The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-11-03

the morning, she had felt that 10 creep
away somewhere and weep, and weep
her heart out, would be 50 good; but
tears are contrary things. She sat
there, dulled into calm that was al
most content. She WAS thinking Of the
time when Paul had visited the Island,
and climbed about that very cave. On
she very bookshelf where she sat, he
might perhaps have rested. She liked
10 think so. IL brought him nearer.
A little later, she put her sketch
away, and crept down 10 broad edge,
where, through the arch, the exquisite
skyline was visible. The surf tumbled
and chimed like distant bells. She lay
As If fascinated, her ewes fixed upon the
shining horizon. Somewhere far be-
I yOnd il was the spot where the good
ship which held her all went down.
Down where? Her imagination ran
riot Cleaving the inward depths TO
the inmOst sanctuary of ocean, she saw
the golden sands, the shadOwy green
light percOlating through miles of wa
ter-the everlasting repOse which reign
ed there beyond the reach of storm,
wind or hurricane. She tried 10 nix the
wandering images, and 10 think of it as
a haven no less tranquil than the quiet
mounds under which are pillOwed be-
loved heads on earth. But il would not
stay. Thoughts of tempest and fury,
of chill piping winds whipping the
foam from the waves, of roar and tu-
multi, and heaving wilderness Of dark
waters, came over her; and through all
lie refrain Of jean ingeio~ > pathetic
strain mixed and blenled-
And shall Sc thee no more.
TIL tie sea gives up lie dead.
Great drops forced themselves be-
meath the closed eyelids, and she sob
bed: 30 Paul, Paul, how can bear
it?"
And then she thought, as she had
thought before, how glad she should be
10 diel Life didn't seem desirable any
longer, and il would be blessed To be
with Paul, even at the bottom Of the
ocean. And thinking thus, the long,
eyel2shes dropped more and more he2v-
ily; peace fell upon the brow and lips:
she was asleep-asleep, and dreaming
8 sweet, joyful dream. How long she
slept she never knew. She awOke with
a sensation Of intense cold. The spell
of slumber was so strong upon her that
for a 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 escaped was bar
red.
Was this the answer 10 some unspOk-
en- prayer?
The thought flashed over her. Had
she really prayed for death? Here it
was close AZ hand. and she was con-
sciOus Of ne gladness-Only an instinct
i've desire for life. II was too dreadful
70 be drowned in that hole. and washed
away ike weed. Life was worth liv-
ing, after all.
Had somebody said, or was she
dreaming, that portion of the cave
was lef; uncovered BY the water? She
could not remember, but now she
I searched about for some indication.
All, surely this was one-a cork, y scrap
/ Of paper, lodged on the higher shelf,
fragile things which q tide must inevita-
bly have washed away. With that in
stinct Of property which survives ship
wreck and firs, she collected her draw
ing materials and other little belong
ings, and, retrea.ing with them to this
possible place of refuge, wrapped her
cloak about her, and, with folded hands,
sat down 20 await her fate.
The cave was full Of pale green light.
II was beautiful 10 see, as the advanc-
ing flow rose, ledge over ledge, and
flooded the miry pools, how each star
flower and sea-urchin, each crimson
and golden weed. trembled and quiv
cred as with delight at its refreshing
touch. Each anemOne threw wide its
petals and expanded into full blossom
10 meet the spray baptism. No mortal
eye ever looked upon sight more charm
ing; but its beauty was lost to the shiv-
ering and terrified girl.
The doorway had quite disappeared.
Sharp spray dashed against her dress.
The drops struck her face. She shrank
and chung more tightly 10 the rock. A
prayer rose 10 her lips; and through
the tremulOus light Of the submerged
archway a strange shadow began To 90
and come, 10 move and pause. and move
again. Was il fish, or weed, OF some
mysterious presence? Did il come ac-
companied BY life OF death2
Meantime, on the rocks above, q dis
tracted group were collected The par
" had come gayly back from the
- Heads" DIR. Gray, ignorant lands
man as he was, had grown uneasy and
hurried them away. Arrived at the
a. GrottO," the full extent Of the calam-
ity was at once evident. The boy had
mistaken the tide-fOw for ebb-and
the only hone was that Esther. discOv-