The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-20
THE MERMAID.
BY GEN. CHAs. KING.

He sat on gray. wave scared rock and gazed though;fuliy out to sea. It was early morning and a tiny salt breeze was blowing inland. of which Van Holden .was pleasantly but indo- lently conscious. Is straight, aristo- crate nose wasF'tilted at he proper angle to catch this odor so keenly ap- preciated by those who live far from the ocean, and his soft hat was tilted the other way, over his keen blue eyes, while he whistled softly to himself. Van Hs.4ea was not in love. He was not even contempla ting suicide. He had merely arisen TO enjoy the novelty of such a thing and had wandered half mile from the summer hotel to this protected little cove. As his digestion was excellent he took from his pocket now a briar pipe. filled ft and struck a match.
 If 1t were not so beautiful" he re- marked aloud, looking out to the sea as the match burned up, If 1t were not a real sacrifice to disturb the absolute harmony of this scene-and if other people did not go in so much and muss the water up-I believe I would take a dip right here and now" The match having gone out Van Holden struck another and lighted his pipe. Then he clasped hs hands about his knees and rocked gently back and for ward. T ought really to be in love. V he went on, "so that. might spout poetry this very minute. Poor old ocean! How much you have borne from love-sick individuals who insist | on murdering good verse, with you as | an audience! It Is really too bad. But I cannot improvise, and l never could l~ hf fc ipc O
 ought to be in love, but as no modern ! Venus Is apt to rise from the waves | by all the gods, I'm not so sure, What s | that?"
 His eyes opened widely as his solilo- quy was interrupted by the appearance of rapidly moving, graceful figure, swimming easily toward him from | around the little promontory at his | right, and Van Holden held his breath | for a moment az he gazed at it. It 1 was assuredly what he had thought al | first glance-a girl, or young woman swimming toward shore, her rosy face turned to one side, her white arms gleaming through the little whirl of foam that she made with long, graceful | overland strokes.
 But before Van Holden had decided | that a noiseless retreat was his cue
 she cauguht sight of him; and then
 with a little scream, seemingly more of fright than surprise, she turned | quickly and started seaward again
 But something seemed to retard her progress, and in a moment more the golden head. with masses of soft hair piled high upon it, had disappeared
 beneath the water.
 | Van Holden sprang to his feet, and
 threw off his coat. Waiting only to see that she was indeed in need of as-
 sistance, he tossed hls pipe and hat beside his coat, and plunged into the | cool waves, and struck out for the spot where she had gone under. Ac- customed as he vas to fresh water | swimming. he found it easy enough to make speed here, and by the time she had come to the surface again. he " Us beside her. Slipping one arm bene4th hers. he turned upon his back and swam back to the beach, in that mat tsr-of fact way in which he was wont to dc everything. Once there, he car ried the dripping little figure 10 a dry spot and laid her down. The girl was unconscious and Van Holden turned 10 pick up his coat to throw 1ver her.
 when a sight met his gaze that took away what brea:h he had left.
 At first the thought came to him that
 
 but the vision did not disappear. Heavens aliveP' he muttered. T have rescued mermaid, not a mortal. Eith- CT that, or 1 am clear crazy!" She | lay on her side, her hair shimmerins
 with water, her eyes closed. the upper part of her trim body clothed in reg ulation bathing suit; but at the waist line reality stopped and romance began
 A delicat4ly shaped. tapering extrem- 1 ivy like that of a great mountain trout
 dotted with spangles of gold and red
 finished the uncanny picture that Vt
 Holden beheld. For a moment he could only stare; then, recovering n',n- ] self somewhat he picked up his coat and spread 1t gently over her. Recov-
 ering his pipe also. he walked daIs1.y
 up to the rock where he had firsr. seen
 her, and sat down.
 So rapidly had the remarkable incl;
 dent occurred that he found the toba :co
 still alight. and for the space of 1nin-
 ute he smoked fast and furiously, try
 ing to think what he could say or do
 At the end of that time he turned and
 looked at the pathetic little heap-and
 saw her stir.
 What an idiot I am." he cried
 springing to his feet. Mermaid oi | girl she needs attention, instead o1
 foolish gazing at-where's my flask?"
 He found 1t, still uninjured in his