Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-12-20

| is not so young as the Others
Dorothy thought her goddess-like,
as she gazed into those large serious
eyes, and upon that noble brow
banded with heavy gold 1t was al
most impossible to see the face OF
Fairy Electric beneath that blazing
star, though nothing could outshine
the brilliancy of her eyes, which were
gazing straight out before her, a world
of wonderful possibilities in their
depths. But now fresh troops of
| fairies danced into the cave-fairies
of all descriptions, styles and ages
and they frisked round in a fantastic
fairy dance. their robes of samite and
gossamer floating and curling about
their graceful forms, making strange
shapes and shadows in the rosy light
Dorothy clapped her hands with de-
light, and a great longing to join in
the frantic dance; but Phasma laid a
light finger upon her arm, to turn her
attention elsewhere
See" she said. ssYonder comes
Fairy Camera, who has lately become
DTdCClC6u
her cunning century or two back, l
don't know how many mortals would
have been burnt as wizards. Fairy
Photograph is close behind; the same
applies to her. I expect they will
soon both be leaving us for one of the
planets. That is Fairy Torpedo. She
looks very angry, but that is because
icfn ic< al
They are very bad friends. Fairy
Torpedo will never forgive her for
| showing a mortal how to make a
torpedo-boat destroyer! But who is
this? See, mortal child, and think
upon what you have this day seen.
4onder approaches one who is not one
of us. It is the Spirit of the North
Pole"
Dorothy looked. and saw "a form of
dazzling whiteness. in robes of white
starred with glittering icicles and
| jewels of the unknown. Around her
brow there glowed an aureole of pur-
pie, yellow and red-a wonder of
color, now soft. now brilliant. now al
most lost, as though famed by sud-
den breeze; and returning again
wholly purple, to dissolve gently into
amber and rose, ever shifting in
wondrous fantasy. The face beneath
was cold and proud, with slumbrous
blue eyes, that looked out straight
with a cruel calm
Many are those who have sought
me, but none have found me yet" she
said, and waved one snowy arm
around They lie about my footstool,
| ever appealing to me with their frozen
/ eyes. [ see them, though they lie I'M
der the snow, the heroes who came but
found me not. None shall come unto
me but one-the one who shall dare,
VINO has dared, yet know not that l
guarded him from the graves about
my feet. Is there no one to tell him
the secret? Have I come from the
Pole in vain?"
She turned, and throwing around her
the long folds Of her glittering mantle,
! swept into the shadows, and was seen
no more.
'She has returned to the North"
| murmured tall fairy, as she passed
noiselessly through the cave; and Dor
othy, looking at her, saw that her face
though sweet, was very sad-so sad
indeed, that she longed to reach up to
the lovely pale face and kiss it.
"She has killed many of her lovers"
whispered Phasma. "She has one great
wonderful idea, and somebody in the
world can understand her Those who
! sometimes think they do, are sure to
| discover, sooner Or later. that they do
not; and then those whose minds are
weakest go mad, or kill themselves
with despair, and it makes her sad
| But will no one ever understand
herr" asked Dorothy.
ooh, yes; some day; then she will
have name. Until then she is name
less, as indeed we all have been once"
and Phasma laughed, then sighed, and
Dorothy took her delicate hand and
said, Dearest Phasma, you have been
very, very kind to me. Will you show
me now the fairy who gave my father
an idea for his invention? heard him
telling mother that he hoped it would
bring back the money he has lost. I
don't know what it is, but will it,"
Il cannot say, but will take you to
the fairy you mean"
And Dorothy felt herself led further
into the cave, where a pretty little
sprite, with wide, child-like eyes, sat
perched upon a fallen rock Beautiful
emerald wings sprang from her Shout
ders, and they were fiuttering in time
to the tattoo of her tiny naked foot
upon the ground.
How do you do, Dorothy" she cried
then laughed, adding, 81 am so happy
so happy"
What makes you happy?" inquired
Dorothy.
The pretty elf stared at her in aston
ishment
"You-you of all people to ask me
that" she said. Haven't I made
somebody understand me-a little
thing like me?'
But who understands you?" Dorothy
asked; then all in moment she knew.
1t was her father.
''The sun is setting," a hundred
voices seemed to cry out, and the
fairy sprang to her feet.
ooh, but tell me, fairy dear will my
father be successful with the thought
you have given him. cried Dorothy,
| throwing out OBTAINING hand; but the
little sprite pirouetted on one tiny
foot, and, winding a length of floating
gossamer round her hair. tipped her
head roguishly sideways and laughed.