Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-03-22

jewel and treasured in her heart. Soon
her heart became filled with these jew
els. Then il dawned upon the tender
spirit that she loved the young physi-
clan with love that was beyond the
power of words.
"As he is loved by me so would l
be loved by him. They say the witch
has marvellous beauty"-here she
laughed gleefully- perhaps it will
serve as a charm and win his heart. |
will reveal myself to him tonight,
though if he loved me would it were
for myself and not my beautys sake"
Little Alise, the blue eyed golden
haired pride of the village had caught
the fever. For days and days she
had moaned in pain. The young
physician babe the weary parents rest,
and sat himself to watch beside her
couch. He loved the innocent child
who always brought him violets in the
spring
Little Alise," he whispered, bend
ing over her, look at me, dost thou
not know meG" She shook her head
impatiently and stared wildly i'll his
face as she pushed back the damp ring
lets from her brow Suddenly she
raised herself up. Look !" she said,
who cometh in at the door1"
The physician looked, but saw no
one. None cometh in, little Alise."
Nay, canst thou not see!' said the
child, rebukingly. 1T is she. =
The physician looked again, but saw
no one. IT'S the moonlight thou seest
at the door," he said, soothingly.
Compose thyself, my child, and
SLEEP =,
It's no moonlight at the door,
she cried. IT'S my nurse; she has
come to put me to sleep. Abr sink
ing back upon her pillow, her
hand falls like a snowflake on my
burning head My sweet nursel my
sweet nursel Go not away. Stay al
ways near me-"
Now what, thought the physician,
can have entered these children's
heads that they forever rave of a
nurse with snowflake hands. Then
he stared aghast for at the other side
of the couch sat maiden with starry
eyes and tresses like the night. She
blushed as she met his gaze and pointed
arm wound round her head, sleeping
calmly.
Thy work is finished here" spoke
the maiden in silver tones. Little
Alise will soon get we'll"
THY pardon" said the physician
courteously, but thou didst not enter
by the doora"
YES, by the door," answered the
maiden, smiling.
Strange" unused the physician. Il
saw thee not"
Little Alise saw me-"
"Then thou heardest me assure her
it was the moonlight at the door, l
must have been blind indeed not to
have seen thee"
Nay, blame not thyself, good ply
sician; thou couldst not see me"
1T would seem, he said, never re-
moving his eyes from her face, there
is strange magic in thy touch. How
calmly little Alise sleeps beneath it."
There should be magic in it,"
laughed the maiden, for they call me
witch hereabouts. And, looking
archly at him, she passed out into the
night.
Nay, and is it so2' cried the physi-
clan, hurrying after her art thou
she whom they say steals mems hearts
in the moonlight"
Yea" she said demurely, IT am
she; dost thou not fear mel"
MANY would" answered the ply
sician, gazing, upon her earnestly.
but do not"
"Then thou thinkest am no witchl''
II do not know that, but do know
thou canst draw mems hearts from
their breasts, though it is by another
spell than that woven of the rays of
the moon.'"
She laughed ripplingly, and the
physician felt his heart beat madly.
Maiden" he said, II have never
seen thee before this night. l know
not who or what thou art. Strange
power must be thine, for love thee
far beyond all telling"
NAY, thou gentle man." she said,
sinking, weeping and laughing at his
feet. And dost thou love me sol"
Even soH' he cried, raising her in
his arms.
what sayest thou, beauteou:
child2" he asked tenderly, as muir
muring some low words she dropped
her head upon his breast.
She twined her arms about his
neck and looked up at him with starry
eyes, II love thee! I love thee!"
He raised one of her heavy tresses
and rapturously kissed it.
, THY tresses, love, exhale perfume
wonderfully sweet. ALL" kissing hel
) trembling lips. Thy breath is fra
/ grant as the breath of flowers. Nay
, why dost thou struggle SOL"
II feel It's growing late, l mus
| awayw
II will go with thee to thy home"
Nay" she said, breaking from him
Il go alone"
"'Tis much past midnight. Feares
! thou not meeting some foolish chur
who, installing thee for witch, vii
> do thee harm"
"None can harm me-" she laughed
4 FAREWELL"
l Stay which way lies thy homeG"
Through the forest there"
"'Tis dark and lonely way, swee