Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-03-08

admiration Of her, said nothing, bu'
continued to row.
so. YOU see, you came just in time.
she vent on, but you must not thinA
shall not pay you for your trouble.
She took a dainty portemonnaie
from her pocket as she spoke, but
hasteaed TO stop her.
You are too good, fraulein,"
said. but / am not a boatman. and |
assure you that the pleasure of being
Of service TO you is the greatest re-
ward ! could have"
She raised her head quickly, AMI
saw a frown gather on her white
brow.
who are you, them she asked, in
an irrltated tone.
A tourist fresh from a weeks tramp
N the mountains" | answered.
Her forehead cleared, and | saw a
smile play about the corners of her
mouth.
"Ah." she said, "in that case ! must
make my excuse for my indiscretion'
a most improper proceeding.
Her eyes danced wickedlyr but she
continued hastily:
IF you please, we win return at
once to the shore"
She gave a 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, propa-
bly, assured from my manner that /
was to be trusted. decided to be agree
able and break the silence.
Il have just come from there. !
tramped back through the mountains,
| replied.
Then you knew our lake before Is
| Il not beautiful"
Very, especially just now.
"Oh but il is wonderful at every
time she answered impetuously. 1T
is so blue and limpid and transparent
that # seems as If It were continually
inviting you to plunge down TO its
very depths love il. love the wa
ter" And she dipped her bare arms
In the silyery ripples that knocked
softly against the sides of the boat
Probably you are water nymph'
/ said slowly, as ] watched her in awed
admiration.
Il wish / were" she replied gayly
you know there are some here, fol
this Is a lake Of legends and spirits.
Really" ! asked.
yes. indeed The villagers say tina
Just where we are now there Is whol'
Il CITY buried beneath the waves because
the inhabitants refused to give hos
pitality TO an old beggar. who wa
really a disguised fairy. When tn
moon Is full the cocks in the sub
merged village crow at the bottom Q
the lake and the church bells ring a
If for mass. Listen, listen! Can't yol
hear something now like the soft, dis
tant ringing OF bells?
she leaned over the side of the boa
As II listening to something below tn
waves. even as she smiled at her owi
fancying.
"Did you hear anything" she re
peated.
stopped rowing and knelt obedien'
NV beside her, so near that our Nv
heads almost touched. To have re
NAMED there / would have sworn an
believed anything she chose, and IN
deed il did seem TO me that heard
vague. delicious, dream music.
Perhaps il was nothing more tha
the beating of my heart for IL wa
throbbing violently to be so near {
the beautiful princess with the golde
hair and the wonderful eyes. The sol
odor OF the eyclamen blossoms wa
intoxicating
"Hush." she whispered, with a mys
ferrous air, laying her finger on be
rosy lips. the fairy Of the lake
calling u.s.
In the silence of the night floated
distant sound OF a hunting horn.
was easy to believe that II came froT
below the water.
"Oh. dear. no. she cried, laughin
{ al the sight of my credulous face an
wide open eyes. I'm afraid we can
make it anything more than II Ii
after all
Not at all, | exclaimed, feryentl!
you are the fairy of the lake. an
YOU can lend to II any enohantmen
that you pleased It becomes imm'
diateIy all that you sayl
She laughed merrily again and
bent 20 my oars. so that we 500
reached the boathouse below the wi
lows. Through the vista in the tree
/ caught sight of an elegant villa, IN
,urrets cleaning in the moonligh
Suddenly a dark form emerged froI
the wide balcony and a thin Noic
called:
Nadia. Nadiai You must come
now. You will certainly catch cold
1T Is my aunt, murmured Nadia
t,r,,s ,,,sr catching coll