"But we must part," said the young man; "your brother does not

like our engagement, and therefore he sends me so far away on

business, over mountains and seas. Farewell, my sweet bride; for so

you are to me."

And then they kissed each other, and the girl wept, and gave him a

rose; but before she did so, she pressed a kiss upon it so fervently

that the flower opened. Then the little elf flew in, and leaned his

head on the delicate, fragrant walls. Here he could plainly hear

them say, "Farewell, farewell;" and he felt that the rose had been

placed on the young man's breast. Oh, how his heart did beat! The

little elf could not go to sleep, it thumped so loudly. The young

man took it out as he walked through the dark wood alone, and kissed

the flower so often and so violently, that the little elf was almost

crushed. He could feel through the leaf how hot the lips of the

young man were, and the rose had opened, as if from the heat of the

noonday sun.

There came another man, who looked gloomy and wicked. He was the

wicked brother of the beautiful maiden. He drew out a sharp knife, and

while the other was kissing the rose, the wicked man stabbed him to

death; then he cut off his head, and buried it with the body in the

soft earth under the linden-tree.

"Now he is gone, and will soon be forgotten," thought the wicked

brother; "he will never come back again. He was going on a long

journey over mountains and seas; it is easy for a man to lose his life

in such a journey. My sister will suppose he is dead; for he cannot

come back, and she will not dare to question me about him."