who came bringing with him
a Greek wife. Conrad avoided Liebenstein, and Sterrenberg became gay
with feasting and music.

Late one evening a knight demanded lodging at Liebenstein and was
admitted. The stranger was Heinrich, who, hearing about his brother's
shameful marriage, had returned to the grief-stricken Hildegarde.

After he had rested Heinrich sent a message to his brother reproaching
him with unknightly behaviour, and challenging him to mortal combat. The
challenge was accepted and the combatants met on the passage separating
the two castles. But as they faced each other, sword in hand, a veiled
female figure stepped between them and bade them desist.

It was Hildegarde, who had recognized Heinrich and learned his
intention. In impassioned tones she urged the young men not to be
guilty of the folly of shedding each other's blood in such a cause, and
declared that it was her firm intention to spend her remaining days in a
convent. The brothers submitted themselves to her persuasion and became
reconciled. Some time afterward Conrad's wife proved her unworthiness
by eloping with a young knight, thus killing her husband's love for her,
and at the same time opening his eyes to his own base conduct. Bitterly
now did he reproach himself for his unfaithfulness to Hildegarde, who,
alas! was now lost to him for ever. Hildegarde remained faithful to
her vows, and Heinrich and Conrad lived together till at last death
separated them.

St. Goar

Near the town of St. Goar, at the foot of the Rheinfels, there stands
a little cell, once the habitation of a pious hermit known as St. Goar,
and many are the local traditions which tell of the miracles wrought by
this good man, and the marvellous virtues retained by his shrine after
his death. He settled on Rhenish shores, we are told, about the middle
of the sixth century, and thenceforward devoted his life to the service
of the rude people among whom his lot was cast. His first care was to
instruct them in the Christian faith, but he was also mindful of their
welfare in temporal matters, and gave his services freely to the sick
and sorrowful, so that ere long he came to be regarded as a saint. When
he was not employed in prayer and ministrations he watched the currents
of the Rhine, and was ever willing to lend his aid to distressed
mariners who had been caught by the Sand Gewirr, a dangerous eddy which
was too often the death of unwary boatmen in these parts.

Thus he spen