Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-11-16

white face with wet hair. In the
pale unearthIy glow, it wore the as
poet of death. 1t drew nearer, she
covered her face with her hands
Was the sea giving up its dead, thai
here, in this fearful solitude, the vi
sion Of her drowned Paul confronted
her-or was she going mad.
Another second and the hands
were Withdrawn. The peril, the ex.
element of the past hour, the
strangeness and unhealthy Of the spot
com bined to create within her an
exaltation of feeling Had she no,
craved this Ii they nae; as spirits
in this land of spirit, was she to be
afraid of Paul or shrink from him
No, a thousand times mol
The face was close upon her.
With rapid strokes it drew near-a
form EN-, rged-it was upon the rocks
With a shrek, she held out her arms
Cold hands clasped hers-a voice
(did dead men speak p cried
'Queenie, Queenie.
The old pet namel 1t was Paul's
ghost, but none the less Paul. 81
know you are dead" she said, 'bul
| am not afraid of you," and felt un'
terrified, strong arm enfolded her.
But the breast upon which her cheek
rested was throbbing with such liv-
ing pulsations that, half aroused she
began to shudder in terrible blond
ed hope and fear, and she shrank
away from his touch.
so, PAUL. are we both dead, or
only you ? Is this the other world p
"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 1t is warm,
you see. God has restored Us to one
another, and now if his mercy per-
mits, we will never be parted again. "
paul PAUL" cried Esther con-
vinced atla-t.
They were very happy. Prosy
folks could they have looked in,
would have seen two exceedingly
wet young persons seated high upon
rocky lodge, with recedng waters
ripping about their feet; but they,
all aglow with life and happiness,
scarcely knew of the lapse of time
before the shimmering line of light
appeared at the mouth of the cave.
With blessed tears streaming
down her cheeks, Esther heard bis
story; how, picked up the sole sur
vivor of that dreadful wreck-by an
Indian-bound trader, her lover had
been delir'ous in q far land, unable
to tell his name or story and, in
part recovered, started at once for
home, landed in advance of the lst'
ters that told of his safety. And SO
they had met here mid "coral and
tangled almondine; and "A she
heard the story of his perils, Esther
clasped the hand she held as if she
could never again let go.
That providert little Helen bless
her heart-"buille led better than she
knew" in providing such store OF
damp sandwiches and refreshing
wine for those drenched and happy
lovers. And when at last the reced
ing tide opened again the rocky gate
and the vista of the sea tinged with
rosy sunset, and Esther, aided by
strong arms, left her prison, it was a
glow like the sunset upon her check
and in her eyes such a radiance OF
happiness, that it fairly dazzled the
forlorn, bcdraggIed group above.
Mrs. Gray embraced her fondly, and
fell incontinently into fit of long
deferred Mysteries. The boys exc.
cuted a war dance of congratulation,
aud Helen and Isabel laughed and
cried fer joy. And as Esther turned
with Paul for a last look at the scene
of her deliverance, the chime and
murmur Of the sea seemed full OF
blessing-the blessing of the dear
Lord who hal compassion on her
weakness, restoring her to life, and
to that life its last joy. With thank
full heart she went her way.
So we leave her.