hunderstorm.

"You shall see my bride to-night, mother," he said. "Ah, there is no one
like her!"

But the old woman trembled and shook and crossed herself, she knew not
why. She felt a presentiment of coming evil.

"She shall not escape from me so soon to-night," thought Hermann to
himself. "I know what I will do: I shall put the clock an hour back, so
that when it is really twelve o'clock, they will think it is only
eleven. One hour, one blessed hour more in her company, snatched in
defiance of fate!"

Never had Hermann been more charming as a host than he was to-night. He
bade his guests heartily welcome and shook them warmly by the hand.
True, he was somewhat distracted and gave strange answers to questions
that were put to him. His eyes were constantly on the door. It opened at
last, and the three entered; they looked lovelier than ever; they had on
golden shoes and wore golden girdles. Their dresses were white edged
with pale green like water-lilies with a green calyx. There was to be no
spinning to-night. Hermann had provided for music and dancing; he became
giddy and his senses failed him almost at the thought of dancing with
the lovely Lenore.

Ah what light little feet! They hardly seemed to touch the ground as
they flew round; but the time too sped by with great rushing wings,
though Hermann had striven to check its headlong course. They paid no
heed to the dwarf and his constant warning taps on the door; the three
sisters were too engrossed in the delights of the dance. But suddenly
Lenore glanced at the clock; it pointed to eleven.

"A few moments more, my beloved," she said, "and then we must part. But
why are you so pale?" she asked of Hermann, whose heart was beating fast
enough to suffocate him; for he was afraid now of the consequences of
his deed.

"Lenore," he said chokingly, "it is midnight; I hope I have not done
wrong. I put back the clock. I wanted to keep you all longer at my
house."

Lenore turned deadly pale, then she told her sisters of the fatal trick
that Hermann had played on them, and they too turned white as the chalk
on the walls; well they knew their father and what his revenge might be!

Murmuring a sad farewell Lenore gazed for the last time in Hermann's
eyes, and then the dark night swallowed her up for ever.

The dwarf's lantern could be seen from time to time among the forest
trees like a will-o'-the-wisp; then that too vanished.

The dancing and feasting went on for