Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-09-11

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
al hour before, though a sense OF
shame came over her at the remem~
brance of her late discomfort.
81 almost reproached God fer send-
ing me to Sardham," she thought,
sand He had this work for me to do,
How wicked, how foolish was!'
But Florence had little time for re-
fleeing on her past conduct; she was
very unpleasantly called to the pres
emit by dash of spray in her face and
a rush of water at her feet; the tide
had SO advanced that every now and
then 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-
err removed, she thought. from the
boiling waters which seethed angrily
around this rocky ridge and stunned
her with their noises.
Suddenly a dreadful mist seemed to
dim her eyes II she turned deathly
pale-could this yards width of sand
be all the footing left herr Had the
tide come in so quickly as TO swallow
up the rest of the beach?
IL was too true, and before the ter
rifed girl had staggered on a few PAGES
home ward an angry wave dashed over
her, almost throwing her against the
rocks. She cast despairing glance
upward. but the cliff in taat 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 in the distance seemed to cry:
Back turn backl' and she had just
sense enough left to folio the dIrec,
ton. With difficulty she made her
way back to the ridge, which, being a
little higher than the beach, still gave
a footing. There just as selfposses-
sion was failing her she felt herself
seized by a mans arm and dragged
hastily through what seemed a sea of
boiling water toward the cliff, farthest
from the point. There the strip of
beach was little wider, and for
second she would have stayed TO gain
breath; but the man urged her on,
telling her there was not 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
companion. Her strength was fast
ebbing away, and hope again deserted
her, when the blessed sight of the old
pier met her eyes. She made violent
effort, and, half dragged by her com
panion, chung to one of the vet 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
managed to follow erguide, and how
she reached the crazy pier above, she
never could tell. Saved at last and
thank God for it," said the man who
had helped her. But Florence had
no strength even to say amen.
Not for some days was she able to
tell her tale to her terrified relatives
They had taken her on the evening Of
her adventure, wet and half senseless,
without cloak, or hat, from the arms
O. the man who had rescued her, and
who described how he had seen the
dangerous position of the girl on the
each as he was walking on the cliff
above, and instantly making the best
Of his way toward her. Fortunately
he knew the ground, and knew that
he could get down the cliffs near the
old pier.
Robert More, when he came to his
senses the day after the accident, beg
ged so earnestly that some one should
be sent to look after the light house
and his bedlidden mother, that
trusty perso IN was dispatched for the
purpose.
Old Bridget was discov red half
starved mo one having been near her
since Florence's hasty visit the after
noon before), but quite contented
since the lighthouse had sent its
beams into her cottage window all
night.
Nothing will ever persuade Bridget
that Miss Florence is not the greatest
heroine that ever trod the earth, and
despite much headshaking over the
dangers their darling had passed
through, Mr.. and MIS- Danvers are
of the same opinion. Florence Sees
now that no place i too dull or too
small to do good in, whether it be the
tiny matter of teaching child to
read, or the greater one of secur
ing sthe safety of ships laden with
mems. lives. There is always work
to be! had for the earnest laborer.
Good works are not s. matter of time
Il l.