Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-07-13
CHAPTER I.

FILL night long the great bell OF
n the lighthouse, slung to stout
JHt beam projecting seaward be-
meath the outer platform, had
tolled it's warning through the fog.
The monotonous ticking of the clock
work attachment that governed it, the
sharp and livelier click of the occult
ing hoods machinery, were the only
sounds which alternated with its deep
boom. The tremendous clang sent q
thrill through the giant column itself
and pealed away into the murky void
with tremolo of profound diminu-
tons.
Overhead the magnificent lantern, its
full pressure, illumined the drifting
vapor with an intensity that seemed to
be born of the sturdy granite pillar of
which it was the fitting diadem. Hard
and strong externally as the everlast-
ing rock on which it stood, replete
within with FURNISHED steel and polish
ed brass, great cylinders and powerful
pumps, the lighthouse thrust it's glow
ing torch beyond the reach of the most
daring wave. Cold, dour, defiant it
looked. Yet it's superhuman eye
sought to pierce the very heart of the
fog, and the furnace white glare, con-
centrated ten thousand fold by the en-
circling hive of the dioptric lens, flung
far into the gloom a silvery cloak of
moonlike majesty.
At last an irresistible ally sprang to
the assistance of the unconquerable
light. About the close of the middle
watch a gentle breeze from the Allan
tic followed the tide and swept the
shivering wrath landward to the north
east, while the first beams of June
sun completed the destruction of the
routed specter.
So once more, as on the dawn of the
third day, the waters under the heaven
were gathered into one place and the
dry land appeared, and, behold, it was
good.
On the horizon the turquoise rim of
silk against the softer canopy of the
sky. Toward the west a group of is
lands, to which drifting banks of mist
clung in melting despair, were etched
in shadows of dreamy purple. Over
the nearer sea floor the quickly dying
vapor spread hazy pail of opal tints.
Across the face of the waters glisten-
ing bands of emerald green and serene
blue quivered in fairy lights. The
slanting rays of the sun threw broad
cast a golden mirage and gilded all
things with the dumb gladness OF an
English summers day. Ssss
A man. pacing the narrow gallery be-
meath the lantern, halted for mo-
ment to food his soul afresh with
beauty made enhancing by the knowl-
edge that few brief minutes would
resolve it into maturer and more ia
nliliar charms.
He was engaged, 1t is true, in the
unromantic action of filling his pipe,
q simple thing. beloved alike of poets
and Snavvies. yet his eyes drank in the
mute glory of the scene, and. captive
to the spell Of the hour. he murmured
aloud:
FLOATING on waves of music and of light.
Behold the chariot of the fairy queen!
Celestial coursers paw the unyielding air;
Their filry pennons at her word they furl
And stop ohedient to the reins of light
The small door beneath the glass
fame was open. The worker within,
busily cleaning an eight inch burner,
ceased for an instant and popped his
head out
Did you hail me?'' he inquired.
The matter of fact words awoke the
Grea:ne- lie turned with pleasant
smile.
ITO be exact, Jim, l did hail some
body, but it was Aurora, Spirit of the
Dawn, not a hard bitten sailorman
like you"
"Oh. that's all right, cap'n! thought
1 heard you singin' out for a light"
The other man bent his head to shield
a match from puff of wind, thus con-
cealing from his companion the gleam
of amusement in his eyes. His mate
shifted the fragrant odor of the tobacco
longingly but the Elder Brethren of
the Trinity maintain strict discipline.
and he vanished to his task without
a thought of broken rules.
He left piece of good advice be-
hind him.
"If l was you, cap'n," he said, I'D
turn in. Jones is feelin' Al this morn
in. He comes on at s. You ought to
be dead beat after your double spell
of The. last two days I'll keep break