Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-16
THE WITCH'S WARMING:
WRITTEN FOR THE p1sPArcH.l ]

waterfall, which rushes down the mountain
into the valley below. 1t is said that in olden
times, long before the memory of any now
living, these two peaks were twin brothers
who loved each other with such devotion
that they shared every pleasure, and If one
wept the other wept with him. The brothers
were as beautiful as the day. They were
tall, slender and very strong. Their mother,
the Countess, looked with pride at her
manly boys, and as she stroked their golden
curls she said:
"Andrew and Marion, my dear sons, you
will be so renowned that even the stones
will talk about you"
The brothers belonged to a royal family,
and they owned many castles among the
mountains which they so much loved.
One day the two brothers were hunting
along the edge of a precipice for bear
which had robbed their hocks They heard
the low growl of the animal, and drawing
near, Andrew was about to shoot his arrow,
when from thicket near by, flew dart,
which pierced the animals side. AT the
same moment a merry laugh sounded. The
wounded beast with an angry roar rushed
into the thicket.
''We must hurry to the rescue, for am
sure that was a child's laugh" cried Marion,
as he ran forward, and with q single shot
laid the bear dead before him.
'sWhat pity that my first shot did not
kill him" said a sweet, clear voice, and
then from out the bushes stepped beautl-
full maiden wearing short, red dress ana a
white cap, under which her golden hair
streamed over her shoulders. Her eyes
were deep blue, shaded by long lashes and
her skin was white and fair. For moment
the three gazed at her in astonishment, then
Andrew asked:
care you little forest fairy, or witch,
disguised so as to allure us into your den?'
81 am NEITHER" was the reply; 81 have
lived all my life with my grandfather oa
the other side of the mountain. To-day, for
the first time, have permission to leave
our park and wander where 1 please. But
now evening is approaching and must
hasten home.
With these words the little stranger
sprang lightly through the bushes, and soon
disappeared from sight. For many days the
brothers talked continually of the beautiful
maiden whom they had met in the forest.
But although they went often to the place
where they had seen tine fairy, as they called
the little girl, they waited in vain for her.
Ore stormy night in winter, as Andrew
and Marion sat with their mother near the
bright fire blazing on the hearth, they heard,
above the moaning of the wind, low, wall
ing sound, as if some one were in deep dis
tress. Throwing open the door, they saw
crouching against the castle wall, the little
fairy about whom they had thought and
talked so much. The kind mother gently
lifted the child in her arms and tenderly
carried her into the warm room. When her
sobs had ceased, and the little stranger was
resting comfortably, the Countess said:
''Tell me, my child, what brings you here
this stormy night, and why have you left
your home?'
Urlanda, for so the little girl was named,
looked sad again and replied:
''Three days ago my good grandfather, the
only friend have in the world, died, and
the servants all fed from the castle, and 1
to 90. Then remembered the kind faces
of your sons, whom 1 once met in the mount
ain, and thought if could find them, they
would befriend me. 1 saw the light OF your
fire cleaning through the darkness, and
thought that my troubles were at an end;
but although knocked at the gate as loud
lv as I,could no one seemed to hear me, and
L concluded that l must perish out in the
cold"
'eNow you shall stay with us, and be our
sister, cried Andrew and Marion in chorus.
eyes, my dear child, you shall stay with
with US and be my daughter, and shall
teach YOU to spin"
seBut have already learned to spin" :"
said Urlanda,' for the fairies, knowing that
was motherless, taught me that art, and
you and shall spend many pleasant hours
together over our spinning wheels That
evening the little company in the castle was
very cheerful, and each one thought of the
happy days that were in store for them; for
the countess had always craved q daughter
and the boys had longed for sister. The
next morning, when Urianda with her
newly adopted brothers, had gone for a
walk in the forest, an ugly old woman, with
hideous green eyes, entered the bedroom of
the countess, and in shrill voice said:
"Gracious lady, last night you received |
the beautiful Urlanda into your home. If |
you love your sons, and do not wish great |
trouble to come to them, you will send |
away this girl at once. For mark my words, |
if she remains here, she will bring sorrow to |
you ALL
Then. with a horrible laugh, the witch |
departed, while the Countess, frightened |
and astonished, wondered over her words. |
The mother would have willingly made any |
sacrifice for her sons; but she would not |
readily believe that so fair a creature as |
Urlanda could ever cause sorrow, and |
she was unwilling to drive the lonely |
girl from tue only home she had. But when |
the mother was alone with her SONS she told |
them of the old woman's appearance, and of |
her warning words
'It is false" cried Marion, angrily, "our |
beautiful sister could never cause US |
any harm, and we shall prove to the old |
witch that she has not spoken truthfully."
As Andrew echoed his brothers word, |
nothing more, for the present, was said |
about the matter. But the countess deter |
mined to keep close watch on her foster |
daughter, and at the first sign Of danger to
send her away.
The years passed by, and although tho |
Countess guarded her sons with the greatest |
care, she could not see that any harm threat
ened them, and the three children seemed
very happy together. The youths grew to
strong, good men, and their adopted sister
was more beautiful even than when a child.
Then came time when each of the broth
ers wished the fair Urlanda for wife; but
the beautiful girl loved both so dearly that
and begged that they would allow her to re-
main as their sister; but the brothers would
not be satisfied with this. And now tor the
first time in their lives they began to quar-
rel, and use harsh words toward one another,
The Countess now remembered the witch's
warning, and although her daughter had
grown very dear to her, she would willingly
have sent her away in order to procure hap
piress for her sons. But it was too late;
for neither Andrew or Marion would hear
of Urlanda going away, and they declared
that they would first leave their home, and
wander in foreign lands. The little family
in the castle was no longer a bright and
happy one. The Countess grew sad and
pale, Urlanda's eyes were always red with |
weeping and the brothers were sullen and |
A |