The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-08-19
By the Sea.
forlgInnl1

tOriginall
One summer moonlight night l was
by the waves. l would rather be near
them on moonlight nights than at any
other time, especially when broken
clouds give the sky and the waters
variety. l never go TO the hotels. |
get as far away from them as can,
stopping usually at some fsherman's
cottage. On this occasion had
pitched a tent on the beach and in
habited IL alone. l was lying under
my canopy, the flaps thrown aside so
that from my bed-blankets only-I
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
lazily rolling in and bursting on the
shore.
I have wondered since IL the music
Of the waters put me TO sleep and
awakened or whether l 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 II, like a
womans skirts gently moved by
breeze. 1t appeared TO be about the
height of 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 1t moved. Then was con-
scious that II was coming toward me.
had no superstitlous fear. was sim
ply curious. AS the thing approached
II came gradually out Of nebula into
the form of a woman. There was q
certain grace OF movement. lightness
which, mingled with slight rising and
falling, was confusing. Had the figure
appeared on the water surface |
should have thought my eyes were
transfigurIng a sail that was rising and
falling on the waves.
1t was only when It came near
that | distinguished the outline of
girls figure-not summer visitor, one
Of palmer mold, doubtless n fisher las
sic. She stopped 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:
sis that 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."
rs itf' She manifested no interest
ut the hour. She stood looking out at
sea, apparently watching for another
sight at the boat.
There it is. Heavens, how they
bend to the workw =,
| raised myself on my elbows and
strained my eyes to discern II could
see what the girl saw. Surely there
was no boat out where she was look
ing. The dark face of the ocean was
expresslonless except where the moon
light trailed over IT.
II see no boat" said.
ITS In the trough Of the sea now"
'There Is but slight trough. Even
II boat were lost TO sight between
the waves II would reappear In few
moments"
She stood peering out on the ocean
A cloud Aoated over the moon. She
said with q moan note of despair.
rather, II seemed TO me:
"oh. how blackg
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 II
passed | looked for her. but she was
nowhere TO be seen. | lay thinking,
wondering, for awhile, then, lullsd by