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Seba Smith: Eberhard

She had been betrothed by her brother, before his death, to his friend Count Wolf, of Ebernstein, but after his death, despite the supplications of both parties, who loved each other, Eberhard betrothed her anew to Conrad, his nephew and his heir. In honor of these espousals a grand tournament was held, to which there came an unknown knight, arrayed in black, who challenged Conrad.

The spectators thought he was Wolf, of Ebernstein, but Eberhard recognized in him his lost son Ulric, who had thus returned from the grave to vindicate his word to his sister and his friend. Rising, therefore, with a cry of surprise and distress, he hastened toward the unknown knight, who suddenly disappeared before he reached his side. Despite this apparition, Eberhard remained firm in his purpose of having Lida marry his nephew. Then Wolf went to the wars, hoping to gain fame or death, but the result was that he lost all his property, was conquered and forced to become a poor fugitive from his ancestral home. As thus wandering, he returned to his former castle to ask a temporary refuge from its new owner; and, alighting at the gate to demand admission, his favorite steed, Tador, was stolen by his faithless retainer.