java.util.Properties DOES work with XML.
Look at the loadFromXML method
<URL:http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/docs/api/java/util/
Properties.html#loadFromXML(java.io.InputStream)>

 I have a library to implement something like this.
 The source language, however, is not exactly XML, but Unotal.
 Unotal is a - in my opinion - simplified and improved XML.

 Say, the file »source.uno« contained:

< x =< a = 2 b = 3 > y = 4 A B C >

 Then,

public class Main
{ public static void main( final java.lang.String[] args )
 { final de.dclj.ram.notation.unotal.RoomSource source =
   de.dclj.ram.notation.unotal.RoomFromModule.roomFrom
   ( new java.io.File( "source.uno" ));
   java.lang.System.out.println( source );
   java.lang.System.out.println( source.get( 2 ));
   java.lang.System.out.println( source.get( "x" ) );
   java.lang.System.out.println( source.getRoom( "x" ).get( "a" )); }}

 prints

< x =< a =2 b =3 >y =4 A B C >
C
< a =2 b =3 >
2

 The experimental library ram.jar is alpha-released under the GPL:

http://www.purl.org/stefan_ram/pub/ram-jar

 Unotal is being described:

http://www.purl.org/stefan_ram/pub/unotal_en