The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1912-01-26

huge rollers and when women and
children We're dancing In the shallow
foam or few cIinging 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.
ooh. the exhlaration of sporting on
the monsters backs: They We're our
playfellows, tossing us like friendly
giants, whose laugh is IL roar. We
swan side by side OH our chests. on
on: sides, OH our backs under the sur
face. Why should we fear our enor'
NOUS comrades? When they threw us
up we knew that they would break
our fall when we came down. as a
strong man will catch Il child.
"But, when looked and saw that we
We're 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. I
strove to encourage you. ] assisted
you With one arm. while l 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 to
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 We're saved at last?" gasp
ed, shuddering. THE boat reached you
and took you INF"
There was no reply. The couple
passed on, moving In that same undu-
lating motion with which they had ap-
preached. watched them till they
turned to ascend the cemetery hill
Then the moon seemed to so under a
black cloud and
| IF vy1o ria NV ty-1,n,l I fOif she 1-n
and something hot pouring down my
throat. Then knew that was being
chafed. was lifted UP. rugs were put
about me, and ! was placed in some
sort of conveyance. for heard the
sound Of wheels and felt 1t jotin:s
| Now and again liquor was poured
down my throat till the vehicle stop
ped and l was carried into ~ warm
room, and hot water bags We're placed
beside me- Then opened my eyes and
saw that was Mt home.
AS soon as | was able to talk | was
asked how and why had collapsed on
the road. Had been struck. had
felt illness coming on?
1t is difficult for ME to explain that,
shrinking from giving the true cause
of my breakdown. Was it !; dread of
being considered insane? Did fear
insanity myself? Was it the result of
nervous weakness Was ii a dislike to
talk about my frightfuI experience? All
these causes were mingled, The only
reason | gave was that | had been
walking on the road ANA supposed |
1,,,,ct boSo rooai,+o,1 81 tt,t-.,
But a physician declared he coulj
not find that amy portion Of my phys
ical makeup had given way. The onl,
danger l had incurred was that of
freezing. My dog had gone home with
out me and barked at the door Ny
brother, hearing him. had got up to let
me in, supposrg that had left my
night key at home. When he opened
the door the dog ran away barking.
now and again running back to he
house, then starting on. My brother
realizing that the dog was trying to
persuade him to follow, put on his coat
and hat and was conducted to me.
lying on the road. I was nearly frozen.
| Within few hours after my arrival
at home was MS well as ever-that is.
bodily. Mentally had received
shock. Those about me, seeing that
did not wish to be questioned about
the cause Of my trouble. refraincd.
One day heard that the bodies of d
young man and a young woman who
had been drowned during the previous
season had been recovered. They had
been thrown in sort of cove during a
storm and We're found so tightly locked
in each others arms that they were
separated with difficulty. They were
taken to the cemetery on the hill and
buried there.
One would suppose that would now
say something about my meeting at
midnight. The discovery only drew me
the tighter within myself. Not for the
world would be pointed out as the
man whose brains had suddenly given
way and had supposed lie had met with