The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-17
EE APfARTloHC CrASrYD D HANoS As N BgTTrR A9oAnr

to shore He swore to her that he would never forsake her and called himself the most fortunate of man kind. UndIne looked at him with eyes that shown through happy tears.
 True to her word the stream retired into it's old bed that night and Undine begged her husband to go away with her at once, although he wished to finger for a time in the quiet place where he had found her. 'The old people," said she. twill find it hard enough to let me go. If they see now how deeply love and honor them since my soul came to me the parting will break their hearts. Let me not show them my soul now that they are to lose me. cannot conceal 1t from them if we stay"
 Huldbrand agreed with her and be- fore noon of that day he lifted his wife to his horse and crossed the stream with the priest who accompa. nied them. Undine wept quietly but bitterly. The old people lamented aloud as the three disappeared. It was as if there had come to them a sense of what they were losing Silently the three passed into the dark forest The path seemed to open before them. Suddenly Huldbrand was startled by seeing that man dressed in flowing white garments was walking by the side ofthe priest and whispering into his ear. Hardly had they per- ceved him before he turned and strode to the side of the horse. T pray" ex- claimed Undlne, "that you leave me. Do not appear to me again. My hus- band will fear me If he sees my strange relatives"
 My little niece" said the man. "you must not forget your uncle Cool-fount so soon--your old uncle Cool-fount who carried you so faithfully into this re- zion and who swept wonder priest ashore for your wedding"
 "T am afraid of you" said Undine. 'T beg of you, disappear from my Ire and let us go in peace
 Al these words Cool-fount glared at Undine so that she screamed. Instant" ly the knight struck at the man with his sword. Instead of cleaving hu- man head. the whistiing blade hewed it's way into waterfall that suddenly plunged from q cliff before them.
 q thought we would soon come to torrent" said the old priest, like one awaking suddenly. "The brook has been running along our path so long. Sometimes it murmured so that I ai- most imagined 1t was human voice"
 But in Huldbrand's ear the waterfall said quite plainly:
 Swift knight
 Strong knight.
 clear thy path
 And feel no wrath:
 Be thou as swift, whate'er betide Tn future days. to shield thy bride. In few minutes more they saw the towers of the city.
 Joy and astonishment in equal meas ure filled the town when the knight re- l turned. for he had been given up as | lost. Bertaida, perhaps, was the only | one who was not happy; for though | she was glad enough to see the knight | again. she was not pleased bit to see | the radiantly beautiful wife whom he | had brought back
 However. she was too clever to dis plav her feelings and met her rival with | afrectionate welcome Like all the other peonle of the city. she thought 1 Undine was some noblewoman or even A princess. whom Huldbrand had saved from one of the many frightful terrors of the woods.
 Undlne felt genuine affection for the beautiful Bertalda, and at last the iattAr though she still envied her sue cessful rival. could not help returning It Soon they were so friendly that IIndine induced Huldbrand to let her l invite Pertalda to accompany them to | the castle of Rlngstetten. That even | ing while they ware discussing the | journey near the Retat louHtalh' tall man appeared suddenly before them. bowed respectfully and whispered some thing in ITndine's ear, Undine shook bar had anRrily: but after the man had said something else to her she clapped her hands and laughed. The stranger walked away wrathfully and seemed to vanish as soon as he reached the edge of the fountain.
 "who was that asked Bertalda
 "wait till the day after tomorrow = said Undine. when you ana your foS- tar nsrerts ara with us for dinner to ceIahrata your birthday. I will tell YOU.
 If will make you very happy. dear. | dear Bertalda
 Rertaida could hardly wait till ths 2, dinner was over to hear the news un-