The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1908-09-12

the full light of the moon, which was
making the night eloquent. Mr. Hig-
ginson had drawn his chair to a Sc
Guided corner of the lower deck
where he was closer to the water and
unsheltered from the heavens. He
had dined full and well, and the fra
GRANGE of his cigar was deeply salts.
flying.
How luminous the water seemed to-
night! 1t must be full of those phos-
phorescent animalculae Mr.. Higginson
had read about.
AS he tipped off the ashes from his
cigar daintily with his little finger,
he noticed how the ruby in his ring
flashed in the moonlight. 1t was a
handsome "pigeon-blood" ruby of con-
siderable value. For while Mr. Hig
ginson watched the strange light it
emitted under the rays of the moon.
4 From this musing Mr. Higginsons
? attention was drawn to the water by
something moving near the ship. Prob
ably some larger species of fish, he
unused, possibly-as there was a white
fiash-possibly even porpoise. Then
he remembered that porpoises come
only in schools and leap out of the wa
ter. Mr.. Higginson idly wondered at
the swirling luminous water. Suddenly
ne stared below him. Strange! he
thought, that might have been white
arm! He would have liked to have
asked a sailor the meaning of such
phenomena, but there seemed no one
about; ii was evidently late, as the
passengers had all turned in.
Again came a white flash in the
moonlight. Then streak of white
ness, splashing and flashing in the
shimmering water. Mr.. HigginSon
gazed spellbound sometimes nearer,
sometimes farther off, whatever it was
It kept we'll up with the steamer. Mr..
Higginson felt a little ripple creep
down his spine. Suppose it should be
-! The thought was too unpleasant
besides, it was obviously alive and
moving. Now it was quite close in
and beyond doubt, it had white feel
ers, which looked and moved like
arms. Mr. Higginson's brain swan.
Pictures by Boecklin came dancing be-
fore his mental vision. Then he shud-
dered, for there, in the moonlight, by
the boats side, swan a beautiful
woman!
some demented passenger? The
French lady had seemed to him some
what unbalanced Then he had heard
OF somnambulism. Great Scott! And
he would be required as a witness in
case anything happened. In a tur
MOL of emotions Mr.. Higginson waved
to the lady. She came nearer some
what cautiously. He deemed it best t.
humor her and temporize, as she
seemed such an excellent swimmer
hoping for help to appear meanwhile
A brilliant idea presented itself to Mr.
Higginson.
Il suppose you are mermaid?" h
called, very softly. He heard onl.
what sounded like faint laugh, while
the lady. as Mr.. Higginson expressed
to himself. moved with a gallo aban
don through the water. Perhaps sh'
didn't understand English. "Vous-ete
une petite nymphe, n'est-ce pas?" h
called again. with a sympathetic sid
gesture, suggestive of aquatic origin
This time he heard an unmistakabl,
and impudent little giggle.
Mr.. Higginson tried another tack.
do you ing?-Chantez-vous?" h
called hoping she would throw discre
ton to the winds in her desire to &C
out the part of a Lorelei, and thus al
tract the attention of the watch. Thi
time his question was answered. Soft
like silver cadences. came the mos
exquisite singing Mr.. Higginson ha
ever heard.
Like a sigh the singing ended. an
MIR. Higginson scarcely yet breathed
afraid to lose note of it. A laug
y rippled up to him. There below hiI
was the lady whose singing was onl
matched by her swimming. Her hal
glistened like gold and silver in tn
moonlight. while one arm moved GU
of the water and in with scarcely
ripple. She beckoned and smiled a
him radiantly, and he saw she wa
y no passenger.
What do you want?" he asked. a
most in whisper. She made
gesture with one hand and the littl
finger of the other. He looked at hi
hand and saw the ruby shining Their,
He looked at her doubtfully. She mad
a pleading gesture and Sazed at hiI
so fully that as in dream he too
on his ring md dropped it into tn
ocean. She caught il deftly as
flashed into the water and pressed
TO her lips Thank you. thank you!
she exclaimed in perfect English.
$50 you can speak English?" h
Queried. Yes" she replied, and he
voice sounded like a ripple of waite
Il can speak any language once
have touched TO my lips somethin
belonging to one who speaks it, NJ
Higginson's mind ran over cases
had heard of witnesses who coul
only speak under the spell of gol'
en- coin. "She might have asked fC
my handkerchief or my necktie.'
thought TO himself a little ruefully, bl
aloud he said: Who are you?"
You wouldn't believe me-" 81
laughed.
Not really" he exclaimed, with
vague shudder. She nodded, an
splashed The water up to him with
little laugh.
Where do you live?" he asked.
do not move and l VIII tell you, {
you have been so kind to me-" An
,0fflx- SnlochirO fxr no vaScoI,e cid