Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-10-19

ened work-she had begun TO fear that Anton
would become utterly destitute, and she wished
to save him the degradation of begging his
bread from door to door, by laying up little
hoard for him.
Whilst she piled her bobbins with this be-
nevolent purpose thinking regretfully of by
gone Saturday nights cheerod with anticipa-
tions of seeing her lover, reverent and re-
spected at the church ON the morrow-Anton
thought of her in very different manner.
Am l not a fool, " he said, ito throw my
self away upon so poor girl? There is not
4 princess in all Europe for whom l shall not
be n worthy match when am master of my
wealth. Nay, but Beatrix is good girl
will not break her heart. Shall l stop, and
bid her cease from her absurd industry-daz-
zle her with a revelation of the riches in store
for me ? But no, il will be better to wait and
see how feel when | get them. l will not
commit myself. Still will peep in at her as
pass--it is long since have seen her"
He peered in through the cottage window,
but drew back in alarm when Beatrix raised
her head. She had got glimpse Of his face,
however, and sighed to think how haggard it,
once so handsome, had become-how little
love for her there seemed left in it.
She put away her work, said her sad pray
ers, and went to bed, whilst Anton hurried on
to meet the goblin.
ABuln hODOlu WIS true 10 MS worn. Ilc leu
Anton into u vaulted hall that blazed with
gold The fretted roof and the floor were Of
native gold the columns of the corridor that
stretched away-not into gloom, but into un-
fading brilliance, reflected from some invisi-
| ble source of light-were Of glittering quartz,
| inclosing, not nuggets, but huge blocks of
gold, which cleaned through them like gold
fish through crystalline water, or rather like
suns radiating dazzling splendor through most
! pellucid summer air
Anton now fairly lost his head, and danced
| with delight. When he came to himself, he
was lying outside the mountain at the place of
tryst. The Sunday morning sunshine had
awoke him. 1t seemed pale and cold in com
| parison with the subterranean radiance which
flashed back upon his memory. At the thought
| of that he arose from his hard couch. and
lcaped again for joy, although his heart sunk
! for moment when he remembered that af-
ter all, he had forgotten to secure tie clew.
But what matters that - he said. "Kobold
will give it to me when | meet him here again
tonight"
He had forgotten also that the goblin had
promised TO meet him there the night before
for the LISt time.
The bell WINS Ginning its silvery Come &c
prayers when Anton passed the church on
his way home Worshippers were trooping
in; amongst them Beatrix, on whose kind
face shame struggled with pity when she ac-
| knowledged the salutation of her disreputable
looking lover.
"Ha. ha." thought Anton 1.-THE proud
mink will be glad. if l let her, to worship at
my feet Tomorrow sticking her pins into n
paltry, penny winning pillow, when I have but
to prick the ground for the gold to gush up in
streams unstanchable :"
At midnight Anton was again at the tryst-
ing-place Less and less patiently he waited
but no Kobold came. More and more des
| pairingly he shouted.
''Kobold, Kobold. the clew. the clew !"
At last mocking voice, which sounded II,
if it came from miles away, replied,
Il showed thee the gold promised not
the clew."
A peal of far-off scornful laughter followed
and then again the stars shone silently upon
the silent mountains
For time Anton wandered like an Azaze
in the wilderness. At last he crawled, almost
naked and cold aud hungry, TO the threshold
of the cottage of Beatrixs mother. The pity.
ing woman took him in. When mother anG
daughter had nursed him into sanity once
more of mind and body, BeatriX gave him
pick and shovel, a drill and powder-horn
which she had purchased out of her saving,
from the earnings of her despised lace pillow
He once more descended into the bowels OF
the earth, but only to bil,t and prize out
homely iron-stone and Kobold must have
been little inclined for mocking laughter-un
less he chose to derida himself-if he knew
what pair of peaceful, joyous hearts were
beating in unison in Anton's hut, when the
mountain church bell chimed on the first Sun.
day after the hunibled miner had proudly won
as prize too good for him. affectonately cx
ultant Beatrix for his faithful bride. -DIy q
| ReSt