Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-08-19
The Lighthouse Keepers
Daughter.
BY MARLToN DOWNING.

Hyppoliie, the Insurgent General o
hayt' was making brave hcadwa,
against Lositime, the opprossor.
The patriot forces, or rebels as the,
were Then termed, had gradually hem.
mcd the national army within tbe
precincts of Port-au-Prince, the capi-
'al' but the navy was yet free to cruise
along the coast and harass the towns
ana villages of the enemy.
Seven well-armed vessels comnrisa1
.he fleet. This squadron, however
ia'led to have everything its own wav
on tho high seas, being held greatly IN
eDeck by llyppolitc's two mer-of-wor
The Mercedes and Jacque- NAL podor
command of a brave American who
haa volunteered ns services to assis,
an outraged people.
me mode of fighting adopted by
Tie admiral of The Patriot General
was exceedingly annoying, not to saw |
obstructive, 10 Legilime's fleet. n.
therefore was Obliged 10 resort 10 +
strategy and artilicc to accomplish his
purpose.
In the quiet hours of night while
the Nationalist vessels were lying in
port with the greater part of their sea-
men sleeping in their hammocks, the
dauntless American on board the
Mercedes would dash in among the
fleet, deliver rapid fire from the only
two guns which he had, and be away
again before the eyes of the drowsy
HayIians were thoroughly opened, and
long ere the steam in the boilers was
powerful enough to move their en-
gincs, the patriots would be leagues
distant, seeking safe retreat in some
of the numerous lays along the coast.
Time and again Lcgitimo's admiral
cssayed to crush the alien commander,
but the latter always received timely
warning from the people whom he
was befriending at such risk 10 him
self, and invariably succeeded in
making good his escape.
One night, with his two small ycs-
sells, the American was at anchor in
the harbOr of Aux-Cayes. His fires
were brightly burning in the furnaces,
and with "spring'" on the cables, he
was ready to Slip and run at the first
indication of danger.
Throughout the day Tie wind had
been blowing gale, one of those
fierce ''Norhcrs' so common in the
West Indies, but as evening approached
The tempest lnllcd, and when the
bright light on the outer reef streamcd
forth over the waters, a warning TO
approaching mariners, the weather
had begun to resume its wonted tran
guilty.
Pierre Chapcle, the keeper, was
away from ms post of duty. Some
said he was supporting Legitimc, but
those who knew the man best were
aware that lie was filing the position
of petty officer on board the Mercedes.
Yet the lantern within the old tower
upon the shore was never neglected,
for the delicate hands Of his beauti-
ful daughter Etelle trimmed the
wicks.
Several hours had elapsed since the
sun went down, but he lovely Creole
still remained in the turrct, gazing ont
through the window at The su which
was still beating heavily upon tie
coral boulders. Suddenly she was
startled by some object strik ing against
the pane with such force as TO shiyer
the glass.
An instant only the young girl felt
alarmed, then she smiled, for sue
knew what had caused her momcntary
fright. Some bird, in its nocturnal
wanderings, attracted by the glare of
the beacon, had flown lreadong TO its
death.
''Poor tlling!" murmured Estelle
compassionatoly, "perhaps it is only
stunned. will descend aud see
IIurryiug down the short flight OF
stone steps the maiden issued forth
into the night and went in search of
the wounded bird. She found it
where it had fallen; and, picking it
up carefully, returned TO the lantern
room.