The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-02-16

time for us to so to bed, and she has
stopped because she wanted to see
the sea, and so we're to go to nurse.
"And oh, the seas so rough, F." said
Willie, "and there are big enormous
waves as big as-oh, ever so big!
And Mabey's hat nearly blew away.
and our coats are quite wet. y
go and take them oft, my boy
Good night, little man. Good night,
Mabey. 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 thou
sand guns, and then rushed up the
floating shingle 1t tore the stones
back with a grinding sound on its
receding. Spray stood in 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 breatheG
a prayer for all who were at the
mercy of the waters. What a free
and superb curve was that of the
breaking wavel There must be for
! moment hollow, she thought, ul-
/ der each as the hollow under the
Falls of Niagara, where you can
stand unwet in the heart of the cat
aract.
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 be
that the tempest awoke a kindred
spirit within her. She would like to
dash into those angry waves and
helpin the havoc of the night. How
rapturous to be mermaid, to dive
| through those monstrous breakers,
to ride upon.the crests of them, to
throw yourself backward, thence
with outstretchel arms to turn and
tumble and dance till you churned
them to further foam!
She stood looking at the sea with
fascination that made her needless
Of all but her 5ancies. Then her
heart stood still. A black mountain
was advancing toward her. Had the
whole sea heaped into one stupen-
dous wavef
There was the noise of the crush
ing of world.
In his study the vicar looked up
from his sermon.
"What was that?" he said aloud.
There was silence in the house and
then screaming. The women rush
eel from their quarters.
1.-THE waters coming up the gar
den"
The maid who spoke was white to
tie lips. Mr.. North went to the
door and opened it. There was a
sound in the garden that had never
been heard before. Itwas the rush
ing back Of the water. It flowed
down in fat sheet to the basin of
the sea.
"a tidal wave" said the vicar.
"It will not occur again
"I thought it was the end of the
world" said the nurse. cts a
mercy the children were in. But
| where's the boys and Miss Elsiel"
The vicar threw up his arms.
"Sibyl!' he said. "Sibyll Where
is Sibyls My God, don't tell me she
isn't with your
The servants looked at each other
in blank alright. No one had seen
her. No one had heard her come in.
Cant you answeri" said the vic
al, turning to them such frenzied
look as not one of them will ever
forget. They Shrank back. The
nurse began to sob.
Mr.. North ran down the garden,
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 l dos" he said help
lessly; what shall l doi'
"Where are the boys and Elsiei'
said the nurse.
"Tether's point. They are safe
but sibyl. Oh, dear God, sibyl, sib
yl!'
He began to sob. His knees shook
He wore no hat, and his gray hai'
was blowing in the wind. His long
coat tapped around him. Some OF
the parishioners gathered on the