What Kate Devin Did

Tiic ini-l liad come [rom Quebec on ttm (Mivcnimciit Bteamer; imt she wea i Massachusetts girl. who has nú she would Btay bhe rtmainder of bar vac;itiin oo thc i-land oí Anticosti. simply beoaose everybody told bet ehe could not possibly do it. ■viiat is the reáBon i eaa't," be aeked her tnothcr. ''Únele and uní Btáy OH tfc island a!l toe lime, and su kH-s licnny." ■I advtae yon no) m po," -aid lier mottaer. "But why ?' "BecaUM yon will be kmely and homesiek." "ís thnt the cmly roason ?"' -Yes." "Then I shall go." "Very weU. lf you do, you will be obliged to Btay two manthfl." ■■i i]i. oí conree, I Know that." So it carne abOUt Ihat Kate Davins Btepped (rom Hie Government lightKupply boat to tita aboce oí Anticogtl IJsland eme day in carly nummer. She as alune. She liaii her gatchel in her hand. and as she walked alontr the ehore h-r niight. gray-cíád ligare gtood mu strange and solltary on the wastr aií.'iinst tbe bine sky. As the :id ot thc oars df Ule snilors in the deparUog boat grew fálnter and fainter. .-i BenBatiOn akin to foar i .mu' (ivcr be. ín a moment, however. &hc was heraeU airaui. Atioiit lier W&I aileoce and drsnlation, tliíxt harmonized ■11 wlth the belief the Ar.idian.s liar.' that Qod nave up this tokud to glooin and ijeepatr and bestowed it ns a heritage upon Cain. Btretobee ol Uonta land acres of rock lie barren beneath the nimmer ■OB and tilo winter clonds. Beldom is there auy communication witli the kdánd íroni the mainland, Thich, huiulreds of miles, is ncarly as desolate as tbe island itself. Omoe or twice in the summcr a sailmi; boat may cali. No pleasure-seeker ever comes a secemd time. The lapriciousj cúrrente, the íogs, the hhoals, cll for lighthonses here and tliere on the coost, and hete niany heroic deed-; are doni' wliich are never sung or told ; and here was done one heroic deed alnrat whieh I wlll now tell you. A mail white house on a slight rise of laoid a dozen roda íroni the water, had at one comer of it a tower runninjr up niany feet, on the top of wliiih was the li.iíht-ehamber, or lantern. oí the liírhtliousc. Tliere was no other liabitation Ín sigiht. Kate, aslianicd oí her i-uddeu feeling of terror and homesicknem, now walked qulckly toward l lio little house. A door wa tln-own opea, and the etooped and worn íorm of a woman appro.iched In the opening. Sb looked at ilic (fW a ínoment or two with an expreMlOO oi wonder. Had some brílliant bird oí thc tropics Ugbted there, she wovld have been Barprlsed. ■■Phc land sake !" Bhe cried. "WÜO be ye ? Did ye come ;i the Oov'ment si eamer '.'" yes, ma'am," Bald Katc. Don't yon know me V' Thc woman's poor, Faded tace ntüi liad BOmethlog in it that reminded Katc 'i moUier, and warméd her heart at tbe eame time thai it made lier eyes dim. Btae pui out her hand. 'Tin yijur siste;1 Mary's cliild," nlie sald. Su vuil be ! BO yu be I And I ain't seen yon Blnoe you was flfteen months oíd. Vou'd }ee1 lost ver fatlier tlwn. Coiné in ! Now ain't this a treat ? l'.ut yiu ]ie-er can stand it liere m tliis lonesonie place ; never ! 'No mortal can stand it ! Come '." The ■woman kissed Kate on both elieeks and drew Iht into tlie tsinall room, wliich u.is ■videinly kitehen, diniiifr-rX)in and sittiug-room. Hhe then liustled ilwut, putting on the teakcttle and blowlng up the lire iire in tihe okl stove. ' -'Did ye come íi-oni Qnebee ? I!e ye goim' laek in the Hteamor ?" "No, I'm nol goíng back in the Bteamer," answered Kate. "The men will bring my truuk lire before dark. Mayn't I stay 1" "May '."' winnau BtOOd an inBtent and lojk-d at her visitor. "I eball lx' wonderful glad to have ye. lint ye never can Btand it. Sis ter Mary never e.uld. How "Mnlkrr ueii. Bhe saW 1 could not possibly be eontenleil 1h-,t, and pernape that is the reaaom 1 determined i wKmld." "IHu yini oaa't," earnestly, "Ton do. aunl." "II 's my I 1 musí stay ■ dearly svelcome, anyway." Later, Kate watdhed the Uovera ment Bteamer ruiling away on what 1 a Bea í glass. ]t would be at least two montina before Bhe would come aga4zt. Kate wu standing on tiic beaefa iDOking at the e-sel, when a loud 6oreain souiuU'd clooe b'liiud lier. Bhe Jomped, angry a mi rtartled, and turniuir, saw, a rod or two away, a. boy oí eight or nine years, who waa drcuBcd in a cfoecked blu' shirt, witli trousers oí ,thc same, held up by knotted cord that waa osed as ' a suspender. n bis head was a round idazed cap, with n rln or visor. He had store wd gr&y eyes and ao front teeth ezcepi ooe, iiiai wia Just ghOWing Im'ÍÍ, anil looked like an infant tusk. The two Hgurea a and gased at caih other n Slience. At leal Kate aeked, severely,- "Why !o yon yi-ll Id suHi a horrid way aa that ?" ■"Caose i wanted to ree if you could moví', l've been watchin' of ye for a lmg Bpell. AVho be ye anyway ?" "Kate Devine." ■ mué on Gov'ment steamer?" "Yes, I caiiK' mi thai steamer. AViio are you ?" "Oh, I'm Benny Shafto." "Not Bobby?" He stared and did not anflwer. "I'm your cousm, come to make you 'a visii." sin: extended a hand, and received a grlmy hand in il. "You never e'n et.-uid it here, ciukin Kate Derinee," ha aald, and after looklag at her in iflonoe a moment, they Btarted to walk back to the house. Kate saw that he was shrewd and britrlit bevond his yrars. Bnt slie thouiiht his fat her and mother rat lier simple people. s'ie ïay tiiat tügbi isn her bit of a room onder the roof, watdring for the iriint ii the lampe in the Ugbtbcmm wheu it torned so that its Ugtal slione 0O the water, whlch was visible from her pillow . The next day .her annt einnplained of a geven; Jieadache and l'cverish pains in her back. Kate, if u trille headstroniif. was really a good sort of a grirl, as you wffl see. fhe at once insisted that Mrs. Shafto shonld lie in bed, wliile she "(lid the -woi-k." This was not tlie fii-st time she liad done hooaework, for abe had olten sliared vcith her jnother the work of thelr cozy little home. But here it waa very different abe fonnd. There wre m few ntenalla, and no one to live any directions. So wlien she Ba1 down by Jier aunt's beduide, late in tJie afternoon, abe WM very tired. Kven lier ignora ut eyes saw that Mis. iShaíto wa.s no better. In a few minutes Mr. (Sliafto tamo in, looking eo tired and worried tliat his wife gazed at iilm anxiously. He sat down heavily in the wooden chair near the bed-room door, and leaned his head om his hands. "David, wliat i it V" aeked Mrs. Sliafto, feebly. "The revolvin' apparatlU is broke," he said, im sueli a leaden way that Kate geaed at him in surprise. She knew partially wliat his words nieant, but did nut eoniprehend why tliey ehcmM canse the Kiek woman to start up in bed, and then sink back wit h a groan. "And the steanier gone yesterdayl" Bbe cried out, "Wliat shall you do ?" "The WOret of it is," the man said, "unless it flashes, the craXt will think it's tlie t-tationary Ught on the wet side, and I'm afraid tliere'll be terrible loss of life." Mrs. StaaltO huw aal oprigilt in led, in spite of 4ier sewre headache. ■And tJiere"s no way by wliich to .-nul word to the Marine Department !" abe said, dispairin. Her linsband ahook his head. "There ain't no way. as ye know. I i-.ui't let 'em know ti;i tlie next teamer comes, and titeo it'll Ik' a long time before they aa get back witli the ïiinchinery. Uut huw be ye now '.'" getting up and approocfaing the bed. "I only want a litth' rest," she replied, luustily ; and added, "ü David ! wJiat shall vihi du 'bout the light V 1 can't Sleep Í the sailors going to be decoyed by it. Think oí their vcaaoün crachJng uu the rocks becauee of that Ugttt !" Kate, Bensitive and weary, slmddercd ai t-he heard her words. "NOW, OatburbK," said Mr. Shafto, "dom't you go and worry. I shall stay up thei-e. I think I can turn the liglit by hand. 15ut it's golog to be a tedious business. You needn't think 1 shall let the ships be deeeived. You get a good sleep. That's all you've got to do." Then, tTUmbQg to Kate. Jie said. "Wlien you eau leave your aunt. come up into the tower auid see the Ugfat." Boon Mrs. Sliafto was gleeplng tm■asily. l'.i'iiny liad euinc in and was eatlng bread and molasaea wüli audible guato at the kitchen table. "II your inot'ner ua:i;s anytliing, yon wait apon her." ahe said, as ahe pamed tlircmgtl the room on her way to the :;.',h!. Hiiny nul, ld. .in.l Kat' entej loomy and narrow Btairway tbal wuu;ul up through 'uwer. As ahe emerged knto the 11 room w ii lampa ww'. i .!y startled by seeiag ! uu his knees, witb his anus out ml.' (hair the place euntaii'.ed, and by hearing him say, in a low, straiued voice,- "O Lord, hel] me '." Kate hnni'-d up ÜM remaiiiiiig steps, her tace palé wlth excltement and fear u! ahe kiu'W" n:t what. ■ i ocie David!" abe exclatmed; "what is tlie matter? Surely Ican ma(nago to min tw Ugirt ! I an ,strong and well, and I've been brouglit up to win-k. I eau do almost anytliing if you'll teach me." Thei-e was iirc a.nd convlction in the clrar, pleaaant volee, and the man was i fcrifle eheared. He rose to his ieet and turned te.ward her. Hls lace was haggard, and his eyea looked dull and heavy. "Talnt turnin' íor a nlghtj lt'a for weeks," he naitl. soh-mnly. ■'And the questton is. oan we hoid on '.' We are responsilile ïor inen's Uves. I wanted til see y e and teil ye h.nv to do it. liecan.se jny Jiead has surli a feettng in it, and my back, andl thlnk I may be taken down. AVhile my niind is ctear I want to make erare, yon know. Soinehmv. yon llave a look as ií yo eonld be trusted. ltrnny :oo yoting, I'ra afraid. -Ninv yon jest watcfc. lm ROiing tlirough the whole operatioa oí fillin' and trimmin' and tiMTUn'. Kate did nat answer. It waa not necessary. Tlie man saw die was as eager aa lie eomW destre. Whea he had ponred the oll, trimmed the wicks and poüshed the reflectOTB, he look out his wat-h arad sat down, Kate bent over Jiini. ■It innsi ilas'i cvery minute and a hal;'," lie said, ■'and tiiis la the way. It aiift vei-y easy, nor very hard, jest fOï a t imi' OT t wo. S.-i down here and lay the watc'.i tliere." Kate did oe be bede her. "Now turn." StM bent ïorward, turned the wtheete, and had the BatLsfactioo oï metag Uhe eet oï llghta siowiy revolve. '"Itere, ye nee l'.iey slop now," he said. "Do it agatn." He was eatletied. "Yon musí íiuln up at Beven at nlght and put "eni out at beven in the moraing." 'l'.nt ean't yon smuI tor some one ?" slie asked. "Tbere ato't nobody within miles and miles." was the answer ; "and w'nen ye do come to Bomebody, be coukin't leave, 4or he"s a light-keeper. too. You dom't know tiiis island. I must git tlowu stairs now. I wish I coaild stiddy myself on your Bhoulder. Thein .ure bad stairs. fer a head like mine." Kate went one step aliead of him down tJie gtairway. and he leaned lus hand heavily on lier. When they reached the living room, the man. whose force of wlH had kept him up, sank in a faint. upon the floor. Mrs. Kluiito was gratly alarmed, but she was able to give direct ions to Kate ; and in half an hour, with lJenny's help, Kate had brtmght down her owiu bed and bedinj; irom the littlu cliiimber, and Mr. Shafto had recovered consciousness enough to rise and lic down upon it, where it was placed at one side o.' 1 lie kitclien. As lilis head tooiched the pillow, he caimlit the irirl's hand and said,- "It's in y OpÜÜOn wr've liotll gOt typhoid. We'll gee to ouTBelvee. ■Yon tend to the lijiht- tend to the liüht !" he repeated with pathetlc enip'ha.sis. Ili' did not speak a eo'iereiit h.'Utence alt er that lor inany days. "You may trust me," said Kate ; but he did not hear hei1. .ow was a time to prove oi wliat BtuH Kate was niaile. Sle.' paased the next hour in makinj; her two patii'iits as eomfortable as she could, and tlien it was sis o'clock. 'llien Bbe made a baebi oí gruel, and ate soaie bread am'. molasses wil li üenny. Ailer Kipper ahe to.k the boy out ors. "lieiiny." she said, "your iather and motiher may be ill inany days. ('an 1 depend oü you ?" He learaed his back agallttt the house, looked at her a moment and tüieai said with eniphasis,- "Yes, I" "I want yon to wrap yourseli in a ronildrier and sleep on the kitchen (loor to-niuhl. and every nlght. If they want anythinü you must get it for {hem. To-morrow I Bhall try to give tibem a swkat. That'a all I oam do. Oh, it's horrible ! It is horrible to be here alone at BOCh a time !" The glri trembled for an instant, but direvtly had herseli well in liand agaln. 'Tve got to be np tn the tower uiltil momiug," Khe. went on. 8omeMihiji 4ibimt the niaehinery is broken, and 1 must turn tile light. " ■Jiroken ! iot 1ii turn the, light:" interrupteú ]ienny. Thi'U his face kiitheiiei:. and he BtOOd as il' uttei-ly emi.iairled. "Yes," hurriedly r-aid Kate, "you see how nui'-h we have todo, and how we .niii.-i help e.i'h oiher. Vou'H have io take care oï your fatlier and r.i't '■ :■ whüe I'm in the lantern." 'Til do my beat," he said earnestiy- she went up lato the bower at a quiarter ol Beven, and by the time her uncle'a wateh polnted to t lie hour, hou:-. lampa were lighted, al_h at this time oí the year it was still daylight. She glanced out ■ wiudow, and saw üenny Btroggling to plant his fish-rod -losc to the water. From its top waved three long u'-eauiers. This was in accordanee with an agreemeni the two had made iusl licioiv shf left him for the nlght. "Wli will think it means anythinuV" she nsked herseli. Still the siuht of it gave a bit of comfort. Then Degen her work. For the first few tunes abe fancled 11 would be quito easy to umi tta mechinery Hut in hall' au Ihe begaa 1' ;i!r, and Boon every maacle oched, and a Winding glaxe was in her brein ; tor unconsclousiy she hadkept her eyee fixed on the ttaines oi tin lamp.-'. Then 6he grew anxious. "Oh, cannot I Iwld out even one night ?" slU' t lltJlllill t . She himïed to tlio window and put ber head toto th oool air. Bat ghe was oecvcuBly ofratf the time -wcmld paM, and she Kliould miss her duty. The night then grew cloudy and vwry iark. "WJu'u it was ten aha thoiigut St was alter midnight. There was 110 ocssation, 110 rest. It was the drop oí water falling regnlarly on the head, the o-ld, dreadíui tortore. By twelve tlie glri UuHight the wuiild il!;ivc given COUntteflB ireasurcs to Ik; ab'.o to t In-uw horsoli on the floer, and stay t lu-rc hall" an liour. Once when slio ihrust hor hoad out oï tibie window sho saw a beautiful iiiiinisiicd purple and green wild duek suddenly dart int o the glow of the Ug-ht, coming' Bteight toward her. In tlie mext l)reath lie liad dashed his l.cad ngn-tturi rt 1 1 ■ ClOBe wir.' scrrcii. He curk'd over and feil dead t" the grotind. Tlie sight of this poor creatupe'e iafc tunaed her coW. it was like a premonitlon. "If I give up ome minute, I shall be liystcrical !" slic said to he.rflf, ojid she turiii'd reeolutely back to the lantcrae. Ju half a minute she i -cvdlved the ligrlit. Ho the night weni on, until it ivas li.-ilí past two. TIkii ilicrr wa.s a little s.iuntl Uoliind her. She looked and saw r.enny's hcad jiust above the threshold of the door. He was stiinding on the Ktairs, and had a cup and saucer in his hand. .Mother's nwake," he said. "She tdld how to niake sonie tea 8he i ni'KLilit ,y(iu'd nccd it." -Oh, thank jou! Thank jou!" cried the g-irl. asid slic drank the tea eagerl.v. 'How doea it go hort' ?" he nsked. 'It has gome somebow. I suppose it will come morning sometime ! How are your motlier and father?" "I thhik mother's better. liut iather's bad," And he hurried away. The tea was strong, and stimulated her tot three hours. It was daylig-ht theai, but there was a log. All at once the watcher was so nleepy that her oyelids would drop a.s she tumed to lier work. Tlien she would grow fi'ighteaied at hersdi', and for five minutes thereafter she would be wide awakc, and thinking en' the sailors wlio ïniglit be watchiaig for the flash oí the light. The momento now terrible. Slinull Bhe live to sec the ha.nds of that watch jioint to se ven ? Was I i.n'.y on ninlit Hiat she had passed, and there ni'iv s;) niauy, niany more i" ronic. "Can I endure it ?" she thOUgfarl . At 'Ven (Hlo:k she ïii.'c-haiiieally exlinnuislied the UghtB. "1 will sit down oiie moment," slie ïnurmured. llaif an hour later Itenny ])eeped in, and saw poOT liei-oic, tired Kale sitting on bhe floor, her back againei all; "dead Avitli sleep." as he told his mot her. Mrs. Shafto sent him hack wtth a lilanket. which he threw over her. At ten o'cíock silie wás awaki'iii.'d by the sim shining in her face. She ran down stairs fco lind .Mr. Shafto tossing with fever ; but her aunt lookeil lüigliter. "It"s kind oí a slow lever that's got me," said Mrs. Sliaito. "I"ve liad it before. It's bedlom, but it aln't dangeroiis. [ shall be able most of the time to direct Beony. Bat your breakia-st, Kate. Toen 111 teil you wbat to do. One thing, sur, you've got to sleep a few honra every day." How did tJie ïiext week pass, and tlie week alter that, and still another? David Shafto's fever raged fiereely, but Mrs. iShafto's illness only kept her weak and dizzy. Once the wonian tiied to niount the tower stairs. and was found, by Keimy, lying at the foot of them. "Kate will lie ! She looks like a göosi I" cried Bin. siiafto. And Kate feit li!e a gboflt. Only ghotsts should not know such mortal weariness oí flesli and blood. When ! tea .i-a.il to luvve power, she aald that would be the e.nd of her. AlMiut tWO o'cloclc niTj night lienny l;rnü-!it hei the tea, and Bhe workod OU the BtimmluS that gave lor the ï-einai-i'mg hours. She dld wliat she could in the day, but her aunt made her at.tir to sleep for several honre. Por many lays she would fall asleep the inslant she lay down. But in the third week she found When Bbe tried to sleep that her brain wan on fire, and every nerve .M-enied alivi'. Slie could not keep till. "So imu-h the better," she said with a laugh. Hut she little knew the sad and feariiil sigiiilicanee of this. "As long as 1 live, the sailors shall -ie tli-e light." she said one evening, on that third week. "That is my duty. ;unl I Bhaü stick tw it. Oh!" she cNcla iiiicii, wilii a sudden, leurthreaking cry, -i wyh i couW me ïny motber I 1 wtab 1 eouM niy motber !" Oji t.lie last day of the tïïlrd week at ainiui eleven in i he kwenoon, Kate had just iinished fiülng and cleaning tlie lampo, when Bhe heard fche wjiind of teugbtag, Mii'l the voices at men and wuiiieii. "Slic ram out on tlie tiny bafcony, and Icaiü'd over. A lmat liad jiist lani'.cd ncar Benny'e signal. ïIh-ol' iiii'ii and two vromen waltod up toward the house. Katc's ey bumed and actoed. Round and round wen her bi-ain. Tlieai somethlng gnapped in her lit-ad, and slic thought a blindinir. inrffable flood of liglit poured upon her. "Oh, tliero is nioilici1,"' sl;c shrieked, "tbere is mother !"'. Bhe rc-u-lied out h r arms over the baDcony and lauglu'd so loud and straniirly liiat Mi-s. licvins ci-iod out in terror. -MutluT ! mother!" screamed Kate, "I wül Jump down to yom ! oh, let me come to you !" and she begüii ti' Bcramble up on the railing. ■St(i)i : stop:" eiied Mr, lievins, and ib'n ran swiitly toward the door of the tower. Soiue one chttchi'd at Kale's ski: Ts. 'Til hold her !" slionted l'.enny, behiud, si ru'-i.ü-ling wlth her. ''She don't kno' v.l'.at she".-i d(inu." l'antini;, liali dead, the iiKitlier reaehed the turret. Kate was laughIng and crying hysterieally. and ior Uit! tlrst time had lost all control of hereelf. "I Ktuck to the Ught," -he kept saylng. and would sometlmea add, "There'e aio need oï sleeping. Xo. tlM're'.s ui) need oí slee]iiii." The sirl did not have a (ever, but the forre of spirit and flesh had boen sci draloed tliat her inind was not iiuile rig-ht for raonths-, and it was more Ihaji a year before she was ï-èally like herself agaüi. Now permanent help was had. By tlie end of the the liglitlioue keeper and his fainily veere ■veil, anti the revolving apparatus had arrived. Wlu'n her friends condoled with Mrs. Deviiis, and regretted t-hat Kate had done as she had, the mother replied : "I't was a sad tliini; that she sluomld luwe liad such au experience. But lH'inu; where sh' was, she only did her duty."- Youth's ('onipanion.