Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-09-16
GIFT OF THE SEAS
Ey cLARlSSA MAckIE.
:SeSes9gSSsS 10000

I'm sorry, Ben. Mother and l are
ashamed Of the way Daisy has behaved
expecting to marry you in the winter
and now running away with that
travelling salesman from BOston-yes.
the minister Mt TUloSe married them
that afternoon, and now as longs
they're married and he Is her husband.
why we've got to make the best Of 1t.
But we'd a hull sight rather Daisy had
married you-what can l say to conn
fort YOU. Benz"
Don't worry about me, Mr.. Brew
err" he said, extending big brown
hand. It's hard blow-if Daisy had
only told me she didn't love me l
would have freed her ut once, but dun't
you and Mrs. Brewer fret abou, tit
will come out nil right in the end"
"Iou'Ee son TO be proud Of Ben"
said the older man hoarsely as he
went away.
Ben paused with his hand on the
painter OF the lighthouse motorboat.
The smile had faded and there was
only the grimnesS left on his face. The
boat was laden with supplies for the
lighthouse, standing clean and white
at the end of the long Shoal two miles
from the mainland. Ben was assistant
keeper there, and he and Daisy had
planned an idyllic life in their sea-
bound home-but 1t was not Ia he.
Therefore. the lighthouse looked >":.i-
er and 1onclier than ever rs his boat
dashed across the bay. He might have
been Tilted every day of the week for
MI the emotion he showed when he
mounted the stairs to the coy living
room and told his uncle and aunt the
news.
Days, weeks and months went by
and Ben Raymond found that time was
little solace.
II expect some day I'll he darned
glad 1t happened" he told himself
savagely. as he polished the brnsscs
and cleaned the big lenses.
1t was Il wild autumn. with raging
seas and furious winds that shook the
building TO its foundation. Folks
ashore arose in the night and looked
or toward Sands Light to see II some
giant sea had not swept 1t away. but
nothing happened until Christmas
week, when binding snowstorm held
the country In thrnll and the friendly
beams OF Sands Light could scarcely
be seen.
whats that3' beloved the keeper
above the noise Of the horn.
"Sea gulls-poor critters" muttcred
Ben.
Sounds like cry" The two men
rushed to window and looked ont.
At first nothing could be seen but the
smothering cloud Of Snowflakes. There
was no sign of an unfortunate vessel
bearing toward the shoal or the signal
fires Of the life saving stntjon-yes,
there were the fires miles below at
Kucut Beach-thc life savers were
out tonight. OF IIiticW Beach were
the black rocks where another light
was placed. But still came that in
sistcnt cry that seemed timed TO sound
whenever the fOghorn~pausei.
cts on the Shoal below maybe
someone from the wreck off Ki:icut,"
shouted Ben and he pulled on his Oil
skins.
"You'll be drowned" warned his
aunt. But you've got to 20. Benny"
For the first time since his broken
engagement Ben laughed outright. He
kissed his aunt and made for TIE lower
floor. Half an hour af'rrward h"
brought up one by one four people.
three women and one man, survivors
from the wreck of the ship at kiticuf,
who had been put into Il small boat
and had drifted TO the friendly shelter
of Sand Shoal. They were all warmly
dressed and after the keeper and his
family had worked over them for hours
and put them to he'd they slept all
through the next day and In more or
less degrees of stiffness, came down to
supper.
Two Of the WOMEN were seward
csses on hoard the wrecked steamer,
while tn" laird Was n passenger. s. E;rl
OF twenty. with eyes Ike brown pan
sizes wet with dew and the Dl"st ap-
pealing smile Ben had ever seen. She
was evidently In moderate circuIn-
stances. ana II developed that she was
on her way from Boston to another
city to find work. The only rDHu from
the wrecked boat was cook who
could speak little English. hui give q
lusty hand in helping Ben reach the
life saving station.
The two women and the cook went
away the following day. hui the girl.
who had lost all her belongings in the
wreck, stayed on nj Aunt Hannah'E
suggestion. "I need light hand to
help NE with tie work" SAID he as
tuie old iHdy.
So Marjorie Lee stayed ~ md
h"!p"h n.gn"i deal. ash they AL grew
go fond az Nsr :hr, they world not
got hcr 60 She was mn orphHn. Dnd