The Burke County news. [volume] (Morganton, N.C.) 1899-1901, 1899-05-26
think so much OF Katie Stanburv's

the thunder OF breaking pillows
against the solid stone foundations
OF Lone lighthouse was all the answer
that returned itself to her piteous
plant.
Mamie leaned ont Of the narrow.
slIt-ilke easement, her dimpled face
and ~red-brown curls framed quantity
In by the Jagged stone edges, and
looked down to where the newly
painted boat, secured by an iron chain,
rocked to and fro in the surf.
"Half an hour to land" she said
to herself, 'and half az hour back
again, and an hour to stay. I could
enjoy all the best of it, and be back
before uncle could possibly miss me.
He thinks, because he likes chess
problems and stutfv old books. that
every II else must. And he's eight
and-slXtv, and I'm only eighteen; and
I've mended all his stockings and
lroned all his shirts, and there's moth
ing on earth to DO but to sit and twirl
Jay thumbs. | will 60"
Softly the little rebel crept up the
stone stairs almost like a moving sha-
dow, IN the gathering dusk of the dim
old tower-softly she brushed out the
%glistening spirals Of the red-brown
hair, and put on her prettiest dress
and freshest ,.bbons. shrouding them
all with a gray serge cloak.
And before old Moses Nairn had
studied out the "Problem sixty two
white to mate. in four moves to
his satisfaction, the little boat was
rocking far toward land, a moving
speck upon the surface of the deep,
with his niece, Mamie, resolutely
leaning to the oars.
AS she drew the grating keel upon
the shingly beach, and flung the chain
W a huge wooden buIkhead to
secure it, she turned ana looked back
ward, where Lone lighthouse reared
its slender shaft against the deep
crimson Of the dying sunset.
"Tncle Will be lighting the lantern
soon," she said to herself.
And away she fled, mp the shelving
shore, to the little settlement OF houses
which was by courtesy denominated a
village.
Katie Stanbury's house was all
ablaze with cheerful lights. They
welcomed her with q unanimous cry
Of delight, and gathered around her
declaring that she had come just IN
time 10 help them out with ''Othello
and Desdemona." The lieutenant
from ~Leesborongh wrote her name
down for the first waltz, AMI Charles
Coteswnrth whispered to her to keep
1T least three dances for him.
We've borrowed Mrs. Leslie's
white satin wedding dress for Des-
de nona,' whispered Katie Stanbury.
Come mp stairs quickly and dress
The room which they had assigned
was intolerably wam. Mamie threw
omen the window, and looked ont to-
ward fhe sea.
There, still outlined darkly aSains,
the snllen red of the stormy western
sky, Lone lighthouse seemed to lift {
warming finger to her, its crystal eye
dim aud dark as that of a blind man,
She looked once again, more l%ntently
than before, and began to tremblt
violently.
There was no light in the lantern a
Lone lighthouse.
And when Katie SALISBURY cam,
up TO tell Desdemona that the audi
ence was waiting aud wondering, SHE
found the white satin dress lying il
a crnmplel heap on the floor, tia
ca ndles gathering III their sockets, ant
the door vide open.
Goodness me- she CALCULATED
tragicallv, what has become Q
MANNER"
Mamie. with a strange iorebodin:
III cyl ~ her heart bad flown swift,