Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-23
NICKO AND THE OGRE-Part ii.

NICNO AMI iuE WINE aIt H.
At first Nicko did not know what to say
for Father Ncr'unc was very big and stern
looking. b, when he saw the little Nler-
maid swim up to him and lean her head
against his shoulder he took courage and
spoke.
Il wish to marry your daughter" he
said and live at the bottom of the river.
Father Neptune began to smile. The
spell is broken tor you my dear, he SAID
to the little Mermaid, land ] am glad.
l would have helped you belore this II |
could, but II was not In my power
''Shc is Yours, mortal youth, said
Neptune. 81 pronounce YOU man and wiie.
: And now We will see what can be done 10
get rid of that awful Ogre on the bank OF
the river. He has bothered me 50 much L
shall be glad to have him gone.
Now we arc married, said the Nlcr-
maid to Nicko, Il can tell YOU | am not a
Mermaid mt all but a Kings daughter,
who was changed INTO a mermaid to sing
for the Ogre because my father did not IN
vite the dreadful Ogre To feast at hls
palace one night.
The Ogre cast a spell over me which
could he broken only when mortal
should come to the bottom OF the river
and ask me to marry him. which the Ogre
thought never could happen.
Now 1T is my turn To have the Ogre
changed into another form, and II Father
Neptune will consent | will ask the old
forest witch to change hm into big
rock IN the middle of the river,
Very well. my dear, said Father
Neptune. "a big rock will be an addition
to nv river and when run IN here TO rest
nv sea horses will have n place to play
orJ my dniDhtns "A piaCe To SIT.
''Goodbv. Father Neptune SAID the
MERMAID Il shalt no longer wear thus
form after tonight, for when touch the
land shall hc mortal again.
Il will take YOU To- the shore. said
Father Neptune; Jump in. both of YOU
II took only minute for the sea horses
To dash to the top oi the river and another
for chem to bring the chariot to the bank
OF the river uear tho forest.
\ickn iumped out and lifted the little
Mermaid ~ the ground. which she no
sooner touched than before hIm stood
beautiful young girl on two dainty icet
When the old witch saw the PrncCSS
she began 70 hugh "lIa. Ha. Now the
Ogre will be IN my power. Leave HIM 20
me. my dear | will change him INTO any
shape YOU wish, said the old witch, clap
ping her hands as she spoke.
n from tfffAtlt titt fbNf ltiAiti't'A - ''iE
hroonstick, and on IT hopped the witch,
and the Princess and NiclSo. and of they
flew tc the place where the Ogre sat fishing
by the river
When they were near enough Tor the
old witch to touch HIM with her crooked
cane she leaned over and tapped hum on
the head and said
"In the middle ot the river,
To dwell there forever,
A rock YOU shall hp
80 all folks may see
A neal Of thunder that shook the woods
around was heard and then loud splash
When the mist Of the splashlng water
cleared Nicko and the Princess saw
huge rock in the middle of the river, and
the next thing they kurW they were flying
through the air with the old witch again.
Here Is vour home, Princess. said
the witch At last They will bc waiting
for YOU and your husband tor ] sent word
Won had been rescued and feast Is beng
made in honor Of your marriage
Before Nicko or his bride could thank
the witch. she was far above Their heads
and flying away.
The King and Queen were ovcr!oyed TO
hav their daughter again and gave NIcko
such welcome that he quite forgot ms
home bv the rlver and never returned
But this did not matter. as he was an
orphan. but no ono thought Of HIM rs
being the cause of the Ogre's disappear
ance The people in the river town knew
that the Ogre had gone, and they cared
not who brought 1t about.
Nicko and the Princess lived happily
ever after. and one day became the King
IN, tho whore fhpR-
lived.