The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-20
THE ADVERTISERS # # ?
 .s # DAILY SHORT STORY.3J /


a few drops of brandy into her mouth. Shc swallowed. gaspeL coughed onca or twice. and sat up, ihe color coming qE'Lkly back to her cheeks.
 Where am 1?' she said, pre,si lg her hands to her ears, and making that time honored remark in excellent Eng fish. Did I go under again?" An embarrassed expression came across her face, as she added, And you had to go after me? It is too bad-but am very grateful, sir-"
 Sir? Van Holden looked again. She was mere child. not over fifteen or sixteen at the most and-Grscious Heaven! she was stripping off that remarkable extremity, as if 1t were made of rubber!
 As she shook herself free from it and stood up in a very fetching bathing suit and stockings, he smiled-and took a swallow of the brandy himself. If you'll excuse me-" he said apolo- getically, "I-your appearance rather upset me-" A rare. but strangely pa thetic smile answered him. T don't wonder she said: you must be colder than l." Shaking her self free of the sand which chung to her dress. she gathered up the remark able covering and rolled it into bum dle which she tucked under one arm. T am very grateful to you." she said again, and I hope you have not worn yourself out"
 No" he interrupted, but before you go will you kindly tell me why you are out so early in the morning. alone. and with that most peculiar | peculiar costume on?"
 The girls pretty face grew seriously wistful. My father" she said. and then went on in lower tone. You must not breathe word of this. for he would punish me if you did; but he makes me learn to swim so. My mother died last winter. Then my father. whom I had never seen before. | came and took he away, and am learning to swim with that tail. IL i3 like swimming without your feet-and that wouldn't be very easy. would it?' ''I should imagine not" answered Van Holden gravely. T think your father should be thrashed himself for
 making you do this. How old are you, my little siren
 Fifteen" she answered. "He wants me to be a mermaid in the show this summer. You wouldn't make me dc that-if you were my father. would you?" she added suddenly. as If struck by a happy thought.
 "Assuredly not" answered Van Hol- den. taking one of her cold little hands in his; what is your fathers name?' Frank Moran." she answered. Tt is Moran's Great Three Ring Circus you know"
 "Yes." said Van Holden. curious light coming into his eyes. "I do and looked up at h,m for a moment without speaking. Then:
 You are good" she said slowly; | you are strong, too. I think I like you very much" Ere he could stop her. she stood on tiptoes. pressed her pretty lips to his, and turned and ran | neetly away toward the hotel in the | far distance. Van Holden smiled an called after her. "Good-hve. little mer- matdi"
 She paused a moment to wave her hand to him. and answer. Good bye, good mani" Then she was gone again, | her black legs glinting in the fast ris- ing sun as she ran.
 Frank Moran. indeed" said Van Holden. the determined fines about his mouth showing plainly. He is adding | Kidnapping to his other fine arts. Well. MT. Moran. have stopped some of your smaller games; I'll see if ran put an end to this Poor little | mermaid!"
 By o'clock that afternoon Van Hol- den was back in New York. and a day later there was a brief but intense scene in the room which Mir. Moran occupied at the seaside hotel. At the end of that scene. in which Van Hol- l den. Moran, an old but determined lawyer from New York, and a fright i ened. shabbily dressed Ettle woman. who proved to be the small mermaid s aunt. took part. Van Holden showed the circus owner the door. with the admonition: T give you two hours to get away; at the end of that time If you are still here. or if YOU try to take this child again by pretending to b, her father. or any other relative, into the penitentiary you go!"
 And that evening the little mermaid. whom her delighted aunt called Ma rian. was placed in the motherly care of Mrs. Hargrave. the manager of the | hotel. A few days later Van Holden's mother came. looked at the child. looked at her son-and took the form CT to her heart, for all time.
 That was five years ago. Today Van Holden Is no longer a careless. fire sponsible bachelor. If you care to look him up. you will find him en- sconced in a delightful little fiat. deep ly and increasingly in love with his wife-graceful and beautiful in every way-snd calling her at times. "mer- maid dear"