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Seba Smith: Tador

A few days afterward, while wandering disconsolate on foot, mourning his wretched fate, his ears catch the sound of a horse in full gallop, and suddenly Tador dashes up to him, bearing upon his back his lost love, Lida. Her father had bought Tador from the false thief, and given him to Lida for her own steed, to be ridden in the marriage procession, when the priest should complete her betrothal to Conrad.

But the loving animal had broken from the procession, and by some instinct had sought its master, bringing his mistress safely to him. It needed but a few hurried words of love, and Wolf, mounting his recovered steed, took Lida behind him, and together they sought to escape to some more propitious spot, where their mutual love could compensate for the loss of all the rest of the world.

Happy in their reunion, they set boldly out, but lo! suddenly in their front they met the retainers of Eberhard, who had scattered in search of their master's lost daughter. A worse fate than death in each other's arms was before them. Turning to his companion, Wolf asked, with a kiss, whether she would ride with him everywhere. Lida replied only with returning his kiss, and grasping his waist in a tighter and more passionate embrace. 'Twas done as soon as said.

Turning Tador short round, and sinking his rowels deep in his side, they shot like an arrow from a bow to the cliff, and plunging down, sealed their devotion by their death. The cliff to this day bears the name of Grafensprung, the Count's Leap, and is near the little town of Ebernstein on the Rhine, which was formerly the seat of the count who is the hero of the legend.

Independence Bell-July 4, 1776.