by David Cory
The Coral Palace
"Why, the ocean is full of cracked ice!" exclaimed Mary Louise, as sheand the mermaid rose to the surface and looked about them. "I wonderwhat it was that caused such a tremendous crash?"
"Perhaps the Whale Ice Trust is after a big ice supply," replied themermaid with a laugh. "The ocean depths are no longer a quiet placesince this dreadful hot weather set in. Just the other day I heard theKing of the Mermen say that they were about to send a note of protestto Neptune for violating the laws of Merland!"
"I don't know much about it," said Mary Louise, "except that it's veryinconvenient to have one's voyage disturbed in such a way. What are wegoing to do now?"
"How would you like to visit the Court of the Mer King?" asked themermaid.
"Oh, lovely!" cried Mary Louise. "I've never met any kinds, althoughI've read about them in fairy stories."
"Come along then," said the mermaid. "Follow me straight down, for Ithink we are not very far from the Coral Palace, where King Seaphusholds court."
Placing the palms of her hands together diving fashion, she gave herpretty tail a kick-off, and away she went, head downward, through thewater.
Mary Louise followed her example, somewhat surprised at the ease withwhich she executed this difficult maneuver.
In a short time they found themselves on the bottom of the ocean. Inthe distance could be seen the dim outline of a magnificent castle ofpink and white coral. Leading up to it was a wide highway, flanked oneither side with beautiful sea-grass, and dotted here and there, likemilestones, stood columns of beautiful coral. Banks of exquisitemother-of-pearl rose at intervals along the way; water plants ofvarious hues grew in wild profusion.
"Why, it's very much like the earth," exclaimed Mary Louise, "only onedoesn't walk, and its not dusty, and--and it's not hot and sunny!"
"No, indeed!" said the mermaid. "But sometimes we have a pest of watergnats that are worse than mosquitoes, and we have to put up netting onour bedroom windows to keep them out."
As she finished speaking they approached the door of the castle, onwhich she knocked with a flap of her finny tail. It was immediatelyopened by a merman dressed in the uniform of a court page. "What can Ido for you, Your Highness?" he asked, bowing low.
"Why, are you a princess?" asked Mary Louise in surprise, turningquickly to the mermaid and forgetting for the moment that they were onthe steps of a real merman's castle.
The little mermaid only laughed in reply, and taking Mary Louise by thehand led her through the coral doors to King Seaphus.
His Majesty was seated on a throne of pearl, studded with many preciousstones. A long emerald robe fell from his shoulders and on his headrested a magnificent crown set with glittering jewels, which gleamedand sparkled in the dim light of the royal chamber.
"Ah, my daughter, whom have you here?" he asked, leaning from thethrone and gazing intently at little Mary Louise. "Methinks she is amermaidized mortal!" At which the King laughed loudly, for he was veryfond of coining words and was busily engaged, when his state duties didnot interfere, in compiling a new dictionary.
"You are right, Father Seaphus," replied his beautiful daughter. "Letme introduce little Mary Louise."
The King rose graciously and extended his royal right hand. MaryLouise made a low curtsey, finding it much easier now that she was amermaid to perform this little act of graciousness on account of theflexibility of her tail.
Legs, of course, are indispensable for walking; but, then, in thesedays of new inventions, when the air is invaded by wing, and the earthtraversed by wheels, and the depths of the waters by mechanical fins,walking may soon become a lost art! Something like this may haveflitted through her mind, but she only answered in a trembling voice,"How do you do, Your Majesty!"
"You are welcome, 'Mermaid Mary,' to our Kingdom of the Sea," hereplied. "I hope you will enjoy your stay with us." So saying, hegallantly lifted his gold crown as little Mary Louise made anothercurtsey.
"Let us dress for dinner," said the mermaid.
They swam quickly upstairs between two balustrades of lovely coral toher bedroom.
It was just like fairy-land; at least, it seemed so to little MaryLouise, as she looked about the pretty room. In one corner stood abeautiful bed of mother-of-pearl, hung with varied colored sea grassfor curtains. Sea moss made it as soft as down. In fact, it seemedalmost softer to Mary Louise, who by this time was very sleepy. Sherested her tired little body upon the cushions and in a few shortseconds was sound asleep. The princess mermaid looked at her withloving eyes, while she sang very low and sweetly:
"Sleep, little sister, for when you awake, We'll have a fine dinner of fishes and cake!"
I think the mermaid took somewhat after her royal father for she oftenspoke in rhyme, which she composed as she talked, while his greatdelight, as has been mentioned before, was to coin a new word for hisdictionary.
Leaving Mary Louise to her slumbers, the princess mermaid sat herselfdown before her mirror and combed her hair. Presently, she went overto her wardrobe and took out a beautiful shimmery pink shawl. What itwas made of I cannot tell, except that it shivered and quivered withlittle colors like a rainbow. Perhaps it was made of changeablesea-silk.
At any rate, Mary Louise, who at that moment opened her eyes, thoughtit was the most exquisite thing she had ever seen.
"Is it really for me? Is it really?" she asked with a cry of delight,as the mermaid came toward her.
"Of course it is, my dear," replied the mermaid princess, "and as soonas you have put it on, and combed your hair--you needn't wash yourhands and face, you know--the banquet will be ready."
Mary Louise clapped her hands and hopped, or, rather, flopped about, sohappy was she to receive such a gift in the depths of the sea.
When she was dressed in the lovely shawl, and a beautifulmother-of-pearl comb fastened in her hair, the princess mermaiddeclared she looked "too sweet for anything!" Then they floated down,arm in arm, to the great dining hall.
