The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-05

der the falls of Niagara, where you can
stand unwet in the heart of the cata-
ract.
In the wild evening the glamour OF
the storm took possession OF her. She
was buffeted by the wind and wet by
the spray till it seemed to her that the
tempest awoke kindred spirit within
her. She would like to dash into those
angry waves and help in the havoc OF
the night. How rapturous to be mer-
maid, to dive through those monstrous
breakers, to ride upon the crests OF
them, to throw yourself backward
thence with outstretched arms, to turn
and tumble and dance till you churned
them to further foam.
She stood looking at the sea with a
fascination that made her needless OF
all but her fancies. Then her heart
stood still. A black mountain was adj
vancing toward her. Had the whole
sea heaped itself to one stupendous
wave?
There was the noise Of the crushing
of world.
In his study the vicar looked up from
his sermon.
what was that?" he asked aloud.
There was silence in the house and then
a screaming. The women rushed from
their quarters.
''The waters coming up the gar
den"
The maid who spoke was white to
the lips. Mr.. North went to the door
and opened it. There was sound in
the garden that had never been heard
there before. 1t was the rushing back
of the water. 1t flowed down in fat
sheet to the basin of the sea.
"A tidal wave" said the vicar, 1t
will not occur again"
Il thought it was the end of the
world" said the nurse. Its mercy
the children were in But where's the
boys and Miss Elsie?''
''Sybili' he said. "Sybil! Where is
sybil? My God. don't tell me she isn't
with YOU"
The servants looked at each other in
No one had heard her come in.
Cant you answer" said the vicar,
turning to them with such frenzied
look as not one of them will ever for
get. They shrank back. The nurse
began to sob.
splashing through the water that had
been left in pools upon the grass. The
sea had fallen back to its accustomed
place. There was nothing on the beach,
but high up the line of the yellow foam
The vicar ran hither and thither on the
shore. He seemed bereft of his senses.
The women followed him, keeping close
together.
He stopped and faced them.
What shall do?' he said, helpless
ly; what shall do?''
where are the boys and Elsie?'
asked the nurse
''Tether's Point. They are safe. But
Sybil: Oh, dear God, sybil, Sybil!''
He began to sob His knees shook.
He wore no hat, and his gray hair was
blowing in the wind; his long coat
tapped around him. Some of his
gathered on the shore.
The servants ran to them. Old Trern-
lin said no boat could put out in such
sea. and if she could, what good?
But, Miss Sybil,' he said SIT can't
be true. The Lord wouldn't let it hap
oen."
The night was spent in search.
Parties were quickly organized and set
out in both directions. From Tetner's
Point came the boys and Elsie.
at washed up to within foot of u.s.
Did you all come out to see it?"
"Was Sybil with you? Have you
seen Sybil?"
They had not With white faces they
Joined in the search. The pitiless sea
sell back yard by yard, and with the
lawn the wind had dropped.
The vicar, stricken man, raised his
ined face to Heaven.
Thy way is in the sea-" he said.
Thy path in great waters" and again:
Hitherto shalt thou come, but no fur
her, and here shall thy proud waves be
tayed. Is it true, o Lord? Is it true?"
1t was many days before there lay
me morning at daybreak, upon the
beach, that which had once been Svbil.
t lay still in the gray light. and the
ipples washed to and fro the hair that
oolSed like seaweed. Then the waters
ell. They had done their worst, and
hey gave back their plaything to the
arth.
The post brought little packet to
he vicar on his birthday. He opened
without interest. But it held SYPHILIS /