Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-08-01

delight of her life, the young hunter
and guide. Gustavus FrieL
Every one knew and liked Gustavus.
Tall. straight and handsome. with
flashing brown eyes, and laugh as
frank as child's. he was the favorite
| of the canton, and there was not girl
within its bounds who would not have
teen proud to plight her troth with
him. Gustavus, however, cared little
for the Obgadin maidens. He would
far rather chase the chamois up the
mountain side, or guide travellers
through its dangerous passes, than
spend his time with the finest of the
lmaids of the hamlet His mother
often said:
my son, when wilt thou bring me
home daughter and thyself wife?"
And Gustavus, smiling and pressing
kiss on her forehead. would answer:
when 1 find a maid as good as
thee, mother; but l want no idle.
shrill- voiced wife to disturb our quiet
home"
But one day his mother said, more
sadly and seriously than ever before:
'Gustavus, am growing old and
feeble. I can no longer make and
mend thy clothes and keep our home.
Thou must have a wife. Promise me
that at the fete next week thou wilt
choose one from among the maidens
there"
Gustavus reluctantly gave her the
desired promise. but it weighed heav-
lily upon him. He could think OF
nothing else afterward, and, the more
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 groaning: "Oh, that some
wise man would make this choice for
me!'
A moment after he looked up and
saw, as if in answer to his wish. the
wizard approaching him. "Why." he
exclaimed to himself. Ibid 1 not think
of him before? Surely he, if any one.
can help me-" Then. with throbbing
heart, Gustavus sprang up and ad-
vanced 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 a dangerous mountain excur-
sion.
And now his sympathetic question:
''Nhy, what's troubling you, my
boy?" opened the way for Gustavus to
pour out all his perplexity, ending his
recital with the question: "Canst
thou not help me to choose a good
wife, who will make my life happy,
from the maidens at the tete next
| week."
The wizard smiled sympathetically,
and then thought in silence little
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 tete. but you may fail to recog-
nize it. However, if you will come to
me tomorrow l will give a 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. where he
found Marie sitting by the spring.
Instead of her usual sunshiny smile,
tiny tear-drops stood in her eyes, and
there was 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 tete next week, but have no
pretty ornaments to wear. and
then" The long curtains dropped
low over her shining eyes, and the
sweet voice sank almost to a whisper
-''the good mother says none of the
young men will care to dance with
me, for can not talk and laugh with
them as other maidens My heart
beats fast if they do but glance toward
me, and l know not what to say, and
so"-here tear slipped from under
the long eyelashes-''my mother says
l had better not 60"
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