The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-07-05
LOST IN A
FOG
BY THOMAS R DEAN


walk on the beach. had gone sever.
al miles perhaps q could have walked
on the same stretch Of sand for half
a day without meeting an obstaclel
when saw bank OF cloud coming In
from the ocean. In few minutes ]
was enveloped In 1t. The wind that
had brought 1t In died down to a dead
calm, and everything was still.
! thought had NY bearings and
turning, started hack toward my ho'
tel. But was of my course, for |
had not gone far before stepped on
the verge OF q shallow indentatIon In
the sand filled with water left by the
outgoing tide. Il was evident that
had been walking into the ocean. |
turned and started again, as suppos-
ed. toward the dunes. but | must lave
swcrved. for walked on and on for
some time on sand. Then stood still.
1t was singular sensation. standing
there. all direction oblitcrated-so some.
thing like being In perfect darkness or
Oh the ocean ont Of sight of land. No,
1t was like neither Of these: II was like
Itself only. But wondered II being
suspended In space would resemble
the sensation | experienced Then sud,
denly a voice came out Of the sur.
roundIag vapor. II was girls voice,
Gnn,Itnu NtAnr ~
spoken In the staGnant atmosphere fol.
lowing n snowstoru.
Here am"
was so startled ut the sudden break
OF the surrounding oblivion that II did
not occur 10 me to make sound my.
self There WIS 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 n mclodIous
tone TO the voice that harmonlzed with
chord In my own being. had plen.
ty OF time within Il few seconds to feel
all these things before said:
And here am L."
Sound does not OF itself give dlrcc.
ton. and knew not whence the
words had heard came. Rut In an.
other moment the fog directly before
me inrkcncti. then resolved Itself into
n girls figure. Seeing me. stranger
to her. she stepped back, then stood
still.
Are you lost!" asked.
Indeed | am" was the reply. a.
girl FREUD aud were caught In the
fog She stepped out ahead Of me-
and we became separated. called
her"
81 would he happy TO guide you" |
said. but am unable TO guide my.
self. However. you Ind better permit
mo 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 n
few minutes ago and has suddenly
disappeared"
"Cuf her" suggested.
Helen, HclcE." called my compan,
ion.
She elected no response.
I'VE may as well 20 on" I said:
doubtless We shall come out some.
where. Don't worry about your friend.
There are no quicksands on this bench"
We movci-In what direction we
knew not-and rhattrd, as we proceed.
ed. There seemed Il great change. n
great relief from the preceding isola.
ton To this cnmpanionship. I certain
ly felt 1t. and the girl lert very close
to mo. Ms If fearing she might lose inc
ms she had lost her friend.
what is ihnt?" she asked suddenly
"What:'
She pointed. but saw nothing. She
told me that she had seen something
dark moving hcSile US. hut NJ soon rs
she spike II quickly faded.
We went on for some time. nut ali
was sand. The beach was broad. very
broad. and the ebh tide went out O
great distance. | did not wonder that
we reached nothing different. Then
saw dark spot moving near us. Ny
companion saw II, too, aud, frlghteu'
el. clung TO me.
am not Supersiitious and had II not
been for my companion would have
sprung toward The spot TO discover
trhatb,,- 10 ,.,s bup,,, d.. fn,,,,1
that clingins OF 4 fair girl so delight
full that preferred to remain us
was. renSsured my companion In n
whisper. putting my linS nearer than
necessary 10 her ear and feeling hei
warm breath. I kept my eyes on the
spot while she turned her face toward
me- that she might not see il. ] was
puzzled as 10 what 1t could he. but
believed II to lie some animal, though
could hear In footsteps.
at must be a ghost" | said In o
husky stage voice, whcreupon my com
panlon chung to me the tighter. which
was the effect intended to produce.
Suddenly the fog began to clenr. and
With that rapidity with which foSs
sometimes take themselves away, and
revealed the figure Of girl walking
rapidly away from us.
why, It's Helen exclaimed my
companion. IL believe she has beef
near us all the while"
Helen" she called.
The rctreating girl stopped and turn