The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-02-03
NUMBER FORTY.

Many q craft bad visited the cave
gliding smoothly into port, or driit
ing, dismsntled wrecks, but never th'
like Of this one On she came boldly.
all her sails set. and cleaning white
in the dull atmosphere. What was
abe vessel? Where did she come
from2 The helmsman must be mad.
An. at last What else could be ex.
pected? Bounding forward on the
crest Of the advancing wave, she
nausea. shivered, and hung poised in
air. as il were, pierced by the fang OF
G sunken reef Then a wondering ST.
lenne fell on the spectators. The
marvel was this-nOt a soul vas visi-
Die on her deck.
The yreckers put Of to the vessel
No trace Of disorder and violence, ex-
cept two boats gone. The young
clergyman who accompanied the
wreckers went down the companion
way into the cabin with bated breath.
No confusion even here; every article
in It's place, the lamp swinging mon
otonously from the beam. A low
sound curdled the blood in his veins,
already chilled by dread and antici-
patton Of the unknown. 1t was abe
Teriest breath, half sob, half moan:
still there was some living creature
in the inner cabin. He stepped to
the door
A girl, bleached to the color of her
shroud by illness, lay in a narrow
berth, and within reach Of her hand
we're placed biscuit and a bottle Of
water.
The clergyman brought his prize on
deck, as the wreckers swarmed over
the side.
The girl opened wide eyes, dreamy
and vacant.
Where are your companions ofthe
ship?7
Il don't know" vaguely.
IVA there a Storm"
'The sea always beats against the
side"
Can you tell US your Dame?"
Call me a Caprice Of Forum e, "
abruptly.
Caprice was taken to the house Of
an old nurse, and soon recovered.
Alfred Dearborn, the young clergy.
man, visited her daily, and rejoiced
AT her recovery.
One day Caprice was wandering
about the little island when she saw
a plant, the stem q transparent green
color, the broad leaves stretching up
ward as if to support a lilly, which,
having spurned its sheath, now
starred the dim place, pure as alabas-
Ter, and delicately curved like q shell.
Carpcice bent the lofty plant to in
hale its fragrance. and with one
rending crack the giant blossom lay
IN Esr hands. The perfume was an
intoxicating delight; as her feet stray
ed into the path once more she
buried her face in the snowy petals.
4 surly mastiif deserted her, and APP
preached with deep-mouthed growls.
On the right hand was a house, on
the left the wall by which she had
entered. The house was nearest
refuge, and thither she fed, with the
enemy ia close pursuit. She sprang
through an open window, with a
startled scream, just as the mastifTs
teeth closed on her arm.
Down, Brunei back, sir !" CON-
manded a shrill voice.
Caprice, still clutching her flower
trophy. stood before a very old man
in a wheeled chair. The old man
remained m~otionless for several min
ntes, his gaze riVeted on the lily, then
a light came into the withered, gray
face, @ touch of the wheel whirled
the chair to her side, aud be exclaim-
ed. ia delighted accents:
Has il bIoomed once more? What!
and you brought il to me because |
can no longer visit the caveg Good
child / never forget. Where is my
nephew Alfred, that be did not know?
Oh, the fools, the foolsl 1t might
have withered while thev passed by.
Ny priceless beauty"
When Alfred Dearborn came to
pay a morning visit to his aged I'M
Gle, Mr. Silas Dearborn, Of Mount
Hill, be found that gentleman at ia
De, with Caprice seaSed opposite.
The old man played the host with
his Orsndest manner