Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-07-23
Even death could not separate u.s."

the warm April sunshine had come again,
and the white sails once more dotted the
blue waters.
One morning word was brought that the
| lightkeeper's mother, good grandmother
| Colby, who lived several miles down the
coast, was i'll with rheumatism. The skip
per and his wife prepared to go to her at
once. sit looks pleasant enough now" he
said to Meg, scanning the sky anxiously,
but shouldn't be noways surprised if it
blows pretty lively afore night. And it's
| about time for the big spring tide If 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
it case it 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 them
selves with the homework. After dinner
they found sheltered nook, and sat down
on the rocks in the sunshine About 8
o'clock the sky became suddenly overcast.
and little pUffs of wind came skurrying
across the water. "Listen," said Meg, as
they started to go in the house; "do you
hear the moaning of the Backbone? It's
sure sign of storm"
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 Back
bone. She had just returned to the kitchen
when a loud knock was heard, and on open
ing the door two girls, with pale faces and
clothing drenched with rain, crowded
shivering into the room. They were Ber-
tina Day and the daughter of a wealthy
gentleman who had boarded with the DAVIS
for two summers past.
"For mercy's sake hurry, and get us
some dry clothing" said Bertha ungra-
ciously.
Meg's brow clouded but she neither
stirred nor spoke.
Don't stand staring therel It's stupid!
Can't you see that we're half dead with
the cold? Miss Towards father had %
come to East Greek on business connected
with the new railroad, and he brought her
with him. 1t was so pleasant this morn
ing that we two girls rowed over to the
cliff We didn't notice how rough tie
water had grown until we started to go
home, and got out into the bay and saw
the whitecaps all around us. 1t was a
mercy that we were not swamped in try
ing to row ashore. Then we started to
walk to East Creek, but the wind blew so
furiously that it seemed to take all our
strength. l don't know what we should
have done if it had not been for the light
here" she continued, addressing her com
panion. "There isn't another house on the
whole road. These girls" and she turned
toward the twins contemptuously, fare
the lightkeeper's daughters. L used to 90
to school with them"
The insolent words brought a flush to
the strangers cheek. 81 am sorry to
trouble you" she said touching Meg's
arm gently, "but I should be so glad of
some dry clothing. l take cold so easily'
Meg's face cleared instantly, and in a
few moments the two visitors, in dry gar
ments, sat by the fire eating the food which
Peggy placed before them. "Listenp' ex-
claimed Miss Howard, rising from the
chair. did you ever hear such a storm?
It's frightful"
The wind was bowling dismally around
the house and rattling the blinds, while
the rain was driving in sheets against the
window panes.
"Isn't the tide very high?" asked Ber-
tina. Il remember when we came over
was nearly up to the planks."
Meg started quickly for the door,
81 never knew that to happen before"
she said. Hand me my waterproof, Peggy.
Ill run into the tower once more to make
sure that everything is right for the night"
In few moments she came back, pale
and breathless.
"The water is nearly up to the doorsteps.
l can't go to the tower, and it's overfowed
behind the house too. If bad only watched
as father told mel'
Under her directions the three girls
hastily gathered the few valuables of the
house and carried them up to the sisters
room on the second story. And they did
not get to work any too soon, for by the
time they took up the last load small
stream of water had forced it's way under
the door and ran gurgling across the room
The hours of the night wore YEARLY On,
but Meg was so hopeful and calm that she
helped to keep up the courage of the 9th
ers. She paid several visits to the hall.
and each time came back more sober and
thoughtful but she said not word. The
water was already half way up to the sec
ond floor.
She remembered with q shudder how old
and frail the house was. eff it will only hold
out" she thought. The last time she went
out she found that the water had gained
on them. Slowly but surely it was climb
ing upward. But there was this to be
thankful for-the wind had abated some
what and the rain had ceased.
When she returned she said to her
guests: "Lie down; you need rest more
than we do. If there is any danger will
call you"
Sha +N1 l,
shelf, and opening it began to read where
it was the forty-sixth Psalm, and her voice
grew unsteady as she read:
God is our refuge and strength, a very
present help in trouble. Therefore will we
not fear, though the earth be removed and
the mountains be carried into the midst of
the sea, though the waters thereof roar
and be troubled, though the mountains
shake with the swelling thereof"
Then she knelt, and in sweet, clear
voice repeated the Lords prayer, the other
girls joining her with sobs and broken
utterance.
Bertha and Miss Howard soon fell into
light doze. Meg sat quietly, holding
Peggy's hand in hers. peggy" she said
earnestly, ''if the water gets much higher
we must go on the roof. 1t is about on
level with the second landing on the lower
stairs. The window is never fastened, and
we can open it easily from outside, and the
window ledge is very broad. You know
the ladder that ,sads up to the opening in
the roof? It's loug enough to reach across.
You see, don't you? We must use it as a
bridge and crawl over! Once in the tower
we are safe from the highest tide. wish
we could have got there before"
Peggy started, as a strange culver like