The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-07-12
AT THE LIGHTHOUSE.

hours I wondered what my master hired
me for. II WIS like Icing pcnsioncd off.
There was nothing to dc.
But. mark yc 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 10 sit along with him. That
looked sociablc, hut | can't say he did
He sat ploworing over his glass for
awhile and opening his mouth rs If TO
speak and shutting It again Then said he
What's your namey'
"BCn Dare" said /.
would y0u mind calling yourself
BraceY" ne asked.
GIVE no reason to be ashamed of my
name" said l.
"Look here" said he, 81 am q gentle
man horn and bred. l never came to earn
ing my bread before. I'm ashamed of it,
This is what l 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. l don't
suppose much company will call, but l
choose not to see them, if they do. That's
what hired you for."
"Ohp' said l.
"Ynu see" said he, 81 got this place
through n 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 If go off, and may, here you are
still until then. I'll pay you well, and you
know your duties"
'Well, it's shamming," said I; "but,
after all, what docs any one care what my
name is? And what shall l call youf"
call me nothing" said he "Call me
captain, as you did when l met you, but
never speak of me to any one"
Gentleman or no, he wasn't lazy. He
didn't care 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
a white, scared face and shaking hand.
At night he was afraid to go up to the
lamps Glonc, and he'd look over his shout
der and turn white as we stood there to-
gethcr.
AT last he took new turn. He sat star
ing ut u corner for awhile. Then nc spoke
to me in IA low voice:
'Erace, do you believe in ghosts?"
81 han't considered the question, l
answered.
WELL" said he softer than before,
"look into the corner" And he pointed.
] looked.
Don't you see anything?" he asked.
NO" said l. go, cappen."
= "Ah," he muttCIud, very we'll, very
WE'LL I'm glad you don't"
But that wasn't anything to what hap
, pencd the very next night.
We slept in two hunks nigh each other,
and naturally, when he woke up with a
yell, woke too.
He was shrieking and shaking and
wringing his hands
"Ihe woman, the womanp' he said
"She stood here just now, all red with
blood. IL drippcd down the white ruffles
e 1t drippcd on her hands. Stop her StoI
n her! She has gone TO call themi StoI
her Stop Ecr!"
"Wherc did she gO2" 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
at was a dream. ~
Lord love you, n nightmare, - said l.
So we went asleep again, but l heard O
the woman so often after that that grew
. used to her.
The cappen, as called him, got to b,
worse and worse every day. l wanted t.
go ashore and fetch the doctor, but h,
would not hear to it, He raved if l triet
to leave him.
AT last there came hot, hot night il
June. 1t was burning hot all day and
dead calm at plight.
About dark the cappen went to sleep
and l went and sat where 1 could SEQ tn,
water and the lights ashore. 1t was S,
still that l could hear the sailors in
Spanish ship moorcd not far away singins
in their foreign lingo.
An1 I If iat nd Il 1,li IL
when something happened that walked M
mighty wide and sudden. Something wa
standing on the steps below me-some
thing white. Something came toward me
1t was little slender figure, with lonI
hair all about its shoulders. 1 couldn't Sc
its face. l don't think l really saw i
plainly at all, but it went past me softl.
while l looked, and knew it was woman
In white ruffled gown, and that she hat
gone to the room where my master lay.
l shook too hard for moment to move
but as soon as l could I started up to q
to him. Just then IA voice cried:
Lighthouse ahoy!"
>, 1 answered, AYE, ayel" and stopped
bit. Duty first of all things with sailor
A boat lay at the foot of the steps, an,
four men jumped out of it.
ave want William Brace, keeper of thi
lighthouse" said one, a big man in a linel
oyercoat.
"I'm one that answers to the name,
says /.
He swung lantern over my head.
"Search the place, my men," said he
There was no use saying anything, bu
/. did try to stop them.
GIVE got sick friend aloft," says
Don't disturb him. I'm afraid the womal
will skeer him anyhow, he's so low"
"What womanf" said he.
"The one that came aboard with you
SIR" said 1.
"No woman came with us, - he snarled
"Stand aside Men, do your duty.
They went up stairs. l followed. I say
them walk into the cappen's ROOM 1 hear
them cry out and stand still. When l go
4 to the door, they stood in a row, lookin
/ down on the bed. looked too. Man no
| woman couldn't brighten the cappen more
| He was dead.
] "What has he done?" asked the officer