waited until Guntram should have received his fief from the
Palsgrave to marry and settle down.

One May morning, while Liba was seated at a window of the castle
watching the ships pass to and fro on the glassy bosom of the Rhine,
she beheld Guntram riding up the approach to Falkenburg, and hastened to
meet him. The gallant knight informed his betrothed that he was on his
way to the Palsgrave to receive his fief, and had but turned aside in
his journey in order to greet his beloved. She led him into the castle,
where her mother received him graciously enough, well pleased at her
daughter's choice.

"And now, farewell," said Guntram. "I must hasten. When I return we two
shall wed; see to it that all is in readiness."

With that he mounted his horse and rode out of the courtyard, turning
to wave a gay farewell to Liba. The maiden watched him disappear round a
turn in the winding path, then slowly re-entered the castle.

Meanwhile Guntram went on his way, and was at length invested with his
fief. The Palsgrave, pleased with the manners and appearance of the
young knight, appointed him to be his ambassador in Burgundy, which
honour Guntram, though with much reluctance, felt it necessary to
accept. He dispatched a messenger to his faithful Liba, informing her
of his appointment, which admitted of no delay, and regretting the
consequent postponement of their marriage. She, indeed, was ill-pleased
with the tidings and felt instinctively that some calamity was about to
befall. After a time her foreboding affected her health and spirits, her
former pursuits and pleasures were neglected, and day after day she sat
listlessly at her casement, awaiting the return of her lover.

Guntram, having successfully achieved his mission, set out on the
homeward journey. On the way he had to pass through a forest, and,
having taken a wrong path, lost his way. He wandered on without meeting
a living creature, and came at last to an old dilapidated castle, into
the courtyard of which he entered, thankful to have reached a human
habitation. He gave his horse to a staring boy, who looked at him as
though he were a ghost.

"Where is your master?" queried Guntram.

The boy indicated an ivy-grown tower, to which the knight made his way.
The whole place struck him as strangely sombre and weird, a castle of
shadows and vague horror. He was shown into a gloomy chamber by an aged
attendant, and there awaited the coming of the lord. Opposite him w