Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-31

About this time bold bar Of robbers began
to spread terror throughout the neighbor loOd;
they had broken into many Of the neighb0riny
castles, committing roobeues, and sh soting
whoever opposed them My nstghbOrs advised
me TO be on my guard, for a gentleman happen
ing to pass my village had been taken for me
and robbed on the highway, and it seemed
pretty certain that my turn would come. But
was too much taken up with my dreams TO pay
much attention to this warming.
One November eyening-it was sleeting bit
terly-l sat alone at my CRATE, piling stick after
stick Of wood on the fre, aud watching the
glowing, whlstling spirit forms into which the
wood became transformed, when suddenly |
vas aroused by loud shout, which was quickly
followed by shot.
To spring up, snatch my revolver, and rush
into the hall was the work of an instant. In the
opposite door appeared two masked figures. |
received them with two shots. One OF them re-
turned my fire without effect, the other fell, ap-
parently badly wounded, and was dragged out
by Dis Comrade, who again shot az me- through
the haf-Open door. 1 partly covered myself
with my own door, and stood ready to meet
aIOther attack. at the moment 1 became
aware that others were endeRvoring to force an
entrance at the opposite door of nv room. In
this emergency 1 thought how fortunate it
would have been if the ire were burning less
6Ilgn 1 ~ As It was, l presented distinct
Scarcely had this thought passed through my
mInd when the room became dark, and, as 1
looked In astonishmeu Ut toward the chimney, |
was startled to see that the crate and the fire
bad vanished, and in their Place stood pale
white-Tobed figure, with a lamp in one trem-
bling hand, ana shading it's flame with the
other. She was the embodied picture Of my
dreams!
After a seconds hesitation my fairy ran to
he, seIZed my hand and drew me toward the
open space in the chimney, when the enchanted
floor Instantly began to descend. Here, then,
was the key to the mystery. The whole found
alton OF the chimney, with the fire. CRATE as
cended into the tue, leaving beneath il an
opening which took us half a story lower. Be-
tween the ground floor and tn above it was
ffrRn "A,
upright, and which was vet not discoverable
either from without or within.
when we reached corner wall nv strange
rescuer again drew me to her and pushed back
bar in the wall when the square on which we
stood quickly assembled. Here, also, as in nv
room, was the secret outlet under the chimney
'hG fef ShlG xaL was s, now 50 5nagcay led
before in mortal danger, and now safe in this
quiet spot with my fairy.
Here was the apparition of nv dream! This
vas TIE being who had kissed me under the
pomegranate tree The same cOuntenance, the
same eyes, the same silent lips-and now also
again the same sudden disappearance! On
looking around could see her nowhere. But
this time what had seen was no dream; for in
6. few moments heard the alarm bell sound
from the castle tower. The entrance to this
tower also had never been able to find. It. too,
then, was only to be reached from Violas room.
Poor child! as soon as she had imagined from
the shooting that my life was in danger she her
self disclosed the protecting secret in order to
rescue me, and afterward FASTENED to signal the
danger 10 the inhabitants.
In short time heard the people nOisily ap-
preaching my residence. This was followed by
sharp skrmish Gu the verandah, ending with
shout OF victory from my good people.
TIE robbers had fled, taking with them the
dangerously wounded man who had been hit by
my bullet. Another lay dead in the courtyard.
The game keeper had stabbed him with his
butcher knife. The robber had ventured to
oppose the King of Lapland, who h al hurried
up to the support of his mighty friend the CIR,
1 he remainder Of the band were taken together
within the year.
But the faithful porter had been killed. As
the servants brought lamps, and by their light
We raised from the ground the bleeding body of
the man who had so devOtedly offered himself,
Viola began to lament like young bird stolen
from its nest. She threw herself on the ground,
and went into such parOxysms OF grief that |
began to fear for her reason.
Raising her tenderly, assured her | would
now take the place Of the protector she had lost.
Aqthis she cast her eyes down TREMENDOUSLY, bur
the tears rolled from under the long, ha!f-clOssd
lsshes. She had, then, understood nv words
Whoever can understand words can certainly
learn to speak them!
month has passed since this occurrence.
and during this time / have taskeI myself with
teaching our mortal language TO A fairy, Nv
instructions have not been without result. an
now teaching her that short sentence of oar
marriage service which ends with the words
GAS God is my help-Amen." When she can
say this sentence correctly, Viola aud | will
stand side by side at the altar, and repeat il in
tQru,- JlqyTsF|f WsfIIy