The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-09-24

the full light Of the moon. which was
making the night eloquent. Mr.. Hig
ginson had drawn bis chair to a Sc
ciuded corner OF the lower deck
where he vas closer to the water and
unsheltered from the heavens. He
had dined FUN and well. and the fra
GRANGE OF his cigar was deeply salts.
flying.
How luminous the water seemed to
night II must be fun Of those phos-
Phorescent animalculae Mr.. Higginson
had read about
AS he tipped OF the ashes from his
cigar daintily with his little finger.
he noticed how the ruby In his ring
flashed In the moonlight Il was a
handsome -pigeon-blood" ruby Of con
siderable value. For a while Mr.. Hig-
ginson watched the strange light II
emitted under the rays Of the moon.
From this musing Mr.. Higginson's
attention was drawn to the water By
something moving near the ship. Prob
ably some larger species Of fish. he
mused, possibly-as there was a white
fash-possibly even a porpoIse. Then
ne 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 a 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 q white fash in the
moonlight Then a streak OF white
ness, splashing and flashing in the
shimmering water. Mr.. Hlgginson
gazed spellbo--d; sometimes nearer.
sometimes farther on, whatever Il was
II kept well up with the steamer. Mr..
higginson felt a little ripple creep
down his spine. Suppose Il should be
=, The thought was too unpleasant /
besides, Il was obviously alive and
moving. Now It was quite close in /
and beyond a doubt, II had white feel /
ers, which looked and moved like /
arms. Mr. Higginson's brain swan.
Pictures b. 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
What was he to do Could It be
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-
moil Of emotions Mr. Hig tnson waved
TO the lady. She came nearer some
what cautiously. He deemed It best 10
humor her and temporize. as she
seemed such an excellent swimmer.
hoping for help to appear meanwhile.
A brilliant idea presented itself to Mr..
i suppose you are a mermaid?T he
called, very softly He heard only
What sounded Ike a faint laugh, while
he lady. as Mr. Higginson expressed
o himself. moved with a gallic aban-
Ion through the water. Perhaps she
lidn't understand English. "vous-etes
Inc petite nymphe. n'est-ce pas?" he
allied again. with a sympathetic side
suggestive Of aquatic origin. :
his time he heard an unmistakabIe :
nd impudent little giggle.
Mr.. Higginson tried another tack. !.
DO you sing ng?-Chantez-yous? he ;
allied hoping she would throw discre- ],
lon to the winds in her desire to act !
ut the part OF Lorelei. and thus at !
ract the attention of the watch. This !,
me his question was answered. Soft. :,
Ike silver cadences, came the most -
xquisite singing Mr.. Higginson had a
yer heard
Like a sigh the singing ended. and q,
Lr. Higginson scarcely yet breathed. n,
fraid to lose q note Of IT, A laugh <
ppled up to him. There below him 1s
as the lady whose singing was only a,
atched by her swimming Her hair =,
listened like gold and silver in the =
oonlight. while one arm moved out a.
the water and in with scarcely a W
pple. She beckoned and smiled al N
m radiantly, and he saw she was II
} passenger. ~
What do you want?" be asked. al ic
ost In a whisper. She made le,
'sture with one hand and the little su
lger Of the other. He looked at his ~
Ind and saw the ruby shining there. Al
e looked at her doubtfully. She made fr;
pleading gesture and gazed at him lit
fully. that as In dream he took ht
his ring and dropped it into the WI
can She caUght 1t deftiy as II he
shed into the water and pressed # glr
her lips. Thank you thank youi- he
e exclaimed in perfect English.
so you can speak English?v he he
cried. Yes she replied. and her He
ice sounded like a ripple OF water bei
can speak any language once / up
We touched to my lips something VII
longing to one who speaks It." Mr..
gginsOn's mind ran over caseS he an,
4 heard. OF witnesses who could fcr
~ speak under the spell Of a gold an,
coin. She might have asked for he
handkerchief or nv nackffay . he srs