Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-01-02
@Ne." stammered. Il never did"

III. ne pcdCu was SHSif iuS anu Tux
undertow strong. Both good swim
mers, we delighted in buffeting tbs
huge rollers. and when women and
children were dancing In the shallow
foam or a few clinging to the rope
squatting TO let an expended breaker
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.
'0h. the exhilaration of sporting on
playfellows. tossing us 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 comrades? When they threw Is
up we knew that they would break
our fall when we came down, as a
strong man will catch a child.
But, when looked and saw that we
were drifting. suddenly became con.
scious that the pillows would not help
US back. 1t 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. l assisted
you with one arm, while swan with
the other When we rose upon 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, while the two chung L
each other as If they were again sink
ing under their playfellows, whose
merciless nature they had not under
stood till their own welfare came In
conflict with their inorganic force.
But you were saved at last?" gasp
ed, shuddering. The boat reached yol
and took you in?"
There was no reply. The coupl
passed on. moving in that same undu
lating motion with which they had q
preached. watched them till II
turned to ascend the cemetery /
Then the moon seemed to go undei }
black cloud and
1t was near dawn when felt shak
and something hot pouring down m.
throat Then knew that was beini
chafed. | was lifted up, rugs were pt;
about me, and ! was placed in som
sort of conveyance, for l heard tn
sound of wheels and felt joltine
Now and again liquor was poure'
down my throat till the vehicle stop
ped and | was carried into a warn
room, and hot water bags were places
beside me Then opened my eyes an
saw that | was at home.
As soon as | was able to talk / wa
asked how and why / had collapsed Oh
the road Had | been struck. had
felt illness coming on?
1t is difficult for me to explain that
shrinking from giving the true caus
Of my breakdown. Was it dread o
being considered insane? Did / fea
insanity myself? Was it the result 0
nervous weakness Was ii a dislike b
talk about my frightful experience? Al
these causes were mingled. The onl,
reason gave was that / had bee
walking on the road and supposed
must have received stroke.
But physician declared he coul'
not fnd tlIat any portion Of my phys
zeal makeup had given way. The onl
danger ! had incurred was that 0
freezing. My dog had gone home with
out me and barked at the door. NJ
brother, hearing him, had got up to lie
me In. supposing that | had left "a.
night key at home. When he openei
the door the dog ran away, barking
now and again running back to th
house, then starting ON. My brother
realizing that the dog was trying +
persuade him to follow, put on his Goa
and hat and was conducted to me
lying on the road. I was nearly frozen
Within few hours after my arriva
at home was as well as ever-that Is
| bodily. Mentally | had received
shock Those about me, seeing that
| did not wish to be questioned abof
| the cause OF my trouble, refrained-
| One day heard that the bodies
young man and young womans
had been drowned during the prev
| season had been recovered. TheA
| been thrown in q sort Of cove during
storm and were found so tightly LOCKE
I'm each others arms that they wer
| separated with difficulty. They wer
taken to the cemetery on the hill an
| buried there.
One would suppose that / would nov
say something about my meeting q
midnight. The discovery only drew m
the tighter within myself. Not for tn
world would / be pointed out as th
| man whose brains had suddenly give
way and had supposed he had met wit
q supernatural experience. ! rathe
chose to keep my own council. tn
day may come. though probably not
my time, when a method will be dil
covered by which we can communicat
with the dead-may even see and hea
them Then those whose natures seer
10 be so constructed that they can hav
i this communication unaided will
able to tell their stories and stfll B
believed TO be mentally sound We
not know that al our senses were Dor
In primitive man. Perhaps new &c
ence may be developed for discernin
the supernatural.