Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-09-14

A Curious
Mental
Condition
II Was Experienced by
a Tourist.
By ALAN HINSDALE

7 By ALAN HINSDALE T
5-+-%-%-..-*-S-s
was standing on sand and could
hear the plash Of waves, but could see
nothing about me, for was enveloped
IN mist. A rocking sensation made me
doubt whether ! was ashore or on the
water Another singular feature was
faint singing Of birds-so faint, In
deed, that doubted whether heard
birds or ringing in my ears. There
were occasional voices about me, hav-
ing mellow sound, as II spoken ON a
quiet day after fall of snow or on
a balmy morning VIXEN the air Is full
Of molkture.
While l was wondering where I was
and how happened to be there girl
came out of the mist and stood before
me. She seomeV as much surprised to
see me as was to see her. Her face
was that OF a satnt-falr complexion
hair and eyes. There was but one
blemish-a small red birthmark, shap-
ed like rose leaf, on her neck. 1t
was rather an imperfection than a
blemish.
where are weT' asked.
II don't know" she replied.
II hear the sound OF waves"
"Then we must be on the seashore."
"And birds singing"
'"That would indicate that the beach
is lined by woods"
wherever we are, we were evident
ly sent for each other"
ut would seem So" She lowered
her eyes.
"You were certainly sent to be with
me. What would become Of me alone
In this dense mist without the power
to find my way out OF it2 With you
I shall be happy even here. You are
very lovely"
"You do not say beautiful"
But you are beautiful"
mo; can't be that"
"Why?
Because of this" She put a finger
on the birthmark.
"Do you know" | said after n brief
pause. that liko you 20 wen Ms you
are that ! womb net have even tnot
changedT
Suddenly the mist was gone. II uid
not melt away; It vanished We were
standing upon q beautiful bay. For
miles on either hand the beach curved
In semicircle. Back OF lis the shore
rose till II mingled with mountains.
The waters of tho bay were of different
cOlors Near us, where 1t was shallow,
1t was a pale green, beyond deep
blue and beyond that silver. On this
silver an island rested. rising from its
base to height on which the sun
shOAe golden. We stood looking out at
the view. | was entranced. and, turn
ing my eyes upon my companion. saw
that she was equally wrapt.
81 feel" said, that must go out
on the bosom Of that sea"
There is boat. "ishe replied. "chain-
ed to stake"
Lowering my eyes to the verge,
saw skiff rising and falling with tho
languid swells.
The next scene OF which was cog
infant or at least remember now was
pulling along under great cliffs that
formed the island.
There Is cave said my companion,
with n waterway for an entrance"
Turning the boat, | pulled for the
cave. The rocky roof over the water
way just grnzed our heads as we made
the entrance. Inside we found our
selves within cavern, its roof hung
with stalactltes The light coming
from the entrance tinged the vaulted
roof with ever changing colors. Now
1t was a blood red, now n pale blue,
now sea green. now white.
1T Is from the changing Of the wa
tiers outside" said. "a changing sky
changes the bay. and the changing bay
changes the hues In here"
at Il all change" she said sadly.
II wish something IN the world were
fixed"
| dropped my oars and, seating my
self beside her, took her In my arms.
II wish this would never change"
said, "for | have found my love"
kissed her. She put her arms about
me, and II seemed TO me that ! had
thrown Off something that had trou-
bled me, some great evil that had over
hung me, and ! had passed to con-
valescence Of perfect happiness
Alas, while supremacy happy In this
companionship, felt my love slipping
through my arms and saw her float
ing over the surface OF the water
toward the mouth of the cavern. At
that moment both the water and its
rocky dome were a pale blue They
tlnged her garments with the same
hue. She looked back at me with an
expression OF indescribabie melancholy.
/ called 30 her not TO leave me, but
she floated on, passed out through the
mouth Of the cavern and was gone.
seized the oars to follow and, dash
ing under the low arch that separated
nfe from the outside, In another mo-
ment was under the greater vault Of
the heavens.
All was serene as when we entered
the cavern, but my love had vanished.
Then came a sensation OF being toss
ed to and fro. up and down, as though
were on stormy sea. Il was mere
ly consciousness OF feeling There
was no communication with the out
side world. There were voices In the
air What they said did not know.
There were also sounds OF invisible
people passing and the occasional open.
Ing and closing OF a door.