The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-19

you we're looking at the Great dsh, y said the
Brown imp; but dii not know then that the
AN returned Meta, slowly. "Was that the
reason" she continued, that the waves were
saying, Alas for yesterdayp The winds have
that Il had anything TO do with q priueessi
what Is princess like for have never seen
''Like other people. y answered the Rrovn
Impi ,'the Princess Linda happened TO be very
n., pn.e,autiiul; some princesses are, some are not.
lps quite chance.n r"r -
e "OhV SAID Meta, agsin.
The Princess Linda had blue eyes and fair
nalr Ta Inat shone like pale gold. The Prince Of
Rosenhgss 'sSnt y fell IN love with her." 49,
yes" responded Meta. "WhyYr
'How sh ould know said The Rro,,r rr.v.
" dare say he didn't exactly know himseif
It's sort OF thing that comes TO pass without
people being able to account for IL; at least,
that ls the result of my observation, for ss n
Brown Imp have had no personal experience
1t can't always be for qualities, or beauty or
talents, or anything else; at any rate, should
think not" said the Brown Imp, reAectively.
Certainly not for temper in many cases.n
Meta. =
perhaps so; / can't say. I only know that
ne fell In love with her, aud she with HIM, aud
they were as happy as the day is long in
summer time, not in the winter, OF course,H
added the Brown Imp, revisingly, 'and they
were to be married very soon and the prepara-
tlons Tor the wedding were SO grand, that people
far and near we're talking about what stghtN
''I should like to see itr said Meta,
'1es; but you forget there is to be no we'd
ding now, for the princess's heart is broken n
Meta sighed.
Ibid you ever hear of the Nixes?" asked the
Brown Imp.
MO- replied Meta. a.
Wei, then, ! must explain. The Mikes are
water nymphs living far down under the waters.
They float about on the rivers, and find out all
mat Is going on upon the earth; ana they
heard about the Prince OF Rosenfluss and the
ip1a 0pAi do NT
"Hhy?n
Because she had fallen in love with the
prince herself.r
"Ahl" calculated Meta.
'Now, a Nix may marry human being II
she can persuade one to marry her; and so this
Nix determined to put away the Princess Linda
from the princes heart and make MIN love her
instead"
"And how did she manage itHr
"The princess was sitting by the riverside
looking into the blue waters and dreaming of
her happiness, when sad voice GEAR her said,
Sweet princess, pity me y and close beside her
she saw very fair woman with long dark hair,
and dark eyes that sh0ne like diamonds. How
can help your asked the princess am an
unfortunate Nix returned the water.spirit,
'and weep that human life is not mine.
There is little happiness in floating about sing
ing songs from years end to years end. long
for the happiness that belongs to human beings.i
And the Princess Linda did not wonder at
it, for she was SO filed with happiness herself"
''She had not heard the wall OF lie,' thenn
said Meta, remembering her mothers words
No" rejcined the brown Imp; "but she has
heard it noW.n - T..
'How?n
The Nix wcpt at her feet and besought her
aid. III thou wilt plunge once underneath the
waves with me, then shall l be as thou art,
that hppn ha return rS ,nee T6yen Sb
princess resolved 10 make the Nix as happy as
herself. Alas poor, princess; when she rose
from the waters and beheld her image on their
surface har
hair were gone, and in their place the dark
locks Of the Nix hoated around her. and the
Nix's dian ond eyes flashed back at her from the
watery, mirror. And laughing at her woe,
the false Nix stood beside her, with her eyes
and pale gold tresses. Il shall be as happy as
thou art now,' said she; II shall marry the
Prince of Rosenhuss.'"
And what happened?n
The Nix went to live at the castle with Linda's
parents, and the princess begs from house TO
house; and none believe her story"
mot even the prince?n
"How should he when appearances are so
against her ~
And so she has heard at last, Alas for yea-
teIday y"
The Brown Imp did not like to hear his idle
words brought up.
"All this happened some time ago." said he,
the rivers froze as they we're telling me the
story; so shall have to wait until there ia a
thaw 10 hear the rest"
Meta sat up In bed. -.#.a
81 think, }" said she, "that it is warmer; per-
haps thaw has come on. Do go down to the
river and see. must know what became of the
princess after she had heard the wal OF life."
Meta did not know how long she had been
asleep, but she opened her eyes Just as the
Brown Imp was saying:- . .gs
"The Prince of Rosenfluss married the Nix
princess, and there was grand weddng.n
"Oh, am so sorry said Meta, rubbing her
eyes.
80 am ;" said the Brown Imp; ''but what is
done cannot be undone."
"And where is the Princess Linda? ?r
''The Nix-princess pretended to be sorry for
the poor demented woman and offered her
place as serving maid"
"And did she accept it ~
Yes; for she would still be near the Prince
of Rosen fuss"
81 should not have cared for the prince if he
had not believed in me-" said Meta.
"But the princess did ;" returned the Brown
Imp. "She had little garnet up at the top
of the palace to sleep in, aud every night two
angels came and watched beside her. And as
they bent over her and kissed her, one whis-
pered:-The past is gone toreyer-toil on, and
thou shalt find restl And the other said:-
The future hath not yet come; despair not;
sooner or later the right shall be made
known And In the morning the princess
awOke, comfored. II II had not been for the
angels, she could not have done her work during
the day time.
"Day after day she toiled on silently, and at
night the angels visited her, and still their
words were Despair nOt; and she brayely held
ON her way, though she grew paler ana thinner,
sat last she grew so weak that she could not
leave her WIetched couch; and still the angels
visited her, and comforted her.
"But 10 a marvellous change took place.
As life ebbed slowly away her locks turned
paly gold once more, and her eyes were blue as
In days of old. And the servants, wondering,
told their master And as they spoke the Nix
princess, too, was changed; her hair and eyes