The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1907-06-01
MEETING A MERMAID

race 1 sat NJ With JERK, and there
sat mermaid Good gracious.
You can imagine how startled | felt
she sat on the sand quite close % me.
resting on one hand and with her TAIL
an indisputable tall with beautifully
glistenlne si:very brown scales. coiled
round In graceful curve.
Excuse me- she said. "hut You look
so funny"
"isunny" exclaimed Indignantly
what have you been mp TOT You've
been throwing water over me-"
Il haven't"
Yes. you have. Look here, my face
Il all wet now, and my hair is damp"
Il didn't throw water over you. I
suppose IL was rather forward. but !
put the end OF my tail on your face
You looked SO tempting. you know.
lying there. really could not resist
you"
"Well. you shouldn't. then" said
Nov you've woke me M. ana some or
the water has gone down my neck"
spoke grumpily. You see, was
scarcely myself yet. II was SO utterly
incomprchcnsihlc that should be SIT
ting here With an absolute mermaid. a
creature I had never for moment he.
lieved In, sitting almost close enough
for me 10 touch.
had wandered of that afternoon
among the powders that lay piled up
on the shining beach az the foot OF the
cliffs to the left of the little town. Il
was very hot. SO hot that after skim
ming through the columns Of the pa
per ! had brought with me | lay hack
AMI sncoled IN blissful disregard OF
the glarine sun and the white rocks
and the low ripple 81 the retreating
tide And then happened all | have
described
do you know you snorey' she said
suddenly.
Said !. you must be n very mis-
chievous girl mermaid. | mean"
"Oh. no. I'm not not nearly so bad
as some. It's lucky for yon my cousin
wasn't with me when came up anil
found you here"
"a gentleman q mermanfr ven
tured.
"Oh, no, She usually comes up here
with me Of an afternoon. hut she's up
at the other end OF the hay today. Her
names Genevlcyc. ana mines Maud"
where 10 you get your namesT /
asked.
"Out OF books we pick up. We got
mine AMI my cousin lmogen's out of a
supplement that dropped overheard
from a steamer. Pretty name. Imogen
isn't III"
mot hslf So pretty as Maud"
We'll. don't know. We're glad 20
get anything 10 read. Il that todays
paperT pointing 10 the Chronicle that
lay on the beach.
yes said. would you like II 10
ready'
Thanks awfully: no. not now. but
I'll take II with me II You don't mind
Smoke your pipe. will your
"With great pleasure. Sure You don't
mindf"
"Not a bit Resides. want you Ia
let me light II"
So pulled out my pipe and filled II.
and Maud. with n sinewy loop % her
tail. glidcd mp 10 me. She seemed high
~ delighted az being allowed to strike
the match for me To- get light by.
Isn't this jolly she said looking
up az me with wonderful eyes.
Rather" | said. looking down into
them. DO you often 60 IN for this sort
OF thingY"
"well. now, III tell YOU" she re-
piled You're the first man ! ever
spoke Ia like this, meant but old Nep
sent me here for trying to. You're IN
my nook. YOU know. often come
here. aud yesterday il was SO hot that
dropped asleep. and when you came
along | only Just had time 20 get be-
hind that rock"
so you've seen me before. them
"Oh. yes. several times. I saw YOU
along the beach on Sunday evening"
"The deuce YOU did, beg your par
dom
And saw You kiss that fisher girl.
oh, yes. you did,
We'll" | said, turning very red. "I
admit IL. but II was only one"
There amt any mermen here" she
replied.
AREN'T therel ! suppose it's rather
lonely"
Il used 10 be spoons IA little with one
az Brighton. but we never see one here
That's old Neps dongs I haven't
been kissed for ever SO long"
Really" ! said edging over toward
her
Really" she sighed. looking down.
"Er shall would you shall we
that is
I leaned over her az she raised her
face, smillngly. mschlevousiy. 10 mine.
when. just as our lips touched with a
sudden twist OF her tail she caught me
dab In tile face with her wet Tin.
fell over backward. and by the tune
had got the sand and wet out OF my
eyes the mermaid had disappeared,
No trace OF her was left. hut my
newspaper was gone. and n ! went
slowly home | fancied | could catch
sight OF her lying out by the big black