Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-11-02
CHAPTER XIV.
The Beacon,


had eaten little in comparison; chiefly,
perhaps, because she required less
than he. She rested her elbows easily
on the table. Graded her chin between
her half-clOsed hands. Her eyes grew
dark with speculation, and oddly lam
bent He ate on, unconscious Of her
attitude. When be had finished, he
leaned back a little in his chair, sur
prised her intent gaze, laughed sheep
ishly, and laughing, sighed with reple-
ton, A smile of sympathetic under
standing darkened the corners Of her
lips.
ITS coming on night" said he.
you haven't forgotten our signal
fires? I've got my work cut out for
me, to forage for fuel. I must get
right at it."
The girl rose quickly. DO you
mind waiting a little? l mustn't neg
Iect my dishes"
She worked rapidly above the steam
ing dish-pan, busy and intent, the fair
head bowed, the cheeks family flushed.
Whitaker lounged, profoundly in.
trigued, watching her with sober and
studiOus eyes. What did it mean, this
impression that had come to him Sc
suddenly within the hour, that he had
known her, or someone strangely like
her, at some forgotten time-as in
some previous existence?
1t was her voice that had made him
think that, her voice Of marvellous
allure, crystal-pure, as flexible as tenn
pered steel, strong, tender, rich, com.
passionate. compelling. Where
had he heard it before, and when?
ITS almost dark" her pleasant &C.
cents broke in upon his reyery. I'm
quite finished" The girl scrubbed her
towel and turned down her sleeves.
facing him with her fine, frank, friend
~ smile. IF you're ready -.
"Whenever you are" he said with an
oddly ceremOniOus bow.
To his surprise she drew back, her
brOws and lips contracting to level
lines, her eyes Informed with the light
of wonder shot through with the flash
ings of a resentful temper.
"Why do you look at me sop she
demanded sharply. what are you
thinking ?" She checked, her
frown relaxed. her smile fickered soft.
ly. Gam I such a fright"
81 beg your pardon" he said hastily.
81 was merely thinking, wonder.
ing
She seemed about to speak, but said
nothing. He did not round out his
apology. A little distance apart, they
stood staring at one another in that
weird, unnatural light, wherein the
glow from the lamp cOntended garish
again he was mute in bewildered in
quiry before that puzzling phenome
non of inscrutable emotion which
once before, since his awakening, had
been disclosed to him in her mantling
color, in the Quickening of her breath,
and the agitation of her bosom, in
the timid, dumb questioning of eyes
grown strangely shy and frightened.
And then, in a twinkling, an i'm.
patient gesture exercised the mex.
plicable mood that had possessed her,
and she regained her normal, self.
reliant poise as If by witchcraft.
What a quaint creature you are,
Hugh" she cried, her smile whimsical,
you've q way of looking at one that
gives me the creeps. If you don't
stop it, l swear [ shall think you're
The devil! Stop lido you hear me,
sir? And come build our bonfire"
She swung Hthely away and was out
Of the house before he could regain his
wits and follow.
Oft in the north, where Whitaker
had marked down the empurpled head.
land during the afternoon, a white
light Iance6 the gloom thrice with q
sweeping blade, vanished, and was re.
placed by a glare Of angry red, which
IN it's turn winked out.
"What is tt?" the girl asked. "A
ship signaIling?"
No; lighthOuse-probably a first
order Hght-with its characteristic
fash not duplicated anywhere along
this section of the Atlantic coast. If
| knew anything of such matters, it
would be easy enough to tell from
that just about where we are. If that
information would help US"
''But, if we can see their light,
they'll see ours,-won't they?-and
send to find out what's the matter"
Perhaps. At Ieast-let's hope so.
They're pretty sure of it, but they may
think the natives here are merely cele-
brating their silver wedding, or ROOse-
velt's refusal of a third term, or the
accession of Edward the Seventeen
anything"
"Please don't be silly-and discour-
aging. Do get to work and build the
fire."
He obeyed with humility and ex-
petition.
There was no lack Of fodder for
the flames. By dint of several wheel
barrow trips between the knoll and the
farmyard, he had presently construc-
ted pyre of impressive proportions ;
and by that time it was quite dark
so dark, indeed, that he had been
forced to hunt up yard lantern,
carrying the which the girl had ae-
cOmpanied him on his two final trips.