The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-09-10
LOST IN A
FOG
By THOMAS r. DEAN

It was summer, and l was on the
seashore. DESTROYS of getting away
from every one, l started out for a
walk on the beach. l had gone sever
al miles perhaps q could have walked
on the same stretch of sand for half
a day without meeting an obstacle)
when saw a bank of cloud coming in
from the ocean. In few minutes
was enveloped in 1t. The wind that
had brought it in died down to dead
calm, and everything was still.
l thought | had my bearings and.
turning, started back toward my ho-
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 l suppos-
ed, toward the dunes, but must have
swerved. for | walked on and on for
some time on sand Then l stood still.
It was 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 l wondered If being
suspended in space would resemble
the sensation experienced. Then sud-
denly q voice came out Of the sur
rounding vapor. It was girls voice,
sounding as clear and distinct as If
spoken in the stagnant atmosphere fol
lowing a snowstorm.
Here am"
was so startled at the sudden break
OF the surrounding oblivion that it did
not occur to me to make 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
q chord in my own being. l had plen-
ty Of time within few seconds to feel
all these things before said:
"And here am L."
Sound does not of itself give direc-
ton, and / knew not whence the
words I had heard, came. But in an
other moment the fog directly before
me darkened. then resolved itself into
q girls figure Seeing me, a stranger
to her, she stepped back, then stood
still.
Are you lostY' asked
Indeed I am" was the reply. "a
girl friend and were caught in the
fog. She stepped out ahead Of me
and we became separated. called
her"
II would be haDDy 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"
sI'm afraid my friend may have
walked into some quicksand or water
or something. She was with me a
few minutes ago and has suddenly
"call her." suggested.
Helen, Helen" called my compan.
ion.
She elected no response
we may as well go on, said;
.a1osbtless we shall come out some
where Don worry about your Trend
There are no quicksands on this beach. !"
We moved-in what direction we
knew not-and chatted as we proceed
ed. There seemed great change, a
great relief from the preceding isola-
don to this companionship. certain
" felt 1t, and the girl kept very close
as she had lost her friend.
what Is that?" she asked suddenly
'srWhat?.'
She pointed. but l saw nothing. She
told me that she had seen something
dark moving beside us, but as soon as
she spoke it 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. did not wonder that
we reached nothing different Then
saw dark spot moving near US. My
companion saw it, too, and, frighten-
ed, chung to me.
am not superstitious and had it not
been for my companion would have
sprung toward the spot to discover
whether 1t was human. But I found
that clinging of fair girl so delight
ful that preferred to remain as
was. treasured my companion in a
whisper. putting my lips nearer than
necessary to her ear and feeling her
warm breath. kept my eyes on the
spot while she turned her face toward
me 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.
'It must be ghostw l 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
revealed the figure Of girl walking
rapidly away from us.
"Why. it's Helenr' exclaimed my
companion. 81 believe she has been
near us all the while. -
"Helen. she called.
The retreating girl stopped and turn
ed. could see that the surprise she
showed was feigned, She Joined us
with an amused smile on her face and
confessed that she had heard the
words Here I am" but, thinking to
bother her friend, had remained silent.
When she was about to reply she heard
my "And here am l." She had kept ST.
lent to get bit Of fun out of it and
had succeeded
We three In time became fast friends.
DANES AND DAUGHTERS.