The Coming Wave

curiosity was somewhat excited at first. Leopold "was not happy" in being obliged to conceal his thoughts and actions from his father; but then Mr. Bennington did not question him in regard to her

e, and he had no little contempt for those who allowed themselves to be carried away by such vain and silly illusions. While h

needle in a hay-mow," and he abandoned it before he had made himself ridiculous in his own estimation. He wrote a letter to the nurse, who had given him her address in New York, informing her of the ill success of his endeavors. She answered the letter, giving him further instructions, saying that the money

e "projecting rock," and he dug over all the sand and gravel to the depth of a foot in the vicinity of every part of the cliff which answered to t

ure of his efforts, and declaring that he would not "fool with the matter" any longer. The nurse did not answer his last letter and it was evident that she too had "lost hope." Leopold never heard anything more from her or a

he iron safe of Herr Schlager, who was as proud of and as devoted as ever to his nephew. In the spring, the question for the name of the new boat came up again, and the skipper was prepared to settle the question. Among the guests at the hotel in the summer, was the family of the Hon. Franklin Hamilton, a wealthy merchant of New York, who was a native of Rockhaven. They had spent a few days at the Cliff House for several seasons, though it was painfully apparent to the landlord that his accommodations

peared in gilt letters on the stern of the boat. In the summer the family came again. Rosabel was taller and prettier than ever, and Leopold actually realized all his pleasant and romantic anticipations, as he sailed her and her parents about the bay. Mr. Hamilton engaged the boat for every day during his stay, which was prolonged to a whole week, or twice as long as he usually remained; for Rosabel was so pleased with the water excursions that her father ext

squire was to have this sum on the first of January, and though Mr. Bennington did not want it for several months, he consented to take it at that time; for Squire Moses would not allow it to remain a single month uninvested. The landlord was confident that he could make mone

h their own hands. Among other changes, the parlor chimney was taken down, and Leopold took a

with him, when they had removed the chimney as fa

e of the Franklin stove that had stood in the parlor. It was covered with br

p the package, and knocked it several times against a

h containing the di

dents of Miss Sarah Liverage's visit to the hotel came back fre

mason, whose curiosity w

steward of the Waldo, which was wrecked off High

in the chimney?"

ue of the fireplace,

e put it in

n the room, and he was a very

oing to do with

iends, if I can fi

a man's work for his father, and his conscience would not allow him to waste his time. The mason asked more questions when Leopold returned to his work, and they were answered as definitely as the circumstances would permit. The young man examined the construction of the chimney, and found another flue besides that of the Franklin s

Leopold considered this question with no little interest. The secret of the hidden treasure was certainly in his keeping, and after the "trade" made between them, he felt that she had some rights in the matter which he was bound to respect. But the affair wa

pper, he hastened to his chamber, and opened the oil-cloth package. He was greatly excited, as most people are when long-continued doubts are to be settled. In a few moments he would know whether or not Miss Liverage was crazy, and whether or not there was any foundation to the story of the hidden treasure. He locked the door of his room bef

ld Mr. Bennington, or any person, of the finding of the package. After his questions had been answered, he seemed to feel no further interest in the diary, and probably fo

s a Discover

The diary came out clean and uninjured from its long imprisonment in the chimney. Leopold's agitation increased as he continued the investigation, and

count of his illness, and a particular description of his symptoms, which might have interested a physician, but did not secure the attention of the young man. He turned back to the narr

into the cabin, after his recovery from the effects of the lightning, and returned with something in his hand. The reader followed the narrative, which was already quite familiar to him, till he came to the landin

By the light of the flashes of lightning I saw the bag in his hand. It was an old shot-bag, tied up with a piece of white tape. Wallbridge said he was

pois. I don't blame him now for wanting to get rid of it; but I did not think before I figured it up, that the money would weigh so much. Four and a half poun

ting rock, and it looked to me, in the blaze of the lightning, just like a coffin, from where I stood. It seemed to me then just like a sign from Heaven that I should soon need a coffin, if the sea did not carry me off; but if the sign meant anythi

ary, which Harvey Barth had written just before the passenger came to the galley to light his pipe. The na

med to project and overhang the beach at an angle of about forty-five degrees, and a man could have sat down on the upper end, which was about twenty feet high. The shape of it startled me so that I did not think any more of what the passenger was doing, though I saw him raking the sand into the hole with his hands. I thought the thing was a bad sig

be carried off by the sea or to be crushed against the rocks. I did not expect to save myself, and I could not help feeling t

nd down through the ravine, which Harvey Barth described in his diary w

onsider what he had read. "I don't remember any such rock, though there may be such a one there. I

e could find it, but only to assure her that he should have money with which to reward her, if she took good care of him during his sickness. Leopold read the account of the burying of the money again; but he could not recall any rock answering to the description in the book. He had dug up the sand under every projecting rock that overhung the beach, to t

ting that he had important business with her. The young man was now anxious to visit the beach under High Rock, for the purpose of identifying the mortuary emblem which had so strongly impres

ue Hospital, New York City," in which Harvey Barth died, requesting information in regard to Miss Sarah Liverage. A reply soon ca