Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-03-13
A Danish Legend.

est Q6InSeI In all denmark, ana, acc0r-
ding to the custom of the country, he
rode about from one house to the 9TH
er personality inviting all his guests.
There was to be danUe and feast
J after the ceremony, and every one he
| knew must be hidden.
He rode many miles that day, and
after nightfall found himself ON the
! further side of q great wood which ev-
cry one said was haunted by elves,
and where there was indeed a fairy
ring, as one cOuld-see who chose to
look for it.
Some people would have been afraid
| to ride through the wood at night, but
Sir Olaf was brave man, so he spur
red On his white horse and rode into
the wood.
The moon was rising; her white
beams penetrated tie branches and
family Illuminated the path. They
] fell upon his fine face and his long
| flowing hair; bis blue eyes sparkled, he
IVES thinking of the girl he loved and
Of his coming wedding day.
Suddenly q sound fell upon his ear
that broke his reverie; 1t was the sound
OF music-strange, delicate, beautiful
music.
The horse heard 1t and began to
show signs of terror, but Sir Olaf rode
on, looking about him carefully, for
he could not think that those delicate
harps and bugles were played upon by
humsn hands and the tunes were all
strange and elfish.
So, ran the old legend, did the Elf
Kings daughters play to win the
hearts Of any men who rode the Ell
wood after nighifall.
But my heart they cannot win"
| said Olaf, ''for that belongs to my true
love. 1 have no fear of the Elf Kings
daughters"
But just as he spoke, he came into q
clearing 10 the wood; there was the
fairy ring, flood of moonlight fell
across IL; and there he saw three beau
tiful maidens, all in green, playing
upon strange and delicate instruments,
while in the midst of the ring stood
one still more lovely, who held out her
arms to him.
welcome, welcome, Sir Olaf she
cried; "alight from your horse and
come hither. / am the Elf Kings
daughter, and it is my will that thou
shOuldst come into the ring and dance
with me. 1t is an honor given to few
mortal5."
But Sir Olaf remained in his saddle,
only bowling low to the Elf maiden.
II cannot dance with you," he said.
81 cannot even stsy. Tomorrow is
my wedding-day, and [ must ride
home to my BRIDE"
"Your bride Is very fair. doubtless,
Sir Olaf" said the Elf maiden, "but
| m I fairor0 i fHk 4 g. nlaR
and dance with me, and 1 will give
thee two golden spurs, and a robe of
white silk that the fairy queen has
blesched in the mOonshine as a we'd
ding gilt for the lady"
MANY thanks, lovely Elf maiden,"
said the knight, "but must ride on.
l cannot stop upon my wedding eve to
dance or talk with thee. Good night
And he would have ridden on, but now
the Elf'maiden advanced and caught
the horse by the bride.
"Light down, Sir Olaf" said she,
sand / will give thee gold. Thou shalt
have more gold than thou hast ever
hoped to have, for thou art so poor,
though thou art so brave. Dance in
the ring with me, and thou shalt be
rIch."
"Nay," replied Sir Olaf. 81 have
told thee 1t was my wedding eve.
/ can dance with none but my
bride. Ler go my bride, good Elf
maiden, and farewell"
But now the beautiful eyes of the
fairy woman spsrkled with rage.
''1f thou wilt not dance with me,
Sir Olaf she said, "thou shalt remem-
ber me. The man who will not take
the Elf msiden's kiss shall have the
Elf stroke from her hand"
Then she rose on tiptoe and struck |
him over the heart, and cried, "Get |
thee home to thy bride, Sir Olaf; get
thee home to thy BRIDE"
Away sped the horse, but Sir Olaf
sat upon him pale and without mo-
tiOn; his eyes saw nothing; his lips II
were dumb; white corpse seemed to |
ride on the white steed in the moon
light.
All night those who waited for the
coming of Sir Olaf watched for him in |
vain; but 80 brave night would new
er fail his bride. The feast was spread;
the wine was poured: the bride was
dressed; the guests arrived.
Where tarried Sir Olaf? Those who
knew that he had ridden into the Elf
forest at mOonrise felt their hearts
grow weary; but as all eyes turned to-
ward the wood there came forth from
it a white horse, which all knew 10 be
Sir Olaf's.
It was ridden by knight who SEEM
ed to be frozen In his saddle; he was
white to the lips; his wide open eyes
stared at nothing. The horse came on
and paused in their midst, and as
though some unseen thing had until
that moment supported him, the knight
fell forward upon his face. 1t was Sir
Olaf.
"He is deadp' shrieked the bride.
"Dead! deadW shrieked the mother.
"Dead" chorused the guests.
And they wept over him as he lay
In their midst, and cried
:'There will be no wedding, but a fu-
neral-the funeral Of the bravest and
best beloved knight in Denmark.
Then the bride tore her hair and
scattered her jewels upon the ground;
but there uprose in the midst of the
guests an old wise woman, who had
lived more than hunred years.
Her long gray hair fell down on ei-
ther side Of her head-bands, her cheeks
were wrinkled, and she was bent
double, but her shrill voice filed all
the place.
"Listen to me, oh friends" she said.
81 know what you know not. The
brave young knight, Sir Olaf, met the
Elf % alden In the wood, and he has
had the Elf stroke. To every man who
rides through the wood after night do
the Elf maidens call: Come and dance,
they cry; come and dance
"And whether they dance or not,
they give them the Elf stroke over the
heart. Only there is difference-it is
we'll know to all wise people when
man Is untrue to his wife or his love,
he Is dead, all the doctors cannot re-
store him. But one who Is quite true,
who, there in the wood, with the Elf
maidens only to look upon him, and
the beautiful eyes of the Elf Kings
u 80. l. =. l.. l..I