Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-22
The Argus Daily Story
Seeking Rest-By r. A. Mitchell.
COPYRIGHTED 1911. by Associated Literary Bureau

sprinkle their shoulders. we walked
hand in hand out to meet the advanc-
ing monsters. at first turning sidewise
to let them pass US, then jumping
above them and at last diving under
them. In this way we got beyond
their white names and swan, now
buoyed up toward the sky and now
lowered toward the bottom of sand
"Oh, the exhilaration Of sporting on
the monsters backs! They were our
playfellows, tossing as like friendly
giants, whose laugh Is a roar. We
swan side by side on our chests, on
our sides, on our backs, under the sur
face. Why should we fear our enor-
nous comrades7 When they threw Us
up we knew that they would break
our fall when we came down, a.
strong man win catch a child.
But, when I looked and saw that we
were drifting, suddenly l became con-
scious that the pillows would not help
Us back. It was than that their merci-
less nature first struck me. We stop
ped our play and struck out for the
shore. But we gained nothing against
the current setting seward. Then
you, darling. became frightened.
strove to encourage you ! assisted
you with one arm, while SWAN with
the other. When we rose upon q wave
we could see that our danger was
known to those on the beach. The
bathing master had plunged In and was
| coming for Us, while others were Try
ing to launch boat. But the bathing
master could not reach US. Now and
again, despite my support, you sank
beneath the surface; then all grew
black
He ceased, whine the two chung to
each other as II they were again sink
ing under their piayfellows, whose
mercfless nature they had not under
stood TN their own welfare came In
conflict with their inorganic force.
But you were saved at lastF' fgasp-
ed, shuddering- '1The boa. reached you
and took you mr.
| There was no reply. The couple
passed on, moving In that same undu-
lating motion with which they had ap-
| preached I watched them Tin they
/ turned 10 ascend the cemetery hin.
Then the moon seemed to 60 under .
| black cloud and
Il was near dawn when felt q shake
and something hot pouring down my
throat Then knew that was being
chafed. 1 was lifted UP, rugs We're put
about me, and I was placed in some
sort Of conveyance, for l heard tho
sound Of wheels and felt q joiting.
Now and again liquor was poured
down my throat till the vehicle stop
ped and I was carried into a warm
room. and hot water bags were placed
beside me. Then opened my eyes ana
saw that was at home.
/ As soon as / was able to talk was
asked how and why had collapsed on
the road. Had been struck, had I
felt illness coming onf
It is difficult for me to explain that.
shrinking from giving the true cause
Of my breakdown. Was Ii a dread of
being considered insane2 Did I fear
/ insanity myself2 Was it the result of
nervous weakness Was It dislike to
talk about my frightful experience? All
these causes were mingled The only
reason I gave was that had been
walking on the road and supposed
must have received 4 stroke.
: But a physician declared he could
not find that any portion Of my phys
r zeal makeup had given way. The only
: danger I had incurred was that of
: freezing. My dog had gone home with
out me and barked at the door. My
brother, hearing him, had got up to let
> me in, supposing that I hsd left my
night key at home. When he opened
: the door the dog ran away, barking,
t now and again running back to the
|, house, then starting on. My brother,
realizing that the dog was trying to
E persuade him to follow, put on his coat
. and hat and was conducted to me.
D lying on the road. 1 was nearly frozen.
1 Within few hours after my arrival
1 at home was as well as ever-that Ia,
9 bodily. Mentally l had received q
shock. Those about me, seeing that
b did not wish to be questioned about
a the cause of my trouble. refrained.
/. One day heard that the bodies of a
q young man and young woman who
: had been drowned during the previous
r season had been recovered. They had
d been thrown in a sort of cove during a
storm and were found SO tightly locked
r in each others arms that they were
separated with difficulty. They were
q taken to the cemetery on the hill and
buried there.
8 One would suppose that would now
b say something about my meeting at
O midnight The discovery only drew me
J, the tighter within myself Not for the
q world would be pointed out as the
G man whose brains had suddenly given
o way and had supposed he had met with
a supernatural experience. / rather
D chose to keep my own council. The
day may come, though probably not in
q my time. when a method will be dis
covered by which we can communicate
e with the dead-may even see and hear
. them Then those whose natures seem
i to be so constructed that they can have
o this communication unaided will be
g able to tell their stories ara still be
g believed to be mentally sound. We do
b not know that all our senses were born
&c. A4-vn rl.av.