Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1908-09-16

Rush, lay stretched at ease in his deck
chair on transatlantic liner. 1t was
perfectly calm night, and tie sea
was murmuring softly in res ronse to
the full light of the moon, which was
making the night eloquent Mr.. Hig-
ginson had drawn his chair to q &C.
cluded corner of the lower deck
where he was closer to the water and
unsbeltered from the heavens. He
bad dined full and well, and the fra
Srance OF his cigar was deeply salts.
'ying.
How luminous the water seemed to-
night! 1t must be full 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. It was a
handsome "pigeon-blood" ruby of con-
siderable value. For a while Mr.. Hig-
g'nson watched the strange light it
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
unused, possibly-as there was a white
hash-possibly even n 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 a white
arm! He would have liked to have
asked sailor the meaning of such
phenomena. but there seemed no one
about; it was evidently late, as the
passengers had all turned in.
Again came a white flash in the
moonlight. Then a streak Of white
ness, splashing and flashing in the
shlmmering water. Mr. Higginson
gazed spellbound; sometimes nearer.
sometimes farther off, whatever it was
1T kept well up with the steamer. Mr..
Hlgginson felt little ripple creep
down his spine. Suppose 1t should be
-! The thought was too unpleasant
besides, 1t was obviously alive and
moving. Now it was quite close in
and beyond doubt, it had white feel
ers. which looked and moved like
= III.
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,
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
or somnambulism. Great Scott! And
he would be required as a witness in
case anything happened, In tur-
MOL OF emotions Mr.. Higginson waved
TO the lady. She came nearer some
what cautiously. He deemed 1t best to
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.
i suppose you are a mermaid?" he
called, very softly. He heard only
what sounded like a faint laugh. while
the lady, as Mr.. Higginson expressed
10 himself, moved with a gallo aban-
don through the water. Perhaps she
didn't understand English. "Vous-etes
lne petite nymphe, n'est-ce, pas?" he
called again, with a sympathetic side
gesture, suggestive of aquatic origin.
This time he heard an unmistakable
and impudent little giggle. =.
Mr.. Higginson tried another tack.
Do you sing?-Chantez-vo ?" he
called hoping she would throw discre.
ton to the winds in her desire TO act
out the part of Lorelei, and thus at
tract the attention Of the watch. This
| time his question was answered. Soft.
IKE silver cadences. came the most
exquisite singing Mr.. Higginson had
ever heard.
Like a sigh the singing ended and
Mr.. Higglnson scarcely yet breathed
AFRAID TO lose note Of f. A laugh
ilppled up 10 him. There below him
was the lady whose singing was only
matched by her swimming. Her hair
Sllstened like gold and silver I'm the
| moonlight. while one arm moved ont
or the water and in with scarcely 2
ripple. She beckoned and smiled ri
him radiantly, and he saw she was
no passenger
What DO you want9" he asked al.
most in whisper. She made a
gesture with one hand and the little
finger Of the other He looked at his
hand ana saw the ruby shining there.
He looked at her doubtfully. she made
a pleading gesture and gazed at him
so fully, that as in dream he took
on his ring and dropped It into the
| ocean. She caught ii deity "a Il
flashed into the water and pressed II
TO her lips. Thank you! thank you"
she exclaimed in perfect English.
SO You can speak l.nglish?" no
queried. Yes" she replied. and her
voice sounded like ripple Of water
! can speak any language once
have touched 10 my lips something