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

SObbed out. 80 they waited
A rattle Of wheels came from the
road. They all turned to look, and
some one said, " Perhaps its a doctor ="
Though what earthly use a doctor
could have been, would be hard 10 say
A figure was rapidly coming up the
path-a young man. NOBODY recog-
Rized him, till DIR. Gray started for
ward with the face of one who sees a
ghost.
"Paul, Good God! It is impossi-
ble?"
"Yes, Doctor" with a hasty hand
shake. "No other. don't wonder
YOU stare"
"But, in heavens name, how has il
come about? Where have YOU been
since We gave you up for lost?"
a. It's long story. You shall hear
il some day. But "-rapidly-"f forgive
my impatience-where is my cousin (?
What Is the matterl"
There was dead silence. AT last,
with a groan, DIR. Gray spoke:
"Paul, my poor fellow, how can ]
tell you. Esther is below there"
"In the grotto?"
"In the grotto. Can any thing be
sone?"
The young man staggered. The glow
faded from his face, leaving him ashy
pale. For q moment he stood irresO-
late, then he reused himself, and his
voice, though husky, was firm:
Z" It's a frightful place; still there is
no absolute danger, if she keeps her
presence OF mind. stayed there over
a tide myself once, just TO see il. Is
your boat at home? ''-to one of the
fishermen.
"Yes. sir.
"Fetch il round then, as quickly as
possible" Then TO DR. Gray 81 shall
row out there OppOs te the entrance,
and make dive for il. 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 risk :"
"There is the risk Of striking the arch
as rise-that's all. I'm a good swim
mer, Doctor, as YOU know. think il
can be done. You can guess, >" with q
sort of pale smile, show | have been
counting on this meeting; and 10 leave
her alone and frighteEed, and not to 90
to her, IS simply impossible. | shall
manage it-never fear"
The boat came. They saw It rowed
out-P.ul taking the bearings carefully,
shifting positions once, and Yet again,
before satisfied. Then he looked up
with bright, confident eyes and a 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 q flashing object whirled down
and inward, and, rising. the waves re-
vealed face with wet hair. In the
pale, unearthly glow, il wore the aspect
of death. Ii 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 20 kindle
within her an unnatural eXaltatiOn Of
feeling. Had she not craved this2 If
they met as 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 form
emerged-it was upon the rocks With
a shrek, she held out her arms. Cold
hands clasped hers-a voice ibid dead
men speak p cried "Queenie, Queenie -
The old pet namei Ii was Paul's
ghost, but none the less Paul. 81
know you are dead" she said, Z" but /
am not afraid of you" and felt inter
rified, a strong arm EMBEDDING her. But
the breast upon which her cheek rested
was throbbing with such living pulsa-
tons that, half aroused, she began 10
shudder in a terrible blended hope and
fear, and she shrAnk away from his
touch.
40, Paul. are we both dead, or only
you2 l. this the other wOrld?"a
"Why, darling," gently seating her
on the rock, "yOu are IN dream.
Wake up, love; look at me, Esther. /
am not a dead man, but your living
Paul. Feel my hsnd-it is warm, you
see. God has restored Us 20 each other (;
and now, if his mercy permits, we viii
never be parted again"
paul. PAUL." cried Esther, con-
WINGED az last.
They were very happy. PrOsy folks,
could they have looked in, would have
seen only two exceedingly wet young
persons seated high upon a rocky ledge,
with receding waters ripping about
their feet; but they, all aglOw with life
and happiness, scarcely knew of the
Lapse Of time before the shimmering