The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1870-06-09


of gray acceptance of sorrow The light
had gone out.
+ Lett alone, she found with some surprise
that she dlin 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 but tears are contrary
/ things. She sat there dogged, with calm
/ that was almost like content. Sine was
! think ing Of the time when Paul bid visited
the island and climbed about shat very
cave. On the very rockshelf where sat he
might perhaps have rested. She liked 10
think so. 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 fumbled and chimed
like distant bells. She lay as if fascinated,
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 imagina~
ton ran not. Cleaying the liquid depths 10
| the lnmOst sanctuary of ocean, she saw the
/ golden sands, the shad0~y green light per
colatlng through miles of water-the ever
lasting repo3e which reigned there beyond
the reach of storm, wind of hurricane She
tried to tx the wandering images, and tried
to think OF 1t as heaven no less tranquil
than the quiet mounds under which are
! pillowed beloved heads on earth But it
would not stay. Thoughts of tempest and
fury, of chill piping winds whipping the
foam from the waves, Of roar and tumult,
and a heaving wilderness of dark waters,
came over her, and through all the refrain
OF can ingelowS S pathetic strain mingled
and blended
And shall see thee no moro, no more,
Till the sea gives up its dead
Great drops forced themselves beneath
the closed eyelidS, and she sobbed 20
Paul, Paul! how can | bear it p
And then she thought as she had thought
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 heavlly-peace fell upon the brow
and lips she was aslecp-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 distinguishable archway
told that the tide had surprised 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
at hand, and she was conscious of no glad
life L was too dreadful TO be drowned IN
that hole, and washed away like weed.
Lite was worth living, after all.
Had somebody said, or was she dreaming
that portion OF the cave was left uncoyer~
ed by the water? She could not remember,
but now she searched about for some indl-
cation. All surely this was one-a cork,
scrap Of paper, lodged on the highest
| shelf-fragile things which a tide must
inevitable have washed away. With that
| instinct Of property which survives ship
wreck and fire, she collected her drawing
materials and other little belongings,
and rereating with them to
this possible place OF refuge, wrap,
ped her cloak about her, and with folded
| hands sat down to await her tate.
The cave was full OF pale green light. 1t
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 anG 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 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 shrank and
cung more tightly 20 the rock. \ praye
rose to her lips and through the tremulou
light of the submerged archway stranss'
shadow began to 90 and come, to move ant
pause, and move again. Was 1t fish o.
) weed, or some mysterious presence? Die
it come accompanied by life or death?
Meantime upon the rocks above dis
tracted group were collected. The part,
, had come gayy back from the Heads. DR.
Gray, ignorant landsman as he was, haC
grown uneasy aud hurried them away
J Arrived at the Gr0tto, the tull extent 0
the calamity was at once evident. The bo
had mistaken the tide-how for ebb-ant
the only hope left was that Esther, discov
: ering her danger in time, had taken retug
, at the cottage near by. Thither they tiey
to search, but, as We know, in vain.
t The sobbing girl hung distractedIy owe
: the cliff, listening to the hollow boom wit
, which the waves swung into the cavern be
t notwithstanding to think of the awfu
l something which might at any momen
e wash out on the returning pillow. Th
o gentlemen went for assistance, and brough
y a couple of stout fishermen to the spot
e But what could anybody do?
= If the young woman has sense enoug
d to climb up the right hand corner and st
e still, it wont hurt her none perhaps" on
& of them said. Not more nor two tides
: year gets up there"
b All if Esther could only be told that
= They would but trust powerlessly to hG
= steadlBess of nerve and common sense.
Of shes such a wise thing, Helen sobbe
ID out. So tEey waited.
rs a rattle of wheels came from the roa'
a. They all turned to look, and some one SAT-
,e Perhaps it's doctorl" Though VIII
is earthly use a doctor could have been wou
b. be hard to say.
m \ figure was coming rapidly up the ia
ne "A young man. Nobody recognized hi
er till DR. Gray started forward with the Ia
- of one who sees a ghost.
ne hpaul Good tioa Is II possible ~