Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-30
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
THE VISION OF THE FOUNTAIN
ny NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE

, village. at dewy sunrise. burning noon
and at the magic hour OF sunset,
sought her but In vain. Weeks came
and went, months rolled away, and she
1 impaired my mystery to no one.
but wandered to and fro In solitude
like one that had caught glimpse OF
Heaven and could take no more JOY
on earth. I withdrew into an inner
world. where my thoughts lived and
breathed, and the vision In the miost
of them
In the middle of January was sum-
moned away. The day before my de-
parture, visiting the spots which had
been hallowed by the vision, found
that the spring had a frozen bosom.
Most of the day was spent in preparing
for the Journey About an hour after
supper. when all was In readiness, ]
descended from the chamber TO t1e
sitting room to take leave OF the
old clergyman and his family with
whom I roomed A gust OF wind blew
out my lamp as I passed through the
entrance
According to their custom, the FAM
ilv were sitting In the parlor, with no
other light than what came from the
hearth. The foundation OF the fire was
large heap Of tan or ground PARK,
which would shoulder away with duii
warmth and no flame. There was no
light, except the little that came from
two half-burnt brands.
But I knew the position OF the old
minister's armchair and also where his
wife sat. with her knitting work. Crop
ing Through the gloom, found my own
Mace. I noticed there was less room
than usual, tonight, between the clergy
mans chair and mine.
As people are always silent in the
dark. no word was said for some time
after nv entrance At times the fire
threw out a brief and dusky CLEAN, far
too faint to light up the faces In the
room. The silence was finally inter
rluted by remark addressed TO some
one in the circle, who was called Ra-
chel. The answer was a single word.
but in a voice that made me start ana
bend toward the spot whence 1t came.
Had ! ever heard that sweet. low
tone? IF not. why did 1T rouse up so
many old recollections and I'LL my mind
with confused images OF her features,
who had spoken though buried In the
Gloom of the parlor? Whom had my
heart recognized. that 1t throbbed so?
I listened. to catch her gentle breath
ing and strove, by the intA.sity OF my
gaze, to picture forth a shape where
none was visible.
Suddenly the fire blaZed up with
ruddy glow: and where the darkness
had been, there was she--the Vision OF
the Fountain A spirit OF radiance
only, she had vanished with the rain
bow and appeared again In the fire-
light, perhaps the flicker with the blaze.
and be gone. Yet, her cheek was rosy
and lifelike. and her features in the
bright warmth of the room, were even
sweeter and tenderer than my recollec-
ton OF them.
She knew met The mirthful express
sion that had laughed in her eyes and
dimpled over her countenance when
hehe!d her faint beauty in the fountain
was laughing and dimpling there now.
One moment, our glance mingled--tne
next darkness snatched away tnat
Daughter Of Light. and gave her back
to me no morei
Fair ladies. there Is nothing more 10
tell. Must the simple mystery be re-
vealed, then. that Rachel was the
daughter OF the village squire and mad
left home for a boarding school the
morning after I arrived and returned
the day before my departure? II
transformed her To an angel II Is what
every Youthful lover does for his mis-
tress. Therein consists the essence OF
INV story. But slight the change. sweet
maids, to make angels OF yourselves IN
some young mans heart OF hearts!