Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-08-01
THE MAGIC RING.
How the Wizard Aided In Gus.
tavus' Choice Of a Wife.

How the Wizard Aided In Gus
tavus' Choice of a Wife.
In a pretty chalet that nestled high
against the shaggy breast of Mount
Obgadin, lived the Widow Neur and
her daughter Marie. A lonely home
you would have thought it. but the fir
trees that walled SO in your ears whis-
pered good cheer to Marie. When
fierce winds came rushing down the
mountain side she knew the trees
would bend their tall heads together
and Irvine their strong arms around
her home, until robbed of his victim,
the baffied storm rushed by.
When morning broke the same
friends stood erect and stately, draw
ing aside their leaves and branches
that the sunbeams might not linger in
their soft embraces, but hasten down to
waken their favorite, Marie.
Very lovely was our little Swiss
maid, with violet eyes that now danced
and sparkled and then grew soft and
tender as little child's. Two rose-red
lips shut in her pearly teeth, and
when che smiled a tiny dimple danced
for moment on her peachy cheek.
Her hair chung in caressing curls
around her low, white forehead and
fell in ripples of golden sunshine far
below her slender waist. And her
voice All! that was Marie's greatest
charm. sSo't and clear, not discord-
ant note marred its sweet, pure har.
mony. Sometimes as she sang at hel
evening devotions the herdsmen fal
below in the valley, catching faint
notes of her song, looked up and
crossed themselves, half believing they
heard the echo Of an angel choir.
But very few knew of Marie's
beauty, for when she went with hel
mother on one of her rare visits tc
the hamlet below she brushed hel
wavy hair straight and smooth back
from her forehead, and braided it il
long, stiff plaits which fell down hel
back. Her eyelids, with their curtains
of long, silky lashes dropped over he,
dancing eyes until one looked in vair
for a glimpse of their beauty. Hel
red lips shut firmly over the pearl!
teeth, while the dimple hid itself reso
lutely away from sight, and her swee
voice, frightened at its own sound 81
far from home, grew faint and husky
until in this shrinking, sober damse
walking so timidly beside the Widow
Neur you would have found it hare
to recognize the beautiful Marie Of tn,
mountains.
So it happened that only her mothe
and one other person knew how goo'
and sweet and how fair Marie was.
This other was stranger who cam
from far-away country and spent hi
summers in little house on tn
mountains very top. The simple vii
layers called him 1.-THE wizard" am
told strange tales of how he spen
whole nights gazing at the heaven
through long tube; that he coul
foreteii TO ali hour when the sun wenl
cover itself with darkness; but. strang
est of all, he had little wire stretche
for miles over hills and valleys to tn
great city. This wire talked to hir
In queer language which no one els
could understand. "Tick, tick, tick
ETY. tick" it said, and told him thing
that happened miles and miles away
Marie did not know how wise tn
wizard was when he came to her HON
one morning and asked for drink {
water. He followed her to the sprin
when she went for it, and stopped b
the way to break open curious stone
He showed Marie how queerly marke
il was inside, and then told her a stor
about it. The usually timid Made
was SO interested that she forgot to :
frightened, and thus strong frient
ship between the two was begun.
After this the wizard often came
the widows chalet for rest and n
frcshmeut on his long FAMILIES, an
Marie unconsciously revealed he
charms to him, one by one. until. Ion
before the first summer was ende'
the stranger knew that no girl in a
the canton could be compared wit
Marie.
On the other side Of the mountai
from the Widow Neur's home live
another widow. She, too, had but or
child, a son. who was the pride ar
delight of her life, the young hunt'
and guide, Gustavus FrieL
Every one knew and liked Gustavu
Tall. straight and handsome, Wit
flashing brown eyes, and a laugh
frank as a child's. he was the favcri
of the canton, and there was not 81
within its bounds who would not ha'
been proud to plight her troth wi
him. Gustavus, however. cared lit
for the obyadin maidens- He won
far rather chase the chamois up u
mountain side, or guide travele
through its dangerous passes, thi