Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-08-21
AT THE LIGHTHOUSE.

HN'AA ~ llknkllNllHt Ltlblf ~ was nv itN
thing to me, but after I'd been there n few
hours wondered what my master hired
me for. IL was like being pens,oned OH.
There was nothing to do
But, mark ye, when 1t came night, and
the wind began 70 moan about the light
house. anu the lninps were lit, and all out
side was black ~ 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 sociablo, hut can't say he did.
He sat glowering over his glnss for
awhile and opening his mouth as If to
speak and shutting itagain. Then said he;
what's your namc?'
Ben Dare, said l.
Would you mind calling yourself
Bracc?" he nskcd
Eve no reason to DO ashamed of my
name, said l.
Look here" said ho, ~ am gentle
slan born and bred. never came to earn
ing my bread before. Pm ashamed Of 1t.
This is what l mean: II any strangers
come out here and ask for William Brace,
why, you shy you aru the man. You claim
to be lighthouse keeper It's easy. don't
suppose much company will call, hut
choose not to sec them, II they do. That's
what hired you for. -
"OhH said l.
You SEQ, " said he, ~ got this place
through rich man who had influence
Those who give it to mo never saw me.
If die some day, why, hero you are in the
place II go of, and 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 isS And what shall l call you''
Call me nothing" said he. Call me
captain, as you did when l met you, but
never spcak Of me to any ono"
Gentleman or no, he wasn't lazy He
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 ont with
white, scared face and shaking hand.
At night he was afraid to 20 up to tho
lamps alone, and he'd look over his shoul-
der and turn white as we stood there to-
gethcr.
At last he took new turn He sat star
ing at a corner for awhile Then he spoke
10 Inc in IA low voice:
Brace, do you believe In ghostsY"
81 hain't considered tho question"
answered.
Well" snid ho softer thnn before,
"look Into the corner" And he pointed.
l looked.
Don't you see anythingY" he asked.
NO." said l. mo, cappen."
"Ah," he muttered, very we'll, very
well I'm glad you don't"
But that wasn't anything to what han
pencd the very next night.
We slept in two hunks nigh each other,
and naturally, when he woke up with u
yell, woke too
He was shrieking and shaking and
wringing his hands.
THE woman the womnn!" he said
"She stood here just now, all red with
blood. 1t drippod down the white rufllea
1t drpped on her hands. stop heri Stop
herl She has gene to call theml Stop
her. stop herr"
Where did she guy" / asked.
He stared at me with his wide open eyes,
NIL the whites showing below and above.
'She couldn't have been here" said he.
at was dream"
Lord love you, nightmare, said I.
so we went as.,op again, but heard Of
the woman so often after that that / grew
used to her
The cappen, as called him, got to be
worse and worse every day. 1 wanted To
go ashore and fetch the doctor, but he
would not hear to it. He raved II tried
to leave him.
AT last there came 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 | could see the
water and the lights ashore. 1t was so
still that 1 could hear the sailors in "a
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.
IL was little slender figure, with long
hair all about its shoulders. / couldn't SEQ
its face don't think really saw it
plainly ut all, but it went past me softly
while looked, and knew it was woman
in white ruifled gown, and that she had
gone to the room where my master lay.
! shook too hard for moment to move,
but as soon as l could l started up to go
to him just then voice cried:
Lighthouse, ahoy !"
ansWerci, Aye, aye and stopped o.
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 Blace, keeper of this
lighthouse, said one, big man In linen
oyercpat
Pm one that answers TO the name, -
says /.
He swung lantern over my head.
Search the place, my men" snid he.
There was no use saying anything, but
did try to stop them.
Eve got sick friend aloft," SAYS !.
Don disturb him. I'm afraid the woman
Will sLeor him anyhow, he's so low"
What womanf" said he.
"1he one that came aboard with you,
sir, - said ]
No woman came with u.s." 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 1 got
to the door, they stood In row, looking
down on the bed. looked too Man nor
woman couldn't frighten the cappen more.
He was dead.
What has he done'' asked the officer
Killed his wife," said he; that's all.
No doubt she deserved it, but it's not al
lowed by law when they do"
GOD helm him 80 snid I-Excbap1a