The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1895-04-12

sci had sighted some direlict wreckage
OF the Scraps. He brought the news to
Plymouth, and the day afterward. just
as the church-bells summoned the wor-
shippers TO the joyful alteration Of the
Eastertide, all Bideford knew that
Esther Wooding had lost her stalwart.
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 I'M
utterable sorrow. wandered down TO the
bar and watched the smiling sea, so
treacherous and calm, as though at any
moment 1t may yield up iier dead.
"oh John! My own John! Why had
not kept you herev'
So she moaned. while the moan of the
wind answered her across the rustling
reeds at Bideford Posl
Really, darter, beent yu grievin' tn
much?" said her querulous and way
worn old father John Maddox is gone.
sure enow. but don't maze yourself with
tr'uble. child"
Truth to tell. the old man had already
found Johns successor, did he dare but
name him.
II want tn see y'u in some good mans
home before l de-" 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 supposedly
upon him. The old man shufiied before
that clear, melancholy gaze, and turned
to some other subject Of discussion Her
womanly instincts had told her that
Ralph Colwell 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 gen.
erous friend, but he never presumed up
on It; and when the Scraps had lain
beneath the terrible rock of the African
coast for over twelvemonth. he timidly
and thoughtfully urged his suit upon
Esther, only TO be met with refusal.
But men Of Ralphs temperament are
not easily turned aside from their pur-
poses, and he could afford to wait. Her
father died in the June Of 1898, 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.
II have little TO give you in return
for your devotion, Mr.. Colwell," said
Esther, gently. but / am deeply sem
sible Of all your goodness to me and
mine"
II only ask you to let me love you
until you can love me in return, Es-
Their. Grant me your hand, and shall
lie the happiest OF men,"
She did so, and the wedding was
fixed to take place on March q, 1884,
Easter Sunday following on the 30th.
The idea that John could have survived
never occurred TO her. That was an
impossibility, as she thought, so un-
mistakably had the record Of the ves-
sells loss been given. And yet Esther
Wooding felt her depression in a great
err degree as her nuptials drew near.
The oath of March caDe. 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 fierce storm tossed the
branches of the trees before her win
dow, and the thunder OF the surf as II
sent the pebbles flying up the beach was
distinctly audible.
No wonder she dreamt of John! She
saw the shutter of rock, her lovers
form hurled from the poop, and the
doomed vessel dashed to pieces on the
shore. Johns white face was distinct
ly visible, floating over the bounding
pillows, 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.
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 il was in vain she did
So
Tomorrow is the wedding day." she
murmured. with ashen lips.
The thought disturbed her rs it had
never done before. And that last night
lay down to sleep and dream again.
This third time she stood on Plymouth