Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-09-20
MISTRESS MARIAN'S LIGHT

llSubT lOlk. teneThJlOn aIJef generation
has been born, lived and died in this same
island village, yet all the people seem to re
tain the customs and quaint ways of fifty
years ago from the old weather-worn sail
or, TO the youngest child among them, they
seem, to an unusual degree, guileless and
simple and kindly, while to the stranger
within their gates their goodness is unlimit-
ed. 1t is like "reminiscences of bygone
days TO partake of their generous hospital
ity
At late hour one soft sweet night in
early summer, while sojourning for a time
among these people, ! noticed, far down on
a point Of land, that rocky and wave worn,
makes out into the sea, strange light that
seemed TO be suspended few feet from
the earth Soft and wavering it was,
sometimes dim but so unmistakably a
light, that ] was somewhat perplexed, and
the next morning | asked my hostess the
cause of the strange phenomenon.
The woman's countenance changed in an
instant, and she assumed a sympathetic,
pitying look as she replied with wise, un-
canny shake of her head "Why, that is
Mistress MaTians light And so she went
on and told me this story.
Away down on the point, where the
brown soil of the interior of the island be
gins to mingle with the white sand along
the sea, there was, many years ago, a small
cottage, built by a seafaring man, who,
with his family, occupied it for short
time. They then removed to neighboring
shore, and the house remained untenanted
many months.
In the course of time two strangers came
to the islsnd-an old man and his little
daughter. Venerable indeed was the father,
and with his snow white hair and beard,
and his dignifed scholarly hearing, he
might have been king among men. No
one seemed N know just when or how they
came they appeared suddenly and unex-
pectedly, and seemed to find relief in the
quietness Of the place. As wandering
meteor, travelling throu gh limitless space,
finds rest somewhere in Gods great uni
verse, so did these two strangers find "a
dwelling place in this secluded spot.
To the little uninhabited cottage on the
point they went, and the simple life of the
islanders became their life. They became
"a part, and still not part, of the fisher
folk The dgnifed old man was so unlike
any one whom they had ever seen before
that they were shy of him and long
though he lived among them, quietly as
ssting the needy, and lending a helping
hand to all, they were never quite at
ease with him, though they worshipped him
from afar. 1t was as though he breathed a
rarer atmosphere than they, and dwelt
above them and they were content to ac-
cept his kindness and to marvel at his
greatness.
Not so the child, with her soft brown eyes
and her gentle, winning manner. "A lady
born and bred, she is" the good DANES said,
one to another, many times. But she was
child, strangely alone, the motherly
arms were opened 10 her, and the children
made this little Marian their playmate.
They seemed to be people of means-this
father and daughter The cottage was
furnished comfortably, even luxuriously
and many books, some of them in quaint
and curious bindings, were about. On the
low walls hung several pictures, the like OF
which the islanders had never seen before
rich rugs covered the bare floors piece
of rare Eastern embroidery was flung over
a low couch upon an oddly carved shell
were some bits of china, delicate and frag
| lie, as though fashioned from rose leaves
while everywhere in the tiny house wer,
evidences Of refinement. From what far
away land the strangers came, or why they
sought refuge on the little island, thel
themselves never said, nor were they eve
questioned. The people, with their simple
faith and childlike credulity, accepted tn
| fact of their coming as they did all tn,
good things that befell them-thankful, ask
| ing naught.
So these two lived on in an alien land
their lives replete with the satisfaction tina
comes from helping others, their desire t,
do good satisfied by the appreciation witt
| which their efforts were met. Thus tn
little girl, the dainty Marian, grew to maid
enhood, learning much from her father am
his books, but more from nature of tn
sea with its wonderful treasures of tn
rocks that she loved, gaunt and gray thoug
they were of flowers and fishes and birds
She learned too, much of human nature
the kindly side-from the people about her
and their interests she made hers. Ever
mother on the island felt a deep affection
for her, and her young mates were prou
To he called her friends. She was a con
slant surprise to them. The dainty gown
that she fashioned for herself, out of strang
fabrics, were marvels even her languag
seemed somewhat different from theirs
and when stranger CHANGED to visit tn
little building where they gathered ON Sun
days for worship, "our young lady, brown
eyed Mistress Marian" was always point
ed out with secret pride. So she grew t
pure and noble womanhood winning re
spect and admiration from all.
The lads of the village were filed wit
unspeakable delight when she spoke to ther
in her sweet, low voice. Not one of ther
but that would have risked his limbs, almos
his life, for anything that she wanted
wild flower, a stone, or IA bright bit of sea
weed Yet for none of them had she NOR
than word or a smile, except for tall
manly Phil Anderson. From her childhoo
she had seemed to set him apart from a
others as a hero; and when he came to he
out on the rocks one sweet summer night
when the moon was softly shining and tn
sea was bright with the phOsphOrescen
CLEAN, and told her of his love for her sh
accepted it quietly and trustfully.
1t was happy summer for the two, pass
ing all too quickly. When autumn came
Phil was to sail with his father on one NOR
voyage-to make his fortune, he said the
he was coming back to marry Marian an
to take her away into the great world Q
which they were never tired of talking.
So the weeks slipped by. October came
The trees donned their gayest colors eac
bush took its own particular, matches
tint, and the breakers dashed high in tn
cool breeze, as though to speed the parting
which was even then at hand. One bright
cool morning Phil went down to the littl
house to say good-by. Tremblingly the oil
man bade the brave young sailor farewell
then sent him out TO the rocks-the place {
their betrothal-where Marian was waiting
Silently he took her in his strong armi
kissed her soft hair, her forehead and he
sweet red lips, then turned and strod
quickly away, as though he could not tru,
his courage longer.
A year passed, bringing two letters t
Marian from her lover, telling her of sue
success as even his fondest hopes had faile
to picture, At the end of the third yeal
Just after another letter had come tellin
her that the WdterSpIite was homewar
bound, and happiness seemed in store fC
her, her father died, For months the ol
mar had been slowly failing, living only
his daughters happiness. Now that 81
did not seem to need him longer, he seen
ed to lose all power of holding ON to his lif
and one evening passed quietly away wit
the setting of the sun,
The grief of the young girl was wei
nigh unbeaTable. The only bright thin
that life seemed to hold for her was the ia,
that her lover was ON her way to her. 5
she waited anxiously, longingly, expectiu
tidings every day, But after the third lie
ter no news came.
As the days heightened TO weeks, an
the weeks TO months, the islanders wei
filled with apprehension and foreboding
A gloom settled over the people, whiC
even the lingering Indian summer failed
brighten and when, one bleak Novembi
daV heneath a dark eninp skV a straul