Page:Scribner's Monthly, Volume 12 (May–October 1876).djvu/617

before; she cried out with more determination and vehemence: "No, no, I will not go away! I shall not go away!" and when the angel came nearer and tried to take her in his arms, she jumped aside and splashed water in his face.

The angel seated himself sadly on the ground and the headstrong princess returned to the hollow, and rejoiced that she had shown so much character, and had given such short saucy answers to the angel who tried to induce her to go away with him.

The good angel saw that, in spite of his love for her, he had lost all power over Ilse, and the little imp of Pride had taken possession of all her thoughts; and, sighing for the wayward child, he went away to seek his companions who were busily hurrying about below.

When Princess Ilse was alone again, it pleased her Highness to become very merry. She came out of the hollow, seated herself on the overhanging cliff, and spread out her glistening dress in wide folds around her, and then waited to see if the mountains would not bow down before her, and the clouds come to kiss her dress.

Nothing could outdo the solemn mien her little Highness assumed; but at last, wearied with sitting still so long, she began to feel most painfully tired, and sighed lightly, as she spake thus: "I could have put up with a little weariness, for that is quite in keeping with my rank, but so very much of it is not necessary even for a princess to bear."

When evening approached, and the sun had gone down, and the rustling of the returning wind was heard in the distance, the poor little spring wept afresh hot tears of anguish, but she still obstinately rejoiced that she had not followed the angel, though her sweet self-satisfaction could not have long held its place before the overwhelming Wind.

It became darker and darker; heavy weakening vapors arose from the dismal abyss; a hollow thunder rumbled in the distance, and little Ilse thought she was going to die of fright, for the hot atmosphere that suddenly blew against her took away her breath.

All at once, a pale ray of light struggled through the dark night, and as the frightened little stream looked up, there stood before her a tall dark man wrapped in a loose red cloak, who, bowing before her, addressed her as "Most gracious Princess." Such a greeting was sweet music in the ears of little Ilse, so she subdued her fright before the stranger, and listened to the seducing words which he spake to her.

The dark man told her that he had been a long time in the neighborhood, had heard her conversation with the angel, and was glad she had repulsed him so scornfully. "THERE STOOD BEFORE HER A TALL DARK MAN WRAPPED IN A LOOSE RED CLOAK." He did not understand how any one could wish to carry such a wonderfully beautiful princess down into the plain and hide her in the dark valley. He told her of the bright future that awaited her if she would allow him to save her; described to her his beautiful country-seat on one of the highest and most noble mountains of Germany, to which he would lead her, and surround her with a brilliant court, and all the splendor and opulence to which her high birth entitled her. She should be enthroned with all festivity and rejoicing, and should rule over all the waters, large and small, upon the earth.

The heart of the little princess beat high in joyful anticipation of these bright promises. And when the man opened his cloak and brought out a golden shell skillfully set with glistening stones, and placing it on the ground, invited the lovely Ilse to step into it, and let him take her to the Brockenberg, where innumerable servants were already preparing a delicious feast, and where every wish and every desire of her Highness should be obeyed, in joyful haste she put both feet into the little bark, splashing the water into the air, a few drops of which fell upon the hand of the dark man, and produced such a hissing sound that a shudder of terror ran through little Ilse.

In fright, the poor child caught hold