Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1899-02-11
MARTNsBURe, SATURDAY. 11..sae

But it was a comfort to think that
they should die together. Ridge
way was not altogether inhuman,
since he had granted them that
blessing.
With keen eye Desmond scan
ned the water in every direction,
but not q sail or a speck broke its
glittering surface. Indeed, he did
not expect il, for the sands were a
long way out of the regular track OF
any except transient craft bound
thither at ebb tide.
Desmond VAS a powerful swim
mer, and be wss sure be could save
himself BY swimming to the main
land; but TO save Isabel, also, was
impossible. She urged and besought
him to go and leave her to her fate,
but he replied only By folding her
closer to his heart.
Slowly and surely the waters rose
they were eight or ten inches deep
now, and the sand sunk under their
feet perceptibly every minute.
Isabel looked in the brave young
face of her lover, and realizing how
hard it was to die thus so young;
and with such fair prospects OF hap.
piness before them, she cried out
sharply:
ooh, Henry! this is cruel! Is
there no hope-no mercy to God to
save us?'
"My darlingl il it is His will, we
can only submit. Death is not long
and after that We shall always be
together
/ And then there Aoated 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, bis long, black hair
streaming in the wind and his face
white as death.
Courage! courage!" he shouted.
"a moment more and / will save
you!''
They chung to esch other, and
went cautiously down to the edge Of
the sands, and waited the coming
of the boat. Ridgeway extended
his cold hands and dragged them in
| to 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.
81 have not repented,'' said
Ridgeway, slowly, his black eyes
glittering fendishly beneath his
heavy brows; at is not in the nature
of a Ridgeway TO repent. But was
driven back. | dared not brave her
curse. Ha! | see her nowl her pale
hand reckoning from the sea! My
mother! oh, my motherl'
He leaned over aud gazed into
the sparkling water, as though lie
did indeed behold the face of her
who had so loved him, and who,
only three month before, had been
laid to rest in the village graveyard.
81 was making for land, went on
Ridgeway, in the same unnatural
tone OF voice, "when she rose out of
the waves. She shook her cleuched
hands at me and babe me turn back
and not stain my soul with murder.
Her curse should be upon me, she
said, through time and eternity, If /
refused to obey. The curse of my
motherl And | dared not refuse
her. The devil himself could not
have changed my purpose in life
time; she changed it in a moment.
Bless her memory for your deliv-
erance; curse, if you like, the man
who is beyond the power OF curse or
blessing"
And before Desmond could lift a
finger to stay his course, Ridgeway
had plunged into the boiling sea and
was seen 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 afterward.
But long after IsabeIs children
sat on Henry's knee anu heard him
tell the story of Breakwater Sands,
the fishermen OF the coast declare
that often and often they saw the
tall form Of Ridgewsy 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,
fisherman are naturally supecstitious
and we must not be too ready to be-
lieve in the supernatural.
Don't think because you are sick
and nothing seems to gives you re
lief that you can't be cured.
ha