The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-01-02

She seated herself on bench outside her
ather's mill, and put her arms about her
over.
promise me-" she whispered, shat you
will not run into danger"
Certainly" answered Robert; II will not
willingly imperil life which is loved by
such as YOU"
After talking to one another for some
time, Robert kissed Gertrude, and babe her
farewell. She was anxious about him WITH
out well knowing the reason why, ana sne
at the door watching bis retreat1ng
form till it was lost in the gathering darkness.
Then with sigh she retired TO her room.
When she went to bed she could not sleep;
strange phantasies passed through her ex-
cited brain, and waking images appeared
before her eyes as in a dream, vet she
was not asleep, for she was thoroughly con
scious of her restless and wakeful con-
dition. Al one moment she thought she saw
a huge gray wolf spring upon her lover; and
then ne seemed to her to be cliuging 10 a.
cras above yawning abyss in an agony of
muscular tension, expecting momentarily
to tall into the gulf. Then she heard dstinc-
uy call from the distant f:rest, waited in at
her open window, Gertrude, Gertrude, help
me! In moment she sprang out OF bed,
slipped on her clothes, and, without well
knowing why, she hurried forth; she ran,
trembling with anxiety and fear, into the for
est that draped the mountain sides with its
sable trappings.
Shortly before midnight Robert had kept
his appointment. At the base of the pine,
on whose trunk he had laid his hand in oath.
stood the strange old miner, shaking his head
and wagging his glistening white beard.
swell done," spoke the aged man "Robert
you are punctual. Now, remember to fulfill
ftn II hon
and which must be pursued with the utmost
fidelity If the gold-herb is to be won"
81 will do my BEST" answered the hunts
man with beating heart "God Grant"
"Hist' interrupted the miner passionately.
''If you speak thus l will leave you. Now,
look due North, bow over the earth, and on
no account turn your head or utter other
words than those of the incantation."
Robert walked forward. The forest was in
tensely still. Not Leaf quivered, not grass
blade stirred. As the young man stepped
along he was unconscious whether the aged
miner followed him, and he was not permit
ted to inquire or turn his head to ascertain.
No glow worm was visible. 1t seemed to
Robert as if steps sounded behind him. and
long breaths were drawn by some one follow
Ing. He could scarcely refrain from looking.
The sweat broke out on his brow. Then he
heard mutterings and whispers among the
tree shadows, and one husky voice continued
TO chatter in suppressed tone on his left. A
cold touch on his cheek sent his blood ting
ling into his temples. Before him, through
the foliage, glittered a northern star, by which
he took his direction; but no CLEAN OF lumin-
GUS insects on the grass guided him to the
spot where the wished-for herb was to bloom.
Mocking. chirrupy laughs rang in the bushes,
as though the birds and squirrels were rdi-
O
replaced by disconsolate signs. His eyes still
fixed on the star that flashed toward him
from the horizon, saw it flicker and change
position, then disappear and again Light up.
Was it a JACKIE Lantern, misleading him? He
hurried towards it. Star it was not: but
cluster of fret flies, futtering over the grass
and glowworms deep-buried among the green
dew-moistened blades, The whisperines.
signs and various strange sounds that had ac-
companied him now ceased. But through
the arches of the forest rang a cry-Robert!
He knew the voice at once, and would have
have turned but cold breath was breathed
into his ear, and white hard, thrust over
his shoulder, pointed toward the glowworms.
Then he thought of his VOW, and of the old
mans threats. The fire-fies futtered before
him, as though singing to him in advance.
Again he heard Gertrude's cry:-"Robertw
Where are yOu~ Two forces cOntended with
one another in the young mans breast; his
love, which urged him to turn, and his greed
which impelled him to 60 forward. He felt
as though his feet were rooted to the ground.
and that heavy weights were attached to his
limbs, so that he could not move his knees
1t was as though he were endeavoring to as
cend precipice, so laborious and painful was
each motian of his fody. He heard the steps
Of his betrothed behind him.
hat
with fear. Help mew she exclaimed, stretch
ed her arms toward him, and tainted.
He heard her fall in the grass, and would
have yielded to the impulses of his better ma
ture to torn and succor her, had not the vii
lage clock in the valley at that moment
struck midnight, The last stroke found him
kneeling, and leaning forward, peering intent
ly into the rank grass, with the drops of pers-
piration from bis brow. As the chime Of the
bell ceased, before him among the herbs ap-
peared pale spot Of light like q flake of
moon, twinkling among some strawberry
leaves. Immediately all anxiety left his
breast and was replaced by joyful expecta-
ton. He thought over the words he had to
repeat, and a husky voice whispered them
slowly into his ear. He stopped forward over
the Pickering light and said in low tone -
Thrice in seven years i bloom
In the silent forests gloom,
Blossom golden, starry bright,
Bursting at the turn Of night.
Then the light stealthily rose above the
leaves, and Robert discerned delicate pellu-
cid green stem, sustaining flower bud like
that OF the Grass OF Parnassus. The delicate
leaves began to unfurl and to fold back, and
silver drops to fall OFF: at one time ii was
more like bubbling fountain than flower:
the clear green stalk seemed to be a rising
column of luminous fluid which foamed into
brilliant light at the summit, and then scat
tered itself in a rain of spangling drops. At
another time, however, the shape of the op-
ening leaves was perfectly distinguishabie,
the delicate petals unfurling displayed the
antners blazing with golden light, and form
ing rapidly 6idening ring of glory.
Presently, from the heart of the flower a
face looked up at Roberta face OF superhu-
around the templesI and luminous blood
shooting through the transparent veins.
Slowly the whole head developed out of the
centre Of the flower, then the breast and
arms disengaged themselves, and Robert
knelt before nymph OF peerless beauty, in a,
trance of rapture, and without trace OF his
former tear and anxiety remaining in his
bosom. Her hand beckoned him to follow,
and he moved after her readily, till they stood
on the edge of precipice that descended in
to a frighttul chasm, deep 10 the bowels of the
mountain. The beautiful being beckonkd
him on. Her lips moved, and though no
words sounded in his ears, yet the words
formed themselves in his soul: "Hast thou
courage and love? Then follow me into the
abyss"
The light from her robes streamed down
the chasm, irradiating the rough crags and
Illuminating their interiors, SO that the young
man could see through them into a land OF
wonder, where lay plains of malachite, out
OF which grew grew metallic trees, glisten-
Ing with drops of gold and silver; where
precious stones Of countless tints and colors
strewed the soil, and streams of LIQUID crys-
tai loaned over rocks of amethyst and las
par. The nix smiled at Robert and again
words formed themselves within him: s.Fol.
low me to my land of wonder" Then She
wound her beautiful arms around him. kiss
ed his burning lips, and forgetful of Ger
trude and of home, he leaped with her into
the gulf
Next morning, a stray wood cutter travers-
ing the forest, passed near the spot. Hold"
said he what is that lying in the grass ?"
He found Gertrude lying with her face to the
earth, and her arms extended to wards the
precipices to the north. She was pale and
unconscious. The dew had saturated her
long hair and drenched her clothing. The
old man bore her gently to the mill. She Law
long in fever, and, on her recovery to health.
it was found that the shock she had sustained
had disturbed her intellect. Where was Rob
ertp No one knew; he was sought in all d.
rections, but was not found. Gertrude was