The Coconino sun., 1891-06-27
THE GREAT FLOOD TIDE.


Skipper Colby gave an extra turn to
the stout rope which fastened his boat
to the little wharf. Then he looked up
at the revolving light in the high
tower. AYE! Flash away! Do your
best TO tell the poor fellows out yonder
to keep away from such treacherous
coast as this!m
Before he started for the little
weather-stained house by the tower he
turned his face once more toward the
black, tossing water 'It's going to be
wild night" he muttered. He turned
away and had nearly reached the little
house by the tower when the door was
thrown open and the rudy freight
streamed outside, showing the figure
of gray-haired woman and of slight
young girl peering out anxiously in
the fast-gathering gloom. Where's
MegP" broke from their lips at the
same time.
Safe and sound! For some reason
the school board put off examining the
teachers until tomorrow and Meg con-
cluded to stay over night Whew!
How the wind bowls"
'Meggy" and Peggy" were the
light-keeper's twin daughters. So
much alike were they that strangers
could scarcely tell them apart but on
watching them closely one could see
that Meg's laugh was the merrier, and
that she carried herself little more
proudly than shy little Peggy.
On the day following the storm the
skipper sat by the fire mending some
nets, while Mrs. Colby and Peggy be.
gan preparations for the simple even
ing meal, The fury of the wind had
spent itself during the night and the
dangerous waves had subsidized. Peggy
glanced often at the little clock on the
shelf "Will you watch the coffee,
mother, while see if Meg is coming?"
She threw shawl over her should
ers and ran down to the wharf, whore
she stood watching small black speck
off the point" In q few moments
she was able TO make out Meg who was
pulling for the shore with strong steady
stroke. The boat shot up to the land
ing and the young girl sprang out
One look at her sorrowful face an
swered the question trembling on Peg
gy's lips. 20, Meg! You dear dar-
ling Meg! You didn't get 1t after ALL"
ut isn't only losing the place-it's
the unfairness that hurts me so. Ber-
tina Days papers were the only ones
that had higher mark than mine
YIN see they had an examination
down az the city about month ago
and they used the same set OF papers
that we did. Bertha found it out and
went there and took the examination
just as IL she was trying for teachers
place. She didn't pass, but she knew
just what the questions were to be and
she's been studying on them all this
while"
''And you need the money and she
doesn't for her father is well of. Oh,
the meanness and dishonesty OF the
rich! Why, Meg. ever since can re-
member she's always been saying or
doing some hateful thing to u.s."
Meg rose to her feet. Il was so sure
OF the place. she murmured brokenly.
"Oh dear! Everything looked so
bright when went away yesterday
morning and now its all dark and
dreary as 1t is out yonder,n ane she
pointed to the dull, leaden sky and
gray stretch OF water.
Peggy crept close to her side and
threw one arm around her in close
embrace. ut can't be all dark and
dreary SO long as we have each other"
she said. II am only sorry for your
sake, dear Meg. For my own part I
am glad-oh, so glad! l shall not be
awake any more nights dreading your
going away. There's nothing now to
come between us"
The long winter had passed, and
now the warm April sunshine had
come again, and the white sails once
more dotted the blue water.
One morning word was brought that
the light-keeper's mother, good grand
mother Colby, who lived several miles
down the coast, was ill with rheuma-
tism. The skipper and his wife pre-
pared to go TO her at once. 1T looks
pleasant enough now" he said to Meg,
scanning the sky anxiously. "but
shouldn't be now days surprised IL it
blows pretty lively afore night And
it's about time for the big springtide.
II 1t should come you'll get along all
right; it's never but once blew high
enough TO cover the path 'twixt here
and the tower, an faint noways likely
that twill now, but in case 1t should
happen, all you've got to do is to watch,
and take bit OF food and go into the
tower so that you can see to the light
and then wait till the tide turns"
In the morning the girls busted
themselves with the homework. About
8 o'clock the sky became suddenly
overcast and little puffs of wind came
skurrying across the water. During
the two hours that followed the wind
steadily increased, driving the waves
with sullen roar on the little beach.
When Meg went TO start the light she
found that the mist had given place TO
rain, and she heard the thunder of the
surf on the Backbone She had just
returned TO the kitchen when loud
knock was heard, and on opening the
door two girls, with pale faces and
clothing drenched with rain, crowded
shivering into the room. They were
Bertha Day and the daughter OF a
wealthy gentleman who had boarded
with the Days for two summers past
''For mercy's sake hurry and get us
some dry clothing" said Bertha, un-
graciously.
Meg's brow clouded, but she neither
e+irrad nor enoke