The daily Alaskan., 1908-09-25
BY THE SEA
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them on moonlight nights than at any other time, especially when broken clouds give the sky and the waters variety. I never so to the hotels, get as far away from them as can, stopping usually at some fshcrman's cottage. On this occasion had pitched d tent on the beach and in- habited it alone. l was lying under my canopy. the flaps thrown aside so that from my bcd-blankets only-l 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 euing toward me from afar, the waves lazily rolling in and bursting on the shore.
 1 have wondered since If the music of the waters put me to sleep and l awakened or whether I 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 it. There was an occasional futtering about 1t, like a woman's skirts gently moved by a breeze. It 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 very young tree shaken by the wind
 Presently It moved. Then l was con sclous that it was coming toward me. I had no superstltlous fear. was sim ply curious. AS the thing approached It came gradually out of ncbula into the form of u woman. There was a certain grace of movement. a lightneSs which. mingled with slighrrisinS and falling, was confusing. Had the figure appeared on the water surface l should have thought my eyes were trausRguring a sail that was rising and falling on the waves.
 t was only when 1t came near that distinguished the outline of a girls fgure-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 10 notice or care who was In the tent, she asked;
 "Is that a boat out there"
 What are you doing out here at this time of night? Do you know what time It Is?"
 "NO."
 drew my watch from my vest pocket. slept In my clothes. Its half past l."
 "Is it." She manifested no interest at the hour. She stood looking out at sea, apparently watching for another sight at the boat.
 There 1t Is. Heavens, how they bend to the work"
 raised myself on my elbows and strained my eyes to discern if could see what the girl saw. Surely there was no boat out where she was look Ing. The dark face of the ocean was expresslouless except where the moon light trailed over lt.
 "I see no boat" said.
 Its in the trough of the sea now"
 "There Is but a slight trough. Even If boat were lost to sight between the waves 1t would reappear in few moments
 She stood peerIng out on the ocean. A cloud foatcd over the moon. She said with moan, note of despair, rather, It seemed to me:
 "Oh, how black.'
 The cloud was denSer than any that had obscured the moon before. The last words | heard spoken by the girl were. They're coming" and she began to move toward the ocean, fading away In the shadow of the cloud. When it passed l looked for her, but she was nowhere 10 be seen. lay thinking wondering. for awhile. then, lulIed by he waves. fell asleep
 When l awoke tue sun was rising ,ut Of the ocean, while the waves were flashing luuguIdly. The first thing l bought of was the girl of the night ,efore. l drlfted between many opIn- ons. Possibly I may have dreamed 1t n. But never before had 1 dreamed bout one a stranger to me whose face md figure l could remember, while lers remembered distinctly. Was he not some girl who had been de lented by misfortune?
 [ went to breakfast at q lSherman's abiu It was d rude place, the only e c.nrutlon being a Autograph of the 'irgin Mary, but got there plenty oi ,l food. The fisherman was prepar- lg to go out in his boat while his wife waited on me l was full of my dream, whatever 1t was, and related it.
 The man stopped his preparations md listened with a look of horror making the sign of the cross, while his wife turned and covered her eyes with her hands.
 looked at them wOnderlngly. It was plain that l had struck some blight In their lives. Should probe 1t by questions or spare them? What