Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-05-20

and brought q couple of stout fishermen
to the spot. But what could anybody do
"Ifthe young woman has sense enough
to climb up the right. hand corner and sil
still, 1t won't hurt her none perhaps" one
year gets up there"
All If Esther could only be told Tint
They could but trust powerlessly 10 her
steadiness of nerve and common sense,
"She's such wise thina,n Helen
S0boed out 30 they waited.
A rattle of wheels came from the road,
They all turned to look, and some one
said: Perhaps it's a docterp 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.
"Paull Good God Is it possible p
Eyes, Doctor" with a hasty hand
shake. "No other. l don't wonder you
stare"
"But, in heavens name, how has It
come aboutP Where have you been since
we gave you up for lost ?"
"IFs long story. You shall hear it
some day. But ut"-rapidly-" forgive my
is the matter ?"
There was a dead silence. At last with
q groan, DR.. Gray spoke:
Paul, my poor fellow, how can tell
you? Esther is below there"
"In the grottoP"
"In the grotto. Can any thing be
doneg"
The young man staggered. The glow
faded from his face, leaving him ashy
pale. For moment he stood irresolute,
then he reused himself and his voice,
though husky, was firm:
"It's frightful place; still there is no
absolute danger if she keeps her presence
of mind, 1 stayed there over a tide
J myself once, just to see it. Is your boat
! at homer to one of the fishermen.
ayes, sir"
"Fetch it round then as quickly as pos
sible." Then to DR.. Gray "I shall row
out there opposite the entrance, and make
dive for it 1t l 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--tbat is all. I'm good swim
mer, Doctor, as you know. l think it
can be done. You can guess" with sort
of pale smile, how l have been counting
on this meeting; and to leave her alone
and frightened, and not go to her, is Just
impossible. l shall manage it--never
fear.'
The boat came. They saw it rowed
| out. Paul taking the bearings carefully,
shifting position once, and yet again, be
fore satisfied. Then he looked up with a
bright, confident smile aud 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 mad?
Another second, and the hands were
withdrawn. The peril, the excitement
of the past hour, the strangeness and un.
reality of the spot, combined to kindle
within her an unnatural exaltation of feel
met as spirits in this land of spirits, was
she to be afraid of Paul or shrink from
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
shrek, she held out her arms Cold
hands clasped hers-a voice (did dead men
speak?') cried "Queenie, Queenie ~
The old pet name! 1t was Pauls ghost,
but none the less Paul 81 know you are
dead" she said, but l am not afraid OF
you," and felt, unterrifed, strong arm
enfold her. But the breast upon which
her cheek rested was throbbing with such
living pulsations that, half-aroused, she
began to shudder in a terrible blended
| hope and fear, and she shrank away from
his touch.
go, Paul are we both dead, or only
you? Is this the other world?"
"Why, darling" gently seating her on
the rock, "You are in a dream. Wake
up, love. Look at me, Esther. an not
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
"Paull PAUL." 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 ripping 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,
| picked up-the sole survivor of that
dreadful wr0ck-by an India bound trader,
her lover had lain deliriOus for many
weeks in a 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 tangle 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 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 glow like the sunset, upon her
cheeks, and in her eyes such radiance of
happiness that 1t fairly dazzled the for
lorn, bedraggled group above Mrs. Gray
embraced her fondly, and fell inconti-
nently into fit Of long-deferred Mysteries.
The boys executed a war-dance of con-
graduation, and Helen and Isabel laughed
and cried for joy And as Esther turned
with Paul for a last look at the scene of
her deliyerance, the chime and murmur OF
the sea seemed full OF blessing-the bles-
sing of the dear Lord who had had COM
passion upon her weakness, restoring her
TO life, and to that life its lost Joy. With
thankful heart, she went her way.
80 We leave her.-He0rth and Home.
BARON DE RoTHsoBIID the naralvtic