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

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tude, but she was stopped by the look
of sorrow on the spirits face, who
seemed to be listening to the wall of
lament which now rose on ali sides.
THANK me not yet, Lula. Do you
hear those sounds? They are the
groans of the banished virtues, which
others, like yourself, have been so
ready to cast out of their hearts.
They are entreating me to pause be-
fore grant your wish. You please
me, Lula, and I will listen to their
prayer and show you mercy, by giving
You time to undo foolish act. There
fore, when your face changes the meta
morphosis will ouly be visible toyour-
self for the first twenty-four hours.
If before the expiration of that time,
you regret the exchange go and drink
of the water of the spring which used
TO rise at the top of the mountain. 1t
has long been dry, but it will fow at
your bidding and when you have
drank of it, you will be your old self"
Lula was about to say that she had
no fear for her happiness now that she
had obtained her wish but with her
last words the woman had disappeared
and the waters of the black lake were
flowing as smoothly as ever, over
which the swan resumed its guard.
Briskly Lula started on her jour-
ney homeward. Never had she been
so happy. Her voice echoed, merrily
through the mountain passes. Her
feet seemed scarcely to touch the
ground as she bounded along, so
blithe, so joyful did she feel. AS she
came in sight of the cottage she be-
came a little uneasy for fear her alb
sence might be discovered, but to her
relief she found that her parents had
gone to bed, and she crept quietly to
her room, carrying the old time piece
with her out of the kitchen. 1t was
still early, and for some time Lula's
mind was taken up in deciding the
important matter of which one of her
friends she would choose to be like
1t was most difficult point to settle.
Which wonld she rather be; fair OF
dark? She admired Erica's black
hair and blue eyes; but perhaps Suli-
ta's golden hair and brown eyes were
even prettier. Then there was little
Fredda, with her short upper lip and
pearly teeth-how charming she was
with her bright sparkling expression
yet she was not sure that Juanita, with
her saint-like beauty, was not more
lovely than all. 1t was doubtful
whether Lula would ever come to any
decision, if she had not suddenly re-
membered that she had once heard Os-
wald Erling say that he considered
Erica, with her long black hair, to be
the most beautiful girl in the village.
Her mind having at length been set at
ease, she began to think of how she
would feel when she was like Erica,
and how she would wear the long
black tresses when they were hers
But she was not accustomed to sit up
to SO late an hour, and soon she began
to feel drowsy and fell asleep. The
wind had risen, and each gust as il
came brought some ghastly sound,
which made Lula start up in a tremble
out of her uneasy slumber. Owls
hooted in the distant trees; bats flew
out and lowered round the windows
Tapping their wings against the glass
But above all Lula heard the despair
ing murmur, which she had heard
floating over the lake, and which now
filled her with a strange sorrowful
feeling. Then the words of warning
uttered by the spirit came back to her
and she knew that the wall was in hel
own heart, and that the virtue she was
about to Danish was making one last
appeal.
But Lula was obdurate dozed of
again SO that she might not hear. The
clock was just on the stroke of twelve
before she woke again, and then 'sht
started up with a scream of terror, fol
she had had a strange and fearful
dream. She had dreamed that at thu
appointed hour she had uttered ;
name, but it was that of Kolf Lyn, th'
miser, His dreadful name was still
ringing in her ears, and with a ghastl!
face she looked up at the clock, to Sc,
whether in her sleep she had brough
upon herself terrible doom.
1t was just on the stroke of twelve
One-two it began, and with a trem
bling voice Lula called out the nam'
of Erica. Louder and louder rose th'
despairing wall. The air seemed full
of it, and again her heart was rent b!
terrible pain. Three more strokes
The wall was dying ont in the dis
lance, and a sound as if of mockin.
laughter came nearer and nearer. TIL
last stroke, and Lula saw dark shad
ew towering above her. An icy hant
fell heavily on her face, each featur
of which was jerked out of its place
an icy clutch tore something from he
heart, and partly through the intensi
ty of the pain, and partly through tn
terror that had seized her, Lula for
time lost all sense
When she regained consciousness
she was unable to remember what ha,
happened, but memory returned t
her as she caught sight of the lon
black hair which fell in luxurian
masses over her shoulders. Runnin
excitedly to the glass, she there say
the face of Erica. With what joy di
she look at the large blue eyes, wit
their long black lashes, and her smal
rosy mouth. She smiled, and she say
the pearly teeth; she spoke, and sh
heard voice full of charm issuin