The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-11-15
A on ETrV RHINE LEGEND.

Once upon a time there lived beside the
Rhine a beautiful young lady. She had
lover who loved her, and whom she loved in
return. But, after he had woed her-no'
one year but three-he asked her to marry
him and she, anxious to show her power,
merely answered;
"Walt."
al have waited three years,"he said, "but
at your bidding, will wait once more just
once more"
Then he went away and became soldier,
and praise of sbravery filled the land : but
the lady was pi1ued by the thought that he
had been able to leave her for even veal,
and when he returned she determined to
punish HIM, though on the whole she loved
him well.
He knet at her feet and took her hands
in his, and said:
"Lady, have home back to claim you
for my Wife"
But all she answered. was;
await longer a patient waiter is not a
loser"
al will wait two years longer" he said,
calmly. ar do not lose, all is we'll"
Then he left her again. She had hoped
that he would plead for her, and that she
would be forced to change her mind; but
now he was gone--gnne for two long years.
How she lived Though them she could not
tell but they passed, and again her lover
was before her
al have waited patiently" was all he
said.
The lady yearned to cast herself into his
arms. but pride was strong within her.
"Wait longer" she said.
mo" he answered "This is the last
time. If wait now will wait forever"
At this she drew back haughtily.
"Then wait forever" she said coldly.
lie left her without word. And now
her heart sank in her bosom. She wept
bitter tears and repented in dust and ashes.
When year had gone by she could bear her
woe no longer, and sent her little foot page
to her lover, bidding him bear this message
"Come back 10 me-"
But the message the little foot-page
brought was just this: "Wait."
Again she was LEFT to the sorrow, and two
years glided by then once more she bade
her page ride over the mountains to her low
er's castle.
"Tell him I am waiting" she said.
The page rode away and rode back. He
stood before his lady and doifed his car
and repeated the message that had been
given him: "The patient waiter is not los.
er."
'IIe is furnishing me-" thought the lady
and for two hears longer she remained in
her castle. Her heart was breaking-hel
health failcd-she knew dea'h was near.
Again she sent her cruel lover a message
"Tell him." she said, "That | am near my
end and that, if wait longer before l see
him 7 shall wait forever"
The page returned and stood beside hi;
lady's chair. His eyes were full OF tears
his head was bent upon his breast; he sighed
and hid his face in his plumed cap.
The lady lifted her wan face.
Speak /" she said. "The messagel'
"Alas |" sighed the page;I wouldit were
a more tender one"
"WhNtever it may be, speak!' - gasped
the lady.
"The only message that haye," replied
the page is "Wait forever!"
al am well paid in my own COIN" said
the lady. AT last have received all my
own answers back"
In little while she died, and they buried
her in the old churchyard, with stone al
her head and stone at her feet.
When spring came there also was a new
plant strange to those who looked upon it; Q
plant with dark, glossy leaves, that crepl
] slowly but surely along, clutching fast to
every rough surface it met
There had never been plant like that on
earth before. Now we call it the ivy, but
this is what those who saw it for the first
time said of it:
at is the lady whom her lover babe tc
wait forever. In this form she is creeping
toward his castle slowly but surely. So shC
will creep on until she reaches the hear
she threw away"
Generations have passed from earth. The
castle is a ruin, covered with ivy, and tn,
peasants will tell you that it has crept ther,
from the lady's grave, point to point, Owe
stone and rock, through the graveyard an,
over gates and fences. You can trace it i
you choose, they say, but you 40 not try.