Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-09-03
ON FRENCHMAN'S ISLE.

called Frenchman's Isle. The old
fisherman said that May years ago u
French bargue had been wrecked there
thus its name Long and narrow,
&c Boldly stretched its rugged arm out
into the stormy ocean. A lonely place,
people said Hardly any one ever
went there. Indeed! there was no
resson why one should
For more than forty years old Rich
ard Marsden had assembled and de-
scended that iron staircase. Far
from the busy world he cared or
knew little OF its people or doiugs. 1t
Ess with calm and satisfied air that
ne passed his days on that lonely isle.
Hardly ever did ne go over TO the
mainland let me stay where |
an" said he. Twas here that we
put Dolly away, and now want to be
near her"
Aud even so it was. In his younger
days he had married q sweet-hearted
.kitzle fishermaid and together they
hal lived happy life IN the small
GsAing village on the mainland. A
soa and daughter were born to them.
Saoa after Richard had undertaken
the duties of lightkeepeC. A warm
and cosy home had been erected by
the government at the foot OF the
lighthouse. and here under this quiet
and humble roof his children had
grown up Taught by their mother
aHa father. they had &C uired a simple
learning whien was much improved
By the little library which tho light
&neeper owned. But at last there came
n change One summer evening the
uOs Ter had quietly passed away and
amid the signing OF the waves they
kzd sorroWfully laid her to rest on
Ehe sheltered side OF the island Still
hs continued his duties as lightkeeper
zl5hcugh he was quite Old now-h:s
wtfe's death having occurred only FIVE
years before the night on which our
story opens. But during FIVE years
he had come to look upon his little
daughter with that love which cannot
be told in words His daughter,
Nudge now entering womanhooi-
1sek the place that Dolly. his wife
had flied. She it was who fit
ted about the house with her
bright young laughter and who
made those monotonous days so
.E7uch brighter. Her father loved
to see her trip up the iron staircase ~
"a see her trim with skilful fingers the
grezk wick. He loved to go witch her
tn the rocky shore and watch the
white ships go sailing down into the
Uzaterg horizon. Yes He loved all
&aiS He thought OF her as making
his old age happy and contented
And so it was that he came to love
his little girl with all the simple af-
section that his large and open heart
could give He was very happy. He
never thought of her as going away
from him. he never realized that per.
haps at some time her young heart
would open itself 10 another s. and
Ehat she would crave for other people
and other scenes. No! He never had
dweIt upon such thoughts, until one
evening when as he was about to sit
6OEu to the supper which his Madge
had prepared for him the door was
Opened. and his son John hurriedly
came in.
Come John. re waiting fol
you," said Madge, as she placed tbs
tea upon the white cloth.
Don't mind me exclaimed John.
1--we had my supper at the other emf
nj the island with Dan-Oh! and
remember now he gave me some
fhing for you father-a letter; here il
Is He's been over to town today"
"A Ietter?n Mr.. Marsden rose ant
as he reached out his hand for it hi
znfud was busy. "a letter? who coult
have sent me letter? 1t must b
aazaethiag from the government. bu
M! Twas a common square envelope
and it bore the postmark of New
York. He opened it. with tabl
knife and this is what he read:
NEW YoRE, June g, 1885.
My Dear Fciend-You have probably a
ns0st forgotten your old friend Henr
EeAehI1ont. We have not met for over 3
wears, but have often heard Of you fror
lsavsT1l people Of your town, and althou2
such long space Of years has divided us
vet remember that my heart still beat
warmly for you However, 10 come to tn
subject in hand-my son is in failing healt
and needs some good bracing air as well a
cYEtefness- You nave not seen him sine
EIa Was a child of two years; he is no1
EsTsnty-four The doctor says that h
sAAGaA6 a NttCdGAOns bilOuEnt db O4lEt I
yuur cosy home and quiet island. CouI
yoH not keep him with you, say for tw
SYHeka or 500 His iriend-a Mr.. Carl
sUiAg TO Bar Harbor, and he will take hill
10 you on his yacht. Hoping to hear froi
yuu at once remain,
Yours very cordially,
Henry BEACHMoST.
What is it father?" asked MadgC
Gs they gathered around the table
A. letter was such an uncommon thin
on Frenchman's Isle that everybod
GsIE the right TO in luire.
Its letter from one OF my oil
friends. Henry Beachmont He want
Gu have his son come here for d visit
and with this he read the letter.
As the supper progressed no con
meats were passed upon the word
.gIst read indeed. an unusual silenc
sneIned to have settled over tn;
haneIy board. The meal was 500
over. The old man rose and took h