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

he seemed unconscious of her presence.
Yet he did not leave, nOtwithstand.
ing his apparent indifference, but spent
another evening in the Governors
house, where, beside the family and
Tabita; were the captain Of the ship,
the priest, the factor with his wife, and
Fred their son, and Ida Lansen their
niece, which young lady managed to
| pass the evening without speaking to
Paul word that she could possibly
avoid circumstance which did not,
however, seem to disturb him, for he
was not more cold and formal to her
than to the rest of the company. Ida
sang and Annie played, and while the
hours of this strange, sunlit night were
passing, Paul found himself wondering
if all was real ;-away ur here among
the polar frosts, where for q space OF
fifty days in winter the sun is never
seen-tO find this happiness, content
ment, and this quiet comfort that he
saw. He wondere if a loud laugh
would not blow it all away, and wake
him from dream. The loud laugh
came, but the scene remained, and the
laugh was only at his wonder.
"Could not people be happy any
where, and comfortable besides ," ask
| ed everybody when Paul's surprise was
fully understood.
80 yes, of course said he. II see
all that but l would not have believed
it, otherwise"
Tabita sxilea la timid little smile it
was) and said, "1'lf tell you why we
are happy here. 1t is because We are
protected by Spirit
"Oh! that is It," replied Paul, smil-
ing quite incredulously. "Then you
believe in spirits, Tabita?''
Yes, that she did and so did every
body.
Paul appealed to all the ladies. They
all agreed with quiet Tabita. And the
Governor? He believed in what the
ladies did, of course. And did they all
believe in goblins? Certainly. The
one on Linmark's field, that he had
heard so much about? Him above all
others.
"What then, Tabita, do you call this
good spirit that protects yOu"
"The Spirit of the Valley" said the
girl "the spirit that keeps it green
and warm, and lets no cold and cruel
CNCl SothS W Will VI Shifl thO
hearts that are so happy here"
All of which was to Paul ineXplica-
bic. He had no faith whatever in gOb-
lins, imps, or fairy creatures of any
sort. He believed, however, in Paul
Peverell thoroughly; and, besides, he
believed in rocks, because he could
name and classify them, like boys at
schOOl-they never, of themselves, hav-
ing the least discretion rs to where
they go. In this manner he loved Ma
ture, and was very busy with her.
Later in the evening, after this con-
versation had ended, a youth came
in whom the Governor introduced to
Paul as Carl Lievely, "thOugh better
known as Lively Carl"
He was a good-looking, rather awk-
ward, light-cOmplexioned fellow, whom
anybody could see with half an eye
was in love with Tabita. The girl
blushed when he stood beside her, for
she knew that she was observed,
"Do 60 away" she said, with some
impatience. "Don't you see they look
at u.s."
No, Carl did not see it. He had no
eyes for anything but Tabita, and he
would not obey her. So she ran blush
ing from the room and left him veXed
and i'll at ease. ser---.-~
Paul took liking to Tabita's fayO.
rite instantly. His frank, open fate
would please even colder-mannered
man than Paul (if one could possibly
be found. 1t was real Danish face,
full of earnest impulse. Paul's face
was Danish too, in form and color, but
~, xlx<, III ~, anloI. for x-o1,
could not look into PauPs face and
imagine for an instant that he ever
had an impulse. 1t was very natural,
however, that Carl should take an un-
bounded fancy tv a man so different
from himself as Paul, who spoke to
him, after Tabita had gone, in very
kindly manner, as it seemed to Carl,
considering they were perfect strangers
to each other an hour before.
"IOu seem to be general favOrite
here, Carl" said Paul, quite familiarly.
"Oh, thank you, sir,' Carl stam-
mered out. s
'Have you been here long, if may
ask ?n t&Il
"Not very long, for am young, you
see but was born here
Indeed! Then you are just the
man want to see. / came to make
some explorations of this island, and
want guide, or rather an intelligent
companion that can help me-"
Carl was greatly flattered, and with
the Governors leave, of course, he
would go with him any ywhere.
"Oh, is that all? l thought, perhaps,
we would Lave to ask that
pretty girl, whom everybody sees
Is in love with YOU" And,
with this bright piece of news for
Carl, he went to the Governor with the
air of one who never expects to ask for
anything without obtaining it. He
came back presently and said it was
all arranged, and the two took their
leave together the one, after being
flattered by some more questions con-
corning himself and the girl hc loved,
to go home and fret himself about Ia
bita' being cross with him the other
to go OH board his ship anu think over
projects for the morrow. OF one thing
more he thought-it was of Annie
Vardsen; of Ida Lansen too, and he
muttered to himself, swell, she was
cool enough and l rather like her for
it,"
TABlTA was a wonderful girl, i'll the
estimation of the people of the village.
The only fault that anybody ever found
with her was her well known intimacy
with a woman who lived apart from
the other villagers. 1t was no great
matter, to be sure, but there was some
thing mysterious about the association
which the gossips could not unravel.
Opinion was divided as to whether
this woman was quite human, OF rath-
er, whether she was not something
more than human. Some thought her
a real witch, while all conceded that
she could look into futurity, and fore
tell what was to happen. She was
called by everybody ''The Galdraken,n
meaning something more than ''Seer"
-One VINO accomplished everything
by mysterious means, and who had
such control of unseen things that it
was never safe to have her enmity.
Paul met her in the outskirts of the
village early next morning when he
came ashore to look up Lively Carl
She was dressed in a strange manner,
in a costume much composed of fur,
that was neither mans nor wOman's.
She appeared to looking for him, as
indeed she was, and when they had
met she spoke to, him in an inflated
manner, @pointing at the same time
with her finger@ the lofty mountain,
which, Though visible, was yet partly
enveloped in wreatlls ofdrifting snow.
These were her words:T :
ION Linmark's Geld the eye may see
The streaming hair of Ranamee: