The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-08-23

even IL he would cough, no other sound
intervening. each sound took the same
course and finally nodded into the
same echo lost" When standing listen
ing to the beating of his own heart
he would sometimes feel the moving of
air, as If famed by great wings; again
all was still. Some large being of some
description would seem to come near
him, though whether it made any noise
or not he could not say. but he felt a
presence near that oppressed him; again
IL was Withdrawn. The unnatural con-
ditions came and went as his nervous
system was affected by the darkness,
until his weakness so overcame him
that he could not stagger in the dark
ness. wandering about aimlessly and
carelessly.
The step from fear to indifference is
not great
Finally a noise aroused his dropping
spirits. the sound of footballs approach
ing, stopping; when he moved it came
toward him. Finally it came so near
he thought he could almost touch it,
Feeling a hand upon him, grasping him
tightly and drawing him. he followed
For some distance the path seemed to be
level and then there was an ascent, la
borious, tiresome. Not a word was
spoken. The grasp upOn his wrist was
never loosened. Though firm, yet it was
gentle. Still he struggled upward, fol-
lowing the guidance of his leader.
He had not even dared to touch the
hand that grasped him, but in making a
misstep, as he was about to fall, he
threw out his free hand to grasp the one
that held his other and found resting
beneath his fingers~a soft, small hand
and on ii a ring. A slight examination
Of the ring convinced him that he knew
the hand Was ii a dream or death,
and a hand taking him back to life? He
could not speak. He sank for a mo-
ment, however, powerless to move. A
| disguised voice said: ION, or we are
| lost" Pressing the hand to his lips he
struggled up and still upward. He was
| faint A cup was pressed to his lips, a
| sip and he was revived. The air now
| became denSer and more oppressive.
| Could he survive? FIis guide seemed to
| falter as he thought by the unsteadi-
ness Of the grasp, the hand seemed to be
growing weaker. Whatever it was who
| ever it was. that was leading him had
! fallen and was moaning. This nerved
him. STOPPING he felt the garments of
a woman. Picking her up his arms he
| heard another step, he took another
| hand that led him while he carried his
| burden into the light at the mouth of
| the cave, where on rude cot, supported
| at one end by willow basket, he laid
| the form of Sparkle Brooke. The light
| fell full upon her beautiful pale face,
| and their golden hair, wet from the
moisture of the cave flowed backward
| the morning. He knew all now, how he
had been taken TO the cave and tumbled
down into the otter pool. A few steps
| further would have thrown him down
| into the black abyss that had never
| been explored.
Wendeck to the cave; the monkey showed
them where the stranger had gone. The
condition of Wendeck's feet made the
| descent to the pool impossible, but the
| light trip of love passes over obstacles
| that restrain the advance Of armies,
mocks science and defies genius. Sparkle
went. She followed as the monkey di-
| Tected. fearing to call. lest her voice
should brighten him, believing If she
| could but grasp his hand he would yield
| and be led. as he did. Hearing his foot
| fills. she sought him out in the darkness
! Of the gloom and retraced her steps
! by a silk thread one end of which was
/ in the faithful Wendeck's hand. AS the
morning light fell upon the pale upturned
/ face of Sparkle Brooke to Carl Brandon
she was divine. Kneeling at the side of
| the rude cot, he kissed the marble brow
! and in the presence Of the deformed
] fortune teller. consecrated his life to the
| devoted girl and his child. The last
| lesson proved effectual. He had finally
| passed from all darkness into light.
! Coming from the gloom Of the cave,
| the loving hand of the girl had not only
| led the body back to safety, IL had led
| the soul to the matchless triumph of
| redemption.
! AS the girl slowly revived from her eX-
| haustion and stupor he was still l5neeling
| at her side kissing her hand. She looked
| at him with a smile that said. "all is
| we'll" and then he remembered all his
| vision. She had reclaimed him
| Wendeck gazing upon Carl Brandon.
| said: "Al the evil has now faded out;
| you cen trust him. his soul is purified"
Trials and Fradations make faith
! Faith has no creed Faith never knows
| itself II is the highest and dlvinest love
| that seeks the welfare of another.