Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1885-10-29
THE WATER-WITCH

ong ago there liNe ed young peasant
named William and pretty young
maiden named Bella They loved each
other dearly and would gladly have mar
ried. but they we've poor and were forced
10 60 out TO service Tor living.
One day William told Bella thai he
was going into the wide world IN the
morrow 10 see if be could meet with any
luck
Bella wept, and William consoled her
as well as he ou.d, promising TO return
soon.
~Then said ella, "since it must lie SO
go in God name. But first We Will
share together these valuablcs which my
father lett behind him at his death.
She brought from closet lille bell,
a knife and a staff.
This little bell, said she "has the gift
OF notifying by its clear ring the friends
OF the possessor whenever be is in danger.
The knife has the power of tree NC from
enchantment whatever il touches. and The
stan guides one Whenever he wishes TO
go. | will give YOU the little hei aud The
knife and the staff will keep IN self
William thanked her and babe Eer fare,
well Bella looked after HIM with fearful
eyes till be disappeared behind the IN 'un
tains.
In the course of few days William
came 10 town in The vicinity Of a lake.
where be- overheard two ass drivers talking
about the water witch on the island in the
lake William inquired who she was.
and was I'D that she was a airy who was
richer than all the kings together Many
TeOple had gone to her abode 10 get pos.
session Of her treasure, but moi one had
ever returned
William could not yet this story out OF
his head and he made up his mind o. 20
10 the water witch and see ii hc could nol
get enough from hG- Us, 10 buy COW
aud little pig
When the ass-drvcrs heard this they
cried out with horror and tried t. keen
him back But William set oil To- the
lake and there met ferr man who look
him over 10 the island
In the cculcr of the island wa, Il lar G
pond, covered with water lilies IA full
Hover William walked around the pond
and discovered in the rushes Il h,a; in the
share OF sleeping swan with It's head
under It's wing This William thought
very remarkable, aud lac climbed int the
boat in order 10 eNan ne H. tut his feet
had no sooner touch the bottom of the
boat than the swan seemed to awake, aud
swan swiftly away from the shore.
William uttered cry OF horror, but
the swan swan on, ill the Young man
sprang into the water TO make his escape;
hut the swan drew him down with Der 10
the bottom Of the pond.
In this manner be was brought 10 the
lVr.llipu Of 10, t.l
palace OF rare beauty. built entirely of
muscleshells. A crystal staircase led TO
il, every step of which gave out musical
note as soon as the foot touched it,
The walerwitch was reclining on a
golden sofa She was dressed in sea
green silk, her long black hair reached
down 10 her feet and her face was of
that delicate red and white which distin-
cuisines the inner surface of the muscle
shell.
The young man stood entranced by her
beauty, but the water.witch rose from
her couch and bads him welcome
She led him into second apartment
which was built entirely Of pearl. and
she placed before him eight golden beak.
ers, with eight different kinds of wine
Then sue showed Inn her countless treas
ures, aud told him that all the precious
things that fell into the sea came into her
possession by means of her magical arts.
William was astonished and he said
We'll, one who is So rich is much TO he
envied IL had only thousandth part
of these great richie | should be con
tent
Half Of them shall be yours if you
wish, said the water-witCh. "Remain
with me, | will be your wife, aud you
shall be master Of all
The wine was whiring in Williams
head be forgot his promise to Bella, and
accepted the water.witch's proposal with
out the least hesitation.
She Immediately commenced preparing
q delicious repast She betook herself
TO tsh.tank In the garden, and called
out "liolla! the Miller! Hollal the
Tailor Holla! the Clerk" and so on;
and a. each cry a little fish came swim
ming toward her, which she caught in
steel net until her net was full Then
she put the fish into golden pan and
began 10 fry them.
II seemed 10 " illiam as If he heard the
fish sob while they we're FRYING. "What
is that signing in the golden PAM" he
asked.
at is tue wood signing" said the
water witch.
After a while little voices began to
whisper what is that Whispering" he
asked.
The fat Missing in the pan, " she an
swered
but now The little voices cried out
audi6ly. What is that cryg" said
William.
~1husc are crickets in the hearth, said
the water-w ten and she Immediately be
gGn 10 sing so loud that he could hear
nothing more. he now brought him the
fried fish, begged him 10 eat and went to
fetch twelve different kinds Of wine,
W lillian drew his knife from his
pocket and was about 10 begin. but
hardly had he touched the dish than the
spell Of enchGntment was broken. and the
fishes rose up and became little men
They all cried out together William,
save us If you would be saved yourself
William was aslOnished PRAY, who
are tie little peopleg" he cried out.
I'VE are men like yourself, they an-
swered "We came here TO get rich; but
the day after our marriage 10 the water
witch she changed us into fishes, aud
threw US into the great tank
William gave a spring. lie seemed to
feel himself already frying In the golden
pan, aud be was fain TO make his escape
before the water witch returned But she
met him at the door; she had heard all
She touched him with her wire net. and
changed him into frog and threw him
into the tank. Al this moment the little
bell which he wore on his neck sounded
and Bella heard the sound, though she