Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-06-02

A figure was coming rapidly up the path
"a young man. Nobody recognized him
tin Dr. Gray started forward with the face
OF one who sees ghost.
Paul Good God Is it possible p
yes Doctor" with hasty hand-shake.
mo other | 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?"
Its long story. You shall hear it
some day. But" rapidly forgive my
Impotence where is my cousin? What
is the matter?"
There was dead silence. At last with
groan, DR.. Gray spoke:
Paul, my poor fellow, how can tell
you? Esther is below there"
SIN the grotto?"
'In the grotto. Can anything be done?"
The young man staggered. The glow
faded from his face, leaving him ashy pale.
For moment he stood irres )lute, then he
reused himself, and the voice, though
husky, was firm:
at is frightful place; still there is no
absolute dangeri if she keeps her presence
of mind. stayed there over tide myself
once, just to see it. Is your boat at homer"
to one Of the fishermen.
Eyes, sir"
Fetch it round then as quickly as pos
sible. Then to DIR, Gray: Il shall row out
there opposite the entrance, and make a
dive for it. If | 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 ont"
"But the risk"
"There is the risk of striking the arch al
rise that is all. I'm a good swimmer,
Doctor, as you know. / think it can be
done. "You can guess" with a sort of
pale smile, chow | have been counting on
this meeting; ana to leave her alone and
frightened, and not go 70 her, is just i'm
possible. shall managr NEVER fear. !"
Tue boat came. They saw it rowed out.
Paul taking the bearings carefully, shifting
position once, and yet again, before salts
fed. Then he looked up with a 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 without
startling her, but in another second a flash
ing object whirled down and inward, and,
rising, the waves revealed face-a white
face with wet hair In the pale, unearthly
glow, it wore the aspect of death. 1t drew
nearer. She covered her face with her
hands. Was the sea giving up its dead,
that here, in this fearful solitude, the Wis.,
ion of her drowned Paul confronted her
or was she going mad?
Another second, aud the hands were
The peril, the excitement of
the past hour, strangeness and unrealty of
the spot, combined to kindle within hera
exatation of feeling. Had she
not craved this? If they 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 rap
id strokes, it drew near 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, QueepieW
The old pet name! 1t was Pauls ghost,
but none the less Paul. II know you are
dead" she said, "but am not afraid of
you," and felt unterrifed, a strong arm en-
folded her. But the breast upon which
her cheek rested was throbbing with such
living pulsations that, half aroused, she
began to shudder in terrible blended
hope and fear, and she shrank away from
his touch.
80 Paul! are we both dead, Or only you2
Is this the other world?'
"Why darling" gently seating her on
the rock, 'you are in dream Wake up,
love. Look ut me, Esther. | am not a
dead man, but your living Paul. Feel my
hand-it is VAIN, you see. God has re-
stored us to one another; and now, if His
mercy permits, we will never be parted
again.
paul! Paulr' cried Esther, convinced at
last,
They we're very happy, Prosy folk,
could they have looked in, would have
seen only two ,xceedingly wet young per-
sons seated high up on rocky ledge, with
reeedng waters ripping about their feet;
but they, all aglow with life and happiness,
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 chow
picked up tbs sole survivor of that dreadful
wreck) by an India-boundu trader, her lover
had lain delirious for many weeks in for
land unablcsto cell his name or story and,
in part recovered, started at once for home
ana landed in advance Of the letters which
told his safety. And so they had met mere
mid "coral and taugle aud almondlne,'
aud as she heard the history Of mis- perils,
Esther casped the hand she held as if she
never again could let 1t 81
That provident little Helen-bless her
heart! -"builded better than she knew, y
in providing such n store Of damp sand
wiches and refreshing wine for those
drenohed and happy lovers. When at last
the receding tide opened again the rocky
gate, and the Vi Ia OF the sea tinged with
ROSY sunset and Esther, aided by strong
arms. left her rocky prison, it was with a
glow like the sunset upon her cheeks,
and in her eyes such radiance OF hap
pness that it fairly dazzled the forlorr,
bedrpggled group above, Mrs. Gray en-
l.,..,.I bsr fnndly aud fell iupOutiuently