Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-08-26

further than to play for the others;
and Henry led her to the instrument,
standing beside her while she played.
unheeding the bright eyes of two or
three lovely girls, who would have
been proud to dance with one so dis
inguished-looking
In the pauses of the dance the gay
ETY. was so loud that no one heard
the rising of the storm Percy's
father and mother had been delighted
spectators of the mirti gong forward,
and now begged for some music of
different kind. What impelled Helen
no one knew, but she resumed her
seat at the piano, ran her fingers over
the keys in a lively strain, played a
popular melody in a dasEing style, and
sank, all at once, into the heart-break-
ing notes Of the dead march.
Wild and thrilling were the sounds
she produced, as if the deepest and
most solemn emotions of the composer
were understood and expressed in her
playing. 1t sent a thrill through the
circle. Henry bent forward to be-
seech her to cease the mournful music
when he saw, to his horror and sur
prise, that he was talking to one in a
trance. Her eyes were open, but there
was no expression there-only the
dull, stony gaze Of eyes that can see
rot. Mechanically the fingers played
and the whole company noticed that
something strange was going forward
Henry Middleton's shocked and
troubled look gave the first intimation.
Sevreal ladies rushed toward her with
smelling bottles and fans, but Henry
waved them away. He felt that it was
dangerous to arouse her suddenly from
the somrambulistic state into which
she had fallen. She did not move,
except that her fingers still played on
that dreary, mournful strain. At
last she ceased and fell forward.
Then Henry took her in his arms and
laid her upon sofa. The strange
look passed from her face, and she
appeared to sink into a soft, natural
sleep.
There were not many minutes to
watch her. The profound stiffness
which each one kept in the room en-
abled them to hear the awful tumult of
the still rising storm; and just then,
the man employed obout the garden
appeared at the door with face full
OF horror, and whispered to Mr..
Broadhurst that guns were heard, and
that ship was near, evidently in
distress. Henry Middleton caught the
sound and rushed from the house,
where he was soon joined by every
man and boy in the family. Percy and
Arthur were in the minds of ALL
And there was the wreck, her sails
rent, her spars split on the deck, as
was plainly seen by the vivid flashes
of the lightning that threw momentary
brightness over the scene. So near
that they could see the upturned faces
of the men on board, and yet-oh, des-
pairi-they knew that earthly aid
could not reach them. There were men
upon the beach who had followed the
sea for livelihood for years; there
were boats in profusion-but who
COulu IlSh lllS Ill Iut DOl1lHS Std L hS
waves, dashing white and high, hid
the sight, save at intervals, from the
shore; but each glimpse showed them
in greater and increased danger. There
was no resource but to look on and
W atch the terrible scene.
A moment more, and they caught
sight of the men struggling in the
waves, and one dead body was thrown
by the mighty waters at their feet 1t
was that of a strong, powerfully-b built
man, and the sailors around recognized
it as one who had sailed with Percy
Broadhurst! This, then, was the good
ship that went off with flying colors
one year ago, bearing within her
bosom brave and young hearts, now
doomed, perhaps, to a frightful death
Another and another dead form,
bruised and torn by the wild blows,
fioated onward to the shore. Two or
three sank within sight of home.
Henry Middleton turned away his eyes,
unable to bear it longer. 1t might have
been, perhaps, Percy, or Arthur, dear
boy, who thus disappeared, and they
could look no more
AS he turned his gaze to the rocks
he had passed on his passage to the
beach flash or red lightning blazed
strongly over a slight dark figure,
stealing slowly over their broken and
Jagged surface. 1t was too tall for
boy, too slender for a man. He could
not help watching it under the next
flash. Good heavens. Could that be
Helen wandering out in this wild
night?, He had seen pale face and
two white hands, wet with the driving
spray. She came slowly, steadily.
never slipping nor struggling, but
smoothly, as if she were treading the
level beach. He dared not go to her,
for he knew that she must still be in
that awful sleep. He remembered to
nave heard that sOmnambulist rare
ly, If ever, received injury in circum-
stances of danger, and was comforted
by the thought. Onward she came,
passed him, and went closely to the
waters edge. He followed her closely,
but neither touched her nor spoke.
She knelt down, and just at that
moment form f1oated toward her.
The white hands were around it in an
instant, the lips were pressed on the
pale forehead, and Arthur, dear Ar
thur" was uttered by the hitherto
silent lips. Henry made sign to two
or three stout sailors, and mother and
son We're soon horne To the nearest