Page:Popular Tales and Romances of the Northern Nations (Volume 2).djvu/100

 to the time of the equinox, and his impatience made every day seem like a year. At last the long desired term arrived. The night preceding it, he could not sleep for anxious expectation, his heart beat high, and his blood was ready to burst his veins, as in the castle of Rummelsburg, when the spectre was approaching. Not to make his unknown friend wait, he rose before day-break and immediately went to the bridge which was yet quite deserted. He walked backwards and forwards several times enjoying in his present hopes of fortune the highest degree of earthly happiness; the confidence of seeing our wishes fulfilled, gives to the human mind the full measure of keen delight. Frank imagined several plans of presenting himself to his beloved Mela; when he had obtained possession of his expected wealth, but he could not decide whether it would be more advisable at once to appear before her in all his splendour, or to make her only by degrees aware of the lucky change in his affairs. Curiosity likewise asked a thousand questions. Who may be the friend