The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-01-30
THE END OF THE WORLD.

Today the bay wa1smooth as polished
glass, save where the vessels coming in
nom the sea through the strait opposite
j the point where stood left a ripple and
o line of foam behind. like flaw in the
crystal.
The great city lay to the left of the
strait. The burning midsummer sun,
shining from cloudless sky, was reflect
ed by hundred thousand chimneys and
roof tops, and the images of the high
buildings and the myriad vessels an
chored in the harbor made the scene
more like mirage than reality.
So far above the city was my point of
observation that not sound, not even
murmur of the hustle and noise attend
ant upon its activity, reached my ears,
though through the clear atmosphere
could distinguish moving objects as in
camera obscura.
From the bay, too, although many
vessels-huge ocean steamers. ferryboats
and yachts-were moving about, I heard
only one sound, the interminable 'puf
puf-puf" of little tugboat which rapid
ly threaded Its aimless way among the
other craft. So monotonous indeed did
this sound become that turned my eyes
from the water and looked around at
nearer objects.
To my right was grove of naples.
In clear space in the midst of the trees
stood white building, its gable toward
me, which reminded me at first glance
of nothing else SO much as Of the Par
thenon as it used to be represented in the
classical dictionary. had not noticed
this building before. and as stood and
wondered troop of gayly dressed young
people came rushing out of the door and
arranged themselves in groups on the
messy circles surrounding the trees.
At this moment my companion, who
had Jagged behind me, came up, and to-
gether we went toward the gay throng.
Our approach seemed unnotced.
Scarcely had we joined the group,
when, raising my eyes, Isaw to right and
left dark thunder clouds rolling rapidly
toward the zenith. Broad flashes of
lightning played about the horizon,
while in sharper, zigzag streaks the
electric spark cut its path through the
azure directly above our heads. From
the right low, mutterings of distant
thunder were heard, and chilling wind
rising suddenly moaned among the pines
In the distance, and rustled the leaves Of
the indens under which we sat. I
glanced toward the building, and on the
steps OF the door which looked out upon
the city there stood an old man, wrinkled
and bent. A faded dressing gown was
corded about his waist, his feet were en-
oased In embroidered slippers, and his
right hand, which bore long oakeu
staff. gnarled and twisted. trembled as
The fierce blast struck him and tossed his
thin gray locks. In q shrill voice be
cried: "Come In. Come In! We are
going to have terrible storm"
Even as he spoke, and as il In corrob-
Grafton Of his words, the force Of the
wind increased almost to gale, and
large drops of rain began to fall, slowly
and gently at first, but with increasing
vigor till the patter on the leaves was
lost In one long drawn sound, almost o
roar, as the wind drove the water
through the trees.
Meanwhile the rest Of the party had
sought shelter in the building, but as
started to follow them my eyes rested on
sight which compelled me involun-
tarily to pause. Ahead of me, beyond
the bay, beyond the city, beyond even
the waters of the ocean itself, veil, or
shutter, Of more than inky blackness
rose PRECAUTIONARY from the horizon.
Up to the very heavens 1t seemed to
stretch, and to both sides as far as the
eye could reach.
A sudden, undesirable fear came over
me and held me rooted to the earth.
My horror increased as saw that this
how rapidly I could not guess, but it
seemed to cover the thousand miles be-
tween the horizon and the straits in
barely an iota of time. AS itdrew nearer
to me saw that it had also another mo-
ton, like that Of band saw or an end
less chain, as if huge jack towel of
flexible blackness had been swung over
two rollers on the nethermost bounds of
the universe, and rapidly revolving was
eating its way deep into the very bowels
Of the earth, for as this horrible engine
Of destruction approached perceived
that it was cutting away the sea and
the solid land, leaving smooth, clean
cut edge where these before had been.
cit will STOP" thought 1. "before it
reaches the city"
But no; the dreadful Thing, like an
insatiate monster, never paused or
swerved for an instant, and chill shock
coursed through my veins as watched
first the points of land on either side Of
the strait, then the furthermost houses
of the city, and then nearer objects fade
into absolute nothingness.
The huge machine kept steadily press
ing forward.
AS street after street Of the city melted
away the Thing approached nearer and
nearer the waters of the harbor. Tall
spires fell and mighty buildings were
swallowed up, but until touched by the
Thing itself the remainder of the city
was as firm and unchanged as ever. The
cries Of the dying at intervals reached
my ears, but SO far distant was I that
the noise sounded more like the squeak
of dying mouse than as If it came from
the Threats Of a multitude of human be-
ings
Now the bay began to melt away.
Ship after ship, moment ago riding
peacefully at anchor. was swallowed up,
and left not even ripple, for the water
and the bottom of the sea were likewise
annihilated.
and now, sbore the ever increasing
eoax Of the vast black body I heard
again the ..puf-puf-pur Of the little
steam tug, and ! looked and saw it
coming at full speed directly toward the
precipico on which I stood. In an in
slant the Thing had overtaken it. and as
It. disappeared, with one last hopeless
scream from Its whistle, like the de-
spairing wall Of q lost soul, it flashed
over me what this awful catastrophe
that had been witnessing was. 10 was
the end of the woridi
By q mighty effort I threw myself for
ward, clutching as I fell at tuft of
bunch grass. Barely had I time to gasp
out s'God help mel" when the awful
Thing, cutting through the cliff as If It
were paper, was upon me. The earth
beneath me gave way, and I plunged
headlong down. down, into the blacklist
Of darkness, and then all was silent and
blank for space.
A drop of rain onsmE face aroused me.
Hay in the soft grass in the middle Of a
level meadow that extended on all sides
as far as could see. The setting sun
was firing the western skies, and few