Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-11-19

surprised another victim. and already the
avenue of escape was barred.
Was this the answer To some unsp0ken prayero
The thought Mashed over her. Had 81 sllly
prayed for death? Here II was, close al han1
and she was conscious OF no goodness on = an
intense, instructive desire for life. TX was too
dreadful TO be drowned in that hole ami w shed
all.
Had somebody said, OF was she dreaming. that
a portion Of the cave was left uncovered b. the
water? She could not remember but now she
searched about for some indication. All! surely
ms was one,a cork, a scrap of paper, lodged on
the highest shelf-fTagile things which the tide
must have inevitably have washed away. With
an! instinct of propriety which survives ship
wreck and nre, she collected her drawing ma
terials and other little belonging and rctreated
with them TO this possible place of refugees
wrapped her cloak about her; and with folded
hands sat Gown to await her fate.
The cave was full of pale green light Ii was
beautiful 10 see, as the advancing flow rose,
ledge over ledge and flooded the fair pools, how
each star flower and sea urchin, with crimson
and golden weed trembled and quivered as with
delight at its refreshing touch. Each anemone
threw wide its petals and expanded into full
blossom to meet the spray baptism. No mortal
but its beauty was lost to the shivering and ter
rifed girl
The doorway had quite disappeared. Sharp
spray dashed against her dress. The drops
struck her face. She sank and chung more
tightly to the rock. A PRAYER rose to her Inns.
and through the tremulous light of the submerg-
come, to move and pause, and move again. Was
il fish or weed, or some mysterious presenceY
Did II come accompanied BY life or death?
Meantlme upon the rocks above distracted
come back from the Heads DIR. Cray, Ignorant
lands man as he was, had grown uneasy and hur-
RED them away; Arrived at the grotto, the full
extent of the calamity was at once evident The
boy haal mistaken the tide-fow for ebb-and
the only hope left was that Esther, dis 20 vering
her danger in time, had taken refuge at the
fhAr fhnv-
but as we know, in vain.
The sobbing girls hung distractedly over the
cliff, listening to the hollow boom with which
the waves swung into the cavern below-sicken-
ing to think OF the awful something that might
any moment wash outward on the returning
billow The gentlemen went for assistance, and
brought couple OF stout fishermen to the SPOT
But what could any body do?
." III the young woman had sense enough 10
climb mp the right hand corner and sit stilI, il
won't hurt her none, perhaps" one of them
said. - Not more than two tides a wear gets un
there" ~
An, if Esther could only be told that, They
could put trust powerlessly to her steadIness OF
She's such wise thing" Helen sobbed out
A rattle of wheels came from the road. Thew
all turned to look, and some one said: Perhap,
IT'S doetor!" Though what earthly nee
doctor could have been woult be hard 10 saw.
young man. Nobody recognized him Tin Dr.
Gray started forward with the face Of one who
sees ghost
PAUL Good God. Is It possble?',
les, doctor, with . hasty hand shake.
Ono other. i don't wonder you stare"
But, in heavens name how has it coma
about y, Where lasi have you been since We gave
It's long story. You shall hear it some
day. Acknowledgements my impotence
There was a dead silence. At last, with
groan. DIR. Gray spoke:
Paul, my poor fellow, how can tell you?
"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 irres0lute, then he reused him
self, and his voice, though husky, was firm.
It's frightful place; still there is no abso-
lute danger IL she keeps her presence of mind.
STAYED there over tide myself once, just to see
IL syour boat at homer" he said To one of the
fishermen.
Eyes, sir.'
Fetch IT round then az quickly as possible"
Then to DIR. Gray: shall row out there oppo-
site the entrance and make a dive for il. III
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 riski"
There is a risk of striking the arch as 1 rise
that Is all. I'm good swimmer, Doctor, a. you
know. i think il can be done"
You can guess" with a sort of pale smile
now have been counting on this meeting; and
TO leave her alone and frightened, aud not to 20
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 before being satisfied. 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, bat in
an another second a flashing object darted down
and inward. and rising, the waves revealed a
face-a white face with red hair. In the pale
unearthly glow, IL wore the aspect of death. Ii
drew nearer. She covered her face with her
hands Was the sea giving up its dead, til At
here, in this fearful solitude, the vision OF her
drowned Paul confronted her-or was she goinI
mad?
Another second, and the hands were with
drawn. The peril, the excitement of the past
hour, straDgeness and unreality OF the spot
combined TO kindle within her an unnatural ex-
ultation Of feeling. Had she not craved? Ii
they met as spirits in the land of spirits, was she
to be afraid Of Paul or shrink from him? No, a
thousand times no.
The face was near upon her. With rapid
upon the rocks. With a shrek, she held out her
arms. Cold hands clasped hers-a voice did
DEAD aSs m o1S speak, Is ossd 2uesnie QIeeIe!"
none the less Paul, ." know you are dead
she said. "but am not afraid of you, ;" and felt
unteTrIfed A strong arm EMBODIED her But
the breast upon which her cheek rested was
throbbing with such a living pulsations that
half reused, she began to shudder in a blended
nope and rear a. she shrank away from his
touch.
80, Paul! are we both dead or only YOU. Is
this the other wOrld?"
why darling" gently setting her on the
rcck, "you are in a dream. Wake up love
Look at me, Esther. 1 am no dead N An, but
your living Paul. Feel my bandits warm
YOU see. God has restored US one to another;
and now, II His mercy permits, we will never
be parted again.
'' PAUL. Paul" cried Esther convinced at
last. "
They were very happy. Prosy folk, could
they have looked would have seen only two ex-
ceedingly wet young persons seated high, upon
rocky ledge, with recedlng waters ripping
about their feet; but they, all aglow with Iirs,
and happiness, scarcely knew Of the lapse of
time before the Shiny line of light appeared at
the month of the cave.
With blessed tears streaming down her cheeks
Esther heard his story-how picked up-the sole
survivor OF that dreadful wreck-by an India
bound ader, her lover had lain dclirious for
many weeks In far land, unable to tell his name
or story, and, In part recovered, starte at once
Tor home, and landed In advance OF the letters
which told his safety. And 90 they met here
mid choral and tangie and aimodine and as
she heard the story Of his perils, Esther clasped
the hand she held a. II she never again could
let 60.
That provident little Helen-bless her heart
builded better than she know, In PROVIDING such
a store OF damp sandwiches and refreshinS vine