Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-09-23
VOL. 60.-3545. NO. 40.

smile, "how | have been counting on thi
meeting and 10 leave her alone and fright
encd, and not 20 10 her, Is Just impossible
| shall manage it---never fear"
The boat came. They saw IL rowed out
Paul taking the bearings carefully, shiftin,
position once, and yet again, before satisfied
| Then he looked up with bright, confden
smile and nod and clasped his hands abov,
hie head A splash--he was gone, and th'
water closed over him.
Within the cave, Esther watched tn,
strange, moving phantom which darkened thu
entrance. The splash reached her without
startling her, but In another second flash
ing object whirled down and inward, and
rising, the waves revealed face--a whit,
face with wet hair. In the pale, unearthlJ
glow, " wore the aspect Of death. IL drew
nearer. She covered her eyes with hei
hands. Was the sea giving up its dead, thai
here, in this fearful solitude, the vision Of
her drowned Paul confronted her--or wa,
she going mad?
Another second, and the hands were with
drawn. The peril, the excitement Of th,
past hour, the strangeness and unreality OF
the spot, combined 10 kindle within her aU
unnatural cxaltation Of feeling. Had sh,
not craved this2 II they met "a 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 rapid
strokes, IL drew near--a form e,nerged-it
was upon the rock. With a shrek she held
out her arms. Cold hands claspcd hers-s
voice (did dead men speakf) cried =
"Queenie, Queeniei"
The old pet namel II was Paul's ghost
but none the less Paul 81 know YOU ar,
dead" she said, "but | am not afraid OF
you" and felt, unterrified, strong arm en-.
fold her. But the breast upon which her
cheek rested was throbbing with such living
pulsations that, half aroused, she began 70
shudder in a terrible blended hope and fear,
and she shrank away from his touch.
90 Paul are we both dead, or only you?
Is this the other world?"
"Why darling" gently seating her on the
rock "you are in dream. Wake up, love-
Look at me, Esther. ! am not dead man,
but your living Paul. Feel my hand-it is
warm, you see. d,has restored us to one
another; and now, if His mercy permits, we
shall never be parted again"
paul Paul !" cried Esther,1 convinced at
last.
/ They were very happy. prosy folk, could
they have looked in, would have seen only
two exceedingly wet young persons seated
high up on a rocky ledge, with recedng
waters riTpling about their feet; but they,
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
checks, Esther had heard his story-how,
picked up--the sole survivor OF that dread
ful wreck-by am lndia-bound trader, her
lover had lain delirious for many weeks in
a far land, unable 10 tell his name or story,
and in part recovered, started at once for
home, and landed in advance of the letters
which told his safety. And so they had met
here, mid "coral and tangle and almond.
ine;' and as she heard the history of his
perils, Esther clasped the hand she held as II
she never again could let it go.
That provident little Helen--bless her
heart -" builded better than she knew,
in providing such store Of damp sand.
wiches and refreshing wine for those
drenched and happy lovers. When at last
the receding tide opened again the rocky
gate, and the vista 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 dazzled the forlorn, bedraggled
group above. Mrs. Gray embraced hei
fondly, and fell necessarily into fit of long
deferred congratulation, and Helen and Isa
bel laughed and cried for Joy. And as
Esther turned with Paul for a last look al
the scene of her deliverance, the chime and
murmur Of the sea seemed full of blessing
the blessing of the dear Lord who had had
compassion upon her weakness, restoring hei
to life, and to that life its lost joy. With
thankful heart, she went her way.
So we leave her.