The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1908-08-28
Lifted Shadows

~~~~~A~~~A~-~~-
No finer man than young Donald
Carmichael could have been found be-
tween Lands End and John O. Groats.
He was what the Irish would have
called "a broth av bhoy," the Scotch,
"a Draw laddie;" the English, "a strap
ping young fellow"
Six feet three in his socks, broad in
proportion, 1.-the and clean-limbed,
straight as lance, he went far to
merit the description. And he was as
handsome as he was big. His face
was large and open, no single feature
marring the harmony Of the whole.
Many bonnie lassie's heart beat fast
er when Donald Carmichael went by.
But there was a shadow on young
Donald's life, against which his gifts
of face and physique went for naught.
He. was a stammerer. His affection
was not of that mild form, commonly
met with, which is capable Of being
controlled, and Is accounted no great
disadvantage. The malady had visited
him in its most virulent form.
He was able to form a sentence only
with the greatest difficulty, after re-
peated attempts. Even this was be-
yond him upon frequent occasions
The smallest experience outside the
routine of his restricted life reduced
him to absolute indifference.
And Donald was shy, sensitive and
proud. His disability spoiled his life
1t made him confirmed recluse, hat
ing society, hugging solitude. And
that is why we find him in this lonely
lighthouse on the northeast coast OF
Scotland. That is why he had adopted
calling which appealed only to mer
such as old Tammas, who was predes
tined for the work, his father, grand
father and great-grandfather having
been keepers before him.
Tonight Donald was strangely rest
less. A peculiar mood was upon him
he was fanciful, imaginative, appre
hensive. He had an uneasy sense OF
impending calamity. Anything might
happen on a night like this!
What was that? A cry of distress
or only the shrek of the wind? Don.
aid looked with straining eyes out into
the brooding night. Surely that was 8
schooner? He seemed to descry II
struggling through the storm, reeling
and tottering, like wounded elk with
merciless dogs at it's launches.
Then sudden impact of water
driven by the fierce wind against the
windows of the lighthouse made vision
impossible. When the ensuing lull oc
CURED nothing was visible on the face
Of the deep, so Donald concluded thai
the laboring schooner had been fig
ment Of his Imagination.
Toward dawn the storm abated in
fury, and more comfortable state OF
mind came to the watcher. He looked
toward the distant horizon with the
pail Of cloud changed from black to 8
sulleE gray, developing by impercept
tble gradations into a fixed luminous
purple. Then he extinguished the
lights.
His eyes, rowing once more over the
limitless expanse of ocean, suddenly al
tered their direction and looked sheer
down at the rugged rocks which con
stituted the base Of the lighthouse.
What he saw there brought swift ex
preston to his eyes-of alarm, aston
ishment, incredulity, startled awe
Prone on the rocks, few bare inches
purchase from the tapping water, was
human form. Donald concentrated
his vision, but was unable to tel
whether 1t was man or woman, boy OF
girl; nor dared he hazard a guess
whether the poor soul was alive OF
dead.
He quickly reused old Tammas, and
together they descended to the rocks
below. Both stood for brief momen,
inactive, silently regarding the body
which had escaped from the clutches
Of the sea.
Twas a maiden in the first access
Of young womanhood-of some eigh
teen or nineteen summers may be. She
was very beautiful to look upon.
Was that the pallid hue of death
on her cheek? No; she still breathed
A half-sob escaped from Donald't
'hroat-his heart was very tender.
"Puir bit lassie!" said Tammas
"Some puir mither will greet sair the
NIGHT. Help me WI her, Donar. Pull
bit lassie!''
Her waist was encircled by a life
belt-though insensible, she was still
pllGDinp If They pnntlV diSauu c, a.