The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-10-03
A Vanishing Effect.

A Vanishing Effect.
Two persons-a man aud 0 girl
were walking slowly down . pictur.
esque and precipitous path beside a
mountain tarn, that was set like q
glistening purple gem deep in ridge
OF emerald wood, and among peaks all
gold in the summer sunshine.
The girl was trim, sedate and
pretty young creature, with the calm
features of Madonna, large and med
itative dark eyes, and dark hair that
was smoothly knottel beneath grace.
full alpine hat. Her neat figure was
clothed in a serviceable gray fabric,
and her small feet were strongly shod
she carried too o fanciful staff, and q
leathern strap crossed one pretty shout.
der and supported aleathern bag at her
slim waist. Altogether there was some.
thing 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
mustache was fastidiously waxed and
perfumed, md he wore exceedingly
modish garments. and lie had the in.
definably irreproachable presence Of q
parsonage whom society delighted Ia
favor.
As the two slowly descended, chat
ting in desultory and harmonious
fashion. the young man abruptly stopped,
with an expression Of sudden and in
tense interest in those dreamy eyes,
which were fixed toward little hol-
low beneath them.
"Who is she, Annie, do you know
that lady on the bank below us?" he
asked tho girl beside him.
heglanced in the direction indicated,
but she perceived only an empty green
hollow, blank wall of rustling leaves,
and o solitary wild bird perched in song.
less silence on huge bare boulder.
why, Al, I see nobody at ALL" she
said.
"You did not see her because she is
gone. She vanished" he murmured,
with regret that was almost grotesque.
"like vision, or figure in mirage.
I 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 raphsoiy; she was much too
prim and practical to encourage any
proclivitles for exaggerated sentiment
or enthusiasm of fancy.
"And Ishall wonder presently iyour
wits have gone wandering she said, in
her clear and placid tones. 81 am really
inclined to doubt that you saw anybody.
"Ah! but I did, indeed. And there
she is again." he returned, lifting his
large soft hand with IN admonitory gest.
ure toward q sunny gap in the shadowy
frs. "Do you not sec her now? She
has come-and again gone," lie conclud-
ed, 80 disappointedly that the girl
frowned again, and with the least per-
ceptible scorn.
Il 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 eniight-
en- me" he remarked, pleasantly. lido
not conceive what you may mean by
vanishing effects in the clothes one
wears"
II mean," she instructed him, tho
trown changing to smile, "that the
fabric itself is shot and shaded with Diff
ferent colors that brighten or fade away
IN different lights. And" she said play
fully, "your mysterious rambler among
the frs yonder seems not unlike the
colors she wears-she appears only to
vanish and then appear again. But
absolutely believe, AL, that her vanish
ing effects have bewitched you."
He checked her playful rsillery by
another gesture Of his soft and shapely
hand.
"There she is again, he said in q sort
Of ecstatic whisper. "Did you ever be-
hold any human thing so fair?"
And she was fair indeed-this strange
stroller-with her perfect face, her eyes
of dazzling blue, her stately and slender
shape. Her golden hair glittcred and
CLEANED beneath an immense white hat
as she stood there, half in the shadow,
half in the sunshine: and in the shade
and the light, her marvellous dress
shimmcred with curiously feeting and
elusive tints of azure and amber, Of las.
per red and peacock green. As yet she
was not aware Of their propinquity; and
as she paused, gazing down into the
deep, glistening lake. sho slowly war;
bled:
81 would be Q mermaid fair;
would sing to myself tho whole Of the day;
With comb of pearl wOuld cOmbmy hair:
And still as combed would sing and say,
What is it loves mo! who loves not me."
As she sung, Alfred Luray rega, ded
her with look so intent, SO absorbed
and so admiring, that the girl beside
him sighed unconsciously.
"Come Al. > let us CO." she said coldly.
II dare say we shall meet her at the
hotel, or somewhere about Garnwold
village. And I suppose I shall be COM
PEELED to recognize her as an old &C.
qusintance," she admitted reluctantly,
as the fair vision again vanished.
f'Will you, indecd?" he commented
in gratified surprise.
II knew Celestia Ausley long ago"
Annie responded with new gravity.
II never liked her; and I am sorry
she has come to Garnwold."
why must every woman dislike
another who happensto he beautiful or
in any manner superior?" the young
gentleman queried laughingly.
II only dislike shalns," the girl an.
swered in her blunt and direct way,
"and agildcd sham more than all. And
I shall be sorry if Celestia ielude you,
as she has succeeded in deluding many
another who perhaps were less" she
hesitated, delicate pink aush wsver-
ing over her calm features.
!" Less what?" he inquired, amilina
still with certain indOlent equanimity