The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-17

But a feeble voice answered: "I am no evil spirit, but poor priest whom the sea has thrown ashore" Undine opened the door and held out her hand to ven- erable old man whose long white hair was dripping with water. Hastily the fisherman and the knight took him into a chamber, rubbed him dry and gave him warm clothes. When ne sat before the fire quite restored he tolc them that there had been wonderful, great floods every where and that he had tried to go to his monastery by sea because the roads were impossible when he was caught in the storm. His boat had been capslzed and his boatman drowned, while he himself had been seized most miraculously by a great white wave and cast ashore. Per haps, concluded he, i've may never see other human beings again. It is sad that the clements are so angry that they will not make peace for a long time to come. You may be cut off forever from i the rest of the world.'
 Then you would remain with usi You would remain with usr' whispered Undine and pressed closely to Huldbrand's side.
 The knight stared into the fire and pom dered. The far world withdrew itself further and further and became dim. Within his soul there seemed the laughter of the green islet and the glow of the wild rose that he had found there. An emotion that he could not resist flooded his being. He turned to the old priest and said
 Venerable sir, you see before you q pair of lovers, and if these good foster parents have nothing against it beg you to marry us this evening"
 Undine ceased her sportiveness and gazed dreamily and solemnly into the flames. The old priest withdrew with the old fisherman and conversed with him a long time. Then he returned and an- nounced his willingness
 The knight began to twist two links from his golden chain t. serve as we'd ding rings; but Undine said: Hold! My dress that I wore when I came ashore here had two rings sewed into it." She ran into her chamber and returned with 1 two splendid rings. The priest lit candles and performed the ceremony
 When it was ended and the bride was l sitting, trembling and silent by the side of the knight, the priest said: Why did 1 you tell me that you were all alone on this island? While I was conducting the ceremony tall man in white mantle | looked in through the window," l God forfendr said the fisherman n
 while the knight looked through the win | dow without seeing anything. You must | have been mistaken said he, and sat down by the side of Undine again while the rest gathered contentedly around the | young couple.
 Like a sudden change of the weather. | Undine's mood, that had been so silent and serious during the wedding, changed 1 to the opposite. She leased parents and ! bridegroom, and the priest himself did not 1 escape At last even Huldbrand could not refrain from rcbulxing her gently, as
 she engaged in a wilder prank than be- l fore. She whispered into his ear, laughed and smoothed away his frown. The next | instant she was madder than ever My charming young woman." said the 1 priest, Tit is true that one cannot see you
 without pleasure Yet you should be- | think yourself to so atthne your soul that 1t will always be in harmony with that of | your husband'
 "Soul!' laughed Undine. That sounds 1 very pretty and may be very good for
 most people. But if a person has no | soul!"
 The priest turned away in pious anger. | Undine began to say more. tremor
 seized her and she broke into passionate
 tears. Huldbrand felt thrill of fear; but l when she turned to him and sobbed: Alas! Now you will not want to keep
 me! And yet I have done nothing evil,
 poor, poor child that I am!' He caught
 her in his arms and kissed her hundred | times.
 The next morning Undine kneeled to