Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-08-31
THE BEACON
Bv GENEVIEVE ULMAR


CHAMPION :"
AS the conductor called out the
name, two of the five passengers in
the rear coach arose and made their
way to the door.
The man who had sat lost in somber
abstraction was the first to reach it.
A drive of rain made him pause. Then
he noticed that young girl was close
in his lead He stepped to the depot
platform and caught her arm.
at is pouring torrent" he said,
''you will be soaked through if you
do not gain shelter speedily"
A dismal lamp showed against
building half a hundred feet away.
The girl did not resent the courtesy
of a stranger and Joined him in dash
down the platform. The depot was
locked up and there was not sign of
life of habitation in it's vicinity. The
caves were narrow and dripping.
"Wait here" spoke her companion
and went to a window, raised it,
climbed inside and unset the lock Of
lnc uOOT anu liSHlcu d
"This way, miss" he called to the
girl Dismal inside and out. Do you
know anything about this unciviliZed
spot?"
"Oh, yes" replied the girl animated
ly. There are no houses here for it
is only little way station, but my
home is a mile distant"
"a mile in this bowling tempest :"
uttered the man. at might quite as
we'll be ten, child! Are you chilly?
There is a stove here I see. I will look
around and find out If there is a coal
bin or woodpile handy"
He strobe down the platform and
examined box with hinged cover.
1t contained kindlng and coal. Then
he let the cover drop with a sudden
crash for from the depot there echoed
a sharp ringing cry. Through the win
dow Of the lighted room he made out
the figure of the girl struggling with
the uncOuth figure of man in tramp
| ish attire.
Evan Rogers sent her despoiler
whirling through the open doorway
and the fellow made off promptly.
| Rogers fastened to the side of the girl,
who. pale and perturbed, came close
| to him as if grateful for his protection.
| Then after two visits to the coal box
| he had a roaring fire in the stove. The
| reaction from exposure and the shock
| of her recent adventure had overcome
| the girl. Her rescuer walked over
| towards the window and peered ont
grimly.
/ 1t was a desolate prospect without,
| but in accord with his life, and Rogers
| was so engroSsed in mentally survey
| ing the circumstances that had
| brought him to this dreary spot that
he almost forgot the girl.
He had come hither on a strange
mission. Twenty years previous he
had married Alice Hide. He was
| young. improvdent, reckless. Within
| two years he had trified away her lit
| tie fortune There had been a final
| stormy scene. Her brother. cold
| loveless. had reprOached Rogers with
his misdoings, had taken his sister to
his own home and the next day had
written a brief note to Rogers. 1t ran
| "Alice hopes never to see your face
again, but if you are a man YOU will
go to work to repay the little fortune
| you have misappropriated and vast
| ed"
Dominated by her brother the wife
| never sent a further word to her huS-
band. Rogers later heard that a lit
| tie child was born. He became a
changed man, accepting his dismissal
| forgiveness, and diScerned that his
wifes brother amid his hatred for him
had blocked the way to any reconcilia-
| ton.
At the end Of each year Rogers had
sent to the brother of his wife a Ger.
tain sum. The last payment that
| marked the return TO his wife of every
| dollar he had spent, had been made
| only a month since. From the at
torney who acted for the brother he
received brief letter telling that he
was dead and suggested that he see
| his WIFE
Was it thus guardedly that the law
yer indicated that the death of the
brother removed a barrier that had
through the years prevented recon
Citation? Evan Rogers unused so long
that before he turned from his alb.
sorbing thoughts the storm had cleared
and the girl stood at his side.
THE roads will be bad to Alden
where l presume you are going" she
said, but half the distance is my
home. You will be very welcome 70
become our guest"
| Rogers acQuieSced in the arrange
ment. She was the guide now. A mile
accomplished, she indicated a light IL
house somewhat off from the road
| at is mothers light in the window
for me-" she told Rogers cheerily
| How kind you have been to me! how
mother will appreciate your caring fol
me amid storm and peril! I shall tell
her you are Mr.?
Evan Rogers"
| The girl halted with a sharp gasp
She reeled so that her companion
caught her arm TO steady her.
And | am Evaline Rogers" she
| Quavered. "Oh, father! is heavens
hand in all this? The lawyer told
mother you might come. And she-oh
dear father! she has so longed for you
and the light of the window is for
| both of us. Come"
She took his hand and led him for.
| ward toward the glowing light and