The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-11-14
A SWISS LOVE STORY.

lonely home you would have thought
1t, but the fir trees that walled 80 in your
ears whispered good cheer to Marie.
When fierce winds came rushing down
the mountain side she knew the trees
would bend their tall heads together and
twine their strong arms around her home,
until, robbed of his victim, the baf1ied
storm rushed by.
When morning broke, the same friends
stood erect and stately, drawing aside
their leaves and branches, that the sun
beams might not linger in their soft en-
braces but hasten down to awaken their
favorite, Marie.
Very lovely was the little Swiss maid,
with violet eyes that now danced and
sparkled and then grew soft and tender as
little childs. Two rose red lips shut in
her pearly teeth, and when she smiled
tiny dimple danced for a moment on her
peachy cheek. Her hair clung in caressing
curls around her low white forehead and
fell in ripples Of golden sunshine far below
her slender waist. And her voicel Ahi
that was Msrie's greatest charm. Soft and
clear, not a discordant note marred its
sweet, pure harmony. Sometimes as she
sang at her evening devotions the herds
men far below In the valley, catching faint
notes OF her song, looked up and crossed
themselves, half believing they heard the
echo of an angel choir.
But very few knew of Marie's beauty.
For when she went with her mother on
one Of her rare visits to the hamlet below
she brushed her wavy hair straight and
smooth back from her forehead, and braid
ed it in long, stiff plaits, which fell down
her back.
Her eyelids, with their curtains Of long
silky lashes, dropped over her dancing eyes
until one looked In vain for glimpse Of
their beauty. Her red lips shut firmly over
her pearly teeth, while tho dimple hid itself
resolutely away from sight. And her sweet
voice, frightened at It's own sound so far
from heme, grew faint and husky, until
in this r!nking, sober damsel. walking
30 tniu.Iy beside the Widow Neur, you
would have found 1t hard to recognize the
beautiful Marie OF the mountain.
So it happened that only her mother and
one other <erson knew how good and sweet
and how fair Marie was.
This other was stranger who came
from faraway country and spent his
summers in a little house on the noun
tan's very top.
The simple villagers called him "the
wizard" and told strange tales of how he
spent whole nights gazing at the heavens
through a long tube; that he could fore
tell to an hour when the sun would cover
itself with darkness but strangest of all
he had q little wire stretched for miles
over hills and valleys to the great city
This wire talked to him in n queer language
which no one else could understand.
Tick, tick, tickety, tick" it said, and it
told him things that happened miles and
miles away.
Marie did not know how wise the wizard
was when he came to her home one morn
ing and asked for drink of water.
He followed her to the spring when she
went for it, and stopped by the way to
break open curious stone. He showed
Marie how queerly marked it was inside,
and then told her story about it, The
5 usually timid maiden was so interested she
forgot to be frightened. and thus a strong
friendship between the two was begun.
After this the wizard often came to the
widows chalet for rest and refreshment on
his long rambles, and Marie unconsciously
revealed her charms to him, one by one,
until long before the first summer was
ended the stranger knew that no girl in
all the canton could be compared with
Marie.
On the other side of the mountain from
the Widow Neur's homo lived another
widow. She, too, had but one child-a son
who was the pride and delight Of her life.
This was the brave young hunter and
guide, GustAVus Friel.
Every one knew and liked Gustavus.
He was tall, straight and handsome, with
flashing brown eyes and laugh rs frank
as child's; he was the fayorite of the can
ton, and there was not IS girl within its
bounds who would not have been 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 maids of the hamlet
His mother often said, MY son, when
wilt thou bring me home daughter and
thyself wife"
And Gustavus, smiling and pressing q
kiss on her forehead, would answer:
when | find maid as good as thee,
mother; but | want no idle, shrill voiced
wife to disturb our quiet home"
But one day his mother said more sadly
and seriously than ever before:
"GustaYus, am growing old and feeble
can no longer make and mend thy clothes
and keep cur home. Thou must have a
wife. Promise me at the fete next week
thou wilt choose one from among the maid
ems there.o
Gustayus reluctantly gave the desired
promise, but it weighed heavily upon him
He could think of nothing else, 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 ques-
tion followed him, until in despair he
threw himself on the ground groaning,
"Oh, that some wise man would make this
choice for mep'
A moment after he looked up and saw,
as if in answer to his wish, the wizard ap-
preaching him.
Why he exclaimed to himself, did
not think of him before? Surely he, IL any
one, can help men Then with a throb.
bling heart Gustuyus sprang up to meet
him.
The wizard greeted Gustavus warmly,
for he felt strong friendship for the
young guide who had taken him safely
through many dangerous mountain ex-
cursion.
And now his sympathetic question,
"Why, what's troubling you, my boyY'
opened the way for Gustavus to pour out
all his perpleXity, ending his recital with
the question:
"Canst thou not help me choose good
wife who will make my life happy? For
now have given my mother my promise
to find a wife at the fete next week"
The wizard smiled syinpathetically, and
| then thought in silence little while be-
| fore he answered:
''lf pure, true heart is united to true,
pure heart, both lives must be happy"
"Alasl" answered Gustavus, but know
not which maiden among them all has the
| purest truest heartl'
"There will be one such heart at the
fete," answered the wizard, but YOU NAV
fail to recognize it. However, II You will
come to me tomorrow l will give you a
charm that will show you this heart"
Here was comfort indeed. and with a
light heart Gustayus thanked his friend
L nnd hnnnlel forward