. Legends of the Rhine . at the church door, and all dis-mounted except Gerda, who sat passively upon her steedimploring St. Clement to deliver her from a hated mar-riage. At that moment a gadfly stung her horse, and he,goaded to madness, rushed off, galloping madly up theroad which led to his former home at Reichenstein. Gerda clung helplessly to the saddle, and heard her fatherand bridegroom loudly calling to her to draw rein, whilethey prepared to pursue her. But as death seemed prefer-able to a hated marriage, she did not obey. A sudden cryof joy above her made her raise her head, however,
. Legends of the Rhine . at the church door, and all dis-mounted except Gerda, who sat passively upon her steedimploring St. Clement to deliver her from a hated mar-riage. At that moment a gadfly stung her horse, and he,goaded to madness, rushed off, galloping madly up theroad which led to his former home at Reichenstein. Gerda clung helplessly to the saddle, and heard her fatherand bridegroom loudly calling to her to draw rein, whilethey prepared to pursue her. But as death seemed prefer-able to a hated marriage, she did not obey. A sudden cryof joy above her made her raise her head, however, andshe soon descried Kuno making frantic signs to her tohurry, while he lowered the drawbridge which led into hisyard. This sight immediately gave the almost faintingmaiden courage, and she urged her steed on faster andfaster. She was closely pursued by the baron, who, bettermounted than she, overtook her, and was about to seizethe bridle of her steed when his horse stumbled and fell,throwing and killing him Rl I EINSTEIN CASTLE. FALKEXBURG. 22$ Without pausing to see what had happened, Gerda roderapidly on and crossed the drawbridge, which was immedi-ately drawn up behind her. Then she was lifted from herpanting steed by the triumphant Kuno, who rapturouslypressed her to his heart. Their raptures were interruptedat last by the angry father without, so Kuno led the fairmaiden upon the rampart, where they stood in full view ofthe wedding company below. There he flatly refused tolet Gerda go, but proclaimed that his own chaplain shouldmarry them in presence of the whole assembly. Before this plan could be carried out, however, thebarons retainers came to report their masters death,and to pay their respects to Kuno, who, as heir at law, wasnow owner of all his uncles vast wealth. The lord ofRheinstein, hearing this, loudly declared he would no lon-ger oppose his daughters wishes, and implored the youngpeople to come down and be married in St. Clements Chapel,where all
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