Rilla of the Lighthouse

eyes. "Don' let's go to the cave fust off, Shagsie." The girl always talked to her four-footed companion as though she were sure that he could understand. "

apped eagerly, then raced alongside of the barefooted girl, who followed an infrequently us

me within the vision of the girl she stood still so suddenly that Shags, havin

her hazel eyes growing darker and wider as she gazed, almost as th

le older than Rilla, was standing with his hands in his pockets gazing at a flat-bottomed, weather-stained

y voice called, "Clear out! Go away

be in the least intimidated by thi

ir blowing in the wind and with a shaggy yellow and white dog at he

yes, a keen, thin face, and a firmly rounded chin. Indeed, Gene, as his best friends calle

ad had dared to land on her very own island. There could be no mistake that he was "city folks," fo

the lad laughed, not rudely, but with merry good nature. It seemed to him truly humorous that this barefooted, wind-blown girl should be ordering him out to

he approached the youth toward whom his mistress was pointing he paused uncertainly. The smil

the present need for ferocity, actually wagged his tail and permit

oy looked up, the girl was not to be seen. Shrugging his shoulders, he turned back to converse with his newly acquired companion. Gene dearly loved dogs and Shags had

the corner and raced back again. The next time that Gene Beaver

ang out angrily, her eyes dark with e

onscious that this stormy girl really feared him, and yet he could no

rt and a bullet whizzed over his head. It was evidently merely a choice between which kind of an end to his li

shouting lustily: "Come back here, yo' landlubber! Don' yo' know yer

the surf. Seizing the oars, Gene let the sail flap as he tried to regain the land. The leak which had driven him to shore in the beginning was

ck, or yo'll flounder

deep, he swam toward the shore, and not a moment too soon, for the brea

watching the annihilation of the craft and

en," he said, "you have saved my life, I guess, by your quick command, a

m?" the truly amazed girl inquir

ow it. Is th

Muriel Storm, though Gr

rk, but I am visiting your Doctor Winslow in Tunkett. He and my dad are old friends. I've been sic

dily, exclaimed: "Yer shiverin' wi' the cold. The surf's like ice. Yo' be gat

the dog went with her. For a moment the lad stood gazing o

r would be stupid, the summer colony being closed, but I

la reappeared on the rocky cliff. Instead of the gun,

hostile as her former attitude had been. She held up the cup toward him and filled it with ste

ressed girls had surrounded him, offering him dainty porcelain cups half filled with fragrant orange pekoe. He was expected to purchase one of them for the sake o

s wild island girl was merely trying to warm him up that he need not freeze from his unexpected plunge into the icy surf. There was another point of difference between the two tea parties, Gene

ng satisfied that her grand-dad had not left Tunkett, she returned and lighted the dry wood, which soon snapped and crackled. Then, rising, she put her hands on her hips and unsmilingly g

ote of scorn in the girl's voice,

terday, and not knowing how to pass the time away, I went down to the wharf and asked a small freckle-faced boy if I could hire a boat. He said I could have my pick for a dollar an hour. He was going with

rents boats to summer folks. He asks a t

for the wreck, I suppose." Then he added: "Miss Storm Maiden, why don't you smile? I've been here an hour, I do

. I tried to ship yo' off'n Windy Island. I sure did." The lad was puzzled. "I'll testify that you t

rand-dad's dislike for "city folks," though

ou have ever talked with?"

ft glance at the sun had told Rilla the time. "Yo'll have to hide in Treasure Cave, that's what! I can't come to see yo' thar; 'twouldn't be honest to Grand-dad; but I'll let down a basket of

shore and paused at the foot of the perilou

can wrap up in and keep warm," she sai

nd, his cap in the other, as he said earnestly: "Miss Muriel Storm, I thank you for everything." Then h

ng, he entered the cave, and none too soon, for, right at that very moment,

d. Then she raced along the strip of

t. How she wished that she could go to her grandfath