The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-11-28

seen Danny, and so wouldn't know
him if he passed them on the street!
Summer oon came again and with
it the swimming, and not even Papa
Ackryod's displeasure went SO deep
as to bar his mermaid daughter from
her keenest pleasure-a long SWIM
and a strong swim in the waters OF
Boston Bay. To the beach he could
take his girl. but no further, for ne
could not swim and didn't care to row.
Then came the day of days-a lazy,
warm and sunny Saturday afternoon.
Papa, seated on the bench, saw his
1.-the, graceful young daughter step
from the bathing pavilion and strike
out into the blue water. He watched
the dimpled shoulder half showing as
she cut swiftly and vigorously through
the wavelets in true professional
style.
She was heading for a small boat
anchored half a mile out, and well
might papa be proud of her speed and
style, for his Aisle "a quite as swift
and strong as Annette Kellermann
herself. AS he lazily followed the
red cap growing smaller in the dis
lance he noted a young mai heading
after her with 3 husky crawl stroke.
fThat chan swif1s we'll he unused.
"but he'll have to put on more steam,
l guess, to catch my Aisle" That it
was Danny he watched-the Danny
he hated SO cordially-he alone of
those on the beach did not know, and
actually he sat there quietly as his
Aisle climbed into the boat, and a few
minutes later the young chap hauled
himself alongside of her.
The old man nodded to me down
there on the beach," said the lover
to his lass. Won't he be sore when
he finds it was Danny O'Rourke he
spoke to%
oh, he won't find it out" Aisle re-
piled with a saucy toss of her head.
He's got to know sometime" pro-
tested Danny, because I'm going to
marry you"
1t was Danny's proposal-perhaps
more proposals than you think are
made just this way. And Aisle blushel
and hung her head. She knew he
would in spite of all the irate fathers
in Christendom.
On the beach it was hot and the soft
murmur Of the wavelets lulled to
sleep an old man whose purpose it
was to e that the very thing that
was happening on the boat hal a mile
from shore did not occur. And out
there the twain sat on the gunwale,
their feet dabbling, and talked.
A chill in the air quite late awoke
papa and he looked out to sea. The
two were still on the boat. He Dor.
rowed a mariners glass and saw-the
daring fellow had his arm around
Alsie's waist.
Then he hallooed and waved his
arms. I
It's all night for me-" said Danny.
Let's get ashore"
Who's that fellow who had his
arm around you out there?" demanded
the old nan wrathfully.
Why, father, that's my Danny
Danny O'Rourke-the man I'm going
to marry" she laughed coquettishly.
And as the storm broke Aisle darted
into the bath-house to escape the
thunder and lightning of parental
wrath.
After that the water courtship Ian.
guished. Papa Ackroyd's redoubled
precautions were hard to beat. VET
Aisle swan and swan, and gradually
they began to talk Of her IS one of
the real mermaids Of Boston Raw
She vas n of the bold group who
undertook the great swim out to tho
Boston Light, breasting the chops and
cross tides OF the great bay. 1t was
a supreme effort, and she did the
heart-breaking course in seven hours
and five minutes, the third to finish
this formidable undertaking, and be.
hind her in a boat was the fa;tbf,l
Danny to give her milk and egg re-.
freshment and to shout her messages
OF love and encouragement. And he
was there at the light to helm ber
ashore and persuade the Iighthous,
keepers wife to minister to the moods
of the tired mermaid.
And when she emerged DANNY
ueeseu ner 10 run owe and marry him
tnen and there, but the girl, faithful
to ner parents, still refused.