The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-09-24

spied the Lord Mayors son. In his disguise going
past her villa with his arms f,Il az curious flowers
such as were never before in Kissngton-by-the
Sea And because she had unusually sharp eyes the
countess knew who he was
Ahal she said to herself. This is strange!
Cedric Is meddling with some garden must look
into thisl"
Secretly she followed Cedric through the village and
out to the sea-shore until he came to Gerdas garden.
And there she him walking with the fair stranger
up and down among the flowers. And the secret was
discovered.
looked over the transformed meadow and saw the
beautiful garden which Gerda had she nearly died of
rage She knew at once that beside this one her own
garden had no chance Of winning the prize. She
stamped her feet in jealous fury and cried:
She shall not have the palace She shall not ride
IN the golden coachl will that she shall not!
The Countess stole home with wicked wishes in her
heart and wicked plans in her head The next day but
one was the day of the award SO she had no time to
out OF her villa and along the road by which she had
followed the Lord Mayors son. to Gerdas garden.
Everything was quiet and peaceful The flowers looked
very tar IN the moonlight breathing drowsy per-
fumes. But the wicked cared nothing at all
Tor them, Taking great pair of shears from her
cloak she moved quickly in and out among the gar
den beds, cutting and slashing the precious flowers
and trampling them under foot
When she had finished her cruel work. not single
bud lifted its head from the ruin. The hower-beds
looked as though tempest had swept over them.
Poor Gerda's garden quite destroyed
The Countess chucked as she hurried home through
the night: We shall who wins the prize!
The next day Cedric thought that he would visit the
garden of sweet Gerda in which he had taken such an
interest Dressed in gardeners green smock he went
through the town. whistling happily any yoke But
when he reached the little cottage by the sea- he ceased
to whistle Gerda was sitting upon the door-stone
weeping bitterly.
What is the matter, Gerda7" asked Cedric anx-
iously, and he sought to comfort her. She could only
sob:
"Ohl Ny dear gardcnl Oil My poor flowersl . ].
With sinking heart Cedric ran to the garden-close
and there he saw all the ruin that the wicked Countess
had wrought ~
Alas! Who has done this7" he cried "A
But Gerda could tell Cedries heart was nearly
broken For he loved Gerda dearly that he thought
he could not live if another should win the prize To-
morrow would be the day that would determine his
fate. What could they dor Suddenly he had an idea.
Farewell Gerdal he cried, and without another
word he strobe away
Then Gerda wept bitterly than ever She
thought that the Lord Mayors son was angry with her
because her garden was destroyed. This was worse
even than the loss of her flowers
But Cedric far from angry with her He had
gone away in order to think and plan He had one
hope. He remembered that he had friend who had
once promised to help him in his time Of trouble.
The time had come.
That very night when the rose over the water,
Cedric went down to the sea and stood upon rock
and recited this charm:
Mermaid, Mermaid, rise from the seal!
am in trouble. Hasten to mel