Rilla of the Lighthouse

in the lean-to adjoining the light), she would stand in the open door gazing out across the harbor, waiting, watching for what she barely confessed to herself. But on the third da

d 'nother hair ribbon, do yo', or--" He had been filling a lantern as he spoke, but suddenly

ss the water, shading his ey

e comin'. I sartin do hope the young fellar is navigatin' that frail

"Look yo', Grand-dad! I'm sure sartin there's little Sol puttin' out from the whar

essage for us. More'n like

em to be headed directly for Windy Island. Rilla, her heart t

. He felt the tenseness of the girl's arm. "Grand-dad," she said tremulously, "what if the message is that Gene Beavers has died. I r

fitful all the morning, dwindled to the softest breeze, then a calm

d impatiently. Then, eagerly, "Grand-dad, m

an't be rowin' zigzag all over the harbor." Then, as the boy seemed to be leisu

r bearin's. Little Sol wa'n't headin' this way, 'pears

e week's mending. When she returned to the armchair outside the lighthouse she saw t

She recalled that he had looked frail, but she had supposed his paleness was due to the fact that he lived in the city. Too, she realized that she had been hoping for days that

e seen. Alarmed, the girl sprang to her feet and ran to the top of the steep flight of steps leading down to the shore. Her anxiety was quickl

held up a silver dollar. "Made it as easy as saili

d eagerly, breathlessly, hoping that in

low's, he 'twas guv it to me, if I'd fetch a note over to Wind

tairs that led up to the light, she shouted: "Grand-dad! Yo-o! Are yo' a-comin

s, Rilly gal," the beaming old man said as he descended the circling flig

eavers himself as sent the note and he said a

d aboveboard, that was evident. "Wall," he said as he

arter it." But suddenly his expression changed and he beamed up at them. "By time, I rec'lect now! I stowed it in here for safe keepin'." As he spoke he removed his cap and took the note from the ragged lining. He hand

ssage which the note contained. Muriel knew by the expression in her grandfather's

s a-sittin' up?

note and placed it in his pocket. "Lem's writ for you

inquired: "Wouldn't I better wait till arter mid-day? Who

ghter pealed out as he replied: "When yo' was a little un who'd yo' s'pose fried cod for the two of us if '

his leathery cheek. She took this opportunity to whisper into his ear: "Yo're

chen and put on what her grand-dad called her "Sunday riggin's." She hesitated just a moment between the red hair ribbon and the green, then choosing the latter, she peered into the broken bit of mirror to tie it as best she could on her red-brown hair. Then s

his cap when Muriel, sitting in the stern of the W

ime in many years, there was a prayer that the