The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-12-07

"Why," he exclaimed to himself,
"did l not think of him beforef Surely
he, If any one, can help me-" Then,
with q throbbing heart, Gustavas sprang
up 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 q dangerous mountain
excursion.
And now his sympathetic question,
"Why, what's troubling you, my boya"
opened the way for Gustavus to pour out
all his ~perplexity, ending his recital
with the question;
''Uanst thou not help me choose a
good wife who will make my life hap.
pyH For now l ! have given my mother
my promise to find a wife at the fete
next week."
The wizard smiled alphabetically,
and then thought In silence o little
while before he answered.
"If a pure, true heart is united to q
true, pure heart, both lives must DO
happy"
"Alasl" answered Gustavus, ''but 1
know not which maiden among them all
has the purest, truest hearth"
"There will be one such heart at the
fete," answered the wizard, ''but you
may fail to recognize 1t. However, II you
will come to me tomorrow I will give
you a charm that will show you this
heart"
Here was comfort, indeed, aud with q
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. In
stead Of her usual slnshiny smile, tiny
tear-drops stood in her eyes, and there
was a grieved look about her rosy lips
that made him wish to comfort her.
"Whst is the matter little onel" he
asked gently.
''oh, sir" she said, az want to see
the great fete next week, but l have no
pretty ornaments to wear, and then"
The long curtains dropped 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-"
"But why7" asked the wizard in sur
prise.
because I cannot talk aud laugh
with them as other maidens do. My
heart beats fast If they do but glance
toward me, and ! know not what to say,
and so,'-here a tear slipped from under
the long eyelashes-''my mother says /
had better not CO."
Courage, little one" the wizard an.
swered. "Tell your mother" he added
suddenly, ''that 1 am going to lend you
a silver belt to wear, aud that my knowl-
edge tells me that the bravest, hand
soonest youth in all the land will dance
with you quite joyfully."
This happy Marie thanked the wizard
as Gustavus had done, 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 sympathetically:
''Here's the charm, my good fellow.
You see it is a 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 q strange feeling will run through
you and your hand will cling to her. But
you must be sure that you dance with ALL"
Gustavus, greatly wondering, thanked
the wizard aud slipped on the ring.
It was a curious ciFclet of iron, with a
fat extension, which the wizard babe
him wear pointing toward his palm.
When the fete day came G~ustavus was
there among the other young men, eager
to try his charm.
All the maidens of Obgadin were there
also, aud on the outskirts of one OF the
gay crowds little Marie lowered timidiy
beside her mother.
"WhY didst thou come, Marie3' asked
one of the girls.
'qDidst thou think any youth would
want to dance with a mouse to-day I"
asked another.
Then seeing the quick tears trembling
on Marie's lashes, she added more kind.
ly;
"Ah, we'll, thou canst at least see our
good times"
"What a lovely belt thou hast, Marie !"
cried another maiden. "Where didst
thou get It'll"
"The wizard gave It to her." the
Widow Neur answered shortly, for she
did not relish the girls tone, aud she
drew her daughter away.
"Come, Marie, let us cit here under
the trees and watch the dance"
Marie nsstled close to her motheTr