The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-12-14

1ucy COu1U UuI UuSt pOWOAAC0cAy W u0I
steadiness of nerve and common sense.
"She's such . wise thing" Helen
sobbed out. So they waited.
A rattle of wheels came from the I
road. They all turned to look, and
some one said, I" Perhaps it's doctor!"
Though what earthly use a doctor
could have been, would be hard to say! |
A figure was rapidly coming up the
path-a young man. Nobody recog-
aized him, till DR.. Gray started for
ward with the face of one who sees q
ghost.
"Paul! Good God! It is impossi-
ble?"
eyes, Doetor,'' with a hasty hand
shake. "No other. don't wonder
you stare.''
eBut, in heavens name, how has it
come about? Where have you been
since we gave you up for lost?''
''It's long story. You shall hear
it some day. But ''-rapidly-"f forgive
my impatience-where is my cousinp
What is the matter!'
There was dead silence. At last,
with groan, DIR. Gray spoke:
!
tell you! Esther is below there"
'In the grotto?"
"In the grotto. Can any thing be
done?"
The young man staggered. The glow
faded from his face, leaving him ashy
pale. For moment he stood irreso-
late, then he reused himself, and his
voice, though husky, was firm:
cts frightful place; still there is
no absolute danger, if she keeps her
presence of mind. stayed there over
q tide myself once, just to see it. Is
your boat at home ?''-to one of the
fishermen.
eyes, sir"
"Fetch it round then, as quickly as
possible" Then to DR.. Gray: 81 shall
row out there opposite the entrance,
and make dive for it. If l 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 riskih
"There is the risk of striking the arch
as rise-that's all. I'm good swim
mer, Doctor, as you know. think it
can be done. You can guess" with q
sort of pale smile, show l have been
counting on this meeting; and to leave
her alone and frightened, and not to go
to her, is simply impossible. shall
manage it-never fear"
The boat came. They saw it rowed
out-Paul taking the bearings carefully,
shifting positions once, and yet again,
before satisfied. Then he looked up
with bright, confident eyes and q nod,
and clasped his hands over his head. A
splash-he was gone, and the water
closed over him.
Within the cave, Esther watched the
strange moving phantom which dark
ened the entrance. The splash reached
without startling her, but in another
second flashing object whirled down
and inward, and, rising, the waves re-
vealed face with wet hair. In the
pale, unearthly glow, it wore the aspect
Of death. It drew nearer; she covered
her face with her hands. Was the sea
giving up its dead, that here, in this
fearful solitude, the vision of her
drowned Paul confronted her-or was
she going mad?
Another second and the hands were
Withdrawn, the peril, the excitement of
the past hour, the strangeness and un.
reality of the spot, combined to kindle
within her an unnatural exaltation of
feeling. Had she not craved this? If
they met as spirits in this land of spirits,
was she to be afraid of Paul or shrink
from him? No, q thousand times no!
The face was close upon her. With
rapid strokes it drew near-a form
emerged-itwa upon the rocks. With
q shrek, she held out her arms. Cold
hands clasped hers-a voice Ibid dead
men speak p cried "Queenie, Queenie!''
The old pet name! It was Paul's
ghost, but none the less Paul. 81
know you are dead" she said, T" but
am not afraid of you," and felt unter-
riied, q strong arm Unfolding her. But
the breast upon which her cheek rested
was throbbing with such living pulsa-
tons that, half aroused, she began to
shudder in terrible blended hope and
fear, and she shrank away from his
touch.
! 80, Paul! are we both dead, or only
you? Is this the other world?"
"Why, darling," gently seating hel
on the rock, "you are in dream
Wake up, love; leok at me, Esther.
am not dead man, but your living
Paul. Feel my hand-it is warm, you
see. God has restored us to each other
and now, if his mercy permits, we will
never be parted again."
i "Paul! Paul!". cried Esther, con.
vinced at last.
] They were very happy. Prosy folks
could they have looked in, would have
seen only two exceedingly wet young
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