Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-12-31

"
place I1sere Peter Carson's boat would
land. Short, black waves chopped
around the breakwater, and hurried
into the shore with an icy rush that
made the girls shiver.
81 hope,2 sSid Polly, ''that father
didn't start out, for he'd be nearly
frozen to death before he got here"
This she said as she turned away
and went up to the house. Within,
all is bright and snug, the fire glow
ing with heat, and the lamp adding
its CHEEKY light to the pleasant room.
With her fathers lantern Polly
went up the tower, closely followed
by Sophronia, who would not for an
instant, let he. go out of her sight.
Up above all was doing well, and the
girls went to sleep, one at either end
of the large sofa.
The night went on; the light fash
ing, the sea roaring, Peter Carson's
boat approaching when, with sud-
den start, Polly found herself wide
awake sitting upright, and gazing
with wild alarm at the faces of two
bearded men, who were peering with
eyes, pse to the window-panes, into
heArted room.
She said not word. She sprang
up, seized Sophronia by the shoulder
and shook her awake.
s'Has Uncle Peter Gomez" yawned
Sophronia, but without glance to-
ward the window; and had she look
ed in that direction she would have
seen nothing, for the bearded men
had retired.
''The light, the light come quick !''
gasped Polly, who was greatly alarm
ed.
''What's TIE matter with the light?'
"Never mind! come % and Polly
seized her by the arm and dragged
her through the door opening from
the sitting-room directly into the tow
err. Once inside, it was total dark
ness, and Sophronia heard the sound
of the great bolt moving.
"Now take hold of my hand, and |
will tell you,' said Polly, her voice
in a tremor of alarm. ''Father al
ways told me if | was frightened to
run right in here and bolt the door
and, Sophronia, don't you be afraid
for we are safe now, but l did see
two men looking into the window"
60 Polly, Polly! What shall we
do?' screamed Sophronia. 81 wish
had never come to this dreadful is
land"
$50 do T. gasped Polly, thorough
ly disguised with her cousin for
screaming, because that scream be-
trayed their locality. The next in
slant a loud knock was heard at the
very door behind which the two girls
were.
''What's wanting?" ventured Polly.
eve wish to see Mr.. Carson" was
the reply.
In an instant the great bolt was
thrown back, for Polly's hand had
not left it; the door in the lighted
room was pushed open and Polly,
much abashed and laughing, stepped
forth.
"Father isn't here, Mr.. Mason, and
l did not know you,'' she said. 81
didn't think l had been asleep, for l
r,nan+ 70 e+avr n,.-nI-o c.,I ---o+>I> ~
light. Has anything happened?"
"My boat is on the rocks, and
but never mind now" Mr.. Mason
and the other man were gone mo-
ments were precious things when the
waves and the rocks were at work to-
gether on the same boat, and no help
at hand.
"Who is it p questioned Sophronia,
stepping out of the darkness into the
room.
otis the splendid fellow at No.
Is, the coast guard who has saved so
many lives,' cried Polly, as she be-
gan to wrap up her head and prepare
to 60 out.
In vain Sophronia wrung her
hands and cried that she was not 60
ing out, and not going to be left
alone. Polly went forth. She knew
we'll where the rocks were, and the
point of danger. The light illumined
her way to the cliff, high and al
most precipitous rock that faced the
sea toward the southeast. From
thence she could see in the flashes,
the life-boat fast on the Tush-a
sharp rock that lay, at that stage,
we'll concealed, and ready to devour
an unsuspecting boat. In the life
boat there were women and children.
There had been a sore disaster some
where. She saw it at glance. Mr..
Mason had been trying to get them
into the island when caught on the
Tush, and-in another instant it was
revealed to her what she could do.
The coast guard must have been
very short of men, she thought. An
other glance, and she saw Mr.. Ma
son toiling out on the waves in his
little dory, a BOAT too small to carry
but one person.
Alone and breathless. Polly sped
across the island to the harbor. She
knew just wherein the darkest night,
to find her own little boat, always
kept ready for service.
The harbor was dark, but Polly
found her way into the boat, oars in
hand and Dushed off into the sea