Delaware City press. (Delaware City, Del.) 1913-19??, 1913-11-28

seen Danny, and so wouldn't know
him If he passed them on the street?
Summer soon came again and with
1t 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 he
could not swim and didn't care to row.
Then came the day of days-a lazy,
warm anu 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 wayelets in true professional
style.
She was heading for a small boat
anchored half mile out. and well
might papa be proud of her speed and
style, for his Aisle was quite as swift
and strong as Annette Kellermann
herself. AS he lazily followed the
red cap growing smaller in the dis
lance he noted young man heading
after her with husky crawl stroke.
That chap swims WELL" he unused.
"but he'll have to put on more steam,
| guess, to catch my Aisle = That
WIS Danny ne watched--tne 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 1t out" Aisle re-
piled with a saucy toss of her head.
He's got to know sometime" pro-
tested Danny, because I'm gling 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 1t was hot and the soft
murmur of the wavelets lulled to
sleep an old man whose purpose II
was to see that the very thing that
was happening on the boat hal 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.
Its all night for me-" said Danny
Let's get ashore"
Who's that fellow who had hi
arm around you out there?" demanded
the old man wrathfully.
why. father. that's my Danny
Danny O'Rourke-the man I'm goinl
to marry" she laughed coquettishly
And as the storm broke Aisle dartt
into the bath-house to escape tn,
} thunder, and lightning of parenta
wrath.
After that the water courtship Ian
} guished. Papa Ackroyd's redouble,
precautions were hard to beat, We
Aisle swan and swan, and gradual
: they began to talk of her IS one O
the real mermaids of Boston Bay
She was one of the bold group VIII
> undertook the great swim out to tn
Boston Light, breasting the chops an
/ cross tides of the great bay. 1t wa
a supreme effort, and she did tn
/ heart-breaking course in seven hour
. and five minutes. the third to fms
y this formidable undertaking, and b,
r hind her in q boat was the faithfr
e Danny to give her milk and egg r,
!. freshment and to shout her message
: of love and encouragement. And b
g was there at the light to help he
t ashore and persuade the Lighthouse
keepers wife to minister to the need
t Of the tired mermaid.
And when she emerged Damn
begged her to run over and marry hi
n then and there, but the girl, faithf,
n to her parents. still refused.