The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-05-01
ATTHE LIGHTHOUSE.

Igot . job with lighthouse keeper. ia
been In q lighthouse before It was no new
thing TO me, but after I'd been there few
hours wondered what my master hired
me for. 1t was like being pensioned of.
There was nothing to do.
But, mark We, 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
swhile and opening his mouth as If to
speak and shutting itagain. Then said he:
What's your manner"
"Ben Dare" said I.
"Would you mind calling yourself
Bracep" be asked.
"I've no reason to be ashamed of my
name" said I.
Look here" said he, IT am gentle
man born and bred. I never came to earn
ing my bread before. I'm ashamed of it,
This is what I mean: If any strangers
come out here and ask for William Brace,
why, you say you are the man. You claim
to be lighthouse keeper. It's easy. I don't
suppose much company will call, but I
choose not to see them, If they do. That's
what hired you for"
"Ohr' said l.
you see, said he, ~ got this place
through rich man who had influence.
Those who gave it to me never saw me.
II die some day, why, here you are in tho
place. If go off, and I may, here you are
still until then. III pay you well, and you
know your duties.
"Well, it's shamming," said 1; "but,
after all, what does any one care what my
name is9 And what shall call youf"
"Call me nothing" said he. "Call me
captain, as you did when met yon, but
never speak of me to any one"
Gentleman or no, he wasn't lazy. He
didn't caro- how he worked. The lamps
were as bright as jewels. There wasn't a
speck of dirt in the whole tower.
But, let any boat come nigh us, away he
went and hid himself and came out with
white, scared face and a 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 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 haint considered the question:" !
answered.
WELL" said he softer than before,
"look into the corner" And he pointed.
"Don't you see anythingP" he asked.
"No," said L. "No. cappen."
"Ah," he muttered, Every we'll, very
well! Pm 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 shrieking and shaking and
wringing his hands.
1.-THE woman, the woman!' he said.
"She stood here just now, all red with
blood. 1t dripped down the white ruff1es.
1t dripped on her hands. Stop herl Stop
her! She has gone to call them! Stop
her! Stop herl'
"Where did she gop'' asked.
He stared at me with his wideopen eyes,
all the whites showing, below and above.
"She couldn't have been here" said he.
ut was dream"
"Lord love you, nightmare" said I.
So we went asleep again, but heard of
tho woman SO often after that that grew
used to her.
The cappcn, as called him, got to bo
worse and worse every day. WANTED to
go ashore and fetch the doctor, but ho
would not hear to it. He raved if l tried
to leave him.
At last there came a hot, hot night in
June. 1t was burning hot all day and
dead calm at night.
About dark the cappen went to sleep,
and went and sat where could SEQ tho
water and the lights ashore. 1t was SO
still that could hear the sailors in
Spanish ship moered not far away singing
in THAR foreign lingo.
And l WAS sort of quiet and dreamyliko
when something happened that walked mo
mighty wide and sudden. Something was
standing on the steps below me-some-
thing white. Something came toward me.
1t was q little slender figure, with long
hair all about its shoulders. 1 conldn't SEQ
its face. l don't think really saw it
plainly at ALL but it went past me softly
while looked, and I knew it was woman
in n white RULED gown, and that she had
gone to the room where my master lay.
shook too hard for Il moment to move,
but as soon as could started up to go
to him. just then n voice cried:
Lighthouse, ahoyl"
l answered, AYE, aye!" and stopped
bit. Duty first of all things with IL sailor
A boat lay at the foot of the steps, and
four men jumped out of it.
eve want william Brace, keeper of this
lighthouse" said enc, u big man in a linen
oyerooat
I'm one that answers to the name"
says I.
He swung a lantern over my head.
Search the place, my men," said he.
There was no use saying anything, but
did try to stop them.
1--WE got sick friend aloft," says I.
Don t disturb him. I'm afraid the woman
will skeer him anyhow, he's so low"
"What womant" said he.
"The one that came aboard with you,
SIR" said l.
"No woman came with us" he snarled
"Stand aside. Men, do your duty"
They went up stairs. followed. l saw
them walk into the cappen room. heard
them cry out and stand still When got
to the door, they stood in a row, looking
down on the bed. looked too. Man nor
woman couldn't frighten the cappen more
He was dead.
"Whnt has he donef' asked the officer
"Killcd his wife," said he CHATS all.
No doubt she deserved it, but it's not al
lowed by law when they do"
"God help himp' said I. -ExChange.