The Opelousas courier., 1893-04-08


excursion.
And now his sympathetic question,
"Why, what's troubling you, my boy2'
opened the way for Gustavus to pour out
all his ~perplexity, ending his recital
with the question;
"Canst thou not help me choose a
good wife who will make my life hap.
py9 For now I have given my mother
MY promise to find a wife at the fete
next week."
The wizard smiled alphabetically,
and then thought in silence a little
while before he answered.
eff a pure, true heart is united to a
true, pure heart, both lives must be
happy"
"Alas!" answered Gustavus, "but I
know not which maiden among them all
haAthe purest, truest hearth"
"There will be one such heart at the
fete," answered the wizard, shut you
may fail to recognize it. However, if you
will come to me tomorrow I will give
you a charm that will show you this
heart"
Here was comfort, indeed, and with a
light heart Gustavus thanked his friend
and bounded forward.
Left alonepehe 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 sunshiny smile, tiny
tear-drops stood in her eyes, and there
was q grieved look about hAr rosy lips
that made him wish to comfd her.
"What is the matter little one2" he
asked gently.
'Oh, sir" she said, 81 want to see
the great fete next week, butaI have no
pretty ornaments to wear, aud them"
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 why9" asked the wizard in sur
prise.
"Because I cannot talk and 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 I
had better not CO."
Courage, little one," the wizard an
swered. "Tell your mother" he added
suddenly, ''that I am going to lend you
a silver belt to wear, and that my knowl-
edge tells me that the bravest, hand
soonest youth in all the land will dance
with you quite joyfully."
The 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 q~uizzically,
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 BIZ sure
you dance with every maiden there.
When you place your arm about the
waist of the n whose elrt is true and
good a strange feeling will run through
you and your hand will cling to her. Bat
you must be sure that you dance with ALI"
Gustavus, greatly wondering, thanked
the wizard and slipped on the ring.
It was a curious circlet of iron, with a
fat extension, which the wizard babe
him wear pointing toward his palm.
When the fete day came Gustavus was
there among the other young men. eager
to try his charm.
All the maidens of Obgadin were there
also, and on the outskirts of one of the
gay crowds little Marie lowered timtdiy
beside her mother.
"WhY didst thou come, Mariea' asked
one Of the girls.
''Lidst thou think any youth would
want to dance with a mouse to.day2"
asked another.
Then seeing the quick tears trembling
on Marie's lashes, she added more kind.
";
"Ah, well, thou canst at least see our
good times"
"What a lovely belt thou hast, Marie"
cried another maiden. Where didst
thou get it7"
"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 et here under
the trees and watch the dance"
Marie nestled close to her mothers
side, ana as the hours fed and no youth
asked her to dance, her hetl dropped
lower, and she wondered IL the wise
man had made a mistake.
In the mean tine Gustavus dtnced
with one after another of the maids, but
he watched with intense e
ness, not ouce did he feel the strange
thrill for which he waited.
81 have danced with them ALL" he
said at last to hinsel', tsexcept that shy
Dne over there: surely she is not the
grill"
He asked her name of one of the
girls, and then going to her, said sim.
ply:
"Marie, wilt thou dance with me2"
Astonishment aud delight made Marie
or Q moment forget her shyness. The
wizards words had come truel
Rising quickly, she said, smiling upon
lin, and showing her beautiful eyes
dancing with delight, aud the
lear little dimple in her cheek: cart
hou comet"
s'She is not so plain, after ALL"
bought Gustavus, as he n yered: