The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-04-08
THE BEACON FIRE.

1t was wild and rocky coast, along
which ran the path that led to the home
of old Martin Frere. At ordinary times
the cottage would have possessed but
little attraction for bold sterling youth
like Owen Glenn. But visitor had of
late frightened up its precincts-a young
girl named Annie, named after the aged
grandmother who dozed by the hearth
through the long evenings, content to
watch the bright flames as they shot up
from the broad fireplace, and perhaps to
see visions of the past with her dim
eyes.
Dame Frere was sharp voiced, bust
ling woman, long past middle age, and
not having the name of possessing very
sweet temper, but she had a soft place
in her heart for granny, and it was to
please her that she had invited her pretty
namesake to come and visit them for a
few months.
Annis was tall, slight girl, as straight
as pine tree, and as graceful as fawn.
Her yellow hair hung in perfect maze
Of shining curls all about her shoulders
and far down below her waist. Imagine
sweet innocent face lighted with great
lustrous dark eyes, and red mouth al
most always curving into smiles, and
you have some idea of Annis.
Most of the young girls in the vicinity
were buxom, merry lasses, with hair and
eyes to match-both of intense black
ness-and with more or less of the hoy
den in them. Their laughter was loud
and hearty, and their ways more frolic-
some than refined SO that it is not
strange that when this graceful, quiet
stranger came among them, with her
shy ways and blonde coloring, her swift
changes of expression and native ease of
manner, she was at once taken into the
hearts of all the young people in the
neighborhood.
Owen Glenn had fallen head over heels
in love at his first meeting with Annis,
and had not missed an opportunity of
meeting her at the various rustic gather
ings to which she had been invited, and
tonight he was going to seal his fate by
telling Annis- that he loved her, and ask
if he could hope for response to the ar
dent feeling with which he had been in
spired by her.
Owen was not at all certain as to the
success of his suit, for there was another
who admired Annis. and who was far
above him in worldly station and wealth,
and as Owen, in his freedom from vani-
ty, also thought, in good looks and in
IdDther qualities calculated to win girls
'gheart.
Annis had received the pleasant little
Y courtesies and attentions of both in way
calculated TO wound sither; though, as
to that, it would he { been an impossi-
bility for her TO be other than so sweet
and gracious as not to enkindle hope in
each passionate young heart.
Thus matters@stood as Owen started
from his home to take the long and
tedious walk over the cliffs, which must
be traversed before he could reach the
cottage which sheltered the object oi
llshis love.
ba 1t had been raining steadily all day
N1ong, and as night came on the wind
had risen to a gale.
\ But, wrapped in his waterproof cloak
lsand lighted on his way by lantern
Owen cared nothing for the threatening
lements, and walked along, whistlins
softly, now and then pausing to shake
himself, after the fashion of some huge
water dog
Then he would trudge on again, think
ing what terrible night it must be a
--9a, and breathing prayer for the wave
bssed mariners far from home.
Suddenly dull, booming sounC
.ached his ear.
|. 1t came from a seaward direction
but at first he kept on his way think
ing:
T'Thisis not the harbor, and ever
one who has the slightest knowedge o
the locality will be sure to avoid such
dangerous coast so it's no business o
mine.
Again the sound came. This tim
owen stopped and listened.
A thought came into his mind as h
did so, but it initiated so directly agains
his inclinations TO give heed to it tina
with an impatient 'Pshaww he starte
on.
But he could not rid himself of it.
was this: ''If a ship is in peril, and he
lost her way, the only thing that coul
save her would be a huge beacon fir
to cast a light upon her surround
inRs."