the ice maiden-第10章

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they　took　possession　of　it　without　asking　permission　of　any　one；　and

Rudy　could　row　very　well。　The　oars　divided　the　pliant　water　like　the

fins　of　a　fish…　that　water　which；　with　all　its　yielding　softness；　is

so　strong　to　bear　and　to　carry；　so　mild　and　smiling　when　at　rest；

and　yet　so　terrible　in　its　destroying　power。　A　white　streak　of　foam

followed　in　the　wake　of　the　boat；　which；　in　a　few　minutes；　carried

them　both　to　the　little　island；　where　they　went　on　shore；　but　there

was　only　just　room　enough　for　two　to　dance。　Rudy　swung　Babette　round

two　or　three　times；　and　then；　hand…in…hand；　they　sat　down　on　a

little　bench　under　the　drooping　acacia…tree；　and　looked　into　each

other's　eyes；　while　everything　around　them　glowed　in　the　rays　of　the

setting　sun。

　　　　The　fir…tree　forests　on　the　mountains　were　covered　with　a　purple

hue　like　the　heather　bloom；　and　where　the　woods　terminated；　and　the

rocks　became　prominent；　they　looked　almost　transparent　in　the　rich

crimson　glow　of　the　evening　sky。　The　surface　of　the　lake　was　like　a

bed　of　pink　rose…leaves。

　　　　As　the　evening　advanced；　the　shadows　fell　upon　the　snow…capped

mountains　of　Savoy　painting　them　in　colors　of　deep　blue；　while　their

topmost　peaks　glowed　like　red　lava；　and　for　a　moment　this　light　was

reflected　on　the　cultivated　parts　of　the　mountains；　making　them　appear

as　if　newly　risen　from　the　lap　of　earth；　and　giving　to　the

snow…crested　peak　of　the　Dent　du　Midi　the　appearance　of　the　full

moon　as　it　rises　above　the　horizon。

　　　　Rudy　and　Babette　felt　that　they　had　never　seen　the　Alpine　glow

in　such　perfection　before。　〃How　very　beautiful　it　is；　and　what

happiness　to　be　here！〃　exclaimed　Babette。

　　　　〃Earth　has　nothing　more　to　bestow　upon　me；〃　said　Rudy；　〃an　evening

like　this　is　worth　a　whole　life。　Often　have　I　realized　my　good

fortune；　but　never　more　than　in　this　moment。　I　feel　that　if　my

existence　were　to　end　now；　I　should　still　have　lived　a　happy　life。

What　a　glorious　world　this　is；　one　day　ends；　and　another　begins　even

more　beautiful　than　the　last。　How　infinitely　good　God　is；　Babette！〃

　　　　〃I　have　such　complete　happiness　in　my　heart；〃　said　she。

　　　　〃Earth　has　no　more　to　bestow；〃　answered　Rudy。　And　then　came　the

sound　of　the　evening　bells；　borne　upon　the　breeze　over　the　mountains

of　Switzerland　and　Savoy；　while　still；　in　the　golden　splendor　of　the

west；　stood　the　dark　blue　mountains　of　Jura。

　　　　〃God　grant　you　all　that　is　brightest　and　best！〃　exclaimed　Babette。

　　　　〃He　will；〃　said　Rudy。　〃He　will　to…morrow。　To…morrow　you　will　be

wholly　mine；　my　own　sweet　wife。〃

　　　　〃The　boat！〃　cried　Babette；　suddenly。　The　boat　in　which　they　were

to　return　had　broken　loose；　and　was　floating　away　from　the　island。

　　　　〃I　will　fetch　it　back；〃　said　Rudy；　throwing　off　his　coat　and

boots；　he　sprang　into　the　lake；　and　swam　with　strong　efforts　towards

it。

　　　　The　dark…blue　water；　from　the　glaciers　of　the　mountains；　was　icy

cold　and　very　deep。　Rudy　gave　but　one　glance　into　the　water　beneath；

but　in　that　one　glance　he　saw　a　gold　ring　rolling；　glittering；　and

sparkling　before　him。　His　engaged　ring　came　into　his　mind；　but　this

was　larger；　and　spread　into　a　glittering　circle；　in　which　appeared　a

clear　glacier。　Deep　chasms　yawned　around　it；　the　water…drops　glittered

as　if　lighted　with　blue　flame；　and　tinkled　like　the　chiming　of

church　bells。　In　one　moment　he　saw　what　would　require　many　words　to

describe。　Young　hunters；　and　young　maidens…　men　and　women　who　had　sunk

in　the　deep　chasms　of　the　glaciers…　stood　before　him　here　in

lifelike　forms；　with　eyes　open　and　smiles　on　their　lips；　and　far

beneath　them　could　be　heard　the　chiming　of　the　church　bells　of

buried　villages；　where　the　villagers　knelt　beneath　the　vaulted

arches　of　churches　in　which　ice…blocks　formed　the　organ　pipes；　and　the

mountain　stream　the　music。

　　　　On　the　clear；　transparent　ground　sat　the　Ice　Maiden。　She　raised

herself　towards　Rudy；　and　kissed　his　feet；　and　instantly　a　cold；

deathly　chill；　like　an　electric　shock；　passed　through　his　limbs。　Ice

or　fire！　It　was　impossible　to　tell；　the　shock　was　so　instantaneous。

　　　　〃Mine！　mine！〃　sounded　around　him；　and　within　him；　〃I　kissed　thee

when　thou　wert　a　little　child。　I　once　kissed　thee　on　the　mouth；　and

now　I　have　kissed　thee　from　heel　to　toe；　thou　art　wholly　mine。〃　And

then　he　disappeared　in　the　clear；　blue　water。

　　　　All　was　still。　The　church　bells　were　silent；　the　last　tone　floated

away　with　the　last　red　glimmer　on　the　evening　clouds。　〃Thou　art　mine；〃

sounded　from　the　depths　below：　but　from　the　heights　above；　from　the

eternal　world；　also　sounded　the　words；　〃Thou　art　mine！〃　Happy　was　he

thus　to　pass　from　life　to　life；　from　earth　to　heaven。　A　chord　was

loosened；　and　tones　of　sorrow　burst　forth。　The　icy　kiss　of　death　had

overcome　the　perishable　body；　it　was　but　the　prelude　before　life's

real　drama　could　begin；　the　discord　which　was　quickly　lost　in　harmony。

Do　you　think　this　a　sad　story？　Poor　Babette！　for　her　it　was

unspeakable　anguish。

　　　　The　boat　drifted　farther　and　farther　away。　No　one　on　the

opposite　shore　knew　that　the　betrothed　pair　had　gone　over　to　the

little　island。　The　clouds　sunk　as　the　evening　drew　on；　and　it　became

dark。　Alone；　in　despair；　she　waited　and　trembled。　The　weather　became

fearful；　flash　after　flash　lighted　up　the　mountains　of　Jura；　Savoy；

and　Switzerland；　while　peals　of　thunder；　that　lasted　for　many　minutes；

rolled　over　her　head。　The　lightning　was　so　vivid　that　every　single

vine　stem　could　be　seen　for　a　moment　as　distinctly　as　in　the

sunlight　at　noon…day；　and　then　all　was　veiled　in　darkness。　It

flashed　across　the　lake　in　winding；　zigzag　lines；　lighting　it　up　on

all　sides；　while　the　echoes　of　the　thunder　grew　louder　and　stronger。

On　land；　the　boats　were　all　carefully　drawn　up　on　the　beach；　every

living　thing　sought　shelter；　and　at　length　the　rain　poured　down　in

torrents。

　　　　〃Where　can　Rudy　and　Babette　be　in　this　awful　weather？〃　said　the

miller。

　　　　Poor　Babette　sat　with　her　hands　clasped；　and　her　head　bowed

down；　dumb　with　grief；　she　had　ceased　to　weep　and　cry　for　help。

　　　　〃In　the　deep　water！〃　she　said　to　herself；　〃far　down　he　lies；　as　if

beneath　a　glacier。〃

　　　　Deep　in　her　heart　rested　the　memory　of　what　Rudy　had　told　her　of

the　death　of　his　mother；　and　of　his　own　recovery；　even　after　he　had

been　taken　up　as　dead　from　the　cleft　in　the　glacier。

　　　　〃Ah；〃　she　thought；　〃the　Ice　Maiden　has　him　at　last。〃

　　　　Suddenly　there　came　a　flash　of　lightning；　as　dazzling　as　the

rays　of　the　sun　on　the　white　snow。　The　lake　rose　for　a　moment　like　a

shining　glacier；　and　before　Babette　stood　the　pallid；　glittering；

majestic　form　of　the　Ice　Maiden；　and　at　her　feet　lay　Rudy's　corpse。

　　　　〃Mine！〃　she　cried；　and　again　all　was　darkness　around　the　heaving

water。

　　　　〃How　cruel；〃　murmured　Babette；　〃why　should　he　die　just　as　the

day　of　happiness　drew　near？　Merciful　God；　enlighten　my

understanding；　shed　light　upon　my　heart；　for　I　cannot　comprehend　the

arrangements　of　Thy　providence；　even　while　I　bow　to　the　decree　of

Thy　almighty　wisdom　and　power。〃　And　God　did　enlighten　her　heart。

　　　　A　sudden　flash　of　thought；　like　a　ray　of　mercy；　recalled　her　dream

of　the　preceding　night；　all　was　vividly　represented　before　her。　She

remembered　the　words　and　wishes　she　had　then　expressed；　that　what

was　best　for　her　and　for　Rudy　she　might　piously　submit　to。

　　　　〃Woe　is　me；〃　she　said；　〃was　the　germ　of　sin　really　in　my　heart？

was　my　dream　a　glimpse　into　the　course　of　my　future　life；　whose　thread

must　be　violently　broken　to　rescue　me　from　sin？　Oh；　miserable　creature

that　I　am！〃

　　　　Thus　she　sat　lamenting　in　the　dark　night；　while　through　the　deep

stillness　the　last　words　of　Rudy　seemed　to　ring　in　her　ears。　〃This

earth　has　nothing　more　to　bestow。〃　Words；　uttered　in　the　fulness　of

joy；　were　again　heard　amid　the　depths　of　sorrow。

　　　　Years　have　passed　since　this　sad　event　happened。　The　shores　of　the

peaceful　lake　still　smile　in　beauty。　The　vines　are　full　of　luscious

grapes。　Steamboats；　with　waving　flags；　pass　swiftly　by。

Pleasure…boats；　with　their　swelling　sails；　skim　lightly　over　the

watery　mirror；　like　white　butterflies。　The　railway　is　opened　beyond

Chillon；　and　goes　far　into　the　deep　valley　of　the　Rhone。　At　every

station　strangers　alight　with　red…bound　guide…books　in　their　hands；　in

which　they　read　of　every　place　worth　seeing。　They　visit　Chillon；　and

observe　on　the　lake　the　little　island　with　the　three　acacias；　and　then

read　in　their　guide…book　the　story　of　the　bridal　pair　who；　in　the　year

1856；　rowed　over　to　it。　They　read　that　the　two　were　missing　till　the

next　morning；　when　some　people　on　the　shore　heard　the　despairing　cries

of　the　bride；　and　went　to　her　assistance；　and　by　her　were　told　of

the　bridegroom's　fate。

　　　　But　the　guide…book　does　not　speak　of　Babette's　quiet　life

afterwards　with　her　father；　not　at　the　mill…　strangers　dwell　there

now…　but　in　a　pretty　house　in　a　row　near　the　station。　On　many　an

evening　she　sits　at　her　window；　and　looks　out　over　the

chestnut…trees　to　the　snow…capped　mountains　on　which　Rudy　once　roamed。

She　looks　at　the　Alpine　glow　in　the　evening　sky；　which　is　caused　by

the　children　of　the　sun　retiring　to　rest　on　the　mountain…tops；　and

again　they　breathe　their　song　of　the　traveller　whom　the　whirlwind

could　deprive　of　his　cloak　but　not　of　his　life。　There　is　a　rosy　tint

on　the　mountain　snow；　and　there　are　rosy　gleams　in　each　heart　in　which

dwells　the　thought；　〃God　permits　nothing　to　happen；　which　is　not　the

best　for　us。〃　But　this　is　not　often　revealed　to　all；　as　it　was

revealed　to　Babette　in　her　wonderful　dream。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　END

。