years, in spite of the love which they had for each other: at last he
made one step, and took off his gleaming helmet, laid it down softly,
then spread abroad his arms, and she came to him, and they were clasped
together, her head lying over his shoulder; and the four men gazed, quite
awe-struck.

And as they gazed, the bells of the church began to ring, for it was New-
Year's-eve; and still they clung together, and the bells rang on, and the
old year died.

And there beneath the eyes of those four men the lovers slowly faded away
into a heap of snow-white ashes. Then the four men kneeled down and
prayed, and the next day they went to the priest, and told him all that
had happened.

So the people took those ashes and buried them in their church, in a
marble tomb, and above it they caused to be carved their figures lying
with clasped hands; and on the sides of it the history of the cave in the
red pike.

And in my dream I saw the moon shining on the tomb, throwing fair colours
on it from the painted glass; till a sound of music rose, deepened, and
fainted; then I woke.




GOLDEN WINGS