ng, the fact was to be
signified to her by the display of a small white flag on the battlements
of his lodging. And so, day after day, the anxious mother paced her
island prison, looking constantly toward the signal which meant so much
to her.

Many years went by in this fashion, and in course of time Hermann was
gathered to his fathers, and Ludwig ascended the Palatine throne. But
scarcely was his rule begun ere it was noised abroad that he was a
usurper, for a young man appeared who claimed to be the son of Hermann,
and therefore the rightful heir. Now, most of the people detested
Ludwig, and when they marked the claimant's resemblance to the deceased
Prince a number of them banded themselves together to set him upon the
throne.

A fierce civil war ensued, many of the nobles forsaking Ludwig for his
rival, who, like the late Prince, bore the name of Hermann; and though
at first it seemed doubtful which party was to triumph, eventually
Ludwig was worsted, and was hanged for his perfidy. The tidings spread
throughout the Rhineland, and one day a body of men-at-arms came to
Pfalzgrafenstein and informed von Roth that his prisoner was to be freed
at once and was to repair to the Palatine court, there to take up her
rightful position as Queen-Dowager. Guba was amazed on hearing this
news, for she had long since ceased to hope that her present mode of
life would be altered, and asking to be presented to the chief messenger
that she might question him, she suddenly experienced a yet greater
surprise.... Yes! her son had come in person to liberate her; and von
Roth and his wife, as they witnessed the glad union, were convinced at
last of Guba's innocence, for the young man who clasped her to his
bosom had changed wondrously since his childhood, and was now indeed the
living image of his father. For some minutes the mother wept with joy,
but when her son bade her make ready for instant departure she
replied that she had lost all desire for the stately life of a court.
Pfalzgrafenstein, she declared, had become truly a part of her life, so
here she would end her days. She had not long to live, she added, and
what greater pleasure could she have than the knowledge that her son was
alive and well, and was ruling his people wisely?

And so Guba remained at the island, a prison no longer; and daily she
paced by the swirling stream, often gazing toward the castle where her
son had been nurtured, and meditating on the time when sh