The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-08-30
A VANISHING EFFECT.

Two persons-a man and girl
were walking slowly down a pictur
esque and PERCEPTIONS path beside
mountain tarn, that was set like
glistening purple gem deep in ridg'
of emerald wood, and among peaks, al
gold in the summer sunshine.
The girl was trim, sedate anC
pretty young creature, with the calm
features of a Madonna, large and med
itative dark eyes, and dark hair that
was smoothly knotted beneath grace
full alpine hat. Her neat figure was
clothed in some serviceably gray fabric
and her small feet were strongly shod.
She carried, too, fanciful staff, and a
leathern strap crossed one pretty Shout
der, and supported leathern bag at
her slim waist Altogether there was
something about her that suggested the
scrupulous and the Independent, and
perhaps also the prim and the opinion
ated
Her companion was tall and blonde
and muscular, with dreamy brown eyes
and womanish chin. His luxurious
moustache was fastidiously waxed and
perfumed, and he wore exceedingly
modish garments, and he had the in
definably irreproachable presence of a
parsonage whom society delighted to
favor
As the two slowly descended, chat
ting in desultory and harmonious
fashion, the young man abruptly stop
ped, with an expression of sudden and
intense interest in those dreamy eyes,
which were fixed toward little hollow
beneath them.
''Who is she, Annie? do you knowp-
that lady on the bank below usP" he
asked the girl beside him.
She glanced in the direction indicat-
ed, but she perceived only an empty
green hollow, blank wall of rustling
leaves, and a solitary wild bird perch
ed in songless silence on huge bare
boulder.
''Why, Al, see nobody at ALL" she
said.
''You did not see her because she has
gone. She vanished, he murmured,
with regret that was almost gro
tesque, 'slike vision, or a figure in
mirage. / shall wonder presently do |
beautiful genii inhabit these unscaled |
peaks and unexplored forests, or if |
there be some enchanting naiad of the
tarn to allure and elude the sight"
Annie drew her madonna brows to-
gether in pretty frown of distaste at
his little rhapsody; she was much too
prim and practical to encourage any
proclivities for exaggerated sentiment
or enthusiasm of fancy.
''And / should wonder presently if
your wits have gone wandering" she
said in her clear and placid tones. 81
am really inclined to doubt that you
saw anybody"
''Ah! but l did, indeed. And there
she is again, he returned; lifting his
large soft hand with an admonitory
gesture toward sunny gap in the
shadowy frs, ''Do you not see her
now? She has come-and again gone"
he concluded, so disappointedly that
the girl frowned again, and with the
least perceptible scorn.
81 saw only an ordinary mortal
dressed rather elegantly in vanishing
effects of blue and yellow" she said,
in her quiet and uncompromising way
II fear you will be obliged to en-
tighten me-" he remarked pleasantly.
II do not conceive what you mean by !
wears.
81 mean" she instructed him, the ,
frown changing to smile, "that the {
fabric itself is shot and shaded with :
colors that brighten or fade $
away in dnerent lights. And she |
said, playfully, ''your mysterious ram |
bier among the frs yonder seems not g
mike the colors she wears-she APP t
pears only to vanish and then appear c
again. But | honestly believe, AL, /
hat her vanishing effects have be- f
YOU"
He checked her playful raillery with a
mother gesture of his soft and shapely b
land. h
There she is again." he said, in a
ort of ecstatic whisper, ''did you ever h
,ehold any human thing so fairP"
And she was fair indeed - this h
TRANCE stroller-with her perfect face, V
Ter eyes of dazzling blue, her stately il
md slender shape. Her golden hair d
Uttered and cleaned beneath an i'm h
nense white hat as she stood there,
lalf in the shadow, half in the sun h
hine; and in the shade and the light h
Ter marvellous dress shimmered with II
fleeting tints of azure and %
mber, of jasper red and peacock 81
-reen. As yet she was not aware of
heir proqinquity, and as she paused, M
azing down into the deep, glistening a.
axe, she slowly warbled cs
81 would be mermaid fair; bt
would sing to myself the whole of the day; Il,
nth comb of pearl would comb my hair; u.
nd still as l combed would sing and say, hi
That is it loves me? who loves not me?" re
AS she sung, Alfred Luray regarded yc
er with look so intent, so absorbed hi
nd SO admiring, that the girl beside SIX
i'm sighed unconsciously. dr.
''Come, Al, let us CO." she said ne
IDLY. 81 dare say we shall meet
er at the hotel, or somewhere about ar
arnwold village. And | suppose an
all be compelled to recognize her as tu
/ old acquaintance" she admitted re- co