Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-04-13

| eel had sighted some tlirelict wreckage
of the Scraps. lie brought the news TO
| Plymouth. and the day afterward, Just
as the church-bells summoned the wor-
| shippers to the joyful adora,ibn of the
Eastertidc, all Bidcford knew that
Esther Wooding had lost her atalwart,
noble sweetheart. Many an eye was
moist, and many a heart hot AS the
thoughts of his kindness were recalled
with gratitude and tears.
Meanwhile, poor Esther, sad with un-
utterable sorrow, wandered down 20 the
bar and watched the smiling sea, so
! treacherouS and calm, as though 1T any
moment 1t may yield up iicr dead.
| "Oh John! My own John! Why had
not kept you here"
So she moaned, while the moan of the
wind answered her across the rustling
reeds at Bideford Pol.
| Really, darter, heent y'u grievin' tn
much? said her querulous and way
worn old father John Maddox is gone,
sure enow, but don't maze yoursel with
truble, child"
Truth to tell, the old man had already
found Johns successor, did he dare but
name him.
Il want tn see y'u in some good mans
home before die he added. peering
up into her face
Don't talk of dying, father, nor of my
| having to leave you. 1 hope both are
equally distant events" replied Esther,
with her sad eyes looking surprsedly
upon him. The old man shuffled before
that clear melancholy gaze. and turned
| to some other subject of discussion. Her
womanly instincts had told her that
Ralph ColweI loved her. Ralph was
rich, and though of middle age, a man
| OF goodly presence and fortune.
Now John was lost at sea, as all sup
posed, and Ralph Colwelrs aspirations
revived He had been her fathers gem
erous friend, but he never presumed up
on it; and when the Serapis had lain
beneath the terrible rock of the African
coast for over a twelvemonth, he tinidly
and thougbtfully urged his suit upon
Esther, only TO he met with refusal.
But men Of Ralph's temperament are
not easily turned aside from their pur
poses, and he could afford to wait. Her
father died in the June of 1888, and the
house was left unto her desolate. Ralph
proved lover, friend. philosopher and
financial resource all in one He never
intruded his rejected suit His constant
love by thoughtful watching wise won
the day without this.
Il have little to give you in return
for your devotion, Mr.. Colwell," said
Esther, gently, but l am deeply sem
sibie of all your goodness to me and
mine"
Il only ask you to let me love you
until you can love me in return, Es-
ther. Grant me your hand, and L shall
be the happiest of men"
She did so, and the wedding was
) fixed to take place on March q, 1894;
, Easter Sunday following on the 30th.
The idea that John could have survived
never occurred to her That was an
impossibility, rs she thought, so un-
uistakably had the record Of the ves-
sells loss been given. And yet Esther
Wooding felt her depression in a great
er degree as her nuptials drew near.
I, The 24th of March came. She was
sleeping alone in her fathers and her
, own home. For none would have in
terfered with her in those quiet days of
honest neighborhood. When she re-
tired to rest a fierce storm tossed the
branches of the trees before her win
dow, and the thunder of the surf as it
sent the pebbles flying up the beach was
, distinctly audible.
No wonder she dreamt of John! She
saw the shutter OF rock, her lovers
doomed vessel dashed to pieces on the
shore. Johns white face was distinct
ly visible, floating over the bounding
billows, and she awoke in terror.
The next night her depression was
deeper than before. And, stranger still,
she dreamt of John again. But this
time the storm had ceased. and there
was a great calm. She could see the
beach where her lover had landed in
safety. and he Seemed to wave his neck
erchief her parting gift. as though sig
mailing passing ship. When morning S
dewy light stole in through her case
ment, Esther arose, and felt that most
unreasonably, and yet effectually, had
: her sorrow left her.
She reproached herself for this light
some mind, but it was in vain she did
so.
= Tomorrow is the wedding day. she
4 murmured, with ashen lips.
4 The thought disturbed her as it had
r never done before. And that last night
, lay down to sleep and dream again
d This third time she stood on Plymouth