Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-18

ksNsA 4 summers, the only
So figure in the soli-
ASTsgSEA tary landscape,
sSSA.s EsIEEET waved aloft her
SSNSS arms as she danced
SSEs merrily to and fro,
singing aloud to her own shadow, now
here, now there, now everywhere,
tossing back the luzuriant hair, which
fell in unkempt profusion over her
face, the moon revealing it, lit by a
pair of large, dark eyes, almost eltsh
in their brightness.
"You're here again!" she said to
the shadow, stopping suddenly in her
song. ''I'm so glad to see you. Are
you going to the festival tomorrow?
Why do you always come to me in
the moonlight? See, this is new
dance I have learned. Stop minute;
don't do just what I do. Are you
hist! What's that?" A sound OF
weeping breaking upon her delicately
attuned ear, as turning quickly she
discovered lad some few years her
senior seated on o stone, crying bit
terly.
"Ah, it's you, Claude, and what's
the matter? What brings you to the
old witch's cottage at this hour of the
night?"
ssI have lost my way" the boy an.
swered, "and am cold and hungry
and unhappy. Fritz don't love me
any more. He's in love with the law.
yer's daughter, the belle of the vii,
iage,aad he don care an for
me-"
"Ha, ha, ha, hal" laughed the girl,
mockingly. $50 your handsome twin
brother is in love, and you are so un-
happy that you must needs wander of
to the witch's door. Take care,
Claude. She'll look at you with the
evil eye, OF if she don't 1 will, aud I'm
her grandchild. I've inherited it.
"Don't Fanchon, don't!" the boy
answered. ooh, dear, what shall I
do?"
"Do? Go home! My, what time
the-e'll be, the whole country search
ing for you. That's the way, MP over
the bridge. You can't mistake it. I
will take you part of the road, and
and-it you are very hungry"-draw-
ing piece of dry bread. from her
pocket-"takc this. Tn not hungry
at oil. Oh, no; OF course not,-(asido}
Its only my supper, shadow. /
don't want it; I never eat dry bread;
oh, no; but, see here, Claude, i'll future
leave my chickens alone.
''There, shadow, he's gone now
I've left him on the hill. It's we'll for
him Granny didn'tsee him. She would
beat me, shadow, if she knew L played
with you
"Fanchon!" Her name caused her
to start. 1t was Fritz, Claude's twin
brother, the wealthy farmers other
son, who stood beside her.
"Well" she answered, ieeringly.
81 have come to see your grand
mother. Faachon, to ask her to help
me. She hates my father, Iwell know,
but gold is gold, and I hope this will
tempt her to disclose for me my broth
er's hiding-place. He left home yes
terday, foolishly jealous of me, and
we can fud no trace of him
$50 you come to the witch in your
need, do you? Perhaps, Mr.. Fritz,
you need not go SO fart"
"Fanchon, what do you mean? Can
you tell me where he is? But show
me and will do for you anything in
the world"
'sBut with the world turned upside
down, surely when the great mans son
is asking favors of the witch's grand
child, Fanchon the despised, Fanchoh
whom even the village children laugh
and jeer at; Fanchon-" but the voice
amoment before so mocking held sound
of tears, and there was suspicious
moisture in the bright eyes as her hand
dashed across them, and she once more
began her grotesque dance in the moon
light.
$50 your brother Claude has gone,
eh?" she continued, with regained
possession, "and you want to know
his whereabouts. Look for him, Mr..
Fritz. Perhaps you'll find him. I
don't think Granny will help you"
"But you will, Fanchon, if you can.
Here, take this gold and tell mel"
With imperious gesture, worthy q
princess in her kingdom, she waved
the money back.
"Take your gold!" she said. Given
gold, Fritz Glenroy, would not buy
me. Yes, I know where your brother
is. You said moment ago you would
give me anything I asked. Give me
your word to grant my first request,
wherever made, and I will lead you to
himi"
son my honor, as a gentleman,
Fanhon, you have my promise" and
in another moment her light footsteps
were springing up the glade to the
spot where the foolish truant was to
be found.
"Ah, shadow, you are here still!"
she exclaimed, on her return. "Wait
ing for me. are you? I have my re-
venge now. To-morrowis the festival,
and 1 am going, dressed in ny best,
and-and"-bursts OF laughter issuing
from the red lips-"I shpl' make
Fritz dance with me. Me, anchon,
and she will be there, she whom he
!oYes"-the laughter died now-"and