Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-07-06
PURIFIED AS BY FIRE.
BY MARY REED cRoWELL.

BY MARY REED CRowELL.
Ethelyn Hurst drew her pretty. slight
figure up to its full height, and flashed
the full light of her lovely brown eyes
upon old Aunt Agatha's face, who had
just foretold that she should stand face
to face with death before the stars
should come out that night; for Ethelyn
was proud, and always treated the poor
with unkind haughtin ess..
81 don't want to hear another word
your nonsense" she said, as she picked
up her azure lined, white silk parasol,
and took her departure.
Thatafternoon, Ethelyn and her friend
Lillian Lane, went off to wild, lovely
spot, to spend the long, warm summer
afternoon, after which they posed to
| drive to the depot for Ethelyn's lover,
Fred Westerly, who was coming to the
seaside hotel that evening for two
/ weeks outing.
1t was a lovely, but lonely spot to
which the girls went, shut in by uprising
solemn Gifted rocks, at whose base
rushed and roared the contending waves;
place so grand and gloomy, that Lillian
| Lane shuddered as she looked about its
solemn sanctuary.
ooh, Ethelyn, it makes me afrad
| Aren't you afraid:"
Miss Hurst glanced UP bright and fear
| less.
Afraid? afraid of what?"
And somehow, Lillian felt ashamed to
express her feelings upon the subject
again.
Then, becoming engrossed in their
books, they soon forgot their external
| surroundings, and it was not until the
sun had gone down that Lillian sudden
| ly aroused.
"Why, Ethel, had nc idea it was so
late! 1t is after sundown-it is long af-
ter tea time,"
"of course it is. But what splendid
| afternoons enjoyment we have had! We
will go now, however"
But, Ethel" Lillian said, as she in
voluntarily drew nearer to her compan-
ion; "look there! That was not there
when we came here! See, the ocean is
| washing all along in front of the rocks,
| and it was dry when we came in"
| "Oh, it's nothing but the incoming
tide" Miss Hurst said, lightly 81 am
not afraid of wetting my boots little"
AS she spoke, she advanced toward
the door of the little rock grotto, and
then, even her own cheeks grew pale
as she suddenly realized their situation.
For, rising far faster, than she had
deemed possible, the waters had shut
them in. Retreat waa actually impos-
slble. The waters were already more
than knee deep over the path by which
they had come-the only path by which
they could return-and were rising with
fearful rapidity.
Pale and fearful, Lillian clung to
| Ethelvn's arm.
ethel, EthelI' she gasped hysteri-
cally. "What shall we do?''
And Etheiyn gathered the trembling
young girl in her arms, with piteous
feeling that she was responsible for the
horrible doom which was breaking over
the bright young head.
In that one instant, it all came to her
plainly. She realized the awful wait
ing; the death wrapping them around in
its cruel arms, that were each moment
extended nearer and nearer to them
the moment of mortal agony; the last
| look out upon the world from their liv-
ing coffin; and then the end of ALL And
Fred Westerly-he whom she had avoj.
ded, and yet lured on with such girlish
coquetry; she would never see him
again, and she so little thought, when
she so | ughingly denied him his good
| bye kiss few days before that she
would never have the opportunity to
deny him again.
Lillian" she whispered, and her
| brave voice quivered despite itself, "at
| least we can kneel down and pray, Let
us try to remember, dear, that God is
as much our God, and is as near, as if
we were kneeling beside our beds at
| home"
And so these two young girls sank
upon their knees among the white
fringed foam at their feet: and white
the stars, which began to glimmer SOL
emnly one by one, It nasnea over her
liKe revelation what old Aunt Agatha
had said-"Before the sta rs were thick
in the sky again she should be face to
face with death!"
How could Aunt Agatha have known?
| Come closer TO me, Lillian, and put
your arms about my neck. Don't let us
be afraid-we must not be afraid, dearl
We will Just sit, and wait, and wait; and
it is just like falling asleep, l have heard
a score of times
"But Pm afraid" Lillian sobbed-"I
am afraid! 1t is horrible death, and ns
one to know-no one-Hark" and he7
voice rose to shrill expectancy, and she
lifted her head like some brave young
animal scenting danger from afar. "I
thought heard the sound of oars"
mo, dear. 1t was only the echo of
the waves against the rock"
"But am eure-l am sure-I heard a
voice!" poor Lillian walled.
! no, DEAR" Evelyn said, soothingly,
with her upturaed face as pale as an
angels. Itcould be no voice, l cannot re-
member my prayers, Lillian dear. All I
can think of is, God be merciful to me a
sinner. Lillian, say it-you say it, too
and He will be merciful."
And few moments later, when the
little boat, with Fred Westerly sitting
on the seat, and pulling Justify at the
oars, came FLASHING around the curve
/ ho kS1,n FOL .ir ri az oil