Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-01-27
A Pretty Story of Two Lovers.


Once upon time there lived beside
the Rhine beautiful lady. She had q
lover who loved her, and whom she
loved in return. But after he had
wooed her-not one year but three-he
asked her to marry him: and she
anxious to prove her power, merely an
swered
"Wait."
81 have waited three years" he said,
"but at your bidding, will wait once
more" a b
Then he went away and became q
soldier, and praise of his bravery filled
the land: but the lady was piqued by
the thought that he had been able to
leave her even year, and when he
returned she determined to punish him,
though all the while she loved him
we'll. $3.50
He knelt at her feet and took her
hand in his, and said: ss
"Lady I have come back to claim
you for my wife"
But all she answered was:
wait longer; patient waiter is not
loser" neg
81 will wait two years longer" he
said. calmly. "If I 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 gone for
two long years. How she lived through
them she could not tell, but they passed
and again her lover was before her.
s"I have waited patiently" was all he
said. She yearned to cast herself into
his arms. but pride was strong within
| her.
"Wait longer" she said.
NO. he answered. ''This is the last
time If wait now will wait for
ever"
At this she drew back haughtily.
| "Thep wait forever" she said coldly.
| He left her without q 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 he wee no longer, and
sent her little foot page to her old lover
Come back to 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 once more she
|
to her lovers castle.
| "Tell him am waiting" she said.
The page rode away and rode back.
He stood before his lady and DOTTED his
cap, and repeated the message that had
been given him.
1.-THE patient waiter is not q loser"
"He is Furnishing me" thought the
lady, and for two years longer she re-
manned in her castle. Her heart was
breaking-her health failed-she knew
death 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
I see him I shall wait forever"
The page returned and stood beside
his lady's chair. His eyes were full of
tears; his head was bent upon his breasts
he sighed and hid his face in his plumed
cap.
The lady lifted her wan face.
"Speak ~ she said. 1.-THE message! !"
"Alas!" sighed the page; II would
it were tender one" Z
Whatever it may be, speak," gasped
the lady.
The only message have,n replied the
page, 10 "Wait forever!"
81 am well paid in my own coin,'
said the lady. "At last have received
i all my answers back"
In little while she died, aud they
buried her in the old churchyard, with
a stone at her head and stone at her
feet.
When Spring came there was grass
upon the grave, and there also was 9
new plant strange to those who locke
upon it. plant with dark, glossy
leaves, that crept slowly but surely
i along, clutching fast together every
rough surface it met.
There had never been q plant liks
that on earth before. Now we call i
the ivy, but this is what those who saw
it for the fret time said of it.:
1t Is the lady whom her lover babe t.
wait forever. In this form she is creep
ing toward his castle slowly but surely
So she will creep on until she REACHES
the heart she threw away.
u Generations have passed from earth
The castle is ruin, covered with ivy
and the peasants will tell you that i
has crept there from the lady's grave
point by point. over stone and rock
through the graveyard and over gate
and fences. You can trace it if yet
choose, they say, but you do not try.