The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-04-28

muue everything LOOK Denutlful, let tue
birds sing more sweetly, the flowers
look gayer, the nearer they came to her
abode, as she had done with Elsie. But
when any one entered who wished to
rescue child from her, or to discover
her habitation, she made the forest that
surrounded itso dense, dark, and i'm
penetrable that no one dreamed OF en-
tering there, And il any person, more
courageous or desperate than the rest,
attempted this, she caused noxious api.
mails to meet them, and the ground to
become marshy, and sink beneath their
feet.
Several days the count sought his lit
tie girl, till lie had to give up in des-
pair. Loug and bitterly the parents
mourned her, and gave her up us lost.
(" If we only knew how it oil happen
edl" walled the countess "if she had
even died in my arms II would have
been better. Now how do / know but
thatshemayb be living in misery, ill.treat-
ed by cruel people2"
She wept as she spoke. Her husband
had no comfort to offer her, and they
both sat silently staring into the fire,
by the side OF which they were sitting.
A beautiful fire it was, piled high with
logs and Goals to the top Of the grate (;
and II sparkled and crackled, danced
and flickered, quite regardless of the
two sad mortals who sat gazing into its
depths. As the flames leaped in playful
fury they split large mass OF coal
which had hitherto escaped their de-
youring tongues. Opening thus in half,
it revealed tiny gray speck, which
vaulted briskly cut OF the black clump
on TO the fender. The count stopped
down 10 examine it, and found, to his
intense astonishment, that it was little
being who was complaining sorely Of
the enforced Imprisonment he had sus-
tained in the coal. The countess lifted
him gently in her hand, andasked what
allied him.
"My name is Eye, he said. al am
q gnome, and my home is underground,
very near to where the Goals are found.
We had been playing hide.and-seek one
day, l and my brothers, and 1 hid in
this piece Of coal, which had q large
crack. / had hardlyhidlen there when
l heard q great hammering. Before j
could recover my courage, or find out
what was happening, the block that in
closed me was loosened from its parent
coal. We were carried up TO earth. j
lost all consciousness after that, and
only Just now tile great heat restored
me. oh, II you would aid mo in re-
turning to my home, should be SO
grateful |" The little mite looked up to
the countess with n pleading face.
"If we can, most certainly" she
answered. "Ahi wonld that any one
could restore tous our cliildp
"why do you sigh 500" asked the
gnome.
The countess related her trouble.
The tiny gray figure sprang upon her
shoulder the better to hear what she
was saying. When she had ceased he
was silent some time.
"Your child, he said at length, ''has
got into the power Of q wicked fairy
called Winnabelle. She lives in the
wood. You cannot penetrate there, for
by her enchantment she makes it i'm
passable. Restore me to my home,
and in return will teach you to break
the spell that now parts you from your
Elsie"
The unhappy parents consented most
gladly.
Next morning the count started upon
his journey, the little man safely en-
sconced in his hat. They had not far
to go, for the counts castle lay on the
OF the mine down which the
gnome, whom lie frequently consulted
Os to the route, said he must descend,
When they had been lowered the count
asked II this was the spot.
at is, indeedl" cried the little be.
ing, gleefully. "Now wait for me
while / go for the promised charm"
The count leaned against n wall Of
coal. Itwas all so black and dismal, so
strangely warm and close down there, lie
could not tell how thetime went on, but
II seemed as II Eye had been absent
long, He almost began to fear lest he
was about to play him false, and at last
his fear was beginning to gain the mas
terry. Just then he heard the gnome
toward him.
"I'm coming, he said. "Sorry-to
have kept-you so-long; but-it's q
yreat-load for-me, and / had-some
little trouble-to find one, THEY'RE
rather rare stones-and in great request.
Lift me up; can't jump with it in my
hands,"
"see here, " he went on, when his re.
quest had been complied with, and lie
lad regained breath; "here is o pre-
rious stone, called a sapphire. II has
been wrought with great exertion and
care by our slaves. This stone frees
from all enchantment. Used with sin
gleness OF heart and faith, you can not
fail to succeed in your quest. Adieu.
The gnome Eyes good wishes and graf
itude follow you"
The count returned home, holding his
treasure-the preciousblue stone-care-
fully in his hand. Accompanied by his
wife, he set out at once into the wood,
their hearts beating high with expecta-
lion. The sapphire guided them In tho
they should take by flashes Of
increased light. When they neared the
dense forest, usually SO impenetrable, It
all changed into fair woodland paths at
sight Of the stone, and the anxious pa
rents passed in safety TO the marble
house. They entered, turning neither
to right nor left. They did not stay to
admire It's beauties, but walked straight
10 the throne.room, where Winnabelle
sat in state, surrounded by the child
When she saw thecount and countess
come in she stared in amazed anger.
Hardly had the count opened his hand