The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-17


 was general under Fredrick the Great. His family was French origin aly., but his ancestors had emigratd to of French in them except the name, when he made it famous.
 In the beginning of the nineteenth celebrated authors of his time. Today practically allof his works have become forgotten, with the brilliant exception auite just to characterize this exqui- fsftely tender. pure and brave tale es one of the very fine creations of the literay art of the world.
 One beautiful evening an old fisher man sat before his hut at the point of a green peninsula that extended into a glorious inland sea in the southern part of Germany. From time to time he cast shy glances at the immense black forest that cut his lonely habi- tation off from the rest of humanity. Few men dared to enter 1t, and wh en the old fisherman carried his catch to the walled city that lay on the other side. he never forgot to sing pious songs on the way.
 Suddenly 1t seemed to him as if he heard strange sounds in the gloomy thickets. It seemed to him, too, as if he saw tall, snowy-white man, who nodded continually. He said a prayer with all the simple faith of his simple old heart, and so soon as he had ut- tered his Amen" he saw with a smile how bis eyes had deceived him.
 The white, wodding man was the familiar mountain stream that threw itself. frothing and laundering. out of the wooded ravines and sprang Into the sea at the neck of the peninsula. The strange noises became those of horse. crashing through underbrush: and in anoth CT moment . young knight rode cut of the forest.
 A scarlet cloak hung over his gold mbroidered tunic. Red feathers waved over his golden helmet. His white stallion, harnessed with gold and steel, stepped over the grass as gracefully as deer.
 .Can you give me shelter for the night my good old flsheTmanT asked the knight. 'T see great water be- fore me: and to ride back after sun set through that strange forest is a venture for which care not"
 Let us not speak of the wood" said the fisherman. and led the guest into hia hut. where his old wife arose with a pleasant smile and bade him well come so heartily that the stranger felt, he knew not why, as if he had come home after long wandering. The old people told him about the peninsula and their lonely life, and they listened
 
 name was Huldbrand von Ringstetten, and of his adventures since he had left his castle at the source of the Danube.
 Several times during his tale the stranger had heard a sound at the win dow as if some one were splashing 1t with water. The old man started up stop your childish pranks?" Farming to the knight. he said: You must pardon this. and perhaps other tricks. my honored guest. It is our adopted daughter. Undine. who cannot forget her youthful foliies though she Is IS, But she is a dear, good girl for all that!"
 Tt Is easy for you to talk!" said the old woman. You see her only when you return from fishing. and then. no doubt, her tricks are quite amusing. But to have her about one all day. and to be forced to watch her all the time instead of getting some help from her how would you like that? And yet one cannot be angry with her." con- cludsd she, and smiled lovingly.
 The door was thrown open and a ra- diant little creature slipped through 1t. Her hair was yellow and flowed over her shoulders like the rebillious waves of a mountain brook when the sunlight has dived to its gravel bed and turned 1t to bright, laughing gold Her eyes
 
 if the b1uest sky spring had left it's pure splendor there, to shine hence forth on earth. -.
 She stepped forward toward the guest and gazed with honest admiration at the handsome youth. He in turn lock- cd at the beautiful girl with delight such as no other woman's face ever had given to him.
 Suddenly she sank to her knees be- fore him and said: Why. how did you find your way into our poor hut. you kind. pleasant guest? Do you come from the evil forest, you handsome youth9"
 The two old people scolded her for her boldness and ordered her to sit down and do her sewing. as a modest maiden should. She placed a little footstool by the knights feet and sat down. saying: Now you shall tell me how you came to go through the won derful woods, which people fear so much.
 Huldbrand felt little tremor flee over his skin. He glanced involuntar- fly at the panes through which the black night looked. For a moment he imagined that fantastic faces were grinning out there. He was about to begin, nevertheless, when the old man interrupted him with, Noble knight this is an i'll time to tell such a tale |"
 
 before them and cried: But he shall tell his tale! He shallg
 She stamped her little foot, and the knight admired her none the less for her III behavior; but the old people rsproved her angrily. Very we'll" cried Undine. 'if you will scold. sleep alone in your smoky hut" and the next instant she vanished into the gloom,
 yHuldbrand and the old fisherman ran after her but though they searched as best they could in the pitchy dark ness, they had to return to the hut without her. 'It Is not the first time that she has spent the night under the open sky" said the old man. We are accustomed to 1t in a measure, yet I cannot cease from worrying"
 He produced a jug of wine and said: ''I see, you will not be able to sleep any more than can. Drink, and I will tell you how Undine came to us."
 For a few minutes he sat as in pray CT. Then he began:
 Fifteen years ago we were proud and grateful here. we two, for God had presented us with a little daugh- ter. One day, while my wife was sit- ting by the water, the child seemed to see something there. It reached out and before my poor wife could hold 1t. our baby had fallen into the sea and disappeared. Long and desperately sought to recover her. but all In vain.
 That evening we two desolate ones sat here in the hut when the door open ed and a wonderfully beautiful little rIr 4 yaor1 aJd richly dPagqad