Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-06-02
Seletteo MistellanD.
UNDER THE SEA.

Invalid wife, Helen, Tom, and their mid
hipman cousin; last OF all, Esther Nane-
alone II seemed to her morbid fancy that
should be so. Henceforward she must
be alone always,
The party felt on the eve Of great things
Having arrived only the day before, Mount
Newport, with its wonderful reach of sap
phire sea, the bluffs, the lakes in their set
tings of dark.bIue hill, were still to them
the images of things not seem This, their
first excursion, they had dedicated TO the
"Grotto, or Devils as the coast people
term it--a sort of submarine cave, unyeil'
ed and accessible Mt low tide. only, and a
great wonder in its way
The path grew sleeper. Carefully they
followed its winnings, step by step, sure
footed Kate accepting the help she didn't
need, for tnat pleasure in being guided and
watched. And now the little guide pauses,
and with frecked forefnger points round
a projection of rock. All crowd to the
spot. All! there it isl The cave of the
meImaidsl A shrek of mingled surprise
and enchantment bursts from the party at
the right.
With cries of delight the party made their
way down, and scattered through the cave.
There was room for an army. 1t was hard
to realize that with the returning tide the
space must fill, the gateway close, and
leave no resting-place for human foot
"You said the tide was going down,
didn't you, little boy2'
yeah"
you're sure2'
yeah"
That's nice, cried Isabel. "1hen we
can stay as long as we like. Oh! do some
body come here and see this"
She was lying with her face almost touch
ing the anemopes. Nobody responded to
her call leach had found some other other
point of interest. Tom had fished up
sea-urchin and was exhibiting il. Kate
and the Captain, in n niche of their own,
at safe whispering distance were absorbed
in each other Esther had climbed to the
topmost ledge, and was sitting there alone.
For the first time in six weary months
sensation of pleasure had come to her, and
she was conscious of but one lorging-that
they would all 80 away and leave her to
realize it, With some vague hope, she got
ont color-boX and portfolio, and began to
sketch. AT least ii kept people off and fur
nlShed an excuse tOf silence
And so an hour or more passed by. She
heard ms in dream, the chatter of the
others, their questions to the little guide,
his short, jerky replies. The pools were
all explored the urchins and anemones
had been tickled with parasols, and made
to shut and open and shutagain; the young
people began to sigh for further worlds to
conquer, and Mrs Gray to consider livery
damp.
Little boy, isn't there something else
neat by which we should like to see?"
Guess so.
"Wen, what is il? Tell us, please"
There's the Heads, guess.
"Oh how far off is that? A mile, did
you say2 That's not far. Papa, the boy
says there's place called the Heads, only
mile away, and we want to go and see it.
Can't we ro2 You know the way; don't
you, little boy2'
'Ne-ah.
II think this place is very damp" SIGH.
ed Mrs. Gray. II should really be glad to
10 somewhere aud feel the sunshine again.
begin to have creeping chills Suppose
we let the boy show us the way to this 9th
er place, father.
very we'll Get your things together,
girls. Come, Esther, we're going
Esther reused herselfa as from dream
so Mr. Grlyl must 60? I'm in the mid
do of q sketch, you see. Couldn't you
leave me here quietly, aud pick me mp az
you come bae& | should like 1t SO much. %
'WelI / don't know. The tideis going
out the boy says; there won't be amy trop-
bic Of that kind. Are you sure yt' won't
be chilled or lonely?'
"Ohl quite sure"
Promise me that il you are, you will 90
TO the cottage at the bend and warm your.
self, or sit on the rocks in the sun. Wen
look for you IN one place or the other
Good-bv. my dear.
"Good-by SIR"
"Aud, 0 Esther you must have some
lunch You'll be starved before We come
back, cried careful Helen
So she and Tom and basket made their
way upward, and a deposit of sandwiches
and poit-vine was LEFT in Il convenient ere.
vice within reach
"Good-by, dear hope the sketch Will
he lovely And they were gone-up the
cliasido- Mrs Gray last leaning upon her
husbands arm,
Poor child" She said. ut makes my
heart ache 70 see her look so sad. Didn't
you notice how she was longing TO have us
go, and To be alonea'
And the very worst thing for her She
needs r1using and all tins morbid tLiak.
ing does her harm.
Tn voices died away, Esther caught
The words and She smiled 81 them--u bt
ter little smile, That was Whist an ofslsu
has SAID since her trouble came Shemns
be reused amused and they had crowd
ca business and pleasure upon Eer puti'
she samstimos ielttbat She could bear i,
no longer This was 'hearst rmam many
weeks that sha ad felt Ieaty fsa rt {.
BE gl1t, tp iacls sad Cd gry !. she wished
Naa & luxury II uas. 30 aNJar.-tyeH
uc.hr lo watch her thasa 0u Ws.e,
STRANGERS withdrawn dis gaa. aa.k.H.
a..ny \. atsdelcio0s. There Nas soug.