Rudolph and Alice [pp. 263-275]

2- Ruop an lce MY
"It is not possible," she cried, "that is your carriage!"
"Yes," answered Gertrude, "you do not see it
well."
" And, with these words, she seized Alice's hand,
to draw her where she could have a better view of
the carriage. And Alice felt herself drawn by an
irresistible power.
" What do you mean to do?" she cried; "let
me go."
Gertrude laug hed scornfu lly. "Now then, now
then," she cried;'"the carriage waits." With
these words she drew the frightened Alice more
str ongly by the arm; too k he r by force through the
window; and with a lou d wh ist le to the bats, the
carriage flew under them.
Alice, to her inexpressible alarm, found herself
seated by Gertrude's side, and raised high in the
air. She uttered a loud shriek and fainted. When
she came to her senses again, the woods, mountains, and seas, all lay below her, in the clear
moonshine: she was beside herself with anguish,
and would have called for help.
Gertrude laid her hand on Alice's mouth: "call
no name, make no noise, any would call down danger on your head; you are in my power; keep still."
Alice was silent; she saw too plainly the truth
of this frightful assurance; every nerve trembled
as she looked down from the height over which she
flew. Towns, villages, high mountains, and broad
rivers, all seemed spread below her in one even,
extended plain. Deep was her grief, her anguish,
her repentance, that she had ever suffered herself
to be bound in the bonds of friendship with this
mysterious woman. Now thought she of her husband, his frequent warnings, his fright when he returned, and did not find her or her children. A
" Alice," said Gertrude, very impatiently, " speak
not so like the silly folks. Yet, why should I speak
to you or vex myself. It is now time for me to
go; you go not with me, I suppose?"
"No surely, no," cried Alice, hastily;-after a
pause, she added, "I wish I could see it this one time."
' It would be very easy, but let it alone; you
are too easily frightened, it is not for you."
She was silent, and it appeared her speech was
ended. Also Alice spoke not for awhile; what
she had to-day heard and seen, was to her very
wonderful. After a time, she began, in a roundabout way to speak of it. It had made so deep an
impression on her mind, she could not forbear
asking a description of the scene. This Gertrude
gave so full of joys and so wonderfill, that the
picture left Alice's mind no more. It was still
one day off: Gertrude showed her friend some of
her strange preparations for her journey. She
told her such things, as she thought would raise the
flame already kindled to the highest pitch. She
also assured Alice, that with such precautions as
she could teach her, she might see it without mixing with them, or injury to the holiness of her
soul, or endangering her Christian faith, as she
might see from her own example.
Thus cunningly, did Gertrude endeavor to make
Alice take a part in her unholy enterprise. But
this limit, she would not pass; her deep innocence,
her love for Rudolph kept Alice firm to her resolution; but she thought she might permit herself
to see the wonderful carriage in which her friend
travelled.
Gertrude, whose way lay by Alice's house, promised to knock at her window, and she could then
see it, if she wished.
The night of the 1st of May came:-a lovely
moon, with her soft and brilliant light, shone on
the place. Alice lay sleepless on her solitary bed;
she thought of her absent husband, of his near
return, of the night journey of Gertrude. These
thoughits alternately filled her mind. Before long,
the clock struck eleven. A shiver came over
Alice, when she heard the knock at the window;
it was Gertrude. Go not! whispered a voice in
Alice's breast. The knock was repeated. In the
clear moonlight, she saw a tall shadow standing: t
before her chamber window. Alice flung her
night-gown over her, and opened the window.
There stood Gertrude strangely dressed; she greeted Alice with a horrible laugh. "You see, I keep m
my word; here am I with my carriage." "I see:
nothing," answered Alice, "you are on foot." f
"What an idea! it waits me there, I have just de- 1
scended-there stands the carriage." She pointed i
a few steps further. ]
Alice leant out of thae window to see the coach,
which appeared built in an uncommon fashion and;
of curious materials. Two frightful and monstrous
bats were harnessed to it. ]
nameless despair seized her s o ul, and anguish
caused her tears to flow. Suddenly she heard a
frightful noise, —through the air resounded the
cries of these hated birds,-frightfi faces appeared, around, above, below her. She closed her eyes
from this distressing sight, and commended her soul
to God and his holy love; her life in this world,
she had wholly destroyed. Then she felt the carriage sinking down; the motion was as quick as
lightning.
"W We are at the place," cried Gertrude.
Alice opened her eyes-a bright light shone in
her face: close to her lay the summit of a wooded
mountain. All appeared to stand in flames, yet
nothing burnt. The fir-tree stood uninjured in the
fire, and neither leaf nor grass were scorchedbut the place seemed covered with burning coals,
in the midst of which an altar was raised of a
heap of stones; around which, circled, swum,
whistled and howled, the strangest and most frightful forms. They flew here and there like arrows.
At these sounds and sight, Alice forgot the prohibition, and called out, " Jesu Maria!"
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Rudolph and Alice.
[MA-V,