The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-17

Rock Spring and felt the force d tHe
suggestion
IF b loses" orersed the young man
with great citation. when shall we VISIT
1.-THE SPRING."
The girl laughed cheerily. n in the
consciousness OF wing IN a pleasing SIT
l~aation. she blust'ed deeply and soagn-
Ito hid her emba. ~rassnent by ADJUST
hing the scarf about her head
The old man stepped to the dooF.
took a look ont Into the street, tness
returned and with a meditative ar
said slowly:
Let me see. Tomorrow night the
tmoon will rise al about $50. $50
O'Clock would be the proper hour. Is
thst satisfactory"
-Fine." exclaimed the young man.
But" said the girl. gaily. Is
provided I los the bet"
The moon rose In ~unclouded glory. and
being low in the heaven. cast her sill
livery shafts OF light through the tree
ttops, so that they rested in long lines
IGpon the houses and fences. The old
brick house which stood upon its Icy
isite down the street vas bathed with a
magic glory. The moonlight seemed to
discover the mysteries OF Its darkest
corners. and its garden Of roses and rich
lshrubbery abounded In alternate fields
lof light and dark abysses. A couple
iwere slowly walking on the sidewalk
beneath the wall which supported the
garden. They were touched with he
beauty of the scene and spoke quietly.
THE spring. had almost forgotten
labout the spring. Is 1t much farther
down the street," asked the girl with
awakening interest.
WE are now within a block of it," her
companion answered.
How absurd" She spoke absently.
Why? Did you think it was further
t3way?" he asked ~curiously.
oh, 1 did not mean that" she re-
~lsponded. Il mean this whole thing, this
wild goose chase we are on, this trip
down to the Rock Spring. But l lost
fairly, and am willing to pay the penal
lty."
The penalty is easy he observed.
E'but / hope hat the draught Of water
will be ~eficacious, and | will go furth-
Ter and say that I hope its effect will be
apparent at an early day" He spoke
rather soberly, but she was pleased
with the observation, and responded
with a graceful turn of her hear.
l"Thanks. That is very kind" Then.
to avoid the personal element in the
conversation, she asked, What is the
Iorigin Of the tradition about the Rock
Spring, anyway? Does it go further
THAN hat whoever drinks its water
must necessarily return to Whining
iton?"
Why, that is far enough. isn't it?
Hundreds have proven it. They have
repeated their visits; they have more
Ioften returned to live here. 1t is a
tradition sustained by what is actually
known to have occurred time and time
Iagain."
The street now inclined steeply down
Ito the river, and would have looked
gloomy and uninviting, had it not been
for the bright flood of light which ths
lmoon poured generously against the
Idingy walls of some ancient buildings
(which descended as relics of former
days. They cast searching looks toward
lRobeson's ice-cream parlors. and, fail
ing to catch sight Of the chivalric pro-
Iprietor, their minds were put at ease.
They stopped before a low heap which
|stood boldly out into the street. The
moonlight disclosed the lines of it's
trough masonry, and the illuminated
iAHNA Joo1 NyoLi WINS
lsparkled with their crowns OF silver,
formed a background which lent a grace
ITO the homely outlines of the structure.
The Rock SPRING." asked the girl,
as her eyes slowly wandered about the
lCuiet street.
Yes he answered.
And the entrance?"
Around on the other side. There are
steps which go down into the spring."
They stood at the head of the stone
steps and looked down into the dim
depths Of the spring which received but
a slight reflection from the surrounding
moonlight. There was a movement
down in the spring. The girl started
with a little cry and clutched the
lyoung mans arm.
Pardon me, l am sorry I alarmed
iyou." said a voice from below. In a
inlome1t a man assembled the steps. He
vas well dressed, and a gentleman un-
iGoubtedly. He had a merry twinkle in
Ihis eye. After Rock Spring water,
Ieh? l have just slipped down here to
lthe old spring once again, and-well.
PITS all right. l remember Seeing a co1-
lple do the same thing a good many
years ago. he continued, wiping his
moist hands with his handkerchief. 1T
will do the work. I am here as a living
Testimony to the fact, and he added
ic~onfidentially, being here together
rather gives a sympathetic ~acauain-
lance, think you not?-my Wilmington
girl will be Mrs. B before many
tdays. Excuse my manner of thus pre-
Is%enting myself. May l inquire your
Inames?'
They gave that information with a lit
tie play Of laughter. Now, which of
the two is the stranger to Wilmington?
" The young lady, is it," Then
turning smartly to her smiling COM
ipanion, he said with a ~patronizing air:
My dear young friend, Rock Spring
water will make it all right, but do not
depend upon that; push your claims In