THE LUCKY SAND-CASTLE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 56, 7 March 1931, Page 18

THE LUCKY SAND-CASTLE

THERE now, I really don't think we could make it any nicer, do you, Pat?" asked Connie as she put the finishing touches to the splendid sand-castle she and her twin brother had built together on tho shore. "No, it certainly does look ripping," agreed Pat, surveying the castle proudly. "Wo must bring Mummy down to see it to-morrow." "Yes, no one will break it, for it's getting dark already and people don't, usually come this way of an evening— but now wo must hurry, for we promised truly to be homo as soon as we'd finished," and off scampered the happy twins, racing merrily over the firm sand. Tho "hi of row dawned clear and bright with soft, fluffy white clouds lazily floating over the blue sky, and Pat and Connie, after an early breakfast, hurried down to the beach to keep watch an their castle until Mummy could some down and see it. "Come on, Con, I'll race you!" chalonged Pat with a grin, and off he sped, closely followed by his laughing twin. At "last, flushed and breathless, they reached the cove in which they had built the castle. "I do hope no one has broken it,"

♦- panted Connio as they turned the bond. She broke off in amazement, for the sand was just as smooth and firm as in any other place, and not a trace remained of the once splendid sandcastle. "Why, wherever is it?" exclaimed Pat, staring in bewilderment. '' We did build it here, didn't we?" "Yes, I'm sure of that," replied Connie, "but there's not a sign of it now. Whatever can have happened to it?" "I think I can help you, children," cried a clear, musical voice, and, turning, the twins beheld a strange and beautiful maiden seated on a rock nearby. Long, silky hair curled about her head and down her back, while a pair of sea-green eyes flashed and sparkled like the sun glinting on the waters: from her waist upwards, her body was that of a human being, but she had a shimmering, silvery tail like that of a fish. "Ooh," gasped Connie in ecstasy, "it's a mermaid! " And a mermaid it was. She looked at the twins in amazement and laughed a light rippling laugh as she saw the amazement on their faces. "I am a mermaid; you are quite right," she said softly, "and I have

come to tell you what has happened to your castle. I am Princess. Seafoam, and my father, King Neptune, took your eastlo last night so that I might use it as my home. You see," she went on as Pat and Connie stared at her in astonishment, "I am to be married to-day, and my father had to find a homo for me, so, as you had built a really beautiful castle, he took it down, thinking it would make a splendid Palace, and it did too—it looks simply wonderful, and I am going to invite you to my wedding. You will come, won't you?" and as the twins nodded, not trusting themselves to speak, she led the way to the sea. Pat and Connie were amazed, but they followed the mermaid and soon found themselves seated on two great foaming sea-horses, which carried them swiftly down, deeper and deeper. They found themselves at length bofore the great King Neptune, who looked down and smiled kindly at them. "Ah! you aro the two children who built Seafoam's palace," he cried in a deep, booming voice. "Welcome to my home and to Seafoam's wedding! Enjoy yourselves as much as you can, won't you?" "Thank you ever so much," wins-

pcred Pat, who was the first to find his voice, and ho smiled shyly at the great King. "You may choose anything you like to take home with you," whispered Seafoam, and the twins tried to decide what they liked best. Pat finally chose a tiny ship exquisitely made of coral and shells, while Connie decided on a pearl necklace of a delicate pink hue. At last, when it seemed that _no matter how gorgeous any one thing was, another was found -even more wonderful, the twins were told that they were to be taken home in case their Mummy became anxious. Soon they found themselves ' again on the sea-horses and dashing up, up, until once more they were on the shore. Then Seafoam waved a farewell and disappeared with a splash into tho water again, leaving the twins standing on the sand. Sometimes Connie and Pat think tho visit was all a lovely dream, but as they have still got the pearl necklace and the tiny coral, ship,'they, know it was true enough, and charm their playmates with, tho story of Seafoam's "LA DANSEUSE" (15).. Petone.