The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-01-20

freeze our hearts out. The Goblin Of
the Ice, they say he is, Tabita knows,
and the Galdraken.n
"The Galdraken! that is this old
woman, eh 90
"That's her name, and she knows q
heap more than: you think she does"
explained Carl. Then lowering his
voice to a whisper, said: "Sae
knows what we are thinking about.n
"Umph." Paul muttered; 'and
that's the way she discovered that ]
would 90 on Linmark's field is it:''
Then to Carl he said: "I've q mind to
climb the mountain and have look
at this Goblin. Willy go with me?''
"I-I don't exactly know about that''
replied Carl, cycling Paul closely, and
wondering whether he was really in
earnest.
"Why, you're not afraid?' said
Paul, with such reproachful tone OF
voice that Carl's spirit was touched
that, Mr.. Peverell, Pm not more afraid
than another man."
and he answered promptly: Gas for
'T'he other man is me, and am not
afraid at all; so we will go at once,
and this shall be yonr first service as
my guide andifellOw-traveler."
Lively Carl looked anything bat
lively then but seeing that he was fair.
ly in for it, he turned pale and blushed
in turn, and then stammered out that
''if Mr.. Peverell was not afraid, GER
tally, of course, he was not; and he
would 60 with Mr.. Peverell il the devil
himself We're there"
"Good," said Paul; "then give me
your hand upon it and here are ten
rix bank dollars to bind the bargain in
q business way" -..
The bargain concluded, Carl pleaded
something to do, which would employ
him only short time, before he would
be ready to start, and he rushed away
to see Tabita, whom he found at home
i'm little house the Governor had built
for her and her mother; and there
never was house more tidy. Its
three rooms were none of them carpet
ed; but the floors were secured so
brightly, the pots and pans in her little
kitchen had such glitter OH them,
and the furniture had such polish,
that your eyes were SET to blinking the
moment you entered the door. There
were some colOred prints and photo
graphs, simply famed, hanging against
the walls as prin, and neat as possible ;
and altogether everything was SO per-
feet in its way that you could no more
help falling in love with Tabita's house
than with Tabita herself
Carl was very proud, as well lie
might be, that he could come there
sometimes. He Was never so glad,
however, as when he found her, as in
! the present instance, sitting by the
open window, sewing. His manner
was not, however, so cordial as usual
and without any preliminary explana-
ton he told her of his purpose to climb
the Linmark's field with Paul Peverell.
If his intention was to pay her of in
lover fashion for being severe with
him, and for refusing him the word he
wanted so much to hear, he succeeded
perfectly. She grew pale at the an
nouncement, for it filled her with alarm
and dread. "Don't go, dear Carl y she
exclaimed, rather than requested.
Here was confession for him! She
had never called him dear Carl before;
and it is much to be feared that the
fellow was not so sorry for her alarm
as he should have been. But when
she said tenderly, and with coaxing
smile, "Dear Carl, don't go, please
don't, but stay at home with me" he
was quite OverpOwered.
With her! y happiness He was
rapturous with joy, and about to say
he would obey her wish, of course he
would, when he remembered that he
had passed his word to Paul, and then
he turned pale at the answer he was
forced to make. Oh, that promise
What did he make it for? But he had
to speak at last. With Tabita's tremb-
ling hands on his, and with a voice
trembling still more, he said: Dear
Tabita, Il am very sorry. / did not
think you would care about it so. I've
promised; and-then, don't you see
/ must" Then he added, with more
firmness, ''lou know the old Danish
proverb, Tabita, "A man and word.
What would become of me i'll broke
my word? ?"
"But the Ranamee the Ranamee -
exclaimed the anxious girl.
Carl, not altogether liking her APP
parent indifference to his honorable
feeling, Strengthened himself to his
loftiest height (it was not very great
and said "Tabita, fear the RAMA
NEE and all the COLLINS less than the
evil that would come to me with a
broken word"
Tabita did not know about the
"wOrd," but she said she was afraid to
have him go, and wondered that he
was not afraid himself to 60.
"Me afraid ~ replied Carl, vche.
mentiy, .'why, what should he afraid
of?' But seeing that he was alarm
ing her more, he lowered his voice,
and thrusting his head far through the
window he continued: "Dear Tabita, l
am not afraid of anything, unless it
is that Tabita don't love her Lively
Carl as much as Carl loves Tabita."
Whereupon Tabita kissed her ardent
lover on his weather-beaten cheek, and
dropped tear there while she did ii.
Then she said he twas a very foolish
fellow for talking So"
"Indeed. said Lively Carl, quite
astonished; "why, then, if foOlishness
is always so well rewarded, Ill be fool
ish all my life, and never ask for wis
dom.r And in return for her quick
assault upon him, he kissed her fairly
on the lips, !.
And so in presence of the dreaded
Goblin, the terror of whose name had
lifted up the flood gates, and let their
young affection freely flow, their mu.
tual love was confessed and ratified.
But still Carl could not stay, and the
confession of Tabita proved useless for
the end she wished to gain. Carl m"st
go. He was very sorry, but, but he
must. His word, his word and he
bowed his head and walked away,
while Tabita, trembling with alarm,
watched him going down the path,
feeling desolate. But hope was not all
lost. Tabita was brave, and she would
save her lover yet
While Lively Carl was thus employ
ed, Paul thought, instead of waiting
there for his guide he might as well
drop in al the Governors, and see An
ME Vardsen, which he did according
ly. He found her alone, sitting at the
piano, looking the very picture of health
and lively spirits; but when Paul told
her of his purpose the bright color van
ished from her cheeks, and she impul-
sively said, "DOn't go, beg of YOU"
"Why not ?n asked Paul, with ex-
cited Curiosity.
DeCduSc all Ill dlu W nave yOu
CO." sheanswered, in the simple ardOr
of her feelings.
"Of what ," - =
"You've hearu tile Iegend of the
Linmark, have you not J"
"Oh yes, some nonsense or other L
have heard about it, but that is noth-,
ing
at is dangerous she said
"Oh, that is nothing either.ns
llL,-, x,o,,, xx-/<f1l1 ,nf l,ax ~,