The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-07-09

copplce; but he found only the great
shadows of the poplars, swayed by the
winds of heaven.
The forest became silent now; it mis-
trusted Simplicity. It pressed low its
leaves, and threw dark shadows of night
on the young princes path. The danger
that threatened Flowers -the-W alter
made it melancholy; it gave no more soft
earesses, no more loving prattle.
Undlne came again to the glade, and
once more Simplicity beheld her. Wild
with longing, he pursued her. The
child, mounted on moonbeam, did not
hear the sound of his footsteps. She flew
onward, light as feather floating in the
wind. Simplicity ran, but could not
overtake her. He wept bitterly despair
filed his soul; but still he pressed on
ward, while the forest watched with
growing anxiety this insensate race. The
bushes barred his way; the thorns held
him in their sharp embrace, grimly ar
resting his progress-the entire forest
was in arms to defend its child. Still
he kept on, though the moss grew treach-
erous and slippery beneath his feet. The
branches interlaced more firmly and
faced him, immovable as wall; fallen
trunks of trees threw themselves in his
path; the rocks rolled down of their own
volition and strove to entrap him; the
insects nipped his heels; the butterflies,
brushing his eyelids with their wings,
blinded him.
Flower of-the-W Water, neither seeing
nor hearing him, still few onward. Sim
plicity, with anguish, felt that the mo-
ment was approaching when she would
again vanish, and desperate, breathless,
he dashed on.
He heard the old oaks call angrily
after him: "Why did you not tell us
that you were man? We would have
hidden away from you; we would have
refused to teach you, SO that your shad-
owed eyes would have failed to see
Flower-of-the- Water, the Undine of the
spring. You came to us with seeming
innocence, the innocence of the dumb
animals, and now today you show. us.
the spirit Of man. Look, you are crush
ing the beetles, you tear our leaves, you
break our branches; the spirit of selfish
ness is sweeping you away-you would
steal our very soul!' And the hawthorn
added: simplicity, pause in pity. If
Flower the Water should desire to
breathe the perfume of my starry bios
SONS, why not leave them to grow freely
on my branches?" And the moss said:
"Stay, Simplicity; come dream on the
velvet Of my fragrant carpet. In the
distance among the trees thou canst see
Flower-of-the- Water playing. Thou
shalt see her battle in the spring and
casting glistening pearls around her
throat. Thou canst share the joy of her
glances; stay with us; thou shalt live
and see her." And the whole forest
cried: Stay, Simplicity. A kiss will
kill thee-do not give that kiss. Dost
thou not know? The evening breeze,
our messenger, has he not told theei
Flower-of-the- Water is the celestial
flower, whose perfume is death. Alas!
poor child, her destiny is a strange one.
Have mercy, Simplicity; do not drink
her soul on her lips"
Flower of-the- Water turned and saw
Simplicity; she smiled and beckoned
him to draw near, as she said to the
forest, "Here comes my well belovedr'
Three days, three hours, three minutes
had the prince pursued her; the words
of the oaks still rumbled around him
he felt half tempted to turn and flee.
Flower-of-the-Wate already clasped his
hands; she tiptoed on her tiny feet;
her smile was reflected in the young
mans eyes.
"Thou didst long delay" murmured
she. my heart recognized thee in the
forest; l climbed on a moonbeam and I
sought thee-three days-three hours
three minutesr'
Simplicity was silent, scarcely daring
to breathe; she babe him sit by her on
the brink Of the fountain; she caressed
him with her glances, and he! long time
did he gael
"Dost thou not recognize me?" whis-
pered she. 81 have often seen thee in
my dreams; went to thee-thou didst
take my hand; then together we would
walk silent and trembling. Didst thou
not see me? Dost thou not remember
thy dreams?' and as at last he found
voice to speak, edo not say anything"
she interrupted quickly. 81 am Flower
of-the- Water and thou art my well be-
loved! We shall die!'
The great trees bent forward the bet
ter to behold the young lovers; they
trembled with anguish and whispered
each other that the souls of the lovers
would soon fly away! All the voices
grew hushed. The blade of grass and
the oak were overcome with pity; the
leaves had forgotten their anger; Sim
plicity, the lover of Flower-of the
Water, was now the son of the forest.
She rested her head on his shoulder,
and together they gazed into the stream;
they smiled into each others eyes!
Again, looking upward, they watched
the golden dust that trembled in the
rays of the setting sun. Slowly their
arms entwined- SLOWLY slowly. They
awaited the coming of the evening star,
when they would blend together and fly
away foreverl
Not one single word rufied the har-
mony of their ecstasy Their souls