Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-06-26


TIE houses built by the poorer island
crs for their own occupation are of wood,
covered from roof to floor with shingles,
They are left implanted and after a year
or TWO of exposure assume a delicate,
warm, gray tone, which would be pleas
ing to the eye, particularly of an artist,
if the buildings were not so formleSS
The lines so hard and unbroken are des-
titute in most cases of verandas, porti-
cos, or even of cOrnices to the windows
AS it is, they stand grim and gaunt, APP
pearing through the heavy wet mist
which so frequently enshrouds the ISL
and like great, gray ghosts, advancing
or receding with the windswept vapOrs
But illuminated by the rosy tints of sun
rise or sunset no mirage on the desert
could be more beautiful or more decep
tive. On the roof of one of these stu
ated at the foot of the road leading to
the cliff where are built the pretty mod
ern cottages Of the summer visitors, an
old, gray-headed man was pacing the
walk" such as is built by SO many of
the sailor islanders for the purposes of
lookout and observation. This walk COM
manded view of the bay and of the dis
tant channel between the island and the
mainland The old man, after gazing in
tently seaWard for time, proceeded to
a flagstaff erected on q corner of the roof
and commenced to signal with great eX-
an entering vessel. The signals, sadly
tattered and faded, bore the ancient pri-
vate cipherS of the once great firm of
Lord & Son, and the phantom ships
thus saluted had been due to arrive up
wards of quarter of a century. Great
ly eIated. the old man hurried with the
activity which his age permitted to de-
scend the narrow ladder in order to hast
en- to the counting house of Lord & Son,
to announce the welcome news. But ar
rived at his bare, deSOlate room, the
train of associates changed; mechanical
ly he took q tin can from the table and
descended to the street on his way to the
beach to dig q few CLAIMS for his daily
meal. On the corner he stopped to sur
vey a particularly well-dressed gentle
man. one of the summer visitors. What
"reminiscences did the sight of the fash
ionable stranger awaken! Who shall
venture to say? Upon his return his
only sister, who owned the lower half OF
the house of which the brother still re-
tanned the upper-all that was lett OF
once noble fortune-made up his cot and
swept the bare floor of his room. A kind
neighbor had brought in a mess of hot
fish and potatoes, knowing almost to
moment the hour of his return, careful
to conceal herself, otherwise the food
would have remained untouched. The
sister and brother never spoke to each
OCDGr, aldS, out Sucu care size never Idl1eu
to take of him as their poverty and mis-
cry permitted.
One summers morning the sun rose
through a respondent mist, which occa
sionally lifted to display the most gor-
geous tints Of green, amethyst, violet
and gold As the old man clambered
to the roof his rags and greasy tatters
were transformed into imperial robes.
Scarcely had he touched the floor of the
walk than he beheld three noble ships
entering the harbor under full sail, their
canvas resplendent in the gorgeous morn
ing light With trembling haste he hoist
ed the faded signals. Turning to see if
they were recognized, he beheld on the
! quarterback of the foremost the favorite
captain of Lord & Son. and by his side
his own father holding Patience Lyman
by the hand. both reckoning eagerly to
him. As he turned to descend a sudden
inexplicable weakness overpowered him
and he fell stricken to death at the foot
of the flagstaff. His spirit had boarded
the phantom fleet and been borne into the
effulgent glory beyond.