Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-01-28
THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES,

THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.
IRON THE FRENCH OF JULES sANDEAu.
/ was sixteen years old when she ap-
peared to meforthe first time. | re
member wellthat it was o beautiful
evening in May. had gone out of the
city alone. l was wandering aimlessly
across the fields dreamy and restless
without Knowing why. had been for
some time of this humor, and con.
stantly took refuge in solitude,
tsaw the sun 60 down into O sea OF
purple and gold, the shadows ascend
rom the hills to the plains. The stars
shine forth one by one IN the sky.
The frogs were croaking gently by the
ponds; the trills Of the nightingale rang
out at long intervals. | heard the
leaves trembling in the night wind,
and the long grass blowing before the
breeze with a gentle and lovely sound,
The moon, white and radiant, slept
on the pearl OF a cloud bank, whence
her rays fell in floods Of silver through.
out the night. The warm air was
laden with delightful colors, and along
the b~lossoming hedges I could hear
the murmnrs OF the birds caressing
each other in their nests.
| was walking on, my soul open to
all these sweet sounds and perfumes,
when | saw n group of young girls
holding each others hands and sing.
ing together on their way to the city.
They were singing in chorus OF the
spring and OF love; their fresh voices
vibrated through the silence of the
sleeping fields like the distant sound OF
a cascade, hid behind q thicket of
hawthorn, and watched them pass
like n group OF those white, misty
shadows that gathered at night on the
lake, moving lightly together in dance,
and vanish before the RAYS of
the dawn. l could distinguish by
the starlight their brown or blonde
heads; ] cous hear the rustling of
theirgarments; | inhaled deeply the
mysterious emanations they left in
their passage, which came to me sweet
sr than the baiiny scents of the even.
Ing.
When they had disappeared I felt
myself seized with strange agitation,
and seating myself on a mound on the
edge OF the plain which spread itself
before me like an ocean of verdure, |
had my face in my hands, and ca We
myself up to deep revery, listening,
striving TO understand the confused
sounds and tlutterings that troubled
my lenses.
i know not how to express what |
felt. Ny heart was oppressed and
ready to burst. There was within il
a concealed spring which sought an
outlet, like a captive stream which
must find room for its course. |
sobhed and wept; | found | knownot
what wild delight in my tears.
How long ! remained thus | cannot
tell. When / arose | saw before me q
heavenly creature who looked at me
with a smile. A tunic whittier than
hlies fell in graceful folds from her
shoulders, and revealed on the grass,
which they scarcely touched, two bare
leet, as white as the marble OF Paros.
Her blond hair floated freely about
her neck; her cheeks had the freshness
ana brilliant color OF the flowers that
crowned her head; in the rosy alabas-
ter OF her face, her eyes shone like two
periwinkles blooming in the snow I'M
der Aprips first kisses. Her arms were
bare; n of her hands lay on her
breast, while the other beckoned to
me in friendly invitation.
stock a moment mute and motion
less, regarding her. Doubtless she
came from heaven, for her beauty had
nothing in it like that of earthly maid
ems, and l saw shining about her an
atmosphere which enwrapped her like
a radiant garment.
who are you?" I cried at length,
holding out to her my eager arms.
MY friend" she answered in a
voice sweeter than that of the night
wind, lam the fairy whom the Kingo
the Genii laid asleep in your bosom
at the hour ofyour birth: this morning
1 was sleeping there still. | have just
awakened IN your hearts first tumult.
My life is made ofyours; Iamyoursis-
ter, and shall be your companion till
the day when parted from you like the
fading Hover from its stalk. / shall
leave you in the middle OF the journey
OF which We shall have made the first
half together. Thatdayis not far dis
tant, dear friend. The rose which
blooms one mornings the image ofmy
uestiny. To love me do not wait till
you have lost me, for neither your
tears nor your regrets will bring meto
ne again when l am no more. Make
haste! My hand is furnished neither
with the magic wand or the enchanted
Ifng, and | have no ornament but the
mowers woven in my hair; but | will
ioadyou with more trea sures than ever
a friendly and prodigal fairy showered
on a royal cradle. | will set a crown
on your brow that many a king would
count himself happy to be ableto pur-
with his own; | will gather for
you O retinue such as is rarely seen
IN palaces or courts. Invisible, yet
present, | will follow you wherever
you 60; you shall feel in every place
my faithful influence; | will embalm
your couch at night; I will give my
soul 90 all nature that she may smile
on youeach morning when you awake.
only, my child, learn to recognize all
these blessings which / bring you;
seize them before they escape. learn
now to touch them without with
erlng them, how to enjoy them
Withou e%xhausting them; make pro-
vision out OF them for that latter hall
oithe journey which you must make
withour me. My friend, | have told
you that | have iittletime TO live, but
u rests with you to prolong my frail
ana precious existence. / am like
nos tender plants which must be
snemered from the sun and the wind.
my feet are tender: do not weary them
with pursuing you. The hrightne 3 of
my cneeks is more delicate than the
freshness Oftha vine that crasana Among