The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-08-04
LOST IN A
FOG
BY THOMAS r. DEAN


from every one, I started out for 8
walk on the beach. | had gone sever
al miles perhaps Il could have walked
on the same stretch of sand for halt
day without meeting an obstacle,
when saw bank of cloud coming In
from the ocean. In few minutes
was enveloped In it. The wind that
had brought 1t In died down to a dead
calm, and everything was still.
thought | had my bearings and
turning, started back toward my no,
tel. But l was off my course. for
had not gone far before l stepped on
the verge of shallow indentation in
the sand filed with water left by the
outgoing tide. 1t was evident that |
had been walking into the ocean. |
turned and started again. as | suppos-
ed, toward the dunes, but must have
swerved, for | walked on and on for
some time on sand. Then stood still.
1t was a singular sensation. standing
there, all direction obliterated-some-
thing like being In perfect darkness or
on the ocean out of sight OF land. No.
1t was like neither of these; 1t was like
itself only. But | wondered If being
suspended In space would resemble
the sensation | experienced. Then sud
denly voice came out of the sur
rounding vapor. 1t was girls voice,
sounding as clear and distinct as II
spoken In the stagnant atmosphere fol-
lowing snowstorm.
Here / am"
was so startled at the sudden break
of the surrounding oblivion that it did
not occur to me to make a sound my
self. There was something in the
change from isolation to contiguity
that seemed like passing from nothing
ness to life. Then, too. the density of
the atmosphere impaired melodious
tone to the voice that harmonized with
a'chord in my own being. | had plen-
ty of time within few seconds to feel
all these things before said
And here am |"
Sound does not of itself give direc-
ton, and l knew not whence the
words had heard came. But in an
other moment the fog directly before
me darkened. then resolved itself into
girls figure. Seeing me, stranger
to her, she stepped back. then stood
still
Are you lost?' / asked.
Indeed l am" was the reply. "A
girl friend and / We're caught in the
fog. She stepped out ahead of me
and we became separated. called
her"
II would be happy to guide you" /
said, "but / am unable to guide my
self. However. you had better permit
me to stand by you till the fog lifts
I'm afraid my friend may have
walked into some quicksand or water
or something She was with me
few minutes ago and has suddenly
disappeared.
"Call her." suggested.
Helen, Helenv' called my compan-
ion.
She elected no response.
1--WE may as we'll go on" I said;
doubtless we shall come out some
where. Don't worry about your friend.
There are no quicksands on this beach"
We moved-in what direction we
knew not-and chatted as we proceed
ed. There seemed a great change, a
great relief from the preceding isola- |
ton 30 this companionship. certain |
ly felt It, and the girl kept very close
70 vi NJ uha kN1
as she had lost her friend.
what il thatT she asked suddenly.
"whatT"
She pointed, but saw nothing. She
told me that she had seen something
dark moving beside us, but as soon as
she spoke 1t quickly faded.
We went on for some time, but all
was sand. The beach was broad, very
broad, and the ebb tide went out a
great distance. I did not wonder that
we reached nothing different Then
saw dark spot moving near US. My
saw 1t. too, and, brighten
I'd, chung to me.
am not superstttious and had It not
been for my companion would have
sprung toward the spot to discover
IL was human. But / found
hat ciingfng of fair girl so delight
'ul that i preferred TO remain as I
was I reassured my. companion in a
putting my lips nearer than
to her ear and feeling her l.
warm breath. l kept my eyes on the
spot while she turned her face toward
ne that she might not see It. / was
puzzled as to what it could be. but /
believed it to be some animal, though
could hear no footsteps.
TT must be ghostT I said In a
husky stage voice. whereupon my COM
panion chung to me the tighter, which
was the effect intended to produce
Suddenly the fog began to clear, and
With that rapidity with which fogs
sometimes take themselves away, and
'evealed the figure of girl walking {
'apidly away from US.
why, it's Helenw exclaimed my
Il believe she has been
lear us all the while"
"Helenp she called.
The retreating girl stopped and turn
d. could see that the surprise she
howed was feigned She Joined us {
With an amused smile on her face and {
onfessed that she had heard the
words Here I em," but. thinking to
ha, yyIapA had ,sIanA