The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-09-02
THE LIGHT
By MoLLIE MATHER
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q. 1891. Western Newspaper Union.


g. 1921. Western Newspaper Union.
Time Jagged, with the vacation
party at Hamstead on the beach. 1t
was Marcia Cole who spoke from her
hammock at the far end of the hotel
veranda.
''Let u.s." she suggested, take
boat ride over to the lighthouse.
Miriam Evans says 1t is most inter-
esting. There's an old Scotch keeper
there, who lives like a hermit. His
floors are as white as snow, and old
brasses shine upon the walls. he has
corner of books, reading lamp
by tiny fire place, and his only com
panion is Scotch collie dog. The
old man told Miriam the sad story of
his life"
Laughingly Marcia stopped.
81 have been rambling on" she
said "Ramble some more" Phyllis
encouraged, "and tell US the sad
story"
miriam was with Peggy the day
she went out to the light" Marcia
went on; "she seemed to remind the
old fellow of his own daughter who
had, he insisted, deserted him;
though Miriam concluded that the
girl had but grown tired, naturally,
Of an Isolated life and escaped. They
lived, then, in some old house in
remote village His daughter, the old
man declared, was the light of his
life Her mother had died In the
girls infancy, and he, the father, had
tried in his care for her to take the
place of both. Miriam said she could
fancy as he talked, how tender and
absorbing that care had been. Tears
raced down his rugged cheeks, as he
told of a lover lad who was evil
IDENTIFY his choice for the girl, as
husband. Miriam could picture that
girl, too, as selfish, accepting the devo-
ton of the two men as merely her
due, and casting 1t aside for the new
arrival who stirred her romantic
fancy. He came from the city, an
illustrator, idly travelling about and
sketching here and there. He, made
experimental sketches of the Scotch
mans beautiful daughter; her piquant
face pleased him. And then-before
the very eyes of the father and his
young trusted-friend-the lover, this
artist, carried the girl who pleased
him away to the city-to marry her.
Oh, yes, to marry her. And, as usual,
she accepted the homage as Aer due.
But he was ashamed of the crude
old Scotchman and the girls humble
surroundings. He thought that year
of travel and study under his mar
ried sisters care would improve
this girl who had touched his heart,
and would make her in time a at
mate and companion for himself. The
sister, who adored her gifted brother,
willingly undertook the task. But
here is the tragedy-the father never
heard from his daughter from the
moment when she waved him a care
less good-by to this day, when he
tends the light in the tower, and sad
ly smokes his pipe as night hours go
by-just thinking of her. He sold the
village home when two years had
passed, with no word from his daugh-
ter. The Tilted lover, so the old man
told Miriam, is his one comfort.
Davey rows over often to see me- he
said"
Janet Rae was on her feet.
81 want to go over to the light"
she said.
The guests objected
cts quite a story" Phyllis agreed,
but I have more cheerful plans for
the afternoon When you hear who
is coming out on the evening boat
you will want to be here at the ho-
TEL" she told Marcia Cole. A pretty
matron came forward.
"And you. Janet, DEAR" she adj
vised, will wish to be here, too.
Gregory is also coming!"
Janet made no reply. Her eyes
tossing waters.
'Tell Gregory not to look for me-"
she said
The matron shrugged her Shout
ders.
"Who," she quoted smilingly, "can
fathOm the ways of Janet?"
1t was a rowboat that the girl
found and she bent to the oars her.
self. 1t was twilight when the tiny
craft made shore. Janet Rae sprang
out and climbed the rocks in. her
ridiculous little slippers. There was
no person in evidence about the
place, so she passed breathlessly
through the white-f1oored kitchen up
on the stair to the balcony light. Far
beyond she could see like vision
past, the hotel on the bluff, where
guests would now be assembled in the
great dining room-gayly clad wom-
en-, men like Gregcry-exacting
critical. The wind tore suddenly at
Janet's light skirts, the balcony door
blew shut with metallic snap. When
she tried it, 1t would not open.
She huddled back against the stone
wall, wondering, as the stars came
out, how soon he would find her-the
poor disappointed old keeper of the
lighthouse.
The old keeper had long been buff
feted by winds and rains of sorrow.
He found the girl later clinging there,
when he went to make sure that the
tower door was closed. His flash
light illumined her stained pale face.
fancy" cried the old man, "Janey,
my girl p
Through tears she looked up at her