Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-01-29

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ned the water In every direction, but
not sail or speck broke its gilt
teriug sarface. Indeed, he did rot
expect it, for the eands we're long
way out of the regular track Of any
except transient craft bound thitber
at ebb tide.
Desmond was powerful swim
mer, and be was sure he could save
himself by swimming to the main
land but to cave Isabel, also, was
impossible. She urged and be-
sought him to go aud leave her to
her fate, but he replied only By fold
ing Der closer 70 his heart.
Slowly and surely the waters rose
they were eight or Ten inches deep
now, and the sand sank under their
feet perceptiblg every minute.
Isabel looked in the brave young
face OF her lover, and realizing how
hard it was to die thus 50 young,
and with such fair prospects of hap
piness before them, she cried out
sharply:
"0h, Henryl this is. cruell Is
| there no hope--no mercy of God to
save uss"
"My darling, if it is His will, We
can only submit. Death is not long
and after thai We shallsalways be
together
And then there was borne to them
from the waters ;wild shout, and
looking landward they saw the May
Queen bearing down upon the Sands
at the top Of her speed.
Ridgeway stood on the gunwale,
his head bare, his long, black hair
streaming in the wind, and bis face
white IS desth.
"Couragel courage 7" he shouted.
"a moment more and / will save
you!'
They clung to each other, and
went cautiously down to the edge Of
the sands, and waited the coming oi
the boat. Ridgeway extended bis
cold hands and dragged them into
the boat.
Then he shifted the sail, put up
the helm, and they were flying to
land.
He folded his arms and looked at
Isabel as she lay white and still
against her lovers breast.
Il have not repented, ? said Ridge,
way, slowly, his black eyes glitter
ing fiendishly beneath his heavy
hrows; "it is not in the nature of a
Ridgeway to repent. But ] was
driven back. dared not brave her
curse. Ha / see her now her pale
hand reckoning from the seal Ny
mother, oh, my mother y
He leaned over and gazed into the
sparkling water, as though he did
indeed behold the face of her who
had so loved him, and who, only
three months before, had been laid
to rest in the village graveyard.
81 vas making for land" went on
Ridgeway, in the same unnatural
tone of voice, "when she rose out OF
the waves. She shook her hand at
me and babe me turn back and not
stain my soul With the crime of MUIR
der. Her curse should be upon me,
she said, through time and through
eternity, if / refused TO obey. The
curse of my mother, and | dared not
| refuse her. The devil himself could
not have changed my purpose in a
life time. She changed it in a mo-
ment. Bless her memory for your
deliyerance; curse, il you like, the
man who is beyond the power of
curse or blessingW
And before Desmond could lift o
finger to stay his course, Ridgeway
had plunged overheard into the sea
and he sank to rise no more.
Desmond made every effort in his
power to save the madman-for such
he was now assured to be--but it
was all in vain. Nothing was ever
seen of Martin Ridgeway after
ward.
But long after Isabel's children
sat on Henry's knee and heard him
tell the story of Breakwater Sands,
the fishermen OF the coast declare
that often and often they saw the
tall form of Ridgeway reckoning to
them from the Sands, and on wild
nights his phantom voice crying for
help could be heard above the crash
and tumult of the gale but, then,
fishermen are naturally supersti-
tious, and we must not be too ready
to believe 10 the supernatural.