The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-12-03
A Pretty Rhine Legend

Once upon time there lived beside
the Rhine beautiful young lady.
She had lover who loved her, and
whom she loved in return. Bot
after be had wooed her, not one year,
bat three-he asked her TO marry
him; and she, anxious to show hsr
power, merely answered:
"Wait.n
IL have waited three years." be
said, "but at your bidding, will
wait one more---iust one more"
/ Then he went away and became .
soldier, and praise of his bravery ell
ed the land but the lady was piqued
BY the thought that be had been able
to leave her for even year; an
when be returned she determined -
punish him, though ali the while shs
/ loved hin welt
+ lie knelt at her feet, aud took her
hands 10 his, aud said
Lady | have come back to claiCl
you for my wife"
But oil che answered was:
"Wait longer; apstient waiter !,
not loser"
al will wait two wears longer" b.
said calmly, 'lf do not lose all =
we'll"
Then be left her sgain She be-.
hoped tha, be wouli plead for be
Gnd that she would be freed :,
change her mind but now be WI
gone-gone for two long years He
sle lived through them she could L.
tell but they passed, aud again Der
lover was before her.
al have waited patiently" was al
be said.
The lady yearned to east herse.f
into bis arms, bat pride was srros,
within her
"Wait longer" she said
"No," he answered. "This Is u
last time. II I wait now will wsi.
forever"
At this she drew back hsuga.
lily.
"Thsn wait forever" she answered,
coldly.
Ho left her without a word. An1
now her heart saok in her bosom
She wept bitter tears, and repenrea
in dust aud ashes. When yea
had gone by, she could bear her Voc
no longer, and she sent her little foot
page to her old 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 her sorrow,
and Two years glided by (; then one
more che bade her page ride over tie
mountains 70 her lovers castle.
Tell him | am waiting" she said.
The page rode away aud rods
back. He stood before his lady aad
dotfed bis cap, and repeated the me-
sage that had been given him
THE patient waiter is not los
err
"He is furnishing me-" thought the
lady, and for two years longer che
remained in her castle. Her hear.
was breaking-her health failed
she knew death was near.
Again che sent her cruel lover o
message
Tell him." she said, "tbst ali
near nay end, and that if wait long
er before see him | shall wait fol-
ever"
The page returned, and stood BE-
side bis iady's chair His eyes wers
tull Of tears his head was bent up
on his breast he sighed and hi
mis- face in his planed cap.
The lady lifted her wan face.
Speak !" she said. "The mes
sage %
Alas :" sighed the page 'G
would it were more tender one."
Whatever it may be. speak
she said.
The only message that l have
replied the page, ais Wal. forever
81 am well paid in my own coiu.
said the lady. "At last l have re-
ceived ell my answers back"
In little while she died, and the
buried her in the old church yard,
with stone at her head and one at
her feet.
When spring came there was grass
upon the grave, aud there also was a
new plant strange to those who look
ed upon it plant with dark, CLOS
sy leaves, that erept slowly bat sure
ly along. clutchiog fast to every
rough surface it met.
There had never been a 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 ber lover
babe to wait forever. In this form
she is creeping toward his castle
slowly bur surely. So she will creep
on until she reaches the heart she
threw away"
Generations nave passed from
earth. The castle ia ruin, covered
with ivy, and the peasants will tell
you that it has crept there from the
lsdy's grave, point by point over
stone and rock, through the grave
yard and over gates and fences You
can trace it if you choose, they ssy,
but you do not try.