The Topeka state journal., 1922-03-18
Eoening Story
LoreIei.
BY r. RAY BAKER


hair. Yes, it was golden hair. while
the comb-well. it was just a COM,
mon comb.
And Lorelei was singing, just as her
tabled namesake, the siren. was wont
to sing. But this song was not in
tended to lure boatmen to their doom
on the jagged rocks below. 1t simply
meant that Lorelei was happy and
care free. There was something en-
ticing about the golden hair, but she
couldn't help that. 1t was wet, for she
had been swimming, and she was
combing it in the sun to dry it.
This Lorelei had no thought of lur-
ing any man to his doom. She did not
care especially for men, ana she cared
for no special man. If she was
siren. she was not to blame.
However, there was a boatman, and
he was lured to his doom-if falling
in love may be referred to that way.
He was padding a canoe dexterously
down the swift little river, skillfully
avoiding the rocks that lined the mar
row channel. The current was so
reached a point right under LoreIei's
perch, where it became peaceful in a
wide, circular pool. 1t was deep there
as well as peaceful, because the
banks, with only a small out
let, served as an effective dam.
The boatnaan should have kept his
eyes on the channel and he would
have avoided mishap. True, he would
have missed-but that comes later.
Naturally he heard the song and his
eyes strayed upward. Glinting sun
light. reflected from the golden hair,
hypnotized him and the canoe shot
out of its path and struck a rock
which pierced the bottom of the craft,
while at the same time overturning it.
The boatman was pitched into the
rushing water, which carried him
along to the deep pool A cry es-
capped his throat as he sank beneath
the surface. his hands protruding for
an instant after the head vanished. In
a moment he bobbed up again. seemed
to strangle, but managed to get out a
short yelp of despair. Then down he
went once more.
This time Lorelei went after him.
DlScarding her comb, unfurling her
a4rc ost dry hair to the wind, she stood
erect, poised for an instant on the
ledge with her supple body bent for
ward, oustretched hands close together
and achieved a graceful dive that
made the pool open in the center to
receive her 1t was at least 100 feet
from the ledge to the pool, but LoreIei
neSitated not the fraction of a second
when she appraised the situation She
had not seen the boatman approach
ing, so noiselesSly had he piloted his
craft and so busy was she in combing
her hair and laughing at the sky. And
first intimation that something was
occurring below that required her at
tention.
Even as the girl 1eaped to save the
mans life she made a scOrnfuI remark
to herself about an idiot who couldn't
swim Venturing such a dangerous pas
sage in a fraiI canoe. 1t should be
mentioned here that Lorelei was
garbed in a bathing costume which
had not yet dried after her afternoon
dip. 1t was left out of the introduce
tion advisedly, in order not to weaken
the comparison with the tabled maiden
of the same name.
Down into the cold depths the girl
and one hand fastened it
self firmly on the hair of the sub
boatman. Quickly she rose to
the surfa ce with the burden, and with
deft, rapid strokes she towed thim 10
the wall of the stream. A narrow
ledge a few inches above the water
was her objective, and presently she
hauled the boatman up\on this place
of safety. He lay still for short
while, then opened his eyes and looked
up at her, He appeared in a daze at
first, but gradually a smile broke over
his genial face, and then he laughed
Thanks" he said simply. "A close
call. 1 should say"
The girls lips curled in scorn.
Serves you right she said, heart
lessly. What business has man who
can't swim trying to paddle a canoe
down this current. no matter how CT
ficient he may be with a paddle?"
None at au,'' he agreed. Il de-
serve it, guess"
He scrambled to his feet, taking
care not to slide from the ledge, and
she led him along a path which
wall appeared, with a natural flight of
crude steps, and up these they went to
a gradual incline that came out on the
ledge above. Here the girl recovered
i
her hair, or. rather, she began all
over, while the man found a seat on
a rock and basl1ed in the sun.
No word was spoken for a while, |
but presently the rescued said to the
rescuer:
"WouId it be considered out of place
to inquire whether you live in this
vicinity? You don't, by any chance.
happen to be nymph that has this
ledge for a. homer"
She laughed merrily, having recov- |
cred her good nature.
mo, I'm not nymph, but at pres |
ent am making my home near here" |
Rather dangerous, 1 should think |
he observed. 81 have understood that |
smugglers operate along this stream. |
In fact, that ledge below, with the |
stairs and the incline, would make an |
ideal place. This river, I have been !
told have been too lazy to look it /
up on the maps the boundary be-
tween the United States and Canada"
That is Canada on the other side" |
she informed him I'm fact, it was a 1
Canadian rock that wrecked your |
canoe. Are you interested in SNUG /
gIers p"
slightly" he retorted, while he /
bent over and kicked a; loose stone into /
the pool below.
While they dried in the sun thev |
and before he left she had |
begun to like him. She offered to take
him home-whereyer that might be-
in her car. but he said he would get
back all right
Three days later, at the same time !
of day, while she combed her hair on /
the ledge, he came in a new canoe,