Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-11-21

step his walk became lighter and more
buoyant; warmer tinge flushed into
his pallid cheeks; and his eyes seemed
to have caught the radiance of the stars.
AS tor her, she went bounding and dane
ing along by his side, a very impersona-
ton of youth and health and happiness.
In their joyous progress they were never
left alone. From behind every tree they
passed, and from the tender heart of
every flower, and up from the silver
water, beamed the cherry faces of dryad
and hamadyrad, elf and water nymph,
and every face had blessing in it. As
for the river itself, it chartered and pratt
tied and laughed all the way. There
never was such a talkative river. Its
spirits were 50 high that every time the
mind murmured and rustled kindly
wish through the trees, it curved and
coquettsd and dashed up arrowy silver
pointed darts of water all round and
about the boy and girl.
At last, after wandering for long
happy while beneath the stars, they came
to lovely moss and flower carpeted dell
in the wood, overarched by branching
trees, whose foliage made wonderful
lacey pattern against the gold-spangled
blue above, and in whose lap the river
lay, clear, deep emerald pool, on whose
translucent surface bloomed numberless
water lilies, open tonight against their
custom, to do them honor, and whose
pure white blossoms, with their snowy
moon-brightened petals and golden eyes,
rose Immediately perfect from the moi
some impurities beneath, and sat queen
like among tangled network of long
pink stalks and shining green plate-like
leaves. The brother and sister stod still
by the waters brink, feeling hushed and
awed by the great calm beauty of the
place. As they stood there silent, the
boy so thin and fragile and spiritually
fair with the new radiant light as of
another world shining in his blue
eyes, and the girl in her sweet
strong beauty reminding one of the wa
ter lilies at her feet, in that they were
both SO fair and had equally sprung
from muddy impurity and flth-they
seemed emblems of spiritual and material
life. The river scarcely murmured now,
but just whispered as the trees waved
gently to the breeze: Children, / have
brought you home to the spirits who
love you. Good night, good night"
Then the children saw that they were
not alone, but that two figures, clothed
in long flowing draperies, sat beneath
the dropping trees. They were both
beautiful exceedingly, but the face of
one was as the face of an angel, glorious
with an infinite peace and joy; while
the face of the other, though beautiful,
was sad and drawn and tear-stained, as
though with passionate suffering and
pain.
"Children," said she with the sad, SOL
emn face, as they stood before them
silent and awed, eve have been waiting
for you to-night-my sister and l." and
she smiled. The girl looked at them,
and instinctively shrunk away from the
beautiful sad being VINO had spoken, ana
went close up to the other, whose eyes
were fixed beaming and smiling on her
brother.
"You are so beautiful" she said, an
look so bright and happy. Wull 20
make my boy we'll, so he can enjoy his
self in the fields and woods?"
Then the spirit with the radiant eyes
rose and beckoned to the boy. 81 have
come to take your brother home," she
said, where he will be we'll and joyful
always"
can may I no come tool" the girl
asked, putting her arm round her
brothers neck, as if to keep him with
her. ~ cannot live without him"
Her mouth quivered, and the tears
welled up big and bright into her eyes.
my child" the spirit answered softly,
"you cannot come with your brother
now-the time is not yet. Some day I
will come for you, and he will come with
me to welcome you. But now, my sister
wants you still, and has work for you to
do"
The girl turned and looked t1midly up
at the sad-eyed spirit, who said: eyes,
my child, you belong to me; my sister
has called your brother from me. In
this, he is happier than you. But will
love you too. You need not fear me, if
you will only trust me and be brave.
Will you comet" She held out her
arms to her; and the girl, touched and
attracted by the sad face, went towards
her and said, still holding her brothers
hand tightly clasped in her own: ct am
not afeard O 20, an I will trust 20; but
1 cannot give up my boyl"
"But you mustl" the sister spirit an
swered.
In spite of her glowing beauty, the
children both felt that her will was in.
exorable.
"Sister," said the boy, "yo mum let
me go; I feel her drawing me, an I can
not stay. I wull be so happy. An yo
wull come to me. Kiss me, an let me
go~
She turned and clasped him passionate.
~ in her arms. Il wull let 70 co." she
sobbed; "but it be SO hard, so hard
We was so happy together" Chambers
Journal.
The Secret Revealed.