The Negro world., 1900-03-24

maid. to dive through those monstrous
breakers, to ride upon the crests OF
them. TO throw yourself backward,
thence with outstretched arms 10 turn
and tumble and dance till you churned
them TO further foaml
She stood looking at the sea with
fascination that made her needless of
all but her fancies. Then her heart
stood still. A black mountain was adj
yancing toward her. Had the whole
sea heaped into one stupendous wave?
There was the noise of the crushing
OF world. sss
In his study the vicar looked up from
his sermon.
What was that2" he said, aloud.
There was silence In the house. and
then n screaming. The women rushed
from their quarters.
THE waters coming up the garden" !"
The maid who spoke was white to
the lips. Mr.. North went to the door
and opened IL. There was c scund In the
garden that had never been there be.
fore. II was the rushing back of the
to the basin of the sea.
~ tidal wave" said the vicar. at
will not occur again"
II thought II was the end OF the
world" said the nurse. ''It's a mercy
the children were in. But where's the
boys and Miss Elsie?"
The vicar threw up his arms.
''sibyll" he said. "SfbyI! Where Is
sibyl2 My God. don't tell me she isn't
with you!" The servants looked at
each other in blank alright No one
had seen her. No one had heard her
come in.
"Can't 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 be-
gan 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. Their 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 keep
ing close together. He stopped and
faced them.
"What shall do?" he said helpless.
ly. what shall | do2'
where are the boys and Elsie ?" said
the nurse.
'Tether's Point. They are safe but
sibyl. oh, dear God. Sibyl. Sibyl!"
lie 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 the
parishioners gathered on the shore.
The servants ran to them. Old Trem.
lin said no boat could put out In such
sea-and IL she could, what good?
"But. Miss sibyi!" he said. at cant
be truci The Lord wouldn't let it,
The night was spent in search. Par.
ties were quickly organized and sent
out In both directions. From Tether's
Point came the boys and Elsie.
"lt washed up to within foot of u.s.
Did you all come out To see II ?"
WAS Sibyl with you? Have you seen
Sibyl?"
They had not. With white faces they
joined In the search. The pitilcss sea
fell back yard by yard, and with the
dawn the wind dropped.
The vicar, stricken man. raised hia
lined face to Heaven.
'"rhy way is in the sea-" he said;
"Thy path Is in the great waters" and
again; Hitherto shalt thou come, but
no further. and here shall thy proud
waves he stayed. Is it true. o Lord? Is
II true?"
II was many days before there lay
one morning at daybreak upon the
beach that which had once been Sibyl
II lay still in the gray light, and the
rlpples washed TO and fro gently the
hair that looked like seaweed. Then
the waters fell. They had done their
worst and they gave back their play.
thing 10 the earth.
The post brought little packet to
the vicar on his birthday. He opened
Il without interest. hut II held Sibyrs
photograph.--Ch Herald.