The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-05-19

to climb up the right.hand corner and si
still, 1t won't hurt her none perhaps" one
of them said, "Not more nor two tides 8
year gets up there"
All If Esther could only be told that
They could but trust powerlessly to hei
steadiness of nerve and common sense.
"Shes such wise thing" Helen
sobbed out. So they waited.
A rattle of wheels came from the road
They all turned to look, and some one
said: Perhaps it's s. docterl' Though
what earthly use doctor could have
been would be hard to say
A figure was coming rapidly up the
path-a young man. Nobody recognized
him till Dr. Gray started forward with
the face of one who sees ghost.
paul! Good God Is it possible!'
eyes, Doctor" with hasty hand
shake. "No other. l don't wonder you
stare"
"But, in heavens name, how has it
come about? Where have you been since
we gave you up for lost ?"
"It's long story. You shall hear it
impatience-where is my cOu sin? What
is the matter ?"
There was dead silence AT last with
a grOan, DR.. Gray spoke:
Paul, my poor fellow, how can tell
you? Esther is below there"
'In the grotto?"
ain the grotto. Can any thing be
done? ?"
The young man staggered. The glow
faded from his face, leaving him ashy
pale. For moment he stood irresolute,
then he reused himself, ard his voice.
| though husky, was firm:
ITS irightful place; still there is no
absolute danger if she keeps her presenc,
Of mind. / stayed there over a tide
! myself once, just To see it. Is Your boat
! at home?' to one of the fishermen.
eyes, sir"
"Fetch it round then as quickly as pos
sible" Then to DR.. Gray: II shall row
cut there opposite the entrance, and make
a dive for it. Ii come up inside, it's all
right. and I'll see that no harm happens
to Esther till the water falls, and we can
get her out"
"But-the risk"
"There is the risk of striking the arch
as rise-toat is ali. Pm good swim
mer, Doctor, as you know. [ think it
can be done. You can guees," with q sort
of pale smile, how | have been counting
on this meeting; and to leave her alone
and frightened, and not go to her, is just
impossible. / shall manage it-never
fear"
The boat came. They saw it rowed
our. Paul taking the bearings carefully,
shifting position once, and yet again, be
tore satisfied. Then ne looked up with
bright, confident smile and nod, and
clasped his hands above his head. A
splash--he was gone, and the water closed
over him.
Within the cave, Esther watched the
strange, moving phantom which darkened
the entrance. The splash reached with
out startling her, but in another second a
flashing object whirled down and inward,
and, rising, the waves revealed face--a
white face with wet hair In the pale un-
earthly glow, it Wore the aspect Of death.
1t drew nearer She covered her eyes
with her hands Was the sea giving up
its dead, that here, in this fearful solitude,
the vision of her drowned Paul con-
fronted her--or was she going Eiad?
Another second, and the hands were
Withdrawn. The peril, the excitement
of the past hour, the straugeness and un-
reality of the spot, combined to klndle
within her an unnatural eXaltatiOn of feel
ing. Had she not craved this? If they
met as spirits in this land of spirits, was
Slc W DS GiItlO vi l. dIi VI Suliuh hcu
him? No, thousand times no.
The face was close upon her. With
rapid strokes, it drew near--a form
emerged-it was upon the rocks. With
a shrek, she held out her arms. Cold
hands clasped hers-a voice Ibid dead men
speak g'') cried "Queenie, Queeniel y
The cid pet name! Itwes Paurs ghost,
but none the less Paul. 81 know you are
oh htIf 1 at nf
you, and felt, unterrified, strong arm
enfold her. But the breast upon which
her cheek rested was throbbing with such
living pulsatiOns that, hali-aroused she
began to shudder in a terrible blended
hope and fear and she shrank away from
his touch.
40, Paul are we both dead, or only
you? Is this the other wOrld?"
Why, darling" gently seating her on
the rock, You are in dream. Wake
up, love. Look at me, Esther. / an not
a dead man, but your living Paul. Feel
my hand-it is warm, you see. God has
restored us to one another; and now, if
His mercy permits, we will never be
parted again"
"PaulI Paulr cried Esther, convinced
at last.
They were very happy. Prosy folk,
could they have looked in, would have
seen only two exceedingly wet young per-
sons seated high up on rocky ledge, with
receding waters rippling about their feet !;
but they, all aglow with life and happi-
ness, scarcely knew of the lapse of time
before the shiny line of light appeared at
the mouth of the cave.
With blessed tears streaming down her
cheeks, Esther had heard his story how,
.rnlyn ynI l,n col. a lot
| dreadful wreck-by an India bound trader,
her lover had lain delirious for many
weeks in far land, unable to tell his
| name or story, and, in part recovered,
started at once for home, and landed in
advance of the letters which told his
safety And so they had met here, mid
coral and taDgle and almOndine;" and as
she heard the history of his perils, Esther
clasped the hand she held as if she never
again could let it go.
That provident little Helen-bless her
heart = builded better than she knew"
in providing such q store of damp sand
wiches and refreshing wine for those
drenched and happy lovers. When at
last the receding tide opened again the
rocky gate, and the vista of the sea tinged
with rosy sunset, and Esther, aided by
strong arms, left her rocky prison, it was
with a glow ike the sunset, upon her
cheeks, and in her eyes such radiance OF
happiness that it fairly dazzied the for.
lorn, bedraggled group above. Mrs Gray
embraced ber fondly, and fell inconti
nently into fit of long deferred Mysteries
The boys executed war-dance of con
graduation, and Helen and Isabel laughed
ant cried for joy. And as Esther turned
with Paul for a last look at the scene q
her deliverance, the chime and murmur o
the sea seemed full OF blessing-the bles
sing OF the dear Lord who had had com
passion upon her weakness, restoring he
to life, aud to that life its lost joy. Will
thankful heart, she went her way.
So we leave her-Ht0rth and Home.