The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-02-03
NO.. 5

ed, filling earth and sky with melody,
this glad summer morning.
The hearts of both men and maiden
were full to ovcrtlowing perhaps that
was why they rose so silently.
When they reached the point where
the road began to ascent, Ottman laid
his hand on her bride.
Allow me to lead your horse. nv
lady, he said. The earth has been
washed out here, making the road
rough indeed, and it will weary you to
have to draw so tight rein
She gave him her bride; not that
she needed his care, for my lady was a
famous equestrienne, but, in some way
that she could not explain, the sense
of protection was pleasant. When they
were upon level ground again, he did
not give the bride back perhaps he
still considered the road rough and
unsafe; or could it have been that he
was pleased to be SO near her?
The road narrowed suddenly, SO that
the peinccss and Ottmar were obliged
to ride single file. Ottman soon dis
mounted, and tied his horse to tree.
Princess Use followed his example.
''Let us walk the remainder of the
way. 1t is only sort walk to Insels-
tein." Side by side they went through
the solitary green aisles of the forest.
Again words seemed to fail them
The twisted, moss-grown root of
great tree spread over their path in
every direction, looking like huge
green snake. Ottmar sprang over it,
and offered his hand to Lady Ilse. She
gratefully accepted the profered assis-
tance, and did not relnquish her grasp;
with hands closely clasped, Ottmar
and the princess walked through the
forest AS happy as two children, as Oh
livious as if they were in Il dream of
enchantment Thus at last they
reached the Insclstein. Lady Ilse sat
down contentcdIy.
This is the place, she said, but Ott-
mar threw himself at her feet, crying
out
ooh, sweet Princess Ilsc!''
Lady Ilse shrank back, terrified at
the passionate outburst of feeling.
''Ottmar, be quiet she said; ''for
mp sake be quiet You know that |
cannot help. You know as well as |
that am bound by an oath. | pray
you, therefore, be calm He wiped
the tears from his eyes.
Il implore your pardon, my lady |
am grieved that have frightened you.
For your sake | will control my sor-
row but you must surely have Il
wreath, just as you had that day. |
will gather the flowers He FASTENED
away toward the dangerous descent,
where the beautiful blossoms
grew. From this place the view on
the light and left stretched far into the
distance; but in front it was shut in
by the Inselstein, which rose abruptly
from the valley like a great watch
tower. At the foot of the Inseistein
are the famous llscn Falls.
Lady Ilse knew that Ottmar was
going upon dangerous errand. She
tried to recall him, but it was too late.
Come back Come back :" she
cried, but the only answer was Il mock
ing echo of her own words. In an
guish Lady llse covered upon the edge
of the precipice. There she saw Ott-
mar clinging to projecting root. He
. had gone step too far; a misstep, a
sudden loosening of the root, and-she
grew faint to think of it. In dumb
agony she prayed.
Ottmars face was radient In his
right hand he carried great bunch of
spring blossoms which he held up to
her, smiling brightly, and saying:
"My dear lady"
Suddenly without moments warn
ing, the root, unable to stand the heavy
weight upon it, gave way, and without
a sound, like the vanishing of a dis.
embodied spirit, Ottmar sank into the
depths below.
Lady Ilse looked upon him as one
stunned by a heavy blow. Then, as if
suddenly stung into action, she flew
down little hunters path to the val
ley below. She had not known how
she got down into the valley She no
longer hoped to save him: she thought
now only of seeing him once more-of
catching his last glance.
In few moments she reached the
fallen man. He lay in great lump OF
ferns. His upturned face was deadly
pale; the moist earth pitifully absorb
ed the blood which oozed from the
wound in the head
Lady Ilse seized one of the limp
hanging hands which still held the
blossoms they were cold. Trembling