The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1879-12-30 00:00:00

CHAPIIia IV.

They were out of the wood at last The tress had
worried them more than wee. but the stranger gently put
them mid• Irons Odohna Now and then • snake would
lilt up Ito heed ready looped*/ umber, but • blow from his
stiff would lay it deed at her feet.
" Ham Joe seen my father t " she asked.
"Yes, and ha is well and welting for you; end s 'anon*
Om le waiting end watching,'
"The Prints Odo " she said, timidly.
" Yea"

"I•To so sorry,' she returned gravely.
" I have bun very unkind to mr dear father, and I want
to Fee blot so much. Tell him, will you I"
"H. will rejoice. And now, fair lsc,y if yin are coro-
lla. your J turney will soon be ended. Take ears of your
leaves, and consult your amulet I shall soon have to
leave you, and you must go on alone. Do you call Z Ada
your lover now I"
"No ; be is cruel. But, 0, you know, I was young and
head lee,, sad thought I was doing no harts."
" Nay, dear Odoline, you knee, that you were doing
wrong You were wilful ; and because your father wished
you to marry the Prince 010 you deterpined that you
would not. You would not even see him. •
"1 did not want to marry an old man," she limbed out.
"He Ls not old. You will see him some day, and then,
perhaps, you will he sorry you spoke in that manner."
"I am so sorry, now," she exclaimed, repentantly.
"You most think me so wicked."
"Don't format what Primoline haa told you.- By this
time they were Jost outside the wood, and there was a
sound of hurrying step% behind them.
"It le Zeddit- said Moline in a fright.
"Don't be afraid, but if you see I tun likely to fall, help
no.; but consult your amulet first."
Give that lady into my keeping." shouted Zedda.
"Never.' and in • terrible rage, Zedda Sew at the
stranger, intending to hurl him to the ground, but
received • severs blow instead. Pale and tremhlinA
(Moline looked on, and the fox came to look on the fray as
wail He enjoyed It. "1161 Hal I shall lap op his
blood soon.' he said to 0 loline. The fight was raging so
fien-ely, and the stranger evidently getting the worst of it,
for Zedds was aided by the fox, who now and then snapped
at the stranger's legs, that Moline drew forth her amulet
again. She fixed her horrified eyes on the combatant', sad
yet she hardly knew what to wish. There was no thing
that she knew site ought to do; hut it was so bard—she
was surprised how hard. There was ovens fight going coin
her heart, while the other fight was going on before her
seek But now the strangar was does, and Z adds with
upraised sword was galas to kill bitu. She shut her eyea,
and wished he might be In li, own home, and away from
ber —that is what the wish entailed; but she had con.
quoted that tirenon;s, idol sell, and it had • 'rend fall
Into the dust To be sure he would rise again; but after
the first fall it is not so har I to topple him over again. It
was wonderful, the effect of her wish; the stranger was
gone, and the fox and Lutist fled into the wood. °donna
was left alone once again on the bank of the lake that she
had to noes; and on the other side she could see the
mountain of thistles.

-7'..1K1711•;;ZI;;;;;•11," said • voice, and there stood the
little green lady with her queer drem like the bank of the
and her tiny cap of moss stuck so jauntily on her
" It was very hard, though," returned 0 folios.
" It will be easier next time," and she nodded bee bead
In • very knowing fashion.
" Meanwhile you have to get over that lake."
" Yea, but who told you to coins r
'O.l al ways help those who make go xi wish..; and de
them. That's the thing. There are whole heaps of wishes
floating about; but they only goat, they never settle
Yours did."
"I looked at my amulet, that helped me. Who is that
stranger." How musically the little creature
"I must net tell, you will know by-and-bystlitt not
Zedda, is It r
" !tad mice again her cheek burnt with the blush of
shams, • Don't talk about him.'
"Very well What no you isipg to do with the Iwo
Bimaitas gays you r odoline 1044 her her thoughts an
the subject, to the little lady's miutifeet delight.
"You have improved Moos I saw you last," quoth she.
"lam a woman now, then I was a silly girl," (Moline
returned gravely, "And now I must cross that lake."
" yea ?Adds will swathe hereagain ; ke la only wait.
Incfoe his mother, then he will renew his pursuit uf you."
"Bat it is not me that he loves, but that princess whom
!!!•."
. _ .

•
"lie want, you now. Come this way, and I will sheer
you a boat" They found it reedy with oars in it. (Moline
stepped in. "Do come with see? fise said wistf ally to the
little lady; for it did seem lonely to ma it by hermit.
" No, I cannot, I should only make it harder for
_you?
As soca as Gdoline wee seated. the boat starbel off. What
lovely gold fish fleeted about ; and what ravishing wings
the mermaids stag of the wonders of their home beneath
the wares—oh the homage Odolloe would gain if she oould
only go with them. So lovely and no seductive were them
soap, accompanied by the gentle splash of the wave& that
Odoline felt as though the mast throw hereAl Into the
lake to share their pleasures; but she thought of her
amulet and the thought that she ...sone.: her Jourasres
end drove away the tolKOpiation now her bout was in the
midst of lovely water-Mint and in some of them sported
happy groups of fairies. Prom one of them she based •
faint Cry for help the stretched forth Iter hand
to remove a part of the Bower to see who it
war, and narrowly moaned having it bitten by
• venomous snake coiled up inside So she
resolved she would pay no heed to the sights or *Quads
that sbe might see or beer, and her bait sped on. Then
the wind arose, and tossed the boat from gide to side, until,
in her terror, sise thought It would be dashed in piece&
But that peril passed, and the shore was very near. The
boat was does enough for her to jump ashore; but Net as
she was going to doss It went back main Into the water.
Several doles this occurred. until °duties was determined
to land, I.) she seized the oars. Lod rowed herself vigor-
ously to shore, and jumped out. Here she was alone, on
a beautiful bed of white sand, and you know send is
treacherous. Before bee. • short &stun& away, wait the
mountain, so she turned her steps in that direction ; but
try as she would she could not get a that mod, it sit .W
from under her feet, causing her to fail down; it litew
lute her eyes, it got into her mouth, and worrie 1 her
almost beyond endurance, Sorely was she tempted to use
her bet wish, but she would not. It was her last, you see.
and you also se the power of the moles. Heretofore
she had wished for the first means of release from any
worry that suggested iteeU, now, alter consulting her
amulet, she decided to try again. So the pleated her feet
, firmly dowa and found that she was making a little pro-
genes, Pestles her eyes round to see if she was getting on.
she espied a stout stick ; she myna, forward to get it, and
found that it helped her wonderfully, and the was soon
a the sand, and legan her assent of the mountain of
and truly was it so named, for the thistles pricked
her feet tenthly. Again did she draw forth her amulet,
and look at it sad ponder over it There was her little
friend again, singtng no joyously, filling the air with
melody ; a scar fall of faith hope, sad charity, so Wader
and sweet that it moved her to tears and • feeling of
peep ewe Into her heart • lifting above the petty aneoy-
MIMS of the moment, sad • remembrance of the time that
Sanoline had told her of these grams floated into her
mind, and an idea began to find plea in her heart of an
' All-Wise Power who ruled the world having some thought
for her, and filled her with • sweet shild-Ilks
" Little bird, I thank you for cheering me."
I "It Is beeAuse lam so happy, sad I went yen to ke."
said the little creature. Only have onstage, and yen
will soon get to your jemmy's end. Them is semieme
welting sad welching for thee.'
"Cmi you tell me what to do to prevent these thistles
pricking my feet so badly r
" Yes ; take on. of your permeate and wrap round
tibe.m."

"Thank yon."the said joyfully. and :bowlike mold walk
Malay, awl without any more annoyance teethed the tot,
There were the twvi of the meth looming above tie
valley to wkkh it was bolls.

°HAMA V.
How kor boort boot whoa she saw IL Hors was low key.
sod she would woo be able to Mom to bit lesgsd
boom But Sew !pa • 114• a of sada* wflb the
for bet woblleg vo. th• Mae* Odo was to 10100 l
but die bawdy metro! aol So think el It rm bet bow