NARRATIVE OF THE NINES - 1899 . ight? Did you ridestraight out of the sunset yonder? For a moment he did not answer, but his deep eyeslooked into hers with a strange, pitying smile. O, she went on breathlessly; I have so longed fortidings from the golden land that lies beyond the westiSometimes when I have watched the sun set I seemed tosee through a little way, but I am but a foolish maidenand none here can tell me what I want to know. The Knights eyes smiled down kindly, pityingly intothe upturned face. Ah! child, he said, it is only to such pure spirits asthine that the golden gates unclose
NARRATIVE OF THE NINES - 1899 . ight? Did you ridestraight out of the sunset yonder? For a moment he did not answer, but his deep eyeslooked into hers with a strange, pitying smile. O, she went on breathlessly; I have so longed fortidings from the golden land that lies beyond the westiSometimes when I have watched the sun set I seemed tosee through a little way, but I am but a foolish maidenand none here can tell me what I want to know. The Knights eyes smiled down kindly, pityingly intothe upturned face. Ah! child, he said, it is only to such pure spirits asthine that the golden gates unclose even a little. As forthe rest—me thinks they scarce know whether there beany such city. Ah! but I know, said Hilda; I have dreamed of it atnight, and in the daytime the thought of its brightness haslightened my weary work. And you, who are the mostbeautiful being I ever saw, have surely come from thegolden country; for see!—the sunshine lingers around youas if you were part of it. O! if I might go back with youand rest. 86. As if moved by a sudden impulse, the Knight sprangdown from his steed and came and stood close besideHilda. Softly putting back the hair from the pure brow,his powerful eyes, the while searching her face, he an-swered : Not yet; not yet, my little one, but be patient; surelythe waiting will not be long. You will not ride back without me, she pleaded; Iwill be very patient; I will toil incessantly if only I mayknow that at the end you will come. 87 The Knight clasped both her slender hands in his, andbending down he kissed her brow, saying solemnly, Child,thou shalt have thy wish; I pledge thee my knightly wordthat if ever I ride to that unseen land I will return for trust me, little one ? Ay! I trust you, I trust you, said Hilda, the light onher face growing brighter. I will watch and wait for youalways, and be ready when you come. She filled her little mug with water and gave it to him ;he drank, and then mounting his charger, rode away anddi
Size: 1394px × 1792px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectdavidsoncollegedavid
