The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-27


the flowers she wore. Absorbed in my
admiration of her, said nothing, but
continued to row.
$50, you see, you came just in time, :"
she went on, "but you must not think
shall not pay you for your trouble"
She took a dainty portemonnaie
from her pocket as she spoke, but |
hastened to stop her.
"You are too good, fraulein," l
said, "but am not boatman, and /
assure you that the pleasure of being
of service to you is the greatest re-
ward l could have"
She raised her head quickly, and !
saw a frown gather on her white
brow.
"Who are you, them" she asked, in
an irritated tone.
"a tourist fresh from weeks tramp
IN the mountains" I answered.
Her forehead cleared, and / saw
smile play about the corners OF her
mouth.
"Ah," she said, Gin that case must
make my excuse for my indiscretion
|
a most improper proceeding"
Her eyes danced wickedly, but she
continued hastily:
eff you please, we will return at
once to the shore"
She gave pull to the rudder strings
and The boat swung about, although
pulled as leisurely as dared. On the
other side of the lake the silver moon
beams turned to ruddy gold where
shepherds glowing fire was reflected In
the water.
Have you been up Mont Blanc?" in
quired the young princess, who, proba-
bly, assured from my manner that I
was to be trusted, decided to be agree
able and break the silence.
81 have just come from there. l
tramped back through the mountains"
l replied.
Then you knew our lake before. Is
| it not beautiful"
| Every, especially just now"
"Oh, but it is wonderful at every
time" she answered impetuously. 1T
is so blue and limpid and transparent
that it seems as if it were continually
inviting you to plunge down to its
very depths. love it. l love the wa
ter" And she dipped her bare arms
in the silvery ripples that knocked
softly against the sides of the boat.
Probably you are a water nymph,"
l said slowly, as watched her in awed
admiration.
81 wish l were," she replied gayly.
you know there are some here, for
this is lake of legends and spirits"
Really" 1 asked.
Eyes, indeed. The villagers say that
just where we are now there is whole
city buried beneath the waves because
the inhabitants refused to give hos
pitality to an old beggar, who was
really a disguised fairy. When the
moon is full the cocks in the sub
merged village crow at the bottom of
the lake and the church bells ring as
| if for mass. Listen, listen! Can't you
hear something now like the soft, dis
tant ringing of bells?"
She leaned over the side of the boat
as if listening to something below the
waves, even as she smiled at her own
fancying.
Did you hear anything?" she re-
peated.
stopped rowing and knelt obedient-
| ly beside her, so near that our two
heads almost touched. To have re-
manned there l would have sworn and
believed anything she chose, and in
deed it did seem to me that heard a
vague, delicious, dream music.
Perhaps it was nothing more than
the beating of my heart, for it was
throbbing violently to be so near to
the beautiful princess with the golden
hair and the wonderful eyes. The soft
odor of the cyclamen blossoms was
Intoxicating.
Hush" she whispered, with a mys-
terious air, laying her finger on her
rosy lips, "the fairy of the lake is
calling us!"
In the silence of the night fioated
distant sound of hunting horn. 1t
was easy to believe that it came from
below the water.
"Oh, dear, no" she cried, laughing
at the sight of my credulous face and
wide open eyes. 'I'm afraid we can't
make it anything more than it is,
after ALL"
mot at ALL" l exclaimed, fervently.
you are the fairy of the lake, and
you can lend to it any enchantment
that you please! 1t becomes imme-
diately all that you say!"
She laughed merrily again and l
bent to my oars, so that we soon
reached the boathouse below the will
lows. Through the vista in the trees
l caught sight of an elegant villa, the
turrets cleaning in the moonlight
Suddenly dark form emerged from
the wide balcony and thin voice
| called:
Nadia, Nadia! You must come in
now. You will certainly catch cold"
1T is my aunt" murmured Nadia;
Il don't know about my catching cold,
but 1 am sure to catch a scolding il
1 do not hurry. Thanks, and good
night. Will you be so good as to
fasten the boat again? Since you are
not a hoatman 7 cannot nav for nv