The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1877-11-29

hlm now, since, ~ ] hare said, he had
given up going 10 church, and iAuerly
also coming expressly to visit heFi bnt
each time she did sec him, he looked
poorer and wilder than before,
Il was on Saturday nlgbt thai be was
to meet kobold to be initiated 10 The Sc.
eFet Of the gold. tie hsd TO pass Bea.
lrix's cottage on bis way TO the lrysting
place, snd As be drew near he noticed
that her light was sllll bavnings Bea.
trix rested on Sunday, and wih the
prospect Of 8 holiday before her, she
could afford TO sit up later THAI usual
with Der, although recently her boar Of
retirement had drawn nearer than before
to the stroke Of twelve. This was the
motive for her heightened work-shs had
begun TO fear that Anton would become
utterly destitute, aud she wished TO save
him the degradation OF begging his bread
from door to door, by lsyiug ufa little
hoard for him.
Whilst she piled her bobbins with this
benevolent purpose-thinking regretfully
Of bygone Saturday nights eheered with
antioipations Of seeing her lover, reyer-
ent aud respected at the church on the
mou ow--Auton thought of her In very
different manner.
Am not fool, be said, TO throw my
self away upon so poor girl? There is
not princess in all Europe for whom !
shall not be worthy match when ] am
master Of my wealth. Beatrix IL a good
grill will not break her heart. Shall !
stop, aud bid her cease from her absurd
induslry--dazzle her with revelation Of
the riches in store for me2 But no, it
will be better 10 walt and see how feel
when | get them. will not commit
myself. Sill Twill peep in at her as /
pass-it is long since have seen her.
he peeped in through the cottage win
dow, but drew back in alarm when Bea-
trix raised her head. She had got a
glimpse OF his face, however, and sighed
to think how haggard II, once SO hand
some, had become-how little love for
her there seemed left in it.
She put away her work, said her sad
prayer and went TO bed, whist Anton
hurried on to meet the goblin.
Again Kobold was true to bis word.
He led Anton into a yaulted ball that
blazed with gold. The fretted roof and
the floor were of native gold; the col
umns of the corridor that stretched away
mot into gloom, but into unfsding bril-
lance, reflected from some invisib le
source of light-were of glittering quartz
inclosing, not nuggets, but huge block OF
gold, which CLEANED through them like
gold fish through crystalline water, or
rather like suns radiating dazzling splen-
dor through most pelucid summer air
Anton now fairly lost his lead, and
danced with delight. When he came TO
himself, he was lying Outside the noun
tain at the place of tryst. The Sunday
morning sunshine had awoke him. II
seemed pale and cold in comparison with
the subterranean radiance which flashed
back upon his memory. At the thought
of that, he arose from his hard couch,
and leaped again for joy, although his
heart sank for moment when he re.
membered that, after all, he had forgotten
to secure the clue.
But what matters that9 be said. Ko'
bold will give 1t to me when meet him
here again tonight.
He had forgotten also that the goblin
had promised to meet him there the NIGH
before for the last time.
The bell was Ginning its silyery Come
to prayers when Anton passed the
church on bis way home. Worshiperi
were trooping in; amongst them Beatrix
on whose kind face shame struggled with
pity when she acknowledged the saluta
ton Of her disreputable lover.
Ha, hal thought Anton, the proud
mink will be glad, If let her, to wor
ship at my feet tomorrow sticking hel
pins into paltry, penny-winning pillow
when 1 have but to prick the ground toi
the gold to gush up in streams unstanch
able.
At midnight Anton was again al tht
trysting place. Less and less patiently
be waited; but no Kobold came. More
aud more despairingly he shouted
Kobold, Kobold the clew, the clew
AT last a mocking voice, which sound
ed as If it came from miles away, replied
| showed thee the gold; promisot
not the clue.
A peal Of far.oG scorntul laughter fol
lowed, and then again the stars shone ST.
lently upon the silent mountains.
For time Anton wandered like al
Azszel in the wilderness. At last hl
crswled, almost naked, and cold anC
hungry, to The threshold Of The cottage o
Beatrix's mother. The plying woman
took him in. When mother and dsugh
ter had nursed him into sanity once mor'
Of mind and body, BeAtrix gave him
pick aud shovel, drill and powder
horn, which she had purchased out Of be
savings from the earning of her despiset
lace pillow. He once more descended
into the bowels Of the earth, bnt only I
blast aud pry out homely iron.stone; an
/ Koboid must have been little inclined 70
mockiug laughter bless be chose 10 lie
ride himself-ii be knew what pair 0
peaceful, joyous hearts were beating I
unison 10 Anton's hut, when the noun
tain church bell chimed on the 1rsi Sun
day after tie humbled miner had proud
/ ly won, as prize too good for hin, az