Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-04-23
Wait Forever.

Once upon time there lived, beside
the Rhine, q beautiful young 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, an1-
ious to show her power, merely an
swered:
- Wait" <z-El
II have waited three years" he said,
but at your bidding I will wait one
more-iust one more"
Then he went away and became
soldier, and praise of his bravery filed
the land; but the lady was piqued by
the thought that he had been able to
leave her even q year, and when he re-
turned she determined to punish him,
though all the time she loved him well.
He knelt at her feet. and took her
hand in his and said:
"Lady, 1 have come back to claim
you for my wife"
But all she answered was:
. "Wait longer; patient waiter is not
a loser"
twill wait two years longer" he
said, calmly. of I do not lose, all is
we'll"
Then he left again. She had hoped
that he would plead with 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.
II have waited patiently" was all he
said.
The lady yearned to cast herself in
his arms, but pride was strong
"Wait longer" she said.
"No," he answered. "This is the
last time. If I wait now, I will wait
forever"
At this she drew back haughtily.
"Then wait forever" she said coldly.
He left her without word, and now
her heart sank within her. She wept
bitter tears, and repented in dust and
ashes. When q year had gone by she
could bear her woe no longer, and sent
her little foot-page to her lover, bidding
him bear this message: "Come back
to me-"
But the message the foot-page
brought back was just this: swat"
Again she was left to her sorrow, and
two years glided by; then once more
she babe her page ride over the mount
aims to her lovers castle.
Tell him I 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: "The patient waiter
is not a 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
that death was near.
Again she sent her cruel lover a
message.
aTell him." she said, "that I am near
my end, and that if I wait longer before
], see him [ 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
breast; he sighed and held his face in
his pluned cap.
The lady lifted her wan face.
"Speakl" she said. "The messagel"
"Alasp sighed the page; II would
that it were more tender one."
Whatever it may be, speak," gasped
the lady.
@The only message that I have" re-
Piled the page, "is, Wait forever"
Il am well paid in my own coin" said
the lady. AT last I have received all
my own answers back"
In little while she died, and they
buried her in the old churchvard.
When spring came there was grass
upon the grave, and there was also q
new plant, strange to those who looked
apon it-a plant with dark, glossy leaves
that crept slowly but surely along,
clutching fast to every rough surface it
met.