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

serve A black dress she might wear
Paul was a cousin, and some show Of
mourning ia allowed for second cousinhood
even, and for intimate friendship such as
theirs had been. But no one knew of the
unayowed engagement which bound them
since that hurried farewell letter in which
his love found utterance, and which only
reached her after he sailed-the sailing
from which there was to be no return. No
one knew, as they talked compassionately
of her having had dreadful shock, poor
poor girl her own cousin, you know, and
such fine young fellow that her heart
was wearing widows weeds, and mourning
its dead as the great loss of life. 1t wouldn't
bear talking about. She had kept silence,
and tried to wear brave face.
At first there had been little hope as
rumors came of one boat-load escaping
from the midnight collision but that was
over now, and the terrible suspense ofhope
was over, and every thing had faded into a
sort of gray acceptance OF sorrow, The
light had gone ont.
Left alone, she found with some surprise
that she didn't want to cry. All the morn
ing she had felt that to creep away some
where and weep and weep her heart out,
would be so good bat tears are contrary
things. She sat there logged, with calm
hat was almost like content. She was
thinking of the time when Paul had visited
the island and climbed about that very
cave. On the very bookshelf where sat he
might perhaps haverested. She liked to
think 50. 1t brought him nearer.
She put her sketch away little later,
and crept down to broad ledge, where,
through the arch, the exquisite skyline
was visible, The surf tumbled, and chin
ed like distant bells She lay as if fas-
cinated, her eyes fixed upon the shining
horizon. Somewhere far beyond it was the
spot where the good ship which held her
all went down. Down where? Her In
agination ran riot. Cleaying the liquid
depths to the inmost sanctuary of ocean,
she saw the golden sands, the shadowy
green light percolating through miles of
water-the everlasting repose which reign
ed there beyond the reach of storm, wind
of hurricane She tried to fix the wander
ing images, and to think oft as haven no
less tranquil than the quiet mounds under
VIII Oh are pilowed beloved heads on earth.
But it would not stay. Thoughts of temp
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.
'Aud shall see Tree no more, no more,
TIL the sea gives up its dead"
Great drops forced themselves beneath
the closed eyelids, and she sobbed: 80
Paul, Paul how can 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
1t 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-peace 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 sensation of intense cold
The spell of slumber was so strong upon
her that for 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
iDle NlGHNdN tblb tllhl tuN tiNN AtsN SUI
pri-ed another victim, and already the
avenue of escape was barred
Was this the answer to some unspoken
prayer?
The thought flashed ovei him. Had she
really prayed for death? Here it was, close
Mt hand, and she was conscious OF no glad
ness--only an intense instructive desire for
life. It was too dreadful to be drowned in
that hole, and washed away like a weed,
Life was worth living, after all.
Had some body said, or was she dream
ing, that portion of the cave was left I'M
covered by the water? She could not re-
member, but now she searched about for
some indication. All surely this was one
a cork, scrap of paper, lodged on the
highest shelf fragile things which 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 retreating with them to this possible
place of refuge, wrapped her cloak about
her and nth folded hands sat down TO
await b.. fate
The cave was full of pale green light. 1t
was beautiful to see, AZ 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 quiyered 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 charmingi but
It's beauty was lost to the shiyeling and ter
rifed girl.
The doorway had quite disappeared.
Sharp spray dashed against her dress The
drops struck her face She shrank aud
chung more tightly to the rock. A prayer
rose to heg lips and through the tremp-
lous light of the submerged archway a
strange shadow began to go and come, to
move and pause, and move again. Was 1t
fish, or weed, or some mysterious presence2
Did it come accompanied 10y life or DEATH
Meantime upon the rocks above a dis.
tmcted group were collected. The party
had come myly back from the Heads. DR.
Gray, ignorant Rndsmau $ he was, had
grown uneasy and hurried them away.