Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1918-07-11

"YOu have been dreaming, dear"
eyes. suppose I have been dream
Ing" she answered. But she spoke
without conviction. And suddenly she
was crying upon his shoulder.
'Donald. you were disappointed
when I came J" she sohbed.
'Dear, you are hysterical. In the
morning 1t will be nj right"
"You don't love me any more, Don
aid"
"Of course I love you" he responded
sadly. Somehow his heart was utterly
overcast: 1t was as II he had looked
into the face Of immortal beauty. "Of
course I love you. Won't you try to
sleep. IGa?" he asked.
"Yes." she answered, releasing her
self. but you don't love me, Dom
add know"
And slowly she withdrew into her
cabin. leaving Donald prey to intense
bewilderment aad despair.
Who was she. this almost invisible
beauty? Had she followed him here,
aboard the ship. or-swin-.ling behind
the submarine? Was size another spe-
cies of the sea devils?
Suddenly. for the first tir,e since
their conversntiC., ne recalled Master
mans words:
VI brought my specimen home with
me. Think Of that, lad! She didn't
want to ent. They don't eat after they
are nature, Donald"
Now It came to Donald With convic-
ton that the old captain had had ref.
erence to-this woman!
And, straining his eyes through the
darkness. he saw her again.
But this time tiere was visible Upon
her face az expression. so pitiful that
IT almost brought the tears to Don.
AIDS eyes.
She was watching him with dumb
yearning Of inexpressible pathos. That
look reminded Donald Of the old leg.
end Of the mermaid who could obtain
soul only from some human lover.
An idea came to him. he would 20
mp into the coming tower; in that mar
row space he could see her better and
understand what she WINS.
But'as he stood. in the passage, at
the bottom Of the trapdoor, Clouts up
penred before him. It occurred to
Donald afterward that he had been
there for considerable time.
ats all right, sis!" said Clouts.
You told me to Gull you when you was
to go on duty, and it's all right"
"What's all right?" demanded Dom
aid.
"It's all right, sir. understand such
things" said Clouts.
"Clouts. what the devil are you talk
Ing about?"
Its all right, sir" replied Clouts
Tor the third time. pointing before him
And in the passage. not more than
dozen feet away, Donald saw the
woman's form.
His anger vanished. He took the
sailor by the arm.
"Clcuts," he said, do you suppose
we could get her into the coming
tower"
II don't know, SIR" said Clouts,
shaking his head. "If she's willing to
go. sir. That's the question, SIR"
"Clouts'-Donald's, voice sank to a
whisper-"you must understand that
this isn't woman-at least not a
human one. She's-she's-"
"Quite 30. II might say 30, or there
abouts." said .Clouts.
"And do you think you could get
her there?"
Clouts scratched his head. II sup
pose 30. SIR" he answered. 'But she'd
have to come out again, you know"
''That's what intend" said Donald
desperately. Back into the water
through the airlock."
"Push her in. sirf'
LEAD her in, Couts. Put on nv
coat and let her follow you. Then,
when you've got her inside, put on the
last diving dress and see that she
that she doesn't come back. don't
mean you to hurt her. She can live
under the. water, you know. And,
while you're about 1t, Clouts, you
might see II you can adjust the rud-
der"
For moment Clouts and his cap
tain looked hard into each others
eyes. Then Clouts' grim face softened.
Putting his hands to his pocket, he
drew out his mouth organ. and the
soft strains Of "Annie Rooney" went
up into the air. Clouts played Il
through with quiet resolution.
"Tll do 1t. sir" he said.
Donald turned and saw that the
woman Of the sea stood exactly where
she had been throughout that inter.
view. She had not stirred.
He waited while Clouts found the
last diving suit in the storeroom, and
then the two went back into the ness
room. Presently Clouts emerged, en-
cased in his cylinder. and holding the
glass mask In his hand. About his
shoulders he wore Donald's coat. Dom
aid waited within.
He heard the coming tower trap
door close, and after that he could