Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-01-26
AWAITING
THEIR DOOM.


ley inhabited by few peasants. Norah
was the prettiest girl in the little village.
She was the pride of her old father and
mother and the admiration of every
youth who behcld her Norah knew how
TO make the homeliest chamber hook
cheerful, and the honeysuckle round the
easement was taught by her hand to
Irvine more gracefully than elsewhere.
There was but one spring Of water in
this valley. 1t was little well of the
brightest and dearest water ever seen,
which bubbled up from the golden sand
and then lay calmly sleeping in basin
Of the whitest marble.
From this basin there did not appear
to be any outlet. The water ran into it
necessarily, but no one could detect that
any part Of it escaped again. 1t was a
fairy well.
There was a tradition concerning it
which had time out of mind been handed
down from parent to child. 1t was COW
cred with n huge stone, which, though
apparently very heavy, could be removed
with ease by the hand Of the most ueli-
cate girl And il was said to be the will
of the fairy who presided over it that all
the young girls of the village should go
thither every evening after sunset, re-
move the stone and take from the mar
bic basin as much water as would be suf
hcient for the use Of each family during
the ensuing day.
Above all, it was understood to be the
fairy's strict injunction that each young
maiden, when she had filed her pitcher
should carefully replace the stone. If at
any time this were to be neglected, the
careless maiden would bring ruin on her
self and all the inhabitants of the valley,
for If the morning sun ever shone upon
the water destruction would follow.
Norah was bound to be beloved, and
soon a stranger youth came to the valley,
a soldier, one who had seen the world.
He was clad in armor, and he talked of
brighter scenes. He dazzled the poor
girls eye, and he won her heart, and
when she went at sunset to fetch water
from the fairy well Coolin was always at
her side.
Her old parents could not approve Of
such an attachment. They reproved
their child for the first time in their lives
and forbade her to meet the stranger.
She wept, but she promised to obey
them, and, that she might avoid a meet
ing with her lover, she went that evening
TO the well by a different path to that
which she had been accustomed to take.
She removed the stone, and, having filed
the pitcher, she sat down by the side OF
the well and wept bitterly. She needed
not the hour. Twilight was fast fading
into the darkness of the night, and the
bright stars which studded the heavens
directly over her head were reflected in
the crystal fountain at her feet.
Her lover stood before her.
"Oh, come not here" she cried. Come
not here. | have promised not to meet
you. Had returned home when my
task was done we should never have
met. have been disobedient. oh, why
did / ever see you? You have taught me
how to weep"
Say not so, dearest Norah," replied
the young soldier. Come with me-"
"Never, never!" she emphatically ex-
claimed as she hastily arose and advanc-
ed from the well. IL, who never broke
my word, have broken 1t tonight. said
/ would not meet you, and we have met"
She uttered this in an agony Of tears,
walking wildly forward. while Coolin,
with her hand clasped in both OF his,
walked by her side endeavoring to pacify
her.
"Your fault, il 1t be one" said he kind
~, was involuntary. Your parents will
forgive you, and when they know how
tenderly | love you they will no longer
reject me as their son. You say you
cannot leave them. Well. well. | per.
haps may stay here, may labor for them
and for you"
Softly opening the wicket, she stole TO
her own chamber and soon fell asleep.
full Of fond thoughts of the possibility OF
her parents sanction to her lovers suit.
She slept soundly for several hours. At
last, awaking with a wild scream, she
started from her bed.
"The well. the WE'LL" she cried. 81
neglected to replace the stone. 1t can
not yet be morning. No, no, no! The
gray dawn is just appearing. | will run.
l shall be in time"
As she flew along the we'll known path
the tops of the eastern hills were red
with the near approach OF sunrise. Is
that the first sunbeam that gilds yonder
mountain?
Norah had now reached a spot from
whence, looking downward, she could see
the well at the distance of a few hun
dred yards. She stood like statue, her
eyes were fixed, one hard grasped her
forehead, with the other she pointed for
ward.
The unclouded morning sun was shin
ing brightly on the spot. The spring,
once so gentle, was now sending forth a
foaming torrent, which was rapidly in
undating the valley.
Already the alarmed villagers were
rushing from their cabins, but Norah did
not move. Her hand was still pointed
toward the spot, but she appeared uncon-
scious of danger. Still the foaming tor
rent poured forth, and the water ap-
preached the spot where she stood.
Coolin, who had been seeking her ev-
erywhere, now ran toward her. He bore
her in his arms up a hill which was near
them. Still the torrent became wider and
deeper.
When they reached the summit of the
hill, it appeared to be a wooded island.
Water surrounded them everywhere, and
their resting place became gradually
smaller and smaller.
Clasped in each others arms, the low
ers awaited their doom. The waters still
rose higher and higher. The island be-
came indistinct; it was a speck; it was
gone.
The cause of the calamity having ex-
plated her error, the wrath of the fairy |
was appeased. The waters rose no more, |
but the beautiful valley of the fairy wen |
now lies buried under the clear waters
OF the lake of Killarney.-London Even
ing News.
The Polite Waiter.
A young man about town went into a |
cafe the other day and, instead of order |
ing everything on the menu, as the wait |