The Sunday mirror., 1880-07-25
THE SUNN

door together, looking over the iair s'ehe
with its boundary of clear waters, his heart
yearned so toward this cradle OF his love
that he said,-" But why should we go away
so soon 7 we shall never spend happier
in yonder world, than we have passed in this
peaceful nook Let us at least see two or
three more suns go down here. -" AS my
Lord wishes" answered Undine, with cheer
full submission "but, you see, the old peo-
pie will be grieved at parting with me when
ever it is and if we give them time to be-
come acquainted with my soul, and with its
new powers of loving and honoring them,
fear that when go, their aged hearts will
break under the load of sorrow. AS yet
they take my gentle mood for a passing
whim, such as they saw me liable to former
", like calm on the lake when the winds
are lulled and they will soon begin to love
some favorite tree or flower in my place.
They must not learn to know this newly OBJ
tanned, affectionate heart, in the first over
howings of its tenderness, just at the MON
ent when they are to lose me for this world I;
and how could disguise it from them, if we
remained together longer 7"
Huldbrand agreed with her; he went to
the old couple, and finding them ready to
consent, he resolved upon setting out that
very hour. The Priest offered to accompany
them after a hasty farewell the pretty
bride was placed on the horse by her hus-
band, and they crossed the streams dry bed
quickly, and entered the forest. Undine
shed silent but bitter tears, while the old
folks walled after her aloud. 1t seemed as
if some foreboding were crossing their minds
of how great their loss would prove.
The three travellers reached the deepest
shades of the forest, without breaking ST.
lence. 1t was fair sight to behold as they
passed through the leafy bowers the gracej
ful woman sitting on her noble steed, guarS
ded on one side by the venerable Priest in
the white habit of his order; on the other
by the youthful Knight, with his gorgeous
attire and glittering sword. Huldbrand had
no eyes but for his precious wife; Undine
who had dried her duteous tears, no thought
but for him; and they soon fell into
noseless interchange of glances and signs,
which at length was interrupted by the
sound of low murmur, proceeding from the
Priest and fourth fellow-traveller, who had
Joined them unobserved. He wore white
robe, very like the Priests dress, except
that the hood almost covered his face, and
the rest of it foated round him in such
large folds that he was perpetually obliged
to gather it up, throw it over his arm, or
otherwise arrange it; yet it did not seem
to impede him at all in walking; when the
young people saw him he was saying, And
so, my worthy father, | have dwelt in the
forest for many year, yet am not what
you commonly call hermit For as told
you, know nothing of penance, nor do
think it would do me much good. What
makes me SO fond Of the woods is, that
have very particular fancy for winding
through the dark shades and forest walks,
with my loose white clothes floating abou!
me; now and then pretty sunbeam Wi
glance over me as CO." "You seem to be
very curious person." replied the Priest,
"and should like to know more about you. u
"And pray who are you, to carry on the
acquaintance ," said the stranger. They
call me Father Heilmann, answered the
Priest, "and belong to St. Mary's
monastery, beyond the lake." "Ay, ay
reioned the other. "My name is Kuhle-
born, and if l stood upon ceremony, might
well call myself Lord of Kuhleborn, or
Baron (Freiherr) Kuhleborn for free am
as the bird of the air, or trife more free.
For instance, must now have word with
the young woman there" And before they
could look round, he was on the other side
of the Priest, close to Undine, and stretch
ing up his tall figure to whisper in her ear.
But she turned hastily away, saying, Il have
nothing more to do with you now" Hey
day =" said the stranger laughing, "what
a prodigiously grand marriage yours must
be, if you are to cast off your relations in
this way Have you forgotten Uncle Kuhle-
born, who brought you all the way here on
his back so kindly2"
"But entreat you," said Undine, "never
come to me again. am afraid of YOU now,
and will not my husband become afraid O
me il he finds have so strange family Z
"My little niece" said Kuhleborn, "please
to remember that am protecting you all
this time; the foul Spirits of Earth might
play YOU troublesome tricks if l did not.
So YOU had better let me go on with you,
and no more words. The old Priest there
has a better memory than yours, for he
would have it he knew my face very well,
and that must have been with him in the
boat when he fell into the water. And he
may well say SO, seeing that the wave which
washed him over was none but myself, and
landed him safe on the shore in time for
your wedding"
Undine and the Knight looked at Father
Heilmann, but he seemed to be plodding on
in waking dream, and not listening to
what was said. Undine said to Kuhleborn,