The Price He Paid — page 63: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

$4 LIVING IN REBELLION. of which came the low plash and murmur of a fountain. This fountain was in the taste of the last century, and ornamented with old weather-beaten statues, representing, in fantastic fashion, sprites and water-nymphs. The Nixies’ Well, as it was ealled from the figures which adorned it, dated from the castle’s earliest times, and still played a certain role in the traditions of the countryside. An old legend had attributed some healing power to the spring, and notwithstanding the fact that the old mountain-fortress had been transformed into a most prosaic official residence, a superstitious belief in that legend was still firmly rooted in the mind of the people. Water was fetched thence on certain days of the year, and employed asa pre- ventive against sickness and as aremedy in various ailments, to the supreme disgust of the governor, who had done his best on several occasions to put an end to the folly. He had even ordered the castle- garden, which had hitherto been accessible to the public, to be closed, and forbidden the admittance to itofany stranger. This prohibition, however, had acontrary effect to that desired. The people adhered obstinately to their superstition, and clung more tenaciously than ever to the object of it. The servants of the household were moved by prayers, or bribed by presents, to tolerate in secret that which they dared not openly allow. The castle- fountain retained its old reputation, and its waters were venerated as almost holy, though, to be sure, the divinities to whom it had been consecrated were pagan enough in their outward semblance. : abrielle, too, had heard of these things, had heard of them from the baron himself, who fre- quently alluded to the subject with angry ridicule; and it might possibly be that lurking spirit of re- bellion’ against her guardian, so dreaded by her mother, which led the young lady to select this as her favorite spot. To-day again she sought it, but neither the Nixies’ Well nor the noble prospect spreading out yonder on the uninclosed side of the garden had power to chain her attention. Gabrielle was out of humor, and she had some cause for dis- Gomicbooks (E(0)