Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-08-07

ucoiTcu pTOiuioc, put ~ WciB htu hOdN-
lily upon him. He could think OF
nothing else afterward, and, the moro
he pondered, the heavier his heart
grew. At last he seized his gun and
went out on the mountain. but the
perplexing question followed him,
until. in despair, he threw himself on
the ground grooming: "Oh, that some
wise man would make this choice for
MEL
A moment after he looked up and
saw, MS il in answer to his wish. the
wizard approaching him. why" he
exclaimed TO himself, Ibid not think
OF him beforep Surely he, If any one
can help me-" Then, with throbbing
heart. Gustavus sprang up and ad-
vancod to meet him. The wizard
greeted Gustavus warmly, for he felt a
strong friendship for the young guide
who had taken him safely through
many dangerous mountain excur-
sion.
And now his sympathetic question;
"Why. what's troubling you, my
boyP" opened the way for Gustavus to
pour out all his perplexity, ending his
recital with the question: ''Canst
thou not help me to choose good
wife, who will make my life happy,
from the maidens at the Jete next
weekp"
The wizard smiled alphabetically,
I'd hat thA,nht In GLANCE Hffln
while before he answered:
"If pure true heart is united to a
true, pure heart, both lives must be
happy. There will be one such heart
at the Jete, but you may fail to recog-
nize it. However, If you will come to
me tomorrow will give charm that
will show you this heart
Here was comfort, indeed, and
with light heart Gustavus thanked
his friend and bounded forward. Left
alone, the wizard continued down the
mountain side until he came in sight
of the Widow Neur's chalet. whore he
found Marie sitting by the spring.
Instead of her usual sunshiny smile,
tiny tear-drops stood in her eyes, and
there was a grieved look about her
rosy lips that made him wish to COM
fort her.
"What is the matter little one?' he
asked, gently.
"Oh, SIR" she said, II want to see
the great Jete next week, but l have no
pretty ornaments to wear, and
then" The long curtains dropped
low over her shining eyes, and the
sweet voice sank almost to whisper
1.-THE good mother says none of the
young men will care to dance with
me, for l can not talk and laugh with
them as other maidcns. My heart
beats fast If they do but glance toward
me, and / know not what to say, and
so"-here tear slipped from under
the long eyelashes-''my mother says
l had better not go. )"
Courage little one" the wizard
answered. Tell your mother l am
going to lend you silver belt to wear,
and that my knowledge tells me that
the bravest. handsomest youth in all
the land will dance with you quite joy
fully" The happy Marie, as Gusta-
vus had done, thanked the wizard and
ran off to tell the wonderful news to
her mother.
Early next morning Gustavus went
for his charm. He found the wizard
waiting for him, and, taking him into
his strange room, the wise man said
smiling, as he had the day before, half
quizzically, half alphabetically:
Here's the charm, my good fellow
You see it is magic ring. Put it
on before you go to the .fete, and be
sure you dance with every maiden
there. When you place your arm
about the waist of the one whose
heart is true and good strange feeling
will run through you and your hand
will cling to her."
Gustavus, greatly wondering.
thanked the wizard and slipped on the
ring. 1t was a curious circlet of iron,
with fiat extension, which the wiz
ard babe him wear pointing toward
his palm.
When the fete day came Gustavus
was there among the other young men,
eager to try his charm. All the maid
ems of Obgadin canton were there also,
and on the outskirts of one OF the gay
crowds little Marie lowered timidly
beside her mother.
''Why didst thou come, MarieP"
asked one of the girls; "didst thou think
any youth would want to dance with a
mouse to-dayp"
. Then, seeing the quick tears trem-
bling on Marie's lashes, she added,
more kindly:
'Ah! we'll, thou canst at least see
our good times; and what lovely
belt thou hast Marie! Where didst
thou get itp"
THE wizard gave it her." the Widow
Neur answered, shortly, for she did
not relish the girls tone.
"Come, Marie, let us sit here under
the trees and watch the dance"
Marie nestled close to her mothers
youth asked her TO dance, her head
dropped lower and lower, and she
wondered II the wise man had made a
mistake.
In the meantime Gustavus danced
with one after another of the maids;
but though he watched with intense
eagerness. not once did he feel the
strange thrill for which he waited.
II have danced with them ALL" he
said at last to himself, except thst
shy one over there; surely she is not the
girl. But, as / promised to dance with
every one, l will try her, too. He
asked her name OF one of the girls, and
then, going to her. said simply:
Marie, wilt thou dance with mep"
Astonishment and delight made
Marie for moment forget her shy
ness. The wizards words had come
true! Rising quickly, she said, smil.
ing upon him, and showing her beauti-
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