Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1913-07-03
LOST IN A
FOG
BY THOMAS R. DEAN

DCuonOAta AttcAAOho VI ECNAIAB oWoy
from every one. / started out for a
walk on the beach. had gone sever
al miles perhaps q could have walked
on the same stretch OF sand for half
day without meeting an obstacle)
when saw a bank Of cloud coming in
from the ocean. In a few minutes |
was enveloped in it. The wind that
had brought it In died down to a dead
calm, and everything was still.
/ thought | had my bearings and,
turning, started back toward my ho-
tel But I was off my course, for l
had not gone far before l stepped on
the verge Of a shallow indentation in
the sand filled 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; it was like
itself only. But | wondered II being
suspended I'm space would resemble
the sensation l experienced Then sud
denly voice came out Of the sur
rounding vapOr. 1t was a 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 nlake 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 a melodious
tone to the voice that harmoniZed with
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 / had heard came. But in an
other moment the fog directly before
me darkened, then resolved itself into
a girls figure. Seeing me, a stranger
to her. she stepped back, then stood
still
"Are you lostT l asked
"Indeed l am" was the reply. "a
| girl friend and l were caught in the
fog. She stepped out ahead Of me
and we became separated. l called
her"
81 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, Helen" called my compan.
ion.
She elected no response.
1--WE may as well go on" 1 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 to this compfnionship. / certain
ly felt it, and the girl kept very close
to me, as if feari she might lose me
as she had lost her friend.
"Whal is thatY" she asked suddenly.
"Whd
She u -nted. but 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
great distance. / did not wonder that
we reached nothing different. Then
saw dark spot moving near us. Ny
companion saw it. too, and brighten
ed chung to me-
am not superstitious and had it not
been for my companion would have
sprung toward the spot to discover
whether It was human. But found
that clinging Of fair girl so delight
full 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 II. | was
puzzled as 10 what 1t could be, but
believed 1t to- be some animal, though
| could hear no footsteps
1T must be a ghostw | said In a
husky stage voice, whereupon my COM
panion chung 70 me the tighter, which
was the effect intended 20 produce.
Suddenly the fog began 70 clear. ana
with that rapidly with which fogs
sometimes take themselves away, and
revealed the figure Of girl walking
rapidly away from us.
a..