ely it was a popular superstition that these rocks were placed
there by Providence, anxious to impart a moral to young women addicted
to coquetry and practical jests. To this day many boatmen on the Rhine
regard these rocks with awe, and it is told that now and then seven
wraiths are to be seen there; it is even asserted that sometimes these
apparitions sing in strains as delectable as those of the Lorelei
herself.

The Legend of Pfalz

Musing on the legendary lore of the Rhine, we cannot but be struck by
the sadness pervading these stories, and we are inclined to believe that
every one of them culminates in tragedy. But there are a few exceptions
to this rule, and among them is a tale associated with the island of
Pfalz, near Bacharach, which concludes in fairly happy fashion, if in
the main concerned with suffering.

This island of Pfalz still contains the ruins of a castle, known as
Pfalzgrafenstein. It belonged in medieval days to the Palatine Princes,
and at the time our story opens one of these, named Hermann, having
suspected his wife, the Princess Guba, of infidelity, had lately caused
her to be incarcerated within it. Its governor, Count von Roth, was
charged to watch the prisoner's movements carefully; but, being sure she
was innocent, his measures with her were generally lenient, while his
countess soon formed a deep friendship for the Princess. Thus it seemed
to Guba that her captivity was not destined to be so terrible as she had
anticipated, but she was soon disillusioned, as will appear presently.
It should be explained that as yet the Princess had borne no children
to her husband, whose heir-apparent was consequently his brother Ludwig;
and this person naturally tried to prevent a reconciliation between the
Palatine Prince and his wife, for should they be united again, Ludwig's
hope to succeed his brother might be frustrated. So he was a frequent
visitor to the Pfalzgrafenstein, constantly telling von Roth that he
allowed the Princess too much liberty. Worse still, Ludwig sometimes
remained at the island castle for a long time, and at these periods
the prisoner underwent constant ill-treatment, which the Governor was
powerless to alleviate.

The people of the neighbourhood felt kindly toward Guba, but their
sympathy was of little avail; and at length during one of Ludwig's
visits to Pfalzgrafenstein it seemed as though he was about to triumph
and effect a final separation between the Princess and Her