The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-27
LOST IN A
FOG
By THOMAS r. DEAN

al miles perhaps Il could have walked
on the same stretch of sand for half
a day without meeting an obstacle)
when l saw bank of cloud coming In
from the ocean. In q few minutes
was enveloped in 1t. The wind that
had brought it In died down to q dead
calm, and everything was still
thought had my bearings and,
turning, started back toward my no.
tel. But | was off my course, for I
had not gone far before l stepped on
the verge Of shallow indentation in
the sand filled with water left by the
outgoing tide. It was evident that l
had been walking into the ocean. |
turned and started again, as l suppos-
ed. toward the dunes. but l must have
swerved. for walked on and on for
some time on sand. Then stood still.
1t 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 l wondered If being
suspended In space would resemble
the sensation experienced. Then sud-
denly a voice came out of the sur
rounding vapor. 1t was a girls voice,
sounding as clear and distinct as II
spoken in the stagnant atmosphere fol-
lowing a snowstorm.
Here am"
was so startled at the sudden break
Of the surrounding oblivion that 1t 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 a 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 l had heard came. But in an.
other moment the fog directly before
ne darkened. then resolved itself into
! girls 6gdfe. Seeing ne, stfaheei
to her. she stepped back, then stood
still
Are you lostT' 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 happy to guide you."
said, .'but I am unable to guide my
self. However, you had better permi
me to stand by you till the fog lifts"
"I'm afraid my friend may hsv'
walked into some quicksand or waite
or something. She was with me
few minutes ago and has sudden.
disappeared"
''cal her." I suggested.
"lIelen, Helen!' called my compan
ion.
She ELECTED no response.
I'VE may as well 90 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 W
knew not-and chatted as We proceed
ed. There seemed a great change,
great relief from the preceding isolt
ton to this companionship. certain
ly felt 1t, and the girl kept very clos
to me. as II fearing she might lose n
as she had lost her friend.
What Is thatT she asked suddenl
"WhatT'
She pointed, but saw nothing. 81
told me that she had seen somethir
dark moving beside us. but as soon
she spoke 1t quickly faded.
We went on for some time, but
was sand. The beach was broad, vel
broad. and the ebb tide went out
great distance. I did not wonder tn
we reached nothing different Then
saw a dark spot moving near us. n
companion saw It. too, and. frighte
ed. chung to me.
am not superstitious and had 1t
been for my companion would ma
sprung toward the spot to discov
whether It was human. But / foul
that clinging Of a fair girl so dellgl
full that I preferred to remain as
was. treasured my companion In
whisper, putting my lips nearer tn
necessary to her ear and feeling b
warm breath. l kept my eyes on
spot while she turned her face iowa
roe that she might not see 1t. "
puzzled as to what it could be. but
believed It to be some animal, tnou
icould hear no footsteps.
1T must be a ghostw ! said In
husky stage voice. whereupon my co
panion chung to me the tighter. viii
was the effect intended to produce.
Suddenly the fog began to clear.
with that rapidity with which Il
sometimes take themselves away, a
revealed the figure Of girl Walk
rapidly away from us.
why, it's Helenw exclaimed
companion. 81 believe she has bt
hear us all the while"
"Helenw she called.
The retreating girl stopped and tn
ed could see that the surprise
showed was feigned. She Joined
with an amused smile on her face
confessed that she had heard
words Here I am" but, thinking
bother her friend. had remained silt
When she was about to reply she he
my And here am l." She had kept
lent to get a bit of fun out Of 1t
had succeeded.