The Striding Place is a short story written by Gertrude Atherton

Gertrude Atherton

Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton was an American writer.-Early Childhood:Gertrude Franklin Horn was born on October 30, 1857 in San Francisco to Thomas Ludovich Horn and his wife, the former Gertrude Franklin...

. The story was first published in 1896 under the title, The Twins. After revamping the story, Atherton renamed the story and republished it in The Bell in the Fog in 1905.

Plot

The setting takes place in West Riding of Yorkshire, England. Weigall and a group of friends go grouse hunting at an estate with a beautiful landscape. This is a trip they do every year. After a day of soggy weather, the men decided to go to sleep. Weigall is worried about a companion who mysteriously disappeared two days prior. Weigall decides to walk the grounds looking for his old friend from his childhood. Through the tranquil woods, Weigall has thoughts of his friend and the many accounts and predicaments they found themselves in. The dark night is lit only by the stars. He hears the roar of the river and begins his journey towards the water. He remembers the Strid. He recollects the many people which lost their life to the Strid and believes this is the loneliest place in England. As he searches the dark water he sees a hand waving in the water. Weigall breaks off a branch from a nearby tree and pushes the hand. The body is caught in the rocks. Weigall recognizes the hand and has flashbacks of all the memories he had with his friend. Skin from Weigall's hands began rip open as he gave all his might to free the body. At one point, something gave way, letting go of the body. Weigall jumped in the water and lifted the body out. It was his friend Gifford. Weigall places his ear on his friends chest to see if he was breathing. When he is about to begin resuscitation, he jumps back in horror. There was no face.