People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-04-11

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 IN
utterable sorrow. wandered down 10 the
bar and watched the smiling sea, so
treacherous and calm, as though Il any
moment 1t may yield up ncr dead.
oh John! My own John! Why had l
not kept you herer'
SO she moaned, while the moan Of the
wind answered her across the rustling
reeds at Bideford Poi.
Really, darter, beent y'u grlevln' 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.
i want tn see y'u in some good mans
home before l die" he added, peering
up into her face.
Don't talk of dying. father, nor of my
having to leave you. l hope both are
equally distant events" replied Esther,
with her sad eyes looking supposedly
upon him. The old man shuffied 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 1t; and when the Scraps had lain
beneath the terrible rock Of the African
|
and thoughtfully urged his suit upon
Esther, only to be 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.
L have little to give you in return
for your devotion, Mr.. Colwell," said
Esther, gently, but / am deeply SEN
sible 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-
Their. Grant me your hand, and shall
be the happiest of men,"
She did so, and the wedding was
fixed to take place on March q, 1884;
Easter Sunday following on the Goth.
The idea that John could have survived
never occurred to her That was an
irnpossibility, as she thought, so I'M
mistakably had the record of the YES
sells loss been given. And yet Esther
Wooding felt her depression in a great
er degree as her nuptials drew near.
The oath 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 fierce storm tossed the
branches of the trees before her win,
dow, and the thunder of the surf as il
sent the pebbles flying up the beach was
distinctly audible.
No wonder she dreamt of joint She
saw the shutter Of rock, her lovers
form hurled frcm the poop. and the
doomed vessel dashed to pieces on thu
shore. Johns white face was distinct
ly visible, floating over the boundin!
pillows, and she awoke in terror.
The next night her depression wal
deeper than before. And, stranger still
she dreamt of John again. But thi
time the storm had ceased, and Their,
was a great calm. She could see tn,
beach where her lover had landed il
safety, and he seemed to wave his neck
erchief, her parting gift, as though sig
mailing a passing ship. When morning
dewy light stole in through her case
ment, Esther arose. and felt that mos
unreasonably, and yet effectually, ha,
her sorrow left her.
She reproached herself for this light
some mind, but it was in vain she di
: So
Tomorrow is the wedding day." sh
, murmured, with ashen lips.
The thought disturbed her as it ha
r never done before. And that last nigh
lay down to sleep and dream agar
! This third time she stood on Plymout
,