Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-05-19

possible that her father had been a prison
er there for ten long years. and the spec
ter only smuggler, watching from the
boulder for his ships which came only on
these dark, stormy nights? But what
should she say to this evil mans pro
posals? She shuddcred as she thought OF
those glittering eyes garng upon her,
those clawlike hands clasping hers and
that hollow laugh sounding In her ears ;
but in the midst of her neditstions cam.
up the pale face Of her mother lying alone,
| with no one to speak a cheering word. no
hand to cool the fevered brow Her de
cision was made. She would sacrifice her
freedom, yes, even her ufe rather than
to forsake her mother now.
Suddenly the draperies were lifted and
once more the specter entered. my pref
ty lady" he said. advancing and extending
his hand, 'you have decided to marry mt P"
| Yes, II that is your only alternative, +"
she replied But remember you will profit
nothing by this act. win tell you now
that shall wait anxiously for your death
and shall rejoice over your grave. will
make your life anything bnt pleasant II
am forced to remain with such iend as
know you to be. Now, II you care for
such bride, will marry you"
| Without word the strange man tinkled
| a small bell which stood on a table hy his
side. Immediately n black-robed priest
entered, followed by retinue of sun
| burned smugglers, all rcbed In costly at.
tire. Distant strains Of music arose and
| fell, echong through the distan, recesses
of the old cave. when the specter. advanc
| ing. led the trembling gIrl forward The
| strange ceremony went on, and as the last
strains Of music died upon the air the
priest vas proclaming Mabel the lawful
wife of the specter of smugglers' cave
Still with that same silent tread, the priest
and the smugglers disappeared behind the
heavy folds and left Mabel standing alone
with her husband, the dreaded specter
Now. sir" she demanded, breaking the
silence that followed the strange wedding.
you promised to let me 90 to my mother
IL l married you. Now have kept my
part of the contract, | wonder II you have
the honor to keep yours"
"You shall see, he answered, turning TO
the entrance of the cavern Come with
me" He led her through the brilliantly
lighted room, up, up, through the long
low passage, hearing not and su.pecting
not the silent form that crept along just
behind them.. They had come forth from
the cave, had resched the path-when sud
denly, silently, heavy oaken club de-
sceuded on the head Of the bridegroom,
ami he fell TO the ground never TO rise
again. With wild shrek OF maniacal
laughter, the assassin, Mark Standish for
II was he who had followed them and dealt
the deadly blow, gave one bounding leap
from the towering preciplce into the foam
Ing depths below.
Mabel was horror-stricken. One mo
ment she paused on the verge Of the preci-
pice and peered over, only to see wild.
white face engulfed beneath the waves.
then with the heetnes- of startled deer
she started on her way, thinking nothing
Of the storm or the snow In her mad haste
to escape from the scene of the tragedy
just enacted.
When Mabel Arri.t. me she found
her mother very anxious as to her daugh-
ter's safety, but physically improving
somew hat from her sudden Illness Mabel
a b,, b. M l.rtj
words told her mother the sad fate of the
long lost father and husband, OF the spec
ter and OF the strange experiences which
she herself had been forced to endure. To-
gether they wept, mother and daughter
but when the first out5urst of their grief
had subsidized they knew that what had
happened was all for the best
The next day the remains OF Mark
Standish were recovered and buried side
by side with the once dreaded specter upon
the bank. OF the deep blue sea Their
lives OF sorrow and revenge were over
and together they hsd gone to meet their
just reward. Like the calm that had sue.
ceeded the storm Of the previous night
their bodies reposed near the scene Of their
bitter strife.
Some months after, Mabel and her moth.
er, who hsd now fully recovered from her
recent Illness, visited the specter's cave and
found it deserted. The smugglers had ev-
identity left on the death Of their chief
taking with them all the wealth they de
sired. Besides the costly furnishing. OF
the cave there were found chests and boxes
of gold and silver, any one of which was
worth thousands and thousands OF dollars
Mabel and her mother moved from the
island to a thriving village. where they
had their treasure brought and deposited
They bought themselves an elegant house
in the suburbs, erected church, a hos
pital and assisted in many other charitable
works. In after years Mabel welded
fne young man who deeply loved her, and
who was as deeply loved by his brave and
beautiful wife. So, after all the storms
of life had been encompassed, Mabel found
herself safe in the haven OF loving hearts.