St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-01-12


shaking off his follower. Sanchez's
thick lips parted in a smile.
Unfortunately this is matter
that concerns you. Last Sunday
some friends Of mine went over to
your lighthouse. In the car which
awaited them at the landing
charming young girl was seated.
My friends observed that the driver,
a handsome fellow, by the way,
never took his eyes from her face, and
after she had left, one of them in
dulged in some laughing jest or teas
ing allusion. Instantly like wild
beast. the driver few at his throat,
nearly strangling him. My friend
was naturally annoyed, and when
he ascertained that the girl was
your daughter, promised l would
warn you.
With a certain gloating satisfac-
ton, Sanchez, as he finished his
speech, watched the old keepers
face. 1t was worthy close study.
Grown lividly pale, even through its
bronzed darkness, the. sunken eyes
CLEANED bright with wrath. With
out word, he pushed his compan-
ion aside, and hurried down to the
wharf. The steam launch was busy
bringing its last load of sightseers
from the lighthouse; so, hiring a
saiboat, Dade sprang in. Under
the influence of stiff breeze the
boat flashed through the water,
speedily reaching the island where
its owner skillfully landed his one
passenger.
Juan, whose real work for the day
was over, had fallen asleep on the
bottom of the car, a half-smoked
cigarette between his nerveless fin
gers. With certain fierce, suppressed
rage, Dade studied the handsome
face. Like young Apollo, Juan lay,
one sinewy arm, whose fine model.
ing the attitude exposed, thrown
above his head. Clear cut as a cam.
60, the delicate features, the smooth
oval of the checks, the silky lustre o.
the hair, detied criticism.
Awakened by Dade's rough touch
Juan sprang up, eagerly apologizne
for his laziness. But his explanation
was suddenly cut short by the harsl
menace of the old mans glance
With smothered oath, the latter
struck his heavy stick against thu
boards Of the car.
1--WE sre wasting time here, go on.
Vaguely troubled, Juan instinct
lively guessed that something wa
wrong. A prescience of coming mis-
fortune thrilled every nerve, disturb
ing the sunny content Of his forme
mood.
Over the waste of marshy unpro
ductive land, dreamy hush brooded
as the waning light faded into dusk
Against the background Of nigh
sky, here and there, a star appeared
welcome sight to Juan. Somehow
he had always loved their faint scir
tilating radiance, and waking a
night in the dim starshine, he woul
lift his face to heaven, mute praye
, trembling on his lips, an awed rev
erence in his heart-emotions tina
he never experienced in the big cath,
dral, before the painted woode
images of the Madonna. The star
seemed to understand and pity til
) lonely isolation of his life; the on
, wild dream, whose sweetness tinge
with color the dull, neutral tints {
! each days toll.
. Meanwhile Capt. Dade, his thi
! lips compressed, sat silent in one COZ
: ner of the car. Never had the rid
: appeared so endless; with fierce in
l patience he longed for its termin;
: ton.
| As the car stopped, springing GU
5 with the agility of young maj
Dade walked over to the lighthouse
S opening the door which led into til
e little room below the winding stair
Joyce sat reading near the one sma
: window. AS her father entered 81
' rose-a slender, picturesque figure
1 her blue homespun gown.
Joyce" old Dade began-an
/ noting his dark frown she knew g
: once he was very angry-"I heard
e strange story about you today"
c about me, father" the girl echoe,
e and though rich flush stained tt
;. clear pallor of her cheek, her eye
: met his fearlessly.
: They say" the keeper continue
:. harshly, that you love and al
e loved by that miserable creole VIII
D drives the cara creature whom
p never even regarded as a man, niue
s less man you could care TO
G Joyce" his voice rang out, "tell IN
have | been deceived with some vi
J. lie"
S For moment father and daught
l. faced each other, Dade's face dar
t ening as he read his answer in tt
S girls expression. Presently, wht
she would have spoken, have take
i his hand, roughly pushing her asi'
e he turned, and Joyce never forgot II
strange tirceness of his glance. Ste
S ping slowly to the door, like a me
s grown suddenly old, he went o,
o once more. Twilight faded I'M
d night. Oppressed by vague, sickle
d ing fear, Joyce waited, sometim
f, moving restlessly about the ROOF
e or crouching beside the windo,