Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-05-09

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and Tom will bring you home.
well do nothing of the sort. Willp
Bella declared, cmphatically. you
must go with u.s. Bently is perfectly
capable of caring for tho lamps this
once. II he isn't why do you have
himp Anyway, it isn't so dreadfully
importantly
''Not important" Will turned his
steady brown eyes full on his wife.
my dear b ella, II but one life were
lost tonight in tho storm that is COM
ing. would you have mo goP"
Bella protested eagerly that there
was no such danger; that Bontly was
capable; that she would never forgive
him did he net go this once, whom Car
rie interrupted her.
''Will." she said, and the sunlight
red and threatening was full in her
face. "you go with Bella. l would
prefer remaining home. understand
the lamps. and Benlly will assist me.
Trust me. nothing shall happen if l
can help it. l rather wish to be
alone"
AT first viii would not consent 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 it so.
The heavens grew dark with storm;
the sun was almost gone and Carrie,
beginning TO feel uneasy because Bent
ly did not como as usual. took into her
own slim hands the task of setting n
light for the safety of those on the sen.
1t was not hard task. She lit the
great double wicks with steady hands,
and fastened securely the glass doors
around tho lamps. but she did not
linger as usual on the balcony to
watch tho world of night come up from
the sea.
She went down stairs TO the CHEEKY
sitting-room and watched tho sea
tumble along the rocks and the lurid
lightning play among the clouds, but
Bently did not come, and feeling Gof
dread took possession of her.
Carrie leaned her face against tho
casing of the window and 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
ling rain, were the only sounds.
Presently through Carrie thoughts
the. idea impressed itself on her
mind that something was wrong;
and suddenly like binding flash, the
truth was upon her
The iight Ods not Shining!
What was the matter she did not
know. OF only one thing was she
certain-unless the lamps were lit at
once, any vessel near the coast was
in danger of shipwreck upon the
rocks.
She was alone. and tho undertaking
was dangerous in the storm and dark
ness; but she had undertaken the
charge of the light until her brother S
return, and the charge should be as
faithfully carried out rs was in her
power She must have left some part
of her work undonc, or the accid cnt
would not have happened. Such a
thing never happened when her
brother was there.
All these thoughts were swift rs tho
lightning, and hurriedly taking down
the lantern in the passage and light
ing il, she ran up the stairs TO the
tower, and was amazed 10 find both
the huge lamps burning brightly like
fiery monsters. Her eyes were quick to
note all things up there just then. and
she saw the cause of the outer dark
ness. The heavy covering around the
outside of the glass had not been re-
moved, and the lights within were
useless.
II was simple solution of the mys-
tcrious darkness, but it was full OF
danger and possible death to the brave
woman, who comprehcndcd all with
only a tightening of tho lips and a
sudden paleness over tho delicate
face.
Firmly she passed down the first
low fight of stone stairs TO the land
ing; then. with an inarticulato prayer
on her lips, she reached up, and UNI
fastening the heavy door at the side,
forced it open and faced the wild
storm. A slender iron ladder up the
side OF The tower without railing or
support, was her only means of reach
ing the balcony above; and up this
perilous way she went pravely.
The winds tore at her dress and her
lantern; the rain beat in fury against
her; the lightning was binding, the
thunder like roar of artillery in battle.
But she succeeded; and christening
and rolling together the cover, she
let out Il God of light on the boiling
waves along the shore, and showed
the white line of breakers on the reef
and boat rocking like shell in the
midst of il.
For moment she held her breath
in awe and terror; then, undaunted.
sought her way carefully down the
slippery ladder; but when she reached
the tower door and turned to enter
she found it had blown shut, she hav-
ing failed 10 fastcn it open, and it
could not DO opened from the outside!
Frantically she clung to the iron
steps in the rush of wild thoughts that
overpowcrcd her, while the storm
throbbcd in fury around her. Sud-
denly gull. driven by the wind past
her. struck the lantern and il fell from
her hold, dashed in fragments below.
Should she lose her hold, the same fate
would be hers.
AT midnight; when the storm abatcd
enough for boat to live on the water,
Will left his wife among her friends,
and crossed to the lighthouse in
nameless anxiety. In the CHEEKY sit
noon, Ia fo,uI Gamma aud Ton,