The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-11-21

and happiness. In their joyous progress
they were never left alone. From be
hind every tree they passed, and from
the tender heart of every flower, and
up from the silver water, beamed the
CHEEKY faces of dryad and hamadryad
elf and water nymph, and every face
had blessing in it. AS for the river
itself. it chartered and prattled anG
laughed all the. way. There never wa
such talkative river. Its spirits were
SO high that every time the wind mur
INJURED and rustled kindly wish
through the trees, it curved and coquet
ted 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
a 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 dc
them honor, and whose pure white
blossoms, with their snowy moon
frightened petals and golden eyes, rose
Immediately perfect from the noisome
Impurities beneath, and sat queen-like
among tangled net work of long pink
stalks and shining green plate-like
leaves The brother and sister stood
still by the water 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
water lilies at her feet, in that they
were both so fair and had equaHysprung
from muddy impurity and flth-they
seemed emblems of spiritual and ma
terial life. The river scarcely mur-
INJURED now, but just whispered as the
trees waved gently in the breeze
!" Children, | have brought you home to
the spirits who love you. Goodnight,
goodnight" Then the. children saw
that they were not alone, but that two
figures clothed in long flowing draperies
sat beneath the dropping trees. They
we're 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 passion.
ate suffering and pain. 1
Children" said she with the sad
solemn face, as they stood before them
silent and awed, "we 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 who had spoken
and went close up to the other, whose
eyes were fixed beaming and smiling on
her brother.
"Yo are SO beautiful" she said, an
look so bright and happy. Wull ye
make my boy we'll, SO he can enjoy his
self to the fields and woodsp
Then the spirit with the radiant eyes
rose and beckoned to the boy. =" have
come to take your brother home," she
said, "where he will be well and joyfu
always"
"An' may 1 no come tooF' the girl
asked, putting her arm round hel
brothers neck, as if to keep him with
her. al cannot live withouten him p
Her mouth quivered, and the tear
welled up big and bright into her eyes
"My child" the spirit answered
softly, "you cannot come with YOU
brother now-the time is not yet. Some
day 1 will come for you, and he will
come with me to welcome you. Bu
now, my sister wants you still, and ha'
work for you to do"
The girl turned and looked timidly
up at the sad eyed spirit, who said
"Yes, my child, you belong to me; m!
sister has called your brother from me
In that, he is happier than you. But
will love you too. You need not fea
me, if you will only trust me and b
brave. Will you comef She held ou
her arms to her; and the girl, touches
and attracted by the sad face. wen
towards her and said, still holding he
brothers. hand tightly clasped in he
own: "I am not afeared O. 90, an
will trust yo; but cannot give up m
boyp .,, AZ, ....,. -; :;
answered.
In spite of her glowing beauty, tn
children both felt that her will ws
inexorable. r.:
Sister," said the boy, "yo mum Il
me go I feel her drawing me, an 1 cal
not say. Iwull be SO happy. An y
will come to me. Kiss me, an let n
go!"
She turned and clasped him passion
ately in her arms. 81 wull let 20 go,
she sobbed but it be SO hard, so hare
We was so happy together"
"I be SO. tiredp" he murmured as
leaned supported in her arms, with b
head against her breast, aud his Iii
close to hers.
The radiant-eyed spirit approacht
them and took the boy by the han
Come" she said gently. will tai
you home"
"My boy! my boy" cried the gi
piteously; and for moment, as 81
held him fast in her strong young arm
it seemed as though her love were de,
enough to keep him in spite of Il
spirits call.
"Sister, let me go. I wull cor
again to yo, an fetch yo."
Then with a moan, she loosed b
arms and kissed him and let him G
Then the spirit wrapped the boy in b
garments, and kissed him solemnly
brow and eyes and mouth and behol
beneath the power of that embrace, l
face frightened into health and life a
beauty; and the immortal radiance tn
, breathed from the spirits form f
upon him and glorifed him. And
his sister gazed wonderingly at him,
spirit took him by the hand, and tn
disappeared from her sight. Then S
: with the saddened eyes came to the G
/: and bent over her as she wept, a
whispered, laying her hand on her bro
r "Be brave, and fear notl" and then s
3 too vanished.
s 1t was morning, and the sun v
, peering curiously in at the window
the queer tumble-down house in Mi
g end. And this was the sight it saw.
r The father was still breathing heav
on the floor; and on the bed, the brotl
\