The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-20

seUDly COuiu lnuuct altuuI bo stdy, HC
went up to the old woman, and said:
'Mother, rid us now of thy curse; no
longer compel my queen to live far
from me; her short visits are more pain
to me than JOY"
The old woman answered angrily:
"On no condition will l abolish my
curse.
Or this the king, going up to his wife,
entreated her in the fondest and most
loving terms not to depart.
Tire queen answered:
The internal power of thy mothers
curse forces me to go, and perchance this
may be the last time that shall see
thee"
While she was thus speaking the herds
man sped from the palace, and across the
fields to the precipice, up which he
mounted as rapidly as he had come
down, thanks to the magic stone.
When he arrived at the rock he put
the stone into his pocket and the bride
over his head again. Very soon after Hill.
dur came up mounted on his back, and
off they flew again to the farmhouse,
where Hildur, taking the bride from his
head, placed him again in his bed and
retired.
The herdsman now considered it safe te
go to sleep, which he did so soundly as
not to wake till quite late on Christmas
morning.
The farmer rose early, and with all the
rest of the family went to the bedside Of
the herdsman.
When the farmer had looked at him
and found him breathing he praised Goo
aloud for mercy in preserving the mar
from death.
Wondering at his preservation, the
furmer asked him whether he had seeI
anything.
The man replied:
"No but l have had very curious
dream"
'What was it?' asked the farmer.
The man related everything that hae
passed in the night as well as he could re
member.
When he had finished Hildur went uE
to him and said:
II declare you to be a liar, unless yol
can prove it by sure evidence
The herdsman took fromhis pocket TIN
ring, and showing it to her, said:
''ls this not your gold mug, Queer
| Hildur9"
at is my ring. Happy man! may Vol
prosper in all your undertakings, for vol
have released me from the awful YOKE
which my mother-in-law laid, in hel
wrath upon ME, and from the curse Of
yearly murder
And then Hildur told them the story
her life as follows:
81 was born of an obscure family
among the elves. Our king fell in love
with me, and married me, in spite of the
strong disapproval of his mother. She
swore eternal haJred to Inc in her anger
against her son, and said to him:
"Short shall be your JOY with this fail
wife of yours, for you shall see her but
once year, and that only at the expens'
of murder This is my course upon her
and it shall be carried out to the letter
She shall go and serve in the uppe
world, this queen and every Christina
Eve shall ride man, one Of her fellow.
servants, with this magic bride, to the
confines of El-and, where she shall pas.
few hours with you, and then ride him
back again till his very heart breaks witt
toll, and his very life leaves him. Lei
her thus enjoy her queenship."
"And this horrible fate was to cling tt
me until | should either have these mur
ders brought home 10 me, and be con
demned to death, or should meet with I
gallant man like this herdsman, VIII,
should have nerve and courage to follow
me down into El-and, and be able tt
prove afterward that he had been ther
with me, and seen the customs of IN,
people.
"And now I'must confess that all tn
former herdsmen were slain by me; bu
no penalty shall touch me for their mul
ders, as | committed them against sm,
will. And for you, oh, courageous man
who have dared, the first of human be
ings to explore the reals of EIf-land, all,
have freed me from the yoke of thi
awful curse, I will reward you in time
to come, but not now. Farewell"
With these words Hiltlur vanished, an
was never seen again.
But our friend the herdsmm, leavin
the service of the farmer, took farr
for himself and prosperod, and becam
one of the chief men In the country, an
always ascribed his prosperity to Hildu,
the Queen of Elves
! A Giant and His TaiIOr's Ball.
| Pail Mall GazetteI