Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-06-08

est and fury, of chill piping winds whip
ping the foam from the waves, of roar and
tumult, and heaving wilderness of dark
waters, came over her, and through all the
refrain of Jean IngeloW's pathetic strain
mingled and blended
| Il "Aud 1 shall see tiiee no more, no more,
Till the sea gives up its dead
] Great drops forced themselves beneath
the closed eyelids, and she sobbed: 80
Paul, PAUL. how can I bear it ?"
| And then she thought, as she had thought
before, how glad she should be to die !
Life didn't seem desirable any longer, and
it would be blessed to be with Paul, even
at the bottom Of the ocean. And thinking
thus, the long eyelashes dropped more and
more heavily fell upon the brow
and lips; she was asleep-asleep and
dreaming a sweet, joyful dream.
How long she slept she never knew. She
awoke with gensa ION of intense cold
The spell Of slumbegI was so strong upon
her that for q moment she did not realize
what had taken place The cave was half
full of water. Her feet and the hem Of
her dress were already wet. and the roar of
the waves beneath the hardly distinguish
able archwav told that the tide had sur
prised another victim. and already the
avenue of escape was barred.
Was this the answer to some unspoken
prayer?
The thought flashed over him. Had she
really prayed for death? Here it was, close
lat hand, and she was conscious of no glad
ness only an intense instructive desire for
life. It vas too dreadful to be drowned in
that hole, and washed away like weed.
Life was worth living. after all. 81.
Had some body said, or was she dream
ing, that a portion Of the cave was left un-
covered by the water? She could not re-
i member, but now she searched about for
some Indication. All surely this was one
"a cork, scrap Of paper, lodged oa the
highest shelf-fragile things which a tide
must inevitable have washed away. With
that instinct Of property which survives
shipwreck and fire, she collected her draw
/ ing materials and other little belongings
and retFeating with them to this possible
place of refuge, wrapped her cloak about
her, and with folded hands sat down to
await her fate.
| The cave was full of pale green light It
was beautiful to see, as the advancing flow
rose ledge over ledge and flooded the fairy
pools; how each star flower and sea-urchin,
each crimson and golden weed, trembled
and quiVered as with delight at its refresh
ing touch. Each anemone threw wide its
petals and expanded into full blossom to
meet the spray baptism. No mortal eye
ever looked upon sight more charming; but
its beauty Yas lost to the shiveling and ter
rified girl.
The doorway had quite disappeared
Sharp spray dashed against her dress The
drops struck her face. She. shrank and
chung more tightly to the rock. A prayer
rose to her lips; and through The tremu-
! loBs light of the submerged archwaY a
strange shadow began to go and come, to
move and pause, and move again. Was it
fish, or weed, or some mysterious pres ence?
Did it come accompanied by life or death?
| Meantime upon the rocks above dis.
| tfacGsd group were collected. The party
had come gayly back from the Heads. DIR
| Gray, ignorant landsman Is he was, had
grown uneasy and hurried them away.
Arrived at the Grotto, the full extent ofthe
calamity was at once evident. The boy
bad mistaken the tide flow for ebb and
the only hope left was that Esther, discov-
ering her danger in time, had taken refuge
at the cottage near by. Thfthar they few
to search, but, as we know, in vain.
The sObbing girl hung distractedly over
the cliff, listening to the hollow boom with
which the waves swung into the cavern be-
Meath sickening to think of the awful
| something which might at any moment
wash out On tia returning p1iIUw. Tne
!
a couple of stout fishermen to the spot
| But what could anybody do?
/ eff the young woman has sense enough
! to climb up the right-hand corner and set
still, it wont hurt her none perhaps" F." one
| of them said. mot more nor two tides a
year gets up there.
An if Esther could only be told that
| They could but trust powerIessly to her
| steadiness Of nerve and common sense.
''She's such wise thing" Helen sobbed
out So they waited, : \.
| 4 rattle of wheels came from the road.
They all turned tG look, and some one said:
Perhaps it's a doctsr SgThough what
earthly use doctor coa dAraye 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 p
''Yes. Doctor with q hasty hand shake.
mo other. [ don't wonder you stare"
| "But, in heavens name, how hasit come
about? Where have you been since we
gave you up for lOst?" ....
s'It's long story. You shall hear it
some day. But rapidly forgive my
impatience where is my cousin? What
is the matter
There was dead silence. At last with
groan, DR.. Gray spoke: A@
'Paul, my poor fellow, how can I tell
! you? Esther is below there.
| ''In the grotto?"
SIN the grotto. Can anything 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, and the voice, though
husky, was firm: s e- ELsEaE
lit lisa frightful place; still there is no
absolute dangerif she keeps her presence
of mind. / stayed there over a tide myself
| once, just to see it. Is yenr boat at homer
+, to one of the fishermen.
ayes, sir. --a-f l.5fs
Fetch it round then as quickly as pos
sible." Then to DIR. Gray: Il shall row out
| there opposite the entrance, and make
dive for it. If i come Hp inside. it's all
! right, ant. III see that no harm happens
| to Esther till the water falls, and we can
get her OUT. sas ..--sss fza.s sa.e1
.But -the risk. 7" 10 zaf
There is the risk of striking the arch as
I rise - that is all. Tn good swimmer
Doctor, as you know. I think it can be
done ''You can guess" with a sort of
pale smile, ''how [ have been counting on
! tllS lhCotlilS, dAu 10 lettNt her alone diiu
frightened, and not go to her, is just i'm
| possible Ishall manage it-never fear. "
Tue bestlcame. They saw it rowed out
Paul taking the Bearings carefully, shifting
position once, and yet again, before satis-
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 fash
ing object whirled down and inward, and,
| rising, the waves revealed a face-a white
face with wet hair. In the pale, unearthly
glow, 1t 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