The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-12-24

once,1 added Lnla, resignedly. z
"Don't despair; the spirit of the
lake may be kindly disposed toward
you.0 11 g.
sAh, well,n said Lula, signing !;
"eyen If it leads me to bad fate, it
cannot be worse one than becoming
the wife of Kolf Lyn."
Luck befiend you, little Lula;
don't forget to go before sunset and
take with you, in exchange for what
you ask, the greatest treasure you
possess"
The black lake was situated in the
heart of the mountains around, and
was supposed by the Gonar people to
be the Adobe of spirit who had the
power to confer upon mortals the gifts
which nature had denied them. The
lake was held in great adherence, for
the spirit was said to be malevolent
one, and to lure the people TO their
destruction; but there were some who
had been heard to defend the spirit of
the lake, rnd to attribute the evil fate
rather TO the nature of the gift de-
manded- than to the malice of the
donor. Lula, however, had no very
great uneasiness, for she fancied that
there might be some truth in the latter
theory, and if SO, the gift she was about
to ask for could not possibly lead her
to evil. AS soon as Lula had made
up her mind to brave all danger, she
became quite excited in her anxiety to
go on her expedition.
Dame Frona was not quite so exact
ing as usual that day, and Lula was
able to start the same afternoon. AS
soon as she saw that her parents had
sat down by the kitchen fire to indulge
in another long grumble, she slipped
out, taking with her the little stock of
savings which she had been for many
years boarding up, and which she
looked upon as her only treasure.
Very demurely she passed through the
village, but as soon as she had left it
behind her, she ran at the greatest
speed, SO fearful was she that she
might not arrive at the lake before
sunset. Forgetful of the roughness of
the road, she scrambled up the noun
tain, slipped, fell, jumped up, reached
the top breathless, then half ran, half
rolled down the other side, and at
length arrived painting at the border
of the lake.
The sun was rapidly sinking down
in the west, and the black might have
been called the golden one, so bright
did the reflection of the sun render it.
Lula knew that it was good omen if
the water took golden hue, and her
courage rose at the sight
AS she looked, she saw that the large
black swan, the warden of the lake,
had seen her, and was coming toward
her. She scarcely dared to breathe, so
anxious was she to know whether it
would come in anger or in gentleness
to do her bidding. But ON it came,
gliding smoothly through the water
straight to where she stood. Flowers
of all sorts grew in abundance in the
sheltered valley, and without a mo-
ment's delay she stopped and plucked
bunch of the musk rose. She started.
The swan had risen, and was tapping
its wings, while sound very much
like human laughter seemed to be
proceeding from its outstretched
throat. Then ON it came again, and
when the bird had reached the waters s
edge, Lula, trembling, held out toward
it the bunch of roses. Away it glided
with them in its mouth; but when it
reached the middle of the lake, it
dived its head and disappeared under
the water. Hitherto there had been
that peculiar stiffness in the air which
betokons the approach of evening, as
if all life dared not, even by a breath,
disturb the last moments of expiring
day. But suddenly the earth seemed,
as if by q sudden convulsion. The
birds few hither and thither, the cat
tie sought shelter under the trees, and
strange wailing sounds were borne
upon the air. The rushing wind
stirred up the water, which Missed
and foamed, and rose as one great
surging wave. Then the wave burst
in the centre, and the divided waters
rolled over and over to the right and
left of the lake, until they reached the
base of the mountains on each side
up which they seemed to be drawn by
some magnetic power. But the angry
water came rushing down again, and
the more it was drawn up the more
angry was its roar.
Lula was stunned by the noise anl
blinded by the spray caused by thiG
momentary hurricane, so that, for {
moment, she saw nothing. By de
grees, however, a feeling of indescriba
BILE fear stole over her, for she becam,
aware that tomething was before her
At first it appeared as shadow be
tween her and the sky; then it tool
the form of very aged, sorrowful
looking woman. Close against he
was the black swan, and the foaminG
cataract on each side seemed to b.
keeping guard overthe two inhabitant
of the lake. In her hand was tn
bunch of roses, and pointing them to
ward Lula, she began in a pityinI
voice:
"My little damsel, 1 see that yol
have asked for beauty; and the sigl
, she gave as she spoke seemed echoet
all round. Lula, l grant your request
!. What do you give in return?"
The woman's tone had reassure'
, Lula, and she at once came forward
and timidIy presented her small stocl