Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-12-25
NOTALLOWED BYLAW

got a job with lighthouse keeper
I'd been in lighthouse before. 1t was no
new thing to me, but after I'd been there
few hours 1 wondered what my master
hired me for. 1t was like being pensioned
off. There was nothing to do.
But, mark ye, when it came night, and
the wind began to moan about the light
house, and the lamps were lit, and all out
side was black as PITCH and all the sound
we heard was the swash, swash, swash Of
the waves, my master mixed some grog
and called me to sit along with him. That
looked sociable, but can't say he did.
He sat glowering over his glass for
awhile and opening his mouth as If to
speak and shutting it again. Then said he:
"What's your namer'
ben Dare, said l.
"Would you mind calling yourself
Brace?' he asked.
name" said l.
Look here" said he, 81 am a gentle
man born and bred. / never came to
earning my bread before. I'm ashamed Of
it. This is what l mean: If any stran-
gers come out here and ask for William
Brace, why, you say you are the man.
You claim to be lighthouse keeper. It's
easy. l don't suppose much company will
call, but l choose not to see them, If they
do. That's what hired you for."
"Ohr said 1.
"You see," said he, Il got this place
through rich man who had influence.
Those who gave it to me never saw me. If
die some day, why, here you are in the
place. II go off, and may, here you are
still until then. I'll pay you well, and
you know your duties"
"Welg it's shamming," said /; but,
after all, what does any one care what my
name is. And what shall l call your"
Call me nothing" said he Call me
captain, as you did when 1 met you, but
never speak Of me to any one"
Gentleman or no, he wasn't lazy. Ho
didn't care how he worked. The lamps
were as bright as jewels. There wasn't
speck of dirt in the whole tower.
But let any boat come nigh us, away he
went and hid himself and came out with
a white, scared face and shaking hand.
At night he was afraid to 60 up to the
lamps alone, and he'd look over his Shout
der and turn white as we stood there to-
gether.
At last he took a new turn. He sat star
ing at a corner for awhile. Then he spoke
to me in low voice:
brace, do you believe in ghosts?"
II hain't considered the question:" 1
answered.
WELL" said he softer than before,
"look into the corner" and he pointed.
looked.
Don't you sec anything?" he asked.
NO" said l. mo, cappen."
"Ah," he muttered, very well, very
well! I'm glad you don't"
But that wasn't anything to what hap
pened the very next night.
We slept in two hunks nigh each other,
and naturally, when he woke up with
yell, woke too
He was shrioking and shaking and
wringing his hands.
THE woman, the woman" he said.
"She stood here just now, all red with
blood. 1t dripped down the white ruflles.
It dripped on her hands. Stop her! Stop
her! She has gone to call them. Stop
her! Stop herr"
Where did she go?" 1 asked.
He stared at me with his wide open
eyes, all the whites showing, below and
above.
she couldn't have been here" said he.
1T was dream"
Lord love you, nightmare" said 1.
So we went asleep again, but heard of
the woman SO often after that that grew
used to her.
The cappen, as 1 called him, got to be
worse and worse every day. l wanted to
go ashore and fetch the doctor, but he
would not hear to it. He raved If tried
to leave him.
AT last there came a hot, hot night in
June. 1t was burning hot all day and a
dead calm at night
About dark the cappen went to sleep,
and went and sat where l could see tho
water and the lights ashore. 1t was SO
still that 1 could hear the sailors in
Spanish ship moOred not far away singing
in their foreign lingo.
And l was sort of quiet and dreamylike
when something happened that walked me
mighty wide and sudden. Something was
standing on the steps below me-some-
thing white. Something came toward me.
1t was little slender figure, with long
hair all about its shoulders. l couldn't
see it's face. don't think l really saw it
plainly at all, but it went past me softly
while 1 looked, and knew it was wom-
an in a white ruflled gown, and that she
had gone to the room where my master
lay.
shook too hard for moment to move,
but as soon as could started up to go 10
him. just then a voice cried:
Lighthouse, ahoy!"
answered, Aye, ayel" and stopped a
bit. Duty first of all things with a sailor.
A boat lay at the foot of the steps, and
four men jumped out of it,
I'VE want William Brace, keeper of tits
lighthouse" said one, big man in a lin
en- overCoat.
"I'm one that answers to the name"
says l.
He swung lantern over my head.
Search the place, my men," said he.
There was no use saying anything but
did try to stop them.
I've got sick friend aloft," says I.
Don't disturb him. I'm afraid the wom-
an will skeer him anyhow, he's SO low"
What woman" said he.
9Th. Uae that came aboard with you,
Bir," said l.
mo woman came with us, he snarled.
"Stand aside. Men, do your duty"
They went up stairs. followed. saw
them walk into the cappen's room.
heard them cry out and stand still. When
got to the door, they stood in row, look
Ing down on the bed. 1 looked too Man
| nor yvO1nan CoI1Idn't friuhtan tho cannor