Evening star., 1928-06-04
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
he LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER
BY HENRYK sIENKIEwIcz

fHnryk sIenkiewicz, 1s46-19Ie. was .
FolieH writer OF world fame. HIS best
known N9rk iE q novel entitled Quo Tadis
. sensational story Of ancient fimes.l
There is an Isolated lighthouse tower
At ASpinwan, near Panama The keeper
Is cut CT from his fellows, except on
Sunday. Six days q week he must spend
alone, tending the light. having no COM
n1glnicatton with the outside world ex-
ceps the caily boat which brings him
his provisions. II Is lonely vigil, and
therefore not an easy place TO I'LL when
u becomes necessary 70 find a new
keeper.
The keeper once mysteriousIy disap-
peareds and new one had TO be found
within IL hours 1t was Up 10 the
United States consul. and he was quite
worried about 1t. For 1t was an i'm
portant light, and obviously he could
not snap at the first applicant who
appeared. The keeper must be some
cae able and reliable, some one who
would not si1irk his work on the lonely
island II was nothing short of piece
cf extraordinary good luck, therefore,
that enabled the consul 10 place another
keeper On the Island within the IL hours
SLOWED
the new keeper was q Pole, a world
wsndereT who sought this chance TO
settle down IN his declining years and
rest IN peace and quiet He had fought
In four wars. including the United
States Civil War. He was still robust
though getting Old. and he seemed fully
qualified TO tend the light. He was
WITHOUT dependents. and had nothing
70 keep him from staying al the light
house Gay ia and day out.
His name was Ekavinski, and he was
engaged for the post. The consul had
every reason 10 believe ne would fiji ii
outlfuliy and well
. ~ first i seemed too good 10 be true
He nae lived most active life, in all
corners Of the world Never had he
known peace or rest. Always something
had tnterfered with mis- afiairs-sorae
fate seemed 70 foiloE him. eorne con-
slant shadow seemed 10 make IL irnpos-
ssole ever for him 10 rest anywhere for
lorR. There was always sonething-if
ne had yentured into business, II failed.
and 50 on,
Time passed Sailors tell that in
great storms on the seS, when they are
alone With an innnity they cannot
comprehend, they seen, 10 hear their
names called az times Perhaps SKA
tiTlski. alone IN his lighthouse tower.
began W hear his name called. too,
Inolgn Dy q deeper and darker infin~
~. II became for him. indeed, a sort
os na2 grave. for nothing could be
more naof2otoIhOgs than his life there.
Tha1 Is Why young people 90 not
become lighthouse keepers: or If they
co, they % not stick ~ the lob very
long Keepers are usually older men
often gloomy, quite self occupied
Whenever keeper returns among men
for time. he is ike q hermit long
slope~tle walks alone, though he be
surrounded by scores.
All that lighthouse keeper meets In
his life is big and foFnIess-tile sea
ard the SKY, whether clear or stormy
seldom can be given definite shapes
Between tire water and the heavens
the soul Of the keeper is alone. Thought
ig not intermittent, but continuous; moi
even MS work EouGes q keeper from iaif
Eaecitatlons. One day IL e. like an.
ether &c two beads OF q rosary, Ths
enly variety is changes In the weather
But EkayinEki was happy He had
found his peace and quiet 1T last, anf
now he could rest u his hearts con,
tent He became more and more of 1
hermit, making hiE visits on the main,
land fewer and fewer. Soon even thi
man who brought his provisions dif
not see him. but they knew he wa
there, for II provisions were left oi
shore they were always gone next da'
and every night the Light stu burned
That wEE the important thing SKA
stilEki'e light must always burn on IN
high tower.
ekavlnska rosa al sunrise. cleaned snf