Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1889-03-30

AZ tlic uObT, uc Sill. SsDttiIlEiN.
Compose thysclf. my child. and
sleep"
IT'S no moonlight at the door"
she cried IT'S my nurse; she has
come To put me 10 sleep. Ali" sink
ing back upon her pillow, her
hand falls like a snowflake ON my
burning head. My sweet nurse! my
sweet nurse! Go not away. Stay al
ways near me-
Now what. thought the physician.
can have entered these childcn's
heads that they forever rave of u
nurse with snowflake hands. Then
he stared agl,aSt. for ut the other side
Of the couch SIT maiden with starry
eyes and tr'ssrs like the night. She
blushcd rs she met his gaze and pointed
To little Alisc, who lay with one small
arm wound round her head, sleeping
calmly.
THY work is finished here" spoke
the maiden in silver tones Little
Alisc will soon get we'll"
THY pardon. said the physician
couricously. but thou tlilst not enter
by the door"
YES. by the door" answered the
maiden. smiling.
Strange" unused the physician. Il
saw thee not.
Little Alisc saw me-"
Then thou hcartlcSt me assure lcr
il was the moonlight ut the door. !
must have been blind indeed not TO
have seen thee"
Nay. blame no, thysclf. good ply
sicinn; thou coul,lst not see nic."
1T would seem" he said. never re-
moving his eyes from her face. there
is strange magic in thy touch. How
calmly little .tliSc sleeps beneath it.
There should bc magic in it,"
laughed the maiden. for they call me
u witch hcrcaboutS. And. looking
archly ut him, she passed out into the
night.
Nay. and is it So:' cried the physi-
elan. hurrying after her. Art thou
she whom they say steals mems hearts
in the moonlight
Yea" She S,id dcmurcly, II am
She: dost thou not fear mc."
Many WOULD" answered the ply
Stefan. gazing upon her earnestly.
But ! do not
Then thou thinkcst am no witch."
Il do not know that. but do know
thou canst draw mems hearts from
their breasts. though il is by another
spell than that woven of the rays of
the moon.
She laughed ripplingly, and the
physician iclt his heart beat madly.
Maiden. he said, Il have never
seen thee before this night. know
not who or what thou art. Strange
power must h. thine. for love thee
far beyond all telling"
Nay, thou gentle man. She said.
sinking, weeping and laughing ut his
feet. And d"st thou love me soi'
Even So" he cried, raising her in
his arms.
"What >ayc>, thou. bcau,cous
child he asked tcndcrly. rs muir.
muring some low word, She dropped
her head upon his breast.
She twincd her arms about his
neck and hooked up al linn with starry
eyes Il love thee! love thee"
lie raised one III her heavy trcsscs
CIV" ''Ii"i'iNiN ha'NN'N4 IT.
Thy ,rrs>c>. love. cXlalc Il r"rfunic
wonderfully sweet. Nh" kissing her
trembling lips. THY breath is fra.
grant "> Tie breath of flowers. Nay,
why dcsi thou S,rugglc so:"
Il feel lis growing late, | must
away"
Il will 20 with thee 10 thy home"
s.\nH .i,n...,,l l,,...5 / ~, fts,t,, l. ~,
Il go alone
lis much past midni"ht. l'carcst
thou moi meeting some foolish churl
who. mi,iaklng thee for witch. will
do thee harm.
None can harm nic. she laughed.
Farewell"
stay, which way lies thy home"
Through the forest there.
lis II dark and lonely WY. sweet
one. lc, me guide thee 10 lily home.
The moon will guide l:Ic there; sec
how bright il shines within the sky"
Nay. beloved. let mc IL least walk
a part of the way
Not one step durst thou 90.
stay yet, lac cried, "thr night is
chilly, let ne wrap uly hc;.v.. nEn,!e
round thee.
The moons r,ys v;.l ne well. ="
lis cold lire tha, Narn., i5,c.
them lac sad crave III lhuu
indeed Witch liamuu What else |
know moi who has. ,io'.n tIy lc"rt
from me"
Farewell" and she vanished
through the trees of the forest
Witch maiden" he cried. ''irll me
shall see thee again
But no voice answered him hc stood
alone under the moon.
The next night the flower maiden
accompanied him as usual ON his
rounds. but could not find an oppor-
tunity Ia speak with him alone. Long
ing Ia hear him murmur tender words
again, She waited until past her usual
h"''r' men i'N''i !" MN III
"a """h "i'lNl'' rin'.' E"a"
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