The Ravalli Republican., 1898-04-13


stopped because she wanted to see
the sea. and SO We're to 80 to nurse. "
"And oh, the sea S SO rough, said
Willie, "a,1d thore aro big enormous
waves as big as--oh, ever 50 biSl
and Mabcy;s hat nearly blew away,
and our coats are quite wet.
Go and take them off, my boy.
Good night, little man. Good night,
Mabcy. Run along.'
Sibyl stood on the beach and
watched the sea. Her clothes were
twisted round her by the gale, and
her hair had been blown loose and
was slapping her in the face and
Tapping like ribbons Every wave
seemed to dig into the shore as it
broke with the crashing of a thou
sand guns, and then rushed up the
floating single. It tore the stones
back with a grinding sound on it's
receding. Spray stood i'll drops on
Sibyl's face and on the nap of her
rough coat. Foam lay like yellow
snow in a long line that was washed
higher and higher.
How the wind roared, and how
the sea thundered! Sibyl breathed
prayer for all who were at the
mercy of. the waters What a free
and superb curve was that Of the
breaking wave! There must be for
moment a hollow, she thought, un-
der each as the hollow under the
Falls of Niagara, where you can
stand unwet in the heart of the cat
nract.
Ia he wild evening the glamour Of
the storm took possession OF her.
She was butfeted by the wind and
wet by the spray till it seemed to be
that the tempest aWoke 4 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 a mermaid, to dive
through those lnonstrouS breakers,
to ride upon the clests { them, to
throw yourself backward, thence
with outstretched arms to turn and
tumble aud dance till you churned
them to further foam!
She stood looking at the sea with
q fascination that made her needless
Of all but her fancies. Then her
heart stood STILL A black mountain
was advancing toward her. Had the
whole sea heaped into one stupen-
dOus wave? m-..s
There was the noise of the crush
ing Of a world.
III his study the vicar looked up
from his sermon.
"Wh hat was that?'' he said aloud.
There was silence in the house and
then screaming. The women rush
ed from their quarters. ..
1.-The waters coming up the gar
den. - ~"@ .".
The maid who spoke was white to
the Inns MI, North went to the
door and opened it. There was q
sound in the garden that had never
been heard before It was the rush
ing back OF the water. It flowed
! down in q fiat sheet to the basin Of
the sea.
"A tidal wave, said the vicar.
"It will not occur again. y
~ thought it was the end OF the
world, - said the nurse. IT'S 8
mercy the children were in. But
where's the boys and Miss Elsie2'
l'he vicar threw up his arms.
"Sibyl!' he said. "Sibyl! Where
is s'ibyl2 My God, don't tell me she
ism with you'll"
The servants looked at each Other
in blank albright. No one had see1
her. No one had heard her como in
Cant you answers" said the vic
III, turning to them such a fronzie(
look as not one Of them will eve
forget. They shrank back. TIL
nurse began to sob.
Mr.. North ran down the garden
splashing through the water tina
had been left in pools upon tn
grass. The sea had fallen back t
it's accustomed place. There wa
nothing on the beach but high Il
l the line Of the yellow foam. Th
vicar ran hither and thither on til
: shore. He seemed boreft of hi
senses. The women followed hin
j Keeping close together. He stoppe
. and faced them.
y "What shall do!" he said hell
t lessly; "vhat shall | do?''
8 "Where are the boys and Elsie E
d said the nurse.
"Tether's point. They are safe
but Sibyl Oh, Gear God, Sibyl, 81:
|; yl!'
He began TO sob His knees sIlool
He wore no hat, and his gray ha
was blowing il the wind His lo1
o coat tapped around him. Some
the palisbioners gathered on Il
shore. The servants ran to thel
Old Tremlim said no boat could p
out III such sea-and if she coul
it what good:
"But, Miss Sibyl!'' he said 6
can't be true! The Lord couldn't