The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1888-06-08


selves along the northern horizon. aud
widened and mounted up toward mid
heaven.
Il don't like the looks of the
weather" viii said. standing with
Carrie at the doorway aud watching
the going down of The sun. I'D bet
ter not go tonight b lila. b 'ntly has
n yer been alone. and do OF wish 10
leave him in charge such an evening
MS this, for the night will be wild. You
two girls go; Bently'll row You over
and Tom will bring you home.
We'll do nothing of tho sort, WAR
Bella declared. emphatically. ''You
must go with us Bently is peri city
capable of caring for the lamps this
once If he isn't why do you have
him? Anyway. it isn't so dreadfdlly
Important"
Not importanti'' WIN turned his
steady brown eyes full on his wife.
MY dear Bella. if but one life were
lost tonight in The storm that is COM
ing. would you have me sop"
b u protested eagerly that there
was no such danger; that Bsntly was
capable; that she would never for give
him did he net go this once, when Car
rie interrupted her.
.Wlli." she said. aud the sunlight
r ii and threatening was full IN her
face '.you go with Bella. l would
prefer remaining home. understand
The lamps. a vi Bsntly will assist me.
Trust M. nothing shall happon if
can help it. / rather wish to BE-
alone"
A first VIII would not c.nsent TO
this. but Bella was persistent and
Carrie insisted; and he knew if once
the lamps were set, there was nothing
TO do-at least not until he could re-
turn; so he finally agreed. and they
started ere the sun went down. for
Bella would have il 81.
The heavens grew lark with Storm;
the sun was almost gone. and Carrie.
beginning TO eel unesi 81 beeaus Bent
" did not come rs usual. took into her
own slim hands the task Of setting =
light for the safety OF these on the n
Ii was not a hard task. She lit the
great double wicks with steady hands
and fastened securely the glass doors
around the lamps. but she did not
lingcr as usuaI on the balcony 20
watch the world Of night come up from
the sea.
She went down stairs TO the CHEEKY
sitting-room and watched the sea
tumble along the rocks aud the lurid
lightaing play among the clouds. but
Den,ly diI not come. and feeling Eof
dread took possession of her
Carrie leaned her face against the
casing of the window aud watched
the storm.
Darkness was over every thing.
broken only now and then by the fire
in the clouds; while the rolling thun-
der. The roar Of the surf and the beat
ing rain. were the only Sounds
Presently through Carrie ) thoughts
the idea impressed itself on heI
mind that something was wrong;
and suddenly like binding flash, III :
+ truth was upon her.
The light Das not shining!
What was the matter she did not
/ know OF only one thing was she
/ certain-unl .ss the lamps were lit at
once. any vessel near the coast was
in dang.r of shipwreek upon the
( rocks.
She was alone, and the undertaking
was dangerous in the storm and dark
ness; but she had undertaken the
/ charge of the light until her brother 5
return. and the charge should be a:
! faithfully carried out as was in hei
power She must have left some part
+ of her work undone, or the acc;d ent
would not have happened, Such {
| thing never happened when hel
! brother was there.
All these thoughts were swift as the
| lightning, and hurriedly taking dowr
| the lantern in the passage and light
| ing It, she ran up the stairs 10 tn,
/ tower, and was amazed 10 find boil
the huge lamps burning brightly lik'
fiery monsters Her eyes were quick T.
note all things mp there just then. an,
| she saw the Gus 9 of the outer dark
ness The heavy covering around tn
outside of the glass had not been re
moved. and the lights within wer
useless.
1t was s.mpl, ISOLATION of the mys
terious darkness. but it was full o
danger and possible death to the BRAY
woman. who comprehended all wit
only a tightening of the lips and
sudden paleness ever the delicat
facc.
Firmly she passed down the frs
low flight of stone stairs to the land
ing; then, with an inarticulate praye
on her lips. she reached up, and un
fastening the heavy door at the side
forced It open aud faceI the will
storm. A slender iron ladder up tn
side of the tower without railing o
support. was her only means of reach
ing the balcony above; and up thi
perilous way she went DraEely.
The winds tore at her dress and he
lanterns; the rain heat in fury agains
her; tho lightning was binding, th
thunder like foar of artillery in battle
But she succeeded; and unfastenin
and rolling together the cover. sh
let out flood of light on the boiling
waves along the shore, and showe'
the white line of breakers on the rec
and boat ro cking like shell in tn
milst of it.
Fer moment she held her bre eatl
in awe and terror; then. undaupted
sought her way carefully down th
slippery ladder; but when she reached
the tower door aud turned to enter
she found it had blown shut she hay
ing failed TO fasten it open, and
could not be opened from the on sid