“Prince Oswald’s heart beat very fast as he saw the palace door open. When the lovely Princess, pale but proud and noble in her bearing, stepped forth, he could hardly restrain himself from falling at her feet. He was bewitched by her beauty, for she was far lovelier than he had supposed. But he dared not venture forth without the signal from the White Lady of the Mist. Presently, as he waited impatiently, he saw creeping down the mountain-side the thin white veil. It rolled out in clouds, for the White Lady realized she had a great work to do. The old magician, however, did not see the mist, because his face was turned the other way. He could not understand why his imps did not hurry across the lake with Prince Oswald, as they had done with the other knights. They should suffer for this delay on the morrow, he growled. “But Prince Oswald understood the delay. The little imps had not caught him; and he also knew by the thickly forming mist it was time to act. Grasping his shining sword firmly in his right hand, in one swift bound he reached the Princess’s side. He caught her hand in his, and she clung to him in pure joy and delight. At that moment the magician turned and saw them standing together. With a loud cry of rage he sprang toward them, but it was too late. “At this minute great clouds of mist rolled over them and completely covered their forms. Everything was shrouded in ghostly white, and volumes of vapor continued to roll down the mountain-sides. Faster and faster came the heavy veil, completely blinding the magician. But Oswald picked the Princess lightly up in his arms, and holding his gleaming ruby sword before him as a lantern, ran easily through the fog. He reached the lake and found it as clear as crystal, and saw no sign of the mist except behind them. Evening Star shone brightly in the heavens to light them across the dimpling waters, and she had placed a lovely canoe in the green bushes for them. All this time the White Lady of the Mist was hanging her curtains behind the lovers, while her golden shuttle was weaving them so thick, that even the magician’s sharp eyes could not penetrate their folds. “Prince Oswald and his Princess now saw clearly, and Evening Star directed their footsteps. When far from the wicked magician, and safe, they sat down to rest. Oswald told the Princess how much he loved her, and begged her to marry him; she in gentle tones thanked him for what he had done, and gladly consented. “Just then Evening Star approached, and begged them to rest in her beautiful country. Gorgeous palaces awaited them, and a splendid people wanted to be governed, she said. ‘And,’ she added, ‘if you consent, each night I will come and visit you, for I love the Sunset Princess as a sister, and my greatest happiness will be to watch yours.’