottage, carefully guarding
the'oil can
The path wound down the cliff,
then skirted it's base, and finally pass
ed along the ridge Of rocks running
some fifty yards out TO sea. This Jast
was very slippery, as it was covered
with water at high tide.
Florence went bravely on, however,
only once stopping to gain breath,
when the wind caught her hat and
blew it far away. She did not attenapt
to recover it, for she already heard the
roar Of the advancing tide and saw
the white breakers approaching far
too near the Lighthouse.
AS quick as she could she pressed
on. At last she reached the tower,
unlocked the door and made her way
up the steep stairs. AS she said, she
perfectly understood the simple pro-
cess of feeding the lamp, and her
work was soon done.
When she left the Lighthouse, lock-
ing the door behind her, her heart
felt ten times lighter than it had done
an hour before, though a sense Of
shame came over her at the remems
brance of her late discomfort.
81 almost reproached God fer send~
ing me to Sardham," she thought,
and He had this work for me to do.
How wicked, how foolish I wasr'
But Florence had little time for re-
fecting on her past conduct; she was
very unpleasantly called to the pres
ent by dash of spray in her face and
rush of water at her feet; the tide
had SO advanced that every now and
then a wave leaped over the ridge she
was passing along.
Evidently there was no time to be
lost. She tried to hasten on, but the
wind battling with her cloak sadly
retarded her, and her loosened hair
blew wildly across her face. She
pushed bravely forward, though now
ankle deep IN water, cheering herself
with the thought that when she got
on the level beach she could get On
faster. She would then, too, be furth-
er removed, she thought, from the
boiling waters which seethed angrily
around this rocky ridge and stunned
her with their noises.
SuddenIy dreadful mist seemed to
dim her eyes she turned deathlv
pale-could this yards width of sand
be all the footing left her? Had the
tide conae in SO quickly as TO swallow
up the rest of the beach?
It was too true, and before the ter
rified girl had staggered on few PAGES
homeward an angry wave dashed over
her, almost throwing Ter against the
rocks. She cast g despairing glance
upward, but the cliff in that part was
too steep for human foot. She felt
almost paralyzed with fear. Though
she tried to cry for help she could
form no sound. Another and another
wave struck her. Just then some
voice ia the distance seemed to cry:
Back turn back!" and she had Just
sense enough left to follow the direc-
ton. With difficulty she made her
way back to the ridge, which, being
little higher than the beach, sill gave
a footing. There just as self-posses-
sion was failing her she felt herself
seized by Il mans arm and dragged
hastily through what seemed s-a If
boiling water toward the cliff, farthest
from the point. There the strip OF
beach was a little wider, and for
second she would have stayed to gain
breath; but the man urged her on,
telling her there was not q second to
loose. 1--WE must make for the old
pier" he said hoarsely. Florence
struggled on. and at times saved only
from being swept away by her strong
Her strength was fast
ebbing away, and hope again deserted
her, when the blessed sight Of the old
pier met her eyes. She made a violent
effort, and, half dragged by her COM
panion, chung to one Of the wet sea-
weed hung timbers. 'There's nothing
for us to do but to climb this, " said the
man, "hold tight, while [ go first and
drag thee after" How Florence ever
to follow herguide. and how
she reached the crazy pier above, she
never could tell. Saved at last and
thank Gnd for, 1T - said the man who