Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-07-29

thch oAoPpAuB pldCc, WHICH, was blCu-
ated in the center of beautiful grounds,
Hilcegarde slipped away from her
guardians and went out to walk by
herself On the peak where she had
been born there was no water except
the Rhine flowing far below. In Rein
hearts place there was a very beauti-
ful sheet Of water. AS soon as Hide
garde saw it she ran toward it, clap
ping her hands with delight There
was no breeze, and the surface was
perfectly placid. The young wife was
enraptured with the smoothness of it,
surrounded as It was with verdure.
which on the opposite side was reflect
ed in it. She wondered if the brink
on which she stood was thus reflected.
Looking down into 1t, she saw the
blue sky there and white clouds sail
ing slowly along. BENDING. she saw
her reflection gazing at her.
Instantly look Of admiration came
upon the reflected features.
"Who are you down there water
fay? Whoever you are. you are very
beautiful
No answer came. but Hildegarde no.
ticed that the lips Of the image moved
while she herself was talking.
"You must be an immortal else you
would give me some reply. Strange
that you should live down there in the
water. have heard of mermaids, but
there is nothing Of the fish in your
| laarnnncit;ar
being. who instead of breathing air
breathes water; but, though you can
see me. you can't communicate with
me. Therefore you must be a human
being who has grown to my age and
died. Oh. dear! l wonder what you
arew
She ran back to the house and called
to her husband: "Oh, CARL Do come
and see the beautiful girl living in the
under world"
The baron knit his brows. He fear
ed that the secret was out-that she
had seen her image. He went with
her to the pond, she chattering on the
way about the vision of loveliness she
had seen and wondering if it would be
there when she returned. Carl mean
while feeling confident that she had
seen herself was trying to invent
story that would satisfy her. When
they reached the pond she ran ahead
of him and bent over it
"There she ISL she exclaimed joy.
fully. "Cope and see her"
But Carl hung back. IL know whom
you are looking at" he said. "a water
fairy. Come away She will contain
mate you"
mo, no! She is as good as she is
beautiful. l can see purity in every
feature
Should Carl lean over the water to
see the fairy his own face would be
reflected there, and his wife would
recognize it at once This would lead
her to understand that the other re.
fiection was her own.
mo, no, sweetheart" he said.
SHOULD l look at her she might en-
thrall me. Not for the world would |
risk being drawn away from you"
'Would she?' exclaimed the girl in
tone that betrayed both fright and
disappointment. Then it would be
your fault She would never tempt
you"
"Come away. This is the Lorelei,
who has come from the banks of the
Rhine. You know how she lures boat
men to their death. She would draw
me down into the water, and | could
never return to you"
Hildegarde. fearful that her husband
might be right, knit her brows and
saw her image do the same.
"Ah," she said. 81 see that you are
evil, after all. You have lured me
here that you may take my husband
from me, and now that you see he is
not to be tempted you frown. Good
by. You are beautiful, but you are
evil"
With this she rejoined Carl and. put
ting her arm through his, returned
with him to the house.
When again they set out on their
journey Carl persuaded his wife that
they must not go near any more wa
ter for the fairy would be in any wa.
ter they approached and he might see
her before he could withdraw. And
once seeing her he feared the worst.
Hildegarde was quite sure the girl
she had seen was the Lorelei of whom
she had heard so much and was ready
to avoid the waters in which she lived
And so fearful was she of losing her
husband that she proposed they go
back to the castle, where there was no
danger.
This pleased the young husband who
was in constant terror lest the admir-
ing glances of the persons they met
would betray the secret of his wifes
beauty.
So they returned to their home
where there were no mirrors, no sheets
Of water and where every one was
trained to refrain from showing ad
miration for the beautiful baroness
Presently little son came to take up
her attention. and she did not again
feel any desire to see the world, or
rather, she feared to leave the castle
with her husband for fear the water
farr 4 H.