Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1913-11-14
A SEA
WRATH
By ARTHUR W. BREWSTER

have never lived anywhere else. There
is a reef out about a mile from the
shore, and during my lifetime have
known several vessels to be wrecked
on it. One of these wrecks occurred
when 1 was a young man, and it had
a marked effect on my life that will
never be undone.
l was at a very impressible age.
twenty, when there came up a fright
full storm, and l went down to the
beach to see It'll lived about a mile
~inland-and stood on a dune looking at
1t. There are some who love quiescent
scenes, soft skies, tranquil waters,
graceful trees. unmoved eve by a
breeze. To me the most beautiful
scenes are the f~iercest. Standing there
facing the storm sweeping owe the
ocean, l rejoiced In the lashing the
tempest was giving it. Near by a
wave would throw itself against a
rock, to be hurled back against the
next comber, the two standing a mo-
ment as If locked in a death grip, then
both falling as If each had taken the
strength out of the other. Another
wave would tremble, break, its spray
shooting from its crest. and roll upon
the sand. scattering like a bursting
rocket.
But this is not my story. The wind
went down with the sun and a full
moon rose, its white disk looking
down coldly, as If it cared for neither
storm nor serenity. Near midnight
was seized with a desire to go down
to the ocean and see the quiet skies
above looking down OF waters the
storm had left still rolling. What
brought this desire, why l yielded to
1t, 1 know not. for l must walk a mile
to the coast and a mile back. | had
gone perhaps half the distance and
could hear that interminable murmur-
ing of moaning waters when l saw
coming, lighted by the moon that stood
almost directly overhead, a figure
which by a slight 1utter of its gar
ments l knew to be a woman
Surprised that one of her sex should
be out on the road at that time of
night, l fastened toward her to ask
her If l could not attend her to where
she was going. As l approached her
l noticed an unsteadiness about her, a
rocking. l attributed it to the fact
that l had looked so long during the
afternoon on the waves that their mo-
ton had affected my vision. Her hair
was loose and seemed to me to be
blown like the spray | had seen. When
I came near her she seemed drawn
away from me, then driven toward
me as if pulled and pushed by the
waves. Then within touching dis
lance of me she stood still, the whole
appearing to me like an object washed
ashore, finally passing beyond the
reach of the waters.
But, oh, the pitiful look she gave mel
what is it?' | asked, wondering.
1.-THE wreck"
what wreck?"
1.-THE Mary Barton. She has just
come ashore"
"Come ashore. Why. the storm was
over six hours ago!'
Yes, but it took the ships rudder.
They lost control. She struck the reef
and went to pieces. Their bodies are
scattered along the shore. Oh, it is
DREADFUL"
1 started OF. II must CO." l said.
land see If l can help"
Help! They are all past help.
Don't go. Don't desert me here on
this lonely road"
II will take you to your home; then
I will CO."
uAr1 hoono20 nbo rnoionobaIu With
which she said this wrung my heart.
Yes. Surely you cannot live far
from here"
She buried her face In her hands and
sobbed. Through sympathy I put my
arms about her and drew her to me.
Then l tried to take her hands away
from her face. She would not at first
permit me, but at last yielded.
Heavens, how cold you are!" | ex-
claimed. Tell me where you live that
/ may take you home. where you may
warm yourself. It's dangerous for you
to be out in the chilly night with no
thick clothes. And they are wei
Where can you have been?"
She made nc further reply to anything
I said to %her-only trembled and wept.
81 must take you to shelter | said
"Then l will go to the shore and try
to save some of those who have been
washed in from the wreck"
81 will go back with you" she said
suddenly.
Back with me! You go to see such
sights, cold and wet as you are?"
"Wel then. I'll go on. Go to the
shore, but it is too late. All have per
ished."
1t seemed as If a wave carried bel
away from me. then brought her part
way back to me, only to take her away
again, this time to carry her farther
than before. l stood ~spellbound, un
decided what to do, till one of those