Rudolph and Alice [pp. 263-275]

183. Ruop n Aie
not for the constancy, but for the danger of her
beloved;-she felt in her heart, that if from the
wars he brought his life, he would bring with it
his love. By degrees, Christolph became recon ciled to see his son follow another path, than the
one he had designed. He might still attain honor
and dignity. In such times many opportunities
occur, by which a child of unknown parents may
distinguish himself and become a great lord. Rudolph was already a sergeant. The father's displeasure was gone; and when the long war was
drawing to a close, and a treaty of peace about to
be concluded in -—, Master Christolph beingo
very sick, and feeling he should never recover, had
his son written for, to return. Rudolph's discharge
was easily obtained; he flew to the sick bed of his
father, who lived long enough to die in his son's
arms, and with his blessing to leave him all his
property. Rudolph had no thought of returning to
the army. He had seen the world, and won honor.
Alice had rightly believed he would bring back
from the wars his truth and his love; and now he
had no stronger wish, than to take her home to his
father's well-ordered house. Rudolph's return,
his riches and his beauty, had raised many wishes
and expectations in the neighborhood, and when
the Sunday after his return, he stood at the spring,
waiting for the service to commence,-dressed in
his uniform, with all his military trappings, and his
bright eyes glowing from under the high hat and
scarlet plumes that fell over his shoulder,-he attracted the admiration of all around him. The
women and maidens remarked his handsome figure,
how much it became his soldier's dress-what an
imnp rovement three years had made, andd, notwith -
standing his warlike appearance, how true and
friendly the expression of his blue eyes shone forth
from under his dark laa:2nd golden locks. They
coveted his father's h; they talked of the
prosperity and beauty of the son. From that hour
Rudolph became the object of manifold endeavors,
all which passed him unheeded by, and could make
no impression on his true heart.
Foremost of all was the rich Steward's only
daughter, Gertrude. All at the spring had remarked her looks and emotion: she was the most
talked of, the richest maiden in the place; none
doubted she would be the happy one, who would
obtain the desired lover. To gain Rudolph no advances were wanting, —kind invitations and tokens
there given. Bright prospects were his for the
future. The curator, a powerful man in their circle, desired him for a son-in-law. Inquiries and
unnumbered offers were made, to all which Rudolph remained alike insensible. Not that his heart
wras cold, -for within was a warm still love, which
neith~er time nor separation could destroy. This
true lov e to a poor unknown maiden he had proved,
and now,d by slander and falsehood, they sought
these loving hearts to divide. To Alice were told
a thousand vexatio us things. Rudo l ph w as assailed
on all sides, with disadvantageous reports of his
chosen; Alice's father frightened with thre ats; all availed not hing. Rudolph still went on, felt for
all Alice's mortification, and afte r a little delay, ob tained her father's consent, and saw himself at las t
at the summit of his wishes. Now sat they to gether, by the sea shore, under the fresh sha de of
the alde rs, lost i n happy conve rsation, wh ich some times was interrupted by deep sig hs and wordless
emotion.
The twilight had given place to night; the glow worm began to show its light, and through the toi)s
of the dark fir trees that rose ri te s a o high above the rocky
wall, that gir t the sea coast, the new m oon shone
with a sad pale light. sIere and t here, a lizard or
a tree frog rustled i n the gr ass or leaves, and theo
nightingale fluttered in the bushes. At every
sound Alice drew closer to the side o f her bride -
g ro o m. He l aughed at he r fears, and sought to
dissipate them; but, to Alice, they becamilae every
i nstant more painful. She had heard of ma grical
beings o, who, in the first hours of the night, h e ld
an unholy do mini on over the clouds, the animals,
and man himself; by their mysterious arts, even
now they might behol d Rudolph's quiet security
with displeasure. At this instant, a light footstep
fell in the darkness; it drew near: Alice trembled,
Rudolph listened. The steps drew nearer through
the darkness. Rudolph sprang up; he held Alice
on his arm and went forward to meet the comer.
The figure of a veiled woman appeared, who came
by a woodv path from the mountains. " Who is
there i" cried Rudolph-" who comes here?"
The figure uttered a hollow shriek and fled with
quick steps towards the village. Alice was so
frightened, it was long before she could speak.
She believed the veiled one, was no other than
one of those sorceresses, who, on the mountain
meadows, where the round stones lay, dance by
night with the Elves; and whose footsteps had
been seen in a ring on the grass in the morning;
and now, perhaps, she was seeking herbs for some
enchantment, to which loveliness and silence were
necessary, which Rudolph's speech had destroyed,
and for which, in their greatest need, she would not
assist them. In vain Rudolph talked to Alice; in
vain he told her he knew the figure and voice of
the Steward's daughter. What could a rich, admired young lady be doing here so late at night ~.
Alice feared the anger of some powerful sorceress,
and thought it not impossible, it might please her
to take the form and figure of another. During
this discourse, Ruldolph accompanied his trembling
maiden home, and thought no more of the occurrence of the night. On Alice, it had made a deep
impression; it was long before she could shake off
the painful impression, or forget the mnysteriouls
appearance.
It was indeed Gertrude whom they had seen.
VOL. IX-34
1813.1
Rudolph and Alice.
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