LAKE CONSTANCE 



Ever after, when the death of a maiden of 

 the family is about to take place, Countess Anna 

 is seen at midnight in the castle garden, weaving 

 a wreath of roses. 



At last Mainau passed out of the hands of 

 the Bodmanns. Castle and island pertained 

 to the dower of the family's heiress. She was 

 betrothed to a neighbour, Hugo of Langenstein. 

 Before the wedding he went off to the Crusades, 

 was taken prisoner by the Saracens and was for 

 years unheard of. During this long silence the 

 lady refused many suitors for love of him. 

 Despairing perhaps of her constancy, the 

 Crusader bound himself by a rash vow. If 

 he might escape from his dungeon he would 

 give himself to religion. He did escape ; and 

 guiding his steps by the stars he crossed the 

 desert to Egypt, took ship to Europe, and 

 eventually arrived at his native Bodensee. He 

 joined the celibate Order of Teutonic Knights; 

 then wrote to the lady that he was indeed alive 

 but must see her no more. She was broken- 

 hearted ; but rising to the heights of mag- 

 nanimity she presented her island of Mainau 

 to the Order for ever, making but one 



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