The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-06-13

i The slaves began to dance-airy 1 dances that seemed to be like the mo- tion of wind touched leaves. The mermaid saw that these, too, pleased the Prince beyond measure. She lift ed her lovely white arms, raised her
 self on the tips of her toes and glided over the floor, dancing as no one else had danced. At each movement her T beauty seemed to grow and her sea- I eyes spoke so deeply to the heart that l the beauty of the slave girls was quite I forgotten by all who looked at her. I The Prince showed his delight, and | called her his little founding. At these
 words the mermaid danced more and more although each time her feet 1 touched the ground her body squivered with cruel pain.
 The Prince said that she should re- 1 main with him always, and she was allowed to sleep on a velvet cushion I outside of his door. He had his work people make a male costume for her.
 so that she could accompany him on ! horseback They rode through the
 odorous forests where the fresh green l brushed their shoulders lovingly and the little birds sang as if their hearts
 would break with happiness and love. She climbed the lofty mountains with
 the Prince. Her tender feet bied and
 always she suffered agony that almost
 made her scream; but always she smiI- l ed brave1y when he looked at her Bravely she followed him, high ana higher till they could see the clouds floating below them as if they were a flock of birds flying away to foreign 1 lands.
 But in the still and lonely nights.
 when everybody slept in the palace, the
 little mermaid would steal down the
 broad marble steps and stand in the
 bright seawater to cool her burning
 feet; and standing there, she would | think of all who were dear to her down l there in the green and beautiful deep. l One night as she stood thus her sis | ters came floating along the ocean, arm
 wound around arm. and singing with a mournfulness passionate to hear. She 1 beekoned to them and they drew near | and told her how everybody and every
 thing below grieved for her.
 After that they visited her every Enfght. One night she saw, but far away her old grandmother who had not been
 near the surface for many years. and
 with her was the Sea King. with the
 crown upon his head. The stretched l their arms out toward her with a great
 longing; but they dared not venture as
 near the land as did the sisters. Day by day the young Princess be- | came more fond of the little mermaid
 though, of course, he did not dream
 that she was that. He loved her inno- gently and simply, as one loves a good
 dear child. and he never thought of | making her his wife.
 She looked at him longingly, for she
 would have to become his wife. other
 wise she would not receive an immortal
 soul and would be turned to froth on
 the sea on the morning of his wedding
 day.
 DO you not love me most of all?" l the blue sea, eyes of the little mermaid | seemed to say: and he took her into his
 arms and kissed her young forehead.
 You are most dear to me-" said he
 flor you have a golden heart. You are
 dear to me, because you are like a l young girl I saw once, and whom I
 fear shall never find agan. Listen, 1 little dear one. I was on a ship which
 was wrecked. and the waves carried me | ashore, close to a great and holy tenn | pie. where many young maidens were l in attendance. The youngest and the
 fairest and the best of them all found
 me lying on the sands and saved my | life. They would not allow me to see | her again: but she Is the only one in the whole broad world that could love-
 You are like her, and almost have you l succeeded in driving her image from my mind. She belongs forever tn the 'xoly temple. It was a good fortune | that sent you to me. We shall never part"
 1 Alas" thought the little mermaid. | He does not know that 1t was I who
 saved his life. He does not know that | 1t was l who carried him over the sea
 to the forest were the temple stands.
 If he could only know how sat behind
 the foam and watched for some one to come to help himr'
 The little mermaid sighed deeply, for she could not cry. Then she bethought herself that the Prince had told her | that the maiden he loved belonged to the holy temple. ~She win never come
 out into the world" thought she They
 cannot see each other again. am with ! him and see him every day. will cher