CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1908-09-10
By the Sea.


other time, especially when broken
clouds give the sky and the waters
variety. l never go to the hotels.
get a. far away from them as I can.
stopping usually at some 6sherman's
cottage. On this occasion ! had
pitched q tent on the beach and In
habited II alone. was lying under
my canopy. the naps thrown aside so
that from my bed-blankets only
could look out on the ocean. There
was the sky. light clouds slowly drift
ing across the face of the moon, the
line Of the horizon dividing the lighter
from the darker hemisphere. The ocean
plane met the path of moonlight broad
ening toward me from afar, the waves
lastly rolling in and bursting on the
shore.
I have wondered since II the music
Of the waters put me to sleep and !
awakened or whether ! did not sleep.
At any rate. my attention was ar
rested by something white. at least
lighter than the sand, down near the
verge. watched 1t. There was an
occasional huttering about 1t, like a
woman's skirts gently moved by
breeze. 1t appeared to be about the
height Of a human figure. though really
In my perception of 1t there was no
such thing AS size. and was gently
swaying like a very young tree shaken
By the wind
Presently it moved. Then | was con
scious that 1t was coming toward me.
I had no superstitious fear. ! was sim
ply curious. AS the thing approached
It came gradually out OF ncbuln into
the form of a woman. There was
certain grace Of movement, lightness
which, mingled with a slight rising and
falling, was confusing. Had the figure
appeared on the water surface
should have thought my eyes were
transfguring n sail that was rising and
falling on the waves.
1t was only when II came near
that | distinguished the outline Of a
girls figure-not a summer visitor. one
of palmer mold, doubtless fisher las
sie. She stopped a few yards from
me, turned and looked out on the
ocean. Then. turning again without
appearing to notice or care who was In
the tent she asked:
is that a boat out there?
What are Won doing out here at this
time OF night? Do you know what
time 1t is?"
mo"
l drew my watch from my vest
pocket. l slept in my clothes. ITS
half past l." #.H
'Is TT" She manifested no Interest
at the hour. She stood looking out At
-. apparently watching for another
sight at the boat
There IL IL. Heavens how they
bend to the work."
raised myself on my elbows and
strained my eyes to discern II I could
~ what the girl saw. Surely there
vas NO boat out where she was look
,,. The dark face Of the ocean was
e1nre.sS.apIess except where the moon.
light traile. over 1t.
II see no boas' J said.
"Ies in the trough " the sea h0w."
There 10 but a slight trough. Evsn
II a boat we're lost to sigtt between
the waves 1t would reaprear IN few
moments"
She stood peerinG out on the oceaXi
A cloud 60ated over the moon. She
said with . moan. a note Of despair.
rather. II seemed to me:
"Oh. lsow bIsck-'
The cloud IVES denser than Ssy that
had ob~cured the moon before: The
last words ! heard spoken by the girl
were. They're comisg." and she beEaB
to move toward the ocean. fading a aNAy
in the shadow Of the clOud. When NJ
passed l looked for her, but she was
nowhere to be seen. J Iay thinking,
wondering, for awhile. then. lul,sd by
raae waves. fell asleep.
When I awoke the SON was sising
out Of the ocean. while the wavss were
FLASHING langudly. The frst thing
thought of was the girl Of the nIeAa |
before. ! drifted between many opfnS
ions Possibly I may have drea med u |
all. But never before had / dreame6 |
about one q stranger to me whose fsce |
and figure l could remember. while
hers I remembered distinctly. Was
she not some girl who had been de. |
mented by misfortune?
I went to breakfast 1T a HsheTInan's
cabin. 1t was a rude place. the only
decoration being a lithograph Of the
Virgin Mary. but / got there plenty Of
sea food. The fisherman was prepar-
ing to go out In his boat while his wife
waited on me. I was full Of my dream.
Dr whatever It was. and related Il.
The man stopped his preparations
and listened with a look Of horror
the sign Of the cross. while his
wife turned and covered her eyes with
her hands.
l looked at them wonderfully. II
was plain that ! had struck some
blight IN their lives. Should ! probe