Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-07-23
AT LEDGE LIGHT.

one stormy night IN November 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 awayl
Do your best to tell the poor fellows out
gonder to keep away from such a PREACHER
ous coast as this!'
Before he started for the little weather
stained house by the tower he turned his
face once more toward the black, tossing
water. tits going to be wild night" he
muttered. It's lucky came back when I
did If I'd waited much longer, It would
ha' been out O the power O. mortal man to
ha' rounded the Pint alive"
Ledge light stood on a long strip of
rocky beach jutting far out into the ocean.
The ceaseless lashing of the waves had
worn the little neck of land away IL the
nsrrovest part. but the gap was spanned
by O wide wooden bridge. This way of
getting to the town on the coast was but
little used, however, except in the toughest
weather. On all other occasions the people
at the light found it much easier to make
the trip by water. A short distance sea-
ward was dark line of reefs known as the
Backbone. At food tide it was covered.
but the ebbing of the waves left the cruel
outline in plain sight Before the light
had been placed there many gallant ship
had been driven by the wind on the reef
and dashed to pieces.
AS the skipper stood there looking out to
sea he heard the booming of the surf, and
In the fading light he could just make out
the white line of angry breakers. He
turned away, and had nearly reached the
little house b. She tower when the door
was thrown open and the rudy freight
streamed outside, showing the figure of
gray haired woman and of a slight young
girl peering out anxiously in the fast
gathering gloom.
Where's Meg?" broke from their lips at
the same time.
Safe and soundI For some reason the
school board put off examining the teachers
until tomorrow, and Meg concluded to
stay over night. WhewI How the wind
howlsl" and the old man hastily drew wife
and daughter in the house as a fierce gust
swept across the narrow beach and slam
med the door behind them.
DO you suppose Meg will get the place?"
Cant say, Peggy. But Pm sure of one
thing-if they take her, she'll make a good
teacher, for her heart is mostly in her
books''
Meggy and Peggy were the lightkeeper'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 mer-
rler, and that she carried herself a little
more proudly than shy little Peggy. She
was, moreover, the better scholar of the
two, and the ease with which she kept at
the head of her class made the old skinner
very happy.
But Peggy liked better to busy herself
about the house, while there was nothing
in the way of patching, darning and sew
ing which her quick fingers could not do
On the day following the storm the skip
per sat by the fire mending some nets,
while Mrs. Colby and Peggy began the
preparations for the simple evening meal.
The fury of the wind had spent itself dur
ing 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 l see if Meg is
coming?"
She threw a shawl over her shoulders
and ran down to the wharf, where she
stood watching a small black speck off the
Point" In few moments she was able
to make out Meg, who was pulling for the
shore with strong, steady stroke The boat
Dhot up to the landing and the young girl
sprang out. One look at her sorrowfuI
face answered the question trembling on
Peggy's lips. "Oh, Meg You dear, dar-
ling Megl You didn't get it after all"
Never mind, Peggy Perhaps it's all
for the best,
Meg's chin quivered, her large brown
eyes filled with tears, and dropping down
on stone that lay by the wharf she COW
cred her face with her hands, while Peggy
knelt by her side trying to comfort her.
1T isn't only losing the place-it's the
unfairness that hurts mes so. Bertha Days
papers were the only ones that had higher
mark than mine. You see, they had an
examination down at the city about q
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 if she was trying for a 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"
Then she's a thief, and she really stole
the place from your Peggy's anger
blaZed out tiercely Didn't you tell them
of itr'
1t would have been a waste of breath!
Her father and uncle are both members of
the school board, you know"
And you need the money and she
doesn't, for her fathers well off. Oh, the
meanness and the dishonesty of the rich!
Why, Meg, ever since can remember she's
always been saying or doing some hateful
thing to us. When we two shy little tots
first went to school she made US cry by
laughing at our old fashioned clothes and
poking fun at dear father and mother, and
she has Kept up her proud, disagreeable
ways and her sneering ever since"
Meg rose to her feet. Il was so sure of
the place." she murmured brokenly. sob,
dearl Everything looked so bright when |
went away yesterday morning, and now
It's all dark and dreary as it is out yonder,"
and 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.
lit can't be all dark and dreary so long
a we have each Other" she said. II am
only sorry for your sake, dear Meg. For
nay own part / am glad-oh, so glad! l
saall not be awake any more nights dread
juls your going away. There's nothing now
e come between US"
YOU'RE right, Peggy. Whatever hap
pens it can't be very dark and dreary while
we have each other"
The two sisters stood there on the wharf
with their hands closely clasped and their
sweet young faces looking out to sea, while
the day melted into the somber twilight,
and the cool, gray mist drifted over the
island. Suddenly Peggy's eyes opened, and
an expression of pain-as If she had seen
some terrible vision-passed over her face,
and she turned with a sharp cry:
"Oh, Megl darling Meg! What should
do if anything should happen to your"
And Meg, STOPPING over her tenderly,
said