Show r Short tM Day ill BRUNHILDA AND BODE BY LOUIS C. C WARD determined to put up a very brave appearance And so he cried out Good morning morning Bode What can I do for you today Oh nothing much replied the giant I have only come to ask you for forthe forthe the beautiful Brunhilda If lf she is as lovely as all say she ane shall be the bride of no one but me I intend to take her with me this this' evening to my castle away back in the mountains What do you say to that Why Why why she is already promised to another man and and Ho ho ho roared Bode Do you think that makes t the e difference difference differ differ- ence ence I tell you that if you make me any trouble Ill I'll call in my friends and androu jou rou wont won't have any kingdom after fter we get through h with you Ah well well sighed the unhappy Hagen At least wait until until I can talk with my daughter and let Jet her know of your proposal Very well answered the giant but dont don't be too long about It Now my little friends continued Uncle Frank Franke we e may be sure that Brunhilda had not gone so far aw away y but that she could hear the loud voice of or orthe the giant and so when hex her father at t last found her she did not walt wait for him to begin speaking As soon asAhe came Into the room she threw her arms around his neck and begged save her from the terrible giant But what could Hagen do do N No man could I hope to conquer such a huge fellow as Bode And besides that King Hagen Hagen had had to think of or his people for the giant had promised to d destroy stroy the kingdom om if it he did not get to marry Brunhilda And so although the king loved his daughter very much for the sake of his country and perhaps because he was a little afraid of the giants giant's anger he at last told Brunhilda that she would have to marry Bode Very well she ans answered ered Since you with all your mans man's strength and wisdom are afraid of this monster I shall try what a simple girl can do against him Thereupon she went out of the room leaving the father looking after her herin herin in an amazed and angry fashion She went softly down the st stairs irs and suddenly sud sud- denly throwing open the door stood in all her beauty before the eyes of or orthe the giant He was so astonished at her loveliness that he could not say a word but we may be sure that he was well well pleased because his chosen bride was so beautiful Brunhilda although she had never never before seen a giant was not much frightened Smiling at him a little she he said You do me too much honor my dear Bode In asking me to be your wife I am m only such a girl as other girls are and pot not at all fit to be the bride of Sl so great a warrior as yourself I could not even ride your horse there I why Wh stammered the giant what is the difference You wouldn't have to ride a horse even if you were my W wife fe But Dut I should want to answered the girl and I shall never marry YOU you unless you will promise to teach me first how to ride ilde that white horse In a months month's time I can learn then shall be our wedding day Does that please you you she asked with another smile Yes Yes Bode answered but you must take a lesson every day dayAll All right replied Brunhilda and we may as well ell begin now Bring the horse up here to the step so th that t I 1 can mount him The giant did as he was bid and the maiden sprang Into the saddle as lightly as a bird reared and pranced a a. little at having to bear so o strange a burden but the heavy hand an and l gruff voice of Bode soon quieted him The first day the two rode only once about the castle After a few days however they went further and further away y and put their horses to swifter and swifter paces At last as the end of the month drew near Brunhilda often challenged Bode to a race and sometimes won More Moie often however she was beaten but sh did dIa not care for she had learned how to manage the giant hor horse I 1 I IThe The wedding day at last arrived Long before sunset great crowds of Hagen Hagens s subjects gathered In the courtyard ta to witness the str strange marriage and to feast and drink In the great hall of th the castle stood Bode H Hagen and a priest all waiting wafting for the lovely Brunhilda to come Suddenly as a's they stood there they heard the neighing of horses and as they all hastened to the window and looked out they eav saw Brunhilda in her white while wedding gown and with a golden crown on her head galloping away on as fast as horse co could ld gallop The white figure gleaming in In Inthe the moonlight with golden hair streaming to the w was wag a lovely sight But Bode did did not see see it Wi h a 1 frightful oath ath he clutched his battle battle-ax leaped out of the wll window l w. w on Thunders Thunder's back and rode away after th the girl Ah that was a fearful r race All night ht the two horses every nerve Sparks flew fieY from their flying hoofs as from under the blacksmiths blacksmith's hammer Th The rattle of galloping f r et upon the hard rock was like the crash of thunder r abd the panting of the steeds like the blasts blast of the north wind among the trees of the forest But the black horse was slowly lowly gaining At last Just as the day dawned saw almost at her feet a deep chasm To fall Into this seemed certain death But Bode was Just behind Already phe fhe felt the hot breath of the black horse In despair she struck her steed a sharp blow and with a mighty spring he landed safe on the other side leaving leav leav- ing the Imprint of his great hoof upon the hard rock At the next moment Bode too tried the thc leap But Thunder was tired from carrying the weight of his master and so It happened that he fell fell to the very bottom of or the chasm And wi with th his master was dashed to Even to this day the sharp rocks s in that depth are pointed out to the traveler as the splintered bones of Bode and his horse and the chasm Itself is called Bodes Bode's Death When the morning dawned Brunhilda found herself in the territory o othe of the Prince of the Hartz mountains She hastened to his palace where they married af after er a few days Of Ot course the were as giants were now all dead deac they lived happily and no horse In the world was ever more petted than thai who had saved his mistress from death and the kingdom from destruction |