The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-08-17

still that the keel moved under him seemingly a, lusty Still the resistance of the water fo hi oars was imperceptlbe. It slipped away in eddies and drpPed from his blades like tangle of gieanihg pearls. Now the air vbrated with the braze cIar,cor He gazed back at the shuttered houses of KinlTton Strawless, marveling that someone had not wakened The shore was deserted; not shadow stirred.
 Fifty yards away the surface of the sea was dis turbed churned to frothy whiteness by the sub merged bells. He stopped rowing and stared down Beneath the surface, directly under him. shone an 1lunaned town The light was diffused but con- centrated in the windows of the houses It seemed to h1n that people were moving feisurely to and fro swinging lanterns He leaned over farther to make certain The boat lurched from under him. He real- ized he was slipping and tried to save himself In clutchlng wildly to regain his balance he lost hs purchase. The water closed over him. Once he rose and tried to shout for help the sleeping town then he sank. His eyes were wide open he saw the moon as through glass, monstrousy white and round The ringing III the steepes was chaos of strife in his were ladder. with his feet and hands The moon dwlndled to a little speclk; then bIaclness fef1.
 marhet-squsre High over him rose the tower of s granite church. in which the pealing of the bells vyas sinking to murmur. Around the square stood steeply gablcd houses; at their doors sat women si ming, smiling up at another from their work Rv the side of some were wooden cradles which taev rocked with their feet as they span. Leading out of the square mysterious streets which seened narrower than they really were for their roofs pro- eeted so far from the walls that they nearly met Only one of them was broad and this was the Roman road which ran westward back under the sea to t1e Pr1ory on the downs Over all brooded a strange sense of p6ace, the peace which comes of patience rather than content. The town was lit up with a twnsling phosphorescence from the air green round; the seaweed, covering roofs and pavenaenfs stirred continually with rustling sound of rest
 He rose to his feet and gazed about All was familiar He recognized the womens faces That wa Agatha over there He stole to her and touched ra. ae a wenf on sPnnng eroonng to her child in the they were the living. They did know that he was there he could not make them understand.
 ct he had lived here oncel But when2 And why , had he returnedi
 He wandered down the tw1t streets and entered the quaint old houses Barnacles and sea-pants had ever grown them save for this they were the same as when he left He was searching nstnctively for something but what2 The farther he drew from the square sailing like armored ships; sometimes they brushed him with their crooked fms Their touch was clammy and Heacherous; he sbecame fearful and turned back ' At the door of the church he halted The bells were silent now By twos and threes the worshppers came faced heavily bearded men, He stroye to attract their attention. laid his hands tems and called them by name saying: T am your master. Lord Breydon come back Cannot you hear rne?" They passed on, bending their heads to one anoti1er absorbed Tn conversation as they he had not spoken and were not fhere. And they had obeyed his every gesture and had run to catch his every word
 His heart was breaking with Loneliness; he was cut of from both the living and the dead The women in the square eursying to the knights and greeting their own men, carried the cradles and spinning wheels the houses, closing the doors behind them 4 The square empty Through the seaweed that waved before the easements he could discern the move ments ot the inmates though they had been shadows
 
 their work And still he waited s~.es The portal of the church opened steathily and face looked out. The head was covered in nuns cof. but from under 1t strayed strand of haxen hair He knew her and waited in suspense afraid to make known his presence lest she should close the door and slip back into shelter ! She slowly out, pressing her hands against her breast A little way from him she halted. 7
 You are here she murmured; yet I cannot see you And all these years have waited called to you and you did not hear"
 He folded his arms sahna1f har drauny Far t,s~r She seemed to gather in hs warmth he kissed her upon the eyes and mouth. you could not understand High up in the steepic above the ringing of the bells sang to you and you learned" Then she told him how knowing him near, she had dared to steal out by the Roman road the upper air. that she might meet him in the Prory the downs. But God had not allowed her see him, nor hum to touch her tor the people of the sea are different from those of earth. While she spoke all his memory came back How he had been Lord of Dunwold and had loved the nun at the Prory. He remembered, though 1t were but yesterday the joyous rides up long white road and the stealthy meetings in the wood on the hill 1t all came back clearly when curtain Is drawn in the morning letting in the sunlight. How he had him. And that last horror when, escaping with her his stronghold of Dunwoid as he passed through tbe gap the sea had burst its dikes and seized her from him. and left him standing alone, gazing out his submerged town.
 Dearest, let lis be going. she said
 SGoing Ehere7"
 Back Back to the world"
 When he asked her how, she mCrnlured- drew you hereby longing You return of youT- self but I cannot You must take me" Then he placed his about her and wied that they should return. The pavement drew away from under him; they drifted up and up. The shadows in the easements became ndisnct and be dscerned the square and the roofs of the houses only sea- garden far, far down Drifting level with the top of the steepe they the sea-surface above them green and smooth window. But long shadow hovered over them, like gigantic fish which did stir. Thex entered into its backness Breydon tried to avoid it. He could no longer her He clasped her despe- rately Something struck his head He slithered up the side of steep wall. Then hands cIutched hIn; the cool night air ehoked him. and he lost consciousness
 When his senses back he lying stretched on pile of nets Hearing heavy footsteps about him he tried to raise his head
 Where I?" he asked
 "Ye war nearly drowned but we're in Ike SeS-bSH Me and my mates ye toomble out. "But where is She." There warnt she lad. Yen be safe Eu bed" Strong arms were placed under him and he heard the stumbling of feet the pebbles then the knocking on wooden door and shouts for the nnaceeper to eoms down. c