The suburban citizen., 1901-01-12

THE FAIRY BOY.
3:
BY o. P

| rolled down his pale cheeks. Present
! ly, however, a magical change came
over him, for Una having regained her
consciousness voice fell upon his ear
as sweetly clear as the enhancing
strains Of his own harp. Again the
rose-like blush mantled her cheek,
while in her eyes of blue sparkled com
bined love, gratitude and Joy.
From that hour Dermot was an al
tered man. His mind was ever
haunted by his own graceless form.
Morning, noon and night he sought the
shade of the woodland dells and
glades, where legends had told him the
all-potent Leprechaun was to be found.
His face was haggard, his neglected
hair hung matted on his back; fear.
full light flashed from his sunken eyes.
Unas love for her preserver grew
more devoted as his wretchedness in.
creased. Yet the poor harper, mistak-
| ing her affection for mockery, as he
gazed upon her fair face, would some
| times strike his breast as II seized
with a sudden pang and rush from her
presence like a maniac, vending his
way to the thicket and the dell In
quest of the kind fairy by whose pow
er his uncouth form was to be ex.
changed for one of perfect beauty.
1t was a beautiful summer evening
that fell on Killiney, but Dermot, who
found himself alone on the hillside,
felt sensations very different from
those which might result from the
beauty of the scene. Before he had
reached the base of the mountain the
sun had long since been hidden from
his eyes, so that he was left almost
| in utter darkness. The struggling
| light of the moon, however, suddenly
revealed to him a strange spectacle.
1t was the figure of a dwarflsh Great
ure, attired in scarlet from top 10 toe,
| seated on a moss-cOvered stone, with
In the shadow of what appeared to be
a species of tower The little fellow
seemed to be busily employed In ham,
merlng away upon the sole Of a tiny
| brogan
by all that's fortunate" muttered
Dermot, i've tracked him at last--it's
the Leprechaun himself" Trembling
with awe and bewilderment he eau
tiously groped his way to the enchant-
ed spot. Meanwhile the fairy, who
happened to be in a pleasant mood,
trelled a roundelay of merry verses,
| N, ,.iy ino tho tipno vpn, t1,o coIa of tla
shoe. But to his dismay an exclama-
tlon of delight from an unexpected
quarter brought his song to an abrupt
conclusion. For Dermot having adj
vanced softly on tiptoe deXterously
whipped the little shoemaker from of
his bench and held him up triumphant
ly between his forefnger and thumb
as he cried exultiRgly:
"Ha, ha, you're mine, mine at last.
l have you tight my little man."
you're right you have" replied the
captured sprite. "Still, it might be
better for yourself if you'd let me
loose, Mr. Dermot O'Reagan."
"Do you know meT
| vi SOulSSt NY man. AOu IS huu
with love"
Imp" cried Dermot, "yOu have the
power, 1 am told, to bestow beauty
and wealth upon me-"
And suppose l have. Why should
waste my precious gifts on a creature
like you?"
THAT I may win the heart of fair
Una Mcbride"
"A modest request, indeed" said the
sprite "And what is to be my reward
for such favor"
Whatever you ask" replied Der
mot. my very life if you desire It,"
well Dermot, I'll not deny you,
for nothing would please me better
than to befrlend a musical genius, and
l know there's not a harper fit to COM
pete with you in the four provinces,
but reflect a moment before you make
a rash bargain. Remember that fairy
gifts are things that good men fear"
II fear nothing but the loss Of Una's
love" cried Dermot keep me no
longer in suspense Strike this vile
blemish from my back, give me n form
ft to grace the noblest knight and
riches that l may feel myself worthy
to claim Una for my wife"
"'Tls DONE" said the sprlte.
"You are now changed in form and
face, and here fix your gaze upon the
worlds master-gold, yellow gold 1t
is yours. 1t will buy you all-all but
the pure love Of a womans heart. Go,
now, without delay to Una, and should
she consent to be your bride when she
sees the knightly plume waving on
your brow. call to mind my warming
her heart will prove as fckle as het
face is fair-but should she reject you