The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1879-10-18
Che Gafapette Aopertiser.
OFFICIAL JOURNAL Of the Parish si LAFAYETTE
and Of the Town Of VERMILlDNVILLE,
The Legend of the Ivy.

1t is an Old legend-a German one, l
think-and it runs in this wise:
Once upon a time there lived, beside
the Rhine, beautiful young lady. She
had lover who loved her, and whom
she loved in return; but, after be had
wooed her, not one year, bat three, he
asked her to marry him, and she, anxious
to show her power, merely answered,
"wait."
Il have waited three years" he said,
"but at your bidding, will wait one more
just one more. will 60 away from
you, and return, when the year is over to
ask your hand"
Then he went away and became a
soldier. and the praise Of his bravery filed
the land, but the lady was piqued by the
thought that he had been able to leave
her even for year, and when he returned,
she- determined to punish him though all
the time she loved him we'll.
He knelt at her feet, and took her han'ls
in his, and said:
"Lady, l have come back to claim you
for my wife,"
But all she answered was
"Wait longer; patient waiter is not
loser" +:
The soldier arose. He sighed, but be
said no word of remonstrance.
Il will wait for two years longer" he
said, calmly. "If do not lose, all is
WELL"
Then be left her again. She had hoped
that be would plead with her, and that
she should be forced to change her mind;
but now he was gone-gone for two long
years How she lived throu, ,eh them she
could not tell; but they passed, and again
her lover was before her.
Il 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.
NO." he answered. "Thia is the last
time. If wait now / will visit forever"
At this her blood boiled; hsr ewes fash
ed; she arose and drew back haug ghtily.
"Then wait forever" she said, coldly.
Surely she thought, be would sink at
her feet and beseech her forgiveness, but
he did no such thing. He left her with.
out word. And now her heart sank in
her bosom. She wept bitter tears, and re-
pented in dust and ashes. When year
had gone by, she could bear her woe no
longer. and she sent her little foot page to
her old lover, bidding him bear this mes
sage:
"Come back to me-"
But the message the ittle foot page
brought back was just this:
wait"
Again she was left to her sorrow, and
two years glided by; then once more she
bade her page ride over the mountains to
her lovers castle.
"Tsll him l am waiting" she said.
The page rode away and rode back.
He stood before his lady and doffed his
cap, and repeated the message that had
been given him:
"The patient waiter is not loser"
HE is punishiug me- thought the
lady, and for two years longer she remain
ed 10 her castle. Her heart was breaking.
Her health failed. She knew that her
death was near.
A longing to see him se;z.d her soul.
Again she sent her cruel lover message.
"Tell him." she said, "that am near
my end, and that if wait longer before l
see him shall wait forever
But nothing soitcned the heart her own
cruelty bad turned to stone.
The page returned and stood beside his
lady's couch. His eyes were full Of tears,
his head was bent upon his breast; he
sighed and hid his face in his plumed hat.
The lady lifted her wan face.
"Speak," she said, "the message"
"AIas!' sighed the page. Il would it
were a more tender one"
"Wbatever it may be, speak, gssped
the lady.
'The only message that have, "replied
the page, ''is: wait forever
II am we'll paid 10 my own coin.' said
the lady. "At last have received all my
own answers back"
From that moment sha faded fast. In
little while she died an,l they buried
her 10 the old church yard with stone
at her head aud stone at her feet.
When spring came there was grass up
on the grave, and there also was new
plant strange to those who looked upon
it; plant with dark, glossy leaves, that
cre;t slowly but surely along, clutching
fast to every rough surface It met. The'e
had never been plant like that on earth
'bsfo1e. Nv W cal! it the ivy, but this