The Old Lady’s Tale II
A long time ago, there was a young girl named Elizabeth who lived not too far from this very lake in a small cottage. A truly beautiful creature if ever there was one. Long flowing sunrise hair, slim and lithe, with a smile that shattered dreams. Young Elizabeth would often times spend her afternoons frolicking around the lake, chasing butterflies, or skipping stones.
Living around the other side of the lake in a run down hovel was a boy just about Elizabeth’s age who was called Horace. He always spied on the beautiful girl when she passed near his dwelling, watching her and following her any chance he could. Horace was enthralled with her magical nature and with the way the sunlight danced across her hair. He had dirty brown hair, and often time people would make faces when they saw Horace coming.
Horace’s infatuation become more pronounced as time swam by, following the girl more frequently, for longer periods, and concealing his presence less and less. Elizabeth eventually took notice of the strange boy who often followed her around the lake, but she made no move to speak to him, run from him, or acknowledge him in any way. Horace began to leave gifts for the girl at various points around the lake. Flowers here. Fresh fruit there. An entire assortment of items, but alas, the girl showed no interest in any of the gifts. She simply passed them by.
One day, Horace planned to confront the peculiar girl. An overcast day had proven good hunting, and he stepped into Elizabeth’s path holding two skinned rabbits as a gift.
Elizabeth shrieked in disgust and stumbled in the high grass. She surprise morphed into anguish as her ankle twisted on some foul root. Horror lanced across Horace’s face, and he moved to help the girl to her feet. Elizabeth yelled for him to go away, to leave her alone, and to stop bothering her.
Horace hesitated, and the girl screamed again. He ran, blindly into the surrounding woods. Anger began to swell up in him and fires began to build deep in his bowels as he stumbled his way home trying to understand what had happened.
Every day thereafter, Horace went to the shore in the hopes of explaining, of making amends for the harm he had caused. One, two, three days passed, but there was no sign of Elizabeth. Horace nursed the hurt and anger inflicted upon him by the girl who treated him like some kind of monster. He was just trying to help. Just trying to be friendly. What was the matter with her?
On the fourth day, Elizabeth limped along the shoreline once more, smiling into the sunlight and listening to the birds. Horace saw her and charged towards her wanting to explain his actions.
Elizabeth screamed, “Go away you monster! Get away from me!”
Horace stood dumbstruck as she plucked a stone from the ground. Hurling the rock at him, she struck him in the center of his face. His anger exploded, and he chased after the limping girl. His two stout legs reached her quickly, and he struck her across the face. Elizabeth fell into the lake, and her attacker crashed down atop her.
Horace did unspeakable things to Elizabeth that afternoon. The girl’s screams echoed across the lake, but no one came to her aid.