The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-09-19
A RHINE LEGEND.


where, especially ut that day, mighty
line was drawn bstwccnthc rich and poor,
that in n certain village beside tho Rhinc
lived two who madc the old, old story
new for themselves and almost believed.
as lovers WILL that they were the first who
had ever loved each o,hcr-Grctchcn and
Carl, both peasants children. ana both rs
poor, in everything but youth and health
and beauty, as any twain could be-
But for all this they would willingly
have united their fortunes, or their lack of
fortunes, but for the wise old folk, who
know so much more about the world than
young ones can and quite forget how much
better n 1cntcn feast. with love nj the
board, is TO youth than all the dainty
viands that can be spread OH silver and set
forth on damaSl if the little god is away.
Tho old folk set themselves to oppose the
match stoutly, on the ground that CARL
would never earn his salt and that Crotch
en-, being very pretty might mako IL better
match. Indeed the baron, whose castle
stood not far off, and who was not so old
as no might havo been and was rolling in
gold, would, as all knew, have been only
too happy to stoop rs low rs the PEASANTS
cottage and have Gretchen for his bride
But tho girl found no charm in his title
or his wealth or his person to lead her TO
forget Carl, and when ho left her to seek
his fortune, that he might share it, when
found. with her, she gave him a lock of
her golden hair and promised that she
never would forget him.
Gretchen sang and danced no more She
changed sadly in face and heart, but the
Baron Clnusscn only thought her moro
lovely and moro like lady with her pale
checks and downcast eyes and haunted the
cottage rs much as over
Carl ever so far away, footsorc and sad
but making sure of fortune ahead OF
him, and happy just as even his stout legs
began to fail him in meeting with n good
natured boatman, who took him on board
and badc him be at ease until he reached
the end of his journey. so Carl loungcd
upon the deck of tho little craft with its
LOAF of chooses, and looking over into the
water thought of Gretchen, never guessing
that his signs had brought 10 The surface n
beautiful mermaid, who no sooner set ewes
upon Carl than she fell madly III love with
him and began forthwith To sing and PLAY
upon her lyrc and comb her hair and use
all her mermaid arts to lure the peasant
to her. Size iloatcd with him To the mouth
of The Hague, where, finding no avenue 10
fortune in any other direction. poor Carl
shipped Oh board n vessel bound for n two
years voyage and hired u man who was
about to travel down into Hcsso Darn
stadt to tako the news TO his Sweetheart
And tell her. said Carl, ''that I shall
think of her by day and by night and shall
return to claim her for my own when this
voyage is over
Tho man promised and the mermaid re-
joiced, for Carl was to be within her reach
for two long years. But this was not
enough for her, for she was IL very willy
mermaid One moonlight night -hc saw
the messenger walking on the shore and
called to him.
He was an ugly looking fellow, with Il
REQ nose, with whom mcrmaids were not
apt to fall in love, so hc had never seen
ono. And when he saw her with her rcarlv
skin and sapphire eyes and floating hair.
her hands lying upon the golden strings
of her lyro, oil ringcd With pearls and
pearls dripping from the lobcs of her pure
ears and wound about her neck, and saw
her smilo and felt her breath, and heard
her voice, he grew bewldcrcd First she
made love to him; then she babe him do
something to prove that he cared for her
III was such little thing-only to 90 on
board tho vessel and take Carl unawarcs
and push him over. After that he would
lind her waiting for him by the mouth of
The Rhine
She had not the slightest intention. of
keeping her vow, but the man believed her
ana went on board the vessel and gave Il
form leaning over the bulwar!ls n pusb
that sent it down into the water, but i'm
his excitement he natlo Il mistake and
only drowned II young sailor from Han
over. instead OF tossing Carl into the mcr-
maid S arms. Then, terrified by the cry
the man gave, he fled not waiting to Keen
MS appointment with the mermaid but
making the best of his way to Hcssc
Darmstadt
Then being u good Catholic, he be-
thought hm-for he had no idea of his
inistake-that the drowned Carl would
have no masses said for him unless his
kindred know of his demise, and so went
down to the cottage where Gretchen sat
spinning. There he inquired if any there
knew one Carl Stcyer. Then there was n
little cry and the wheel stopped.
bring news III him, said the man.
bad news. i knew him in Holland. He
had shipped for two years VOYAGE. but
before tho vessel started hc was drowned.
saw him fall overheard God rest his
soui." Then ne went away nWardly
cursing himself and the mermaid. who.
in very excellent spirits, was following
over the sea the vessel on which Carl
sailed, thinking OF nothing but home and
Gretchen.
The news nearly killed the poor girl,
since she never doubted it for moment.
but though haG she known Carl to he liv-
ing she would have thought of him only
ana waited for him through long rolling
years ana loved him though al his beauty
had left him and though he had returned
poorer than when he parted from her the
vol of death separated him from her so
completely and there was such a blank
wherever She turned her ycarning ewes
That III the cnd Sic did not fool 81 nn..r,.