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

Undine so that she screamed. Instantly the knight struck at the man with his sword. Instead of cleaving a human head, the whistling blade hewed it's way into waterfall that suddenly plunged from a cliff before them.
 q thought we would soon come to a torrent" said the old priest, like one ewalxing suddenly. "The brook has been running along our path so long. Some times 1t murmured so that l almost inn agined 1t was a human voice."
 But in Huldbrand's ear the waterfall said quite plainly:
 Swift knight,
 Strong knight,
 1 clear thy path
 And feel no wrath;
 Be thou as swift, whateer betide
 In future days, to shield thy bride.
 In a few minutes more they saw the towers of the city.
 Joy and astonishment in equal measure filled the town when the knight returned, for he had been given up as lost. Der talda, perhaps, was the only one who was not happy; for though she was glad enough to see the knight again, she was not pleased a bit to see the radiantly beautiful wife whom he had brought back.
 However. she was too clever to display
 
 fectionate welcome. Like all the other people of the city, she thought Undine was some noblewoman or even a princess, whom Huldbrand had saved from one of the many frightful terrors of the woods.
 Undne felt genuine affection for the beautiful Bcrtalda, and a last the latter, though she still envied her successful rival, could not help returning it. Soon they were so friendly that Undine in- T,,1Il a,,1 tra1 lot l,A tt,x-t tfa Pnr talda to accompany them to the castle of Ringstetten That evening while they were discussing the journey near the great fountain, a tall man appeared suddenly before them, bowed respectfully and whis- pered something in Undine's ear. Undine had said something else to her she shook her head angrily;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 and your foster parents are with us for dinner to cele- brate your birthday, I will tell you It will make you very happy, dear, dear Bertalda.'@
 Bartalda could hardly wait till the din-
  took up her flute and sang. The Duke listened with a face in which astonish- ment became more and more marked. The song told of a child that had been cast ashore by the waters and found by cavalier riding along the strand. At last when she named him she cried: You are right, fair lady. That is how I found out Bertalda. But who was she? Know you that?'
 Yes" said Undine, delighted. With a face full of joy she beckoned. The old fisherman and his wife stepped forth and held their arms out to Bertalda. But Bertalda started back with a cry of con tempt and called them cheats. The fish erman folded his hands and prayed that she might turn out not to be his daughter after all; but his wife knew of two birth marks and the Duke insisted that She tell what they were. It was not long before he declared himself satisfied
 The company had gathered in groups, some incredulous, others believing, but all looking strangely at Undine. She stood up and said in a tone that was at once humble and proud: You people who look at me so disturbed and so angrily, did not know of your foolish customs and your cruel beliefs till I heard what you said. That I have done this in a wrong way is not my fault, believe me, but yours.'
 The guests took their leave in silence and the Duke and Duchess departed with Bertalda and the old people. Huldbrand might have wished that the occurrence had not been; but he was proud of the simple loving, brave heart that his wife had shown So he thought of nothing save to still her tears and to leave the city at once that she might not be an noyed
 With the first light of dawn his squires