Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-03-17
THE FOUNTAIN.


people came into the moonlight, and
leaned over the little chain that cncircled
the small fountain, into whose basin a
marble Hcbe continually emptied her
ever -brimming cup.
As the girl looked down into the water
her fingers trifled with lily, and she re-
marked that one of the leaves had been
broken. 1t is strange how we notice
such small things when we are thinking
of greater ones; yes, and remember them,
too. Ever after Lima Michel remembered
that broken lily leaf, and the tluttcring
reflection in the water, and the scent of
the roses, and the few wind blown drops
that were cast rpon her neck from the
cup of the Hcbc at the fountain in that
old garden at Munich, on that sweet
midsummer night.
The young man stood very near her
He had sweet, gravcfacc, and eyes that
were as soft and dark as a gazelles.
They were not unlike, these two; both
were spirituclle-both were dark, both
were romantic. The tic of blood was
between them, for they were cousins
though, as the Scotch folk say, "far
away cousins" and bearing different
names. They had been brought up un-
der one roof, and Lima Michel's mother
had been all the mother the little orphan
Henri Klcber knew. When, after little
silence, she turned her eyes toward him,
she looked into his without reserve, just
as sister might.
ut is cruel of grandpapa," she said.
'It is very cruel, Henri. These old peo-
pie think only of money. Why can they
not let us have peace, when we could be
so happy? 1t is such an absurd idea.
You and to marry each.othcr! We are
like brother and sister Nothing can
change that"
''But we are not brother and sister, :"
said he; 'and even first cousins marry. |
have been thinking that"
ooh, don't, don't!" she said" Henri
for Heavens sake, don't begin to be as
bad as the rest. Be my good brother
still 1t would be frightful for us to
marry. Besides, one should fall in love
first--should not onc2 Think how alb
surd to marry without that"
"But | like you so much" said Henri.
"Dear Cousin Lima, let us talk about it, p"
81 will not" said she. eff you desire
to quarrel, you can talk about such fool
ish fancies, not else. OF course, you like
me; of course, ] like you, and that is just
why it can't be, Grandpapa ought to be
ashamed of himself"
She paused moment, then turned her
lips toward her cousin.
"Give me kind kiss, brother Henri,
said she, "and never, never, never speak
Of this absurdity again. AS for marry
ing, shall never marry any one. Why
should I, when detest the thought~
Henri gave little sigh.
~ shall never marry either, Cousin
Lima" said he; "but you see we are not
brother and sister, You can't make it so
by saying So"
Then he kissed her and they walked
back into the house, where Grandpapa
Kleber and Granduncle Michel had just
settled the matrimonial prospects of these
two young cousins to their own satisfac-
ton.
The result of the young peoples REBEL
ion was quarrel.
Lima escaped very easily. 1t was only
proper for girl to be coy; but the young
man was so bcset with reproaches that he
finally defied his relatives much us Ajax
did the lightning.
In his case the lightning had the best
of it, and the end of all this was that one
fine morning Henri Klcbcr found himself
turned out into the world to seek his for
tune; and long ere his cousins black eyes
were opened upon the dawn, had left
Munich and his furious relatives behind
him.
From that day nothing was heard of
him by his friends in Munich for many q
long year.
The old people were unforgiving.
Grandfather Kleber died and left all his
money to Lima, who had already refused
two excellent matches. Grand uncle
Michel died also, and Lima became yet
richer. At last her beloved mother also
left her. She long remained Lima Michel,
though her beauty and her wealth had
brought many suitors to her door. The
love that she had thought necessary to