Page:Libussa, Duchess of Bohemia; also, The Man Without a Name.djvu/32

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Libussa.

At the rising of the sun Nature seemed wrapt in an ominous calm. The brilliant orb, radiant for some time, became slowly obscured by sombre and heavy clouds. The day was sultry, and the whole atmosphere electric. Distant thunders roared above the forest, and the many-voiced echo mournfully resounded those awful noises. At noon a notched flash of lightning descended upon the venerable oak, shivered in a twinkling with irresistible force both trunk and branches, and sent the splinters far into the forest. When this was reported to Krokus, he tore his dress, went out with his three daughters to mourn over the life-tree of his spouse, and collected the splinters, to keep them as the most precious relics. From that day the Elf was never again seen.

In a few years the tender young ladies grew up; their maidenly beauty expanded like the bud of a rose-tree, and the rumour of their beauty spread all over the country. The most noble of the youth of the land came to visit father Krokus under pretence of asking his advice, but in reality to see with their own eyes those marvels of beauty. The sisters lived together on the best terms possible, and in the greatest candour, being as yet scarcely acquainted with their own talents. The gift of divination