The Portland daily press., 1874-01-17
FOR DEAR LIFE.


able winter so long ago when Eric and had
that fierce wild struggle "Ior dear lile." At
this season of the year the never quite dor
nant recollection reviyes, and feel all the
horror of that midnight scene rise and come
Z back upon me, like ghost from the connnes
Of the past. H. chills me with its dread pres
snce, until, shivering in nerve and limb,
rise and draw nearer to the blazing hearth,
Z heap on some more pine logs, and strive in
ID the region of light and warmth to bid it def
= ance.
10 vain. Through the whir of my spin
ming wheel comes the long-drawn moan of
the wind, whilst without the snow falls as
heavily as ever, adding desolation to the al
ready drear and sombre landscape. Eric has
gone to the fold-yard, as beseems a thrifty
hu.bandman, to see after the well-being OF
our kline. Would that he were back to laugh
on my fears, and exercise the phantcms
which rise thus unbidden from the days that
are now no more. His hearty presence and
joyous voice are In themselves as potent
against distraught fancies as the 'sprig OF
rowan" which the faithful wear for safeguard
against witchcraft and the evil eye. Mean
while, as sit waiting with the supper ready,
and all things bright and tidy. l must cen
yield to the spell Of the place and hour, and
listen to the tale suggested by the wandering
fancies of old.
New Years eve some thirty years ago-and
we were keeping it right merrily at the old
Ananor-house Of Stor Aswan. the home of my
childhood, as it had been that of my fore
fathers for many generations. The pleasant
est spot in all the world, thought, and still
think, that quaint Norwegian homestead,
with Its buff walls and birch-bark roof. which
succeeding summers had rendered verdant
with an evergreen thatch of moss and lchens.
Just now, however, this was not visible, for
snow lay thckly upon it, as it had lain for
be racf nnf nlxr haro lint, <l,a
country round. We were in the midst of a
white sea, whose pillows were the partially
submerged hedges, that daily grew less no
ticeable as the snow drifted in and piled above
them. The fir-trees alone stood forth brave
ly, as If defying this insidious foe, vet even
their stately branches trailed earthwards, and
their strong arms creaked and strained under
the ever-increasing load.
1t was the hardest winter there had been
for fifty years-so the old folks said-and
they foretold its continuance for some weeks
longer. Other signs were not wanting
which more plainly than aught else denoted
the unusual severity of the season. The
hocks of wild fowl, usually so shy and diff
cult Of approach, came down from the upper
meres, their accustomed haunts, and strove
with the lame denizens of our own tarm-yard
for share in their midday meal. Hares and
rabbits, impelled by hunger, forgot their ma
ture, and stole up to our very doors. begging
with their large black eyes in piteous dumb
fashion for relief Herds of reindeer also
came south from Lapand, seeking m ne gen.
ial pastures; and it was rumored that less
pleasant visitors had recently been seen and
heard. The black pine forests of Salten had
again sent forth the grim, blood-thirsty pack
OF leglonaries who tor ages had dwet unmo-
Tested Ia its dark fastness, and the cry of
"woit' was no longea, as heretofore, an emp
ty sound.
All this, however, did not affect any of our
party, who were all Norsemen and maidens
born, used to the cold. full of health and spir-
It's. l, Ella Bieorn, daughter of the house,
was the widest Of that mad circle who had
assembled at Stor Aswan that Christmas-tide
70 do honor to my betrothal to Eric Jarl, the
lover OF my youth, ere long to be my husband.
As soon as the brch-trees put forth their first
green tassels in the early springtime L was to
leave my old home for a new one; SO now.
surrounded by kinsfod and neighbours, we
were keeping this last anniversary of my
spinisterhool in goody fashion. We revived
many bygone pastime, and the vast hall at
Stor Aswan reechoed once again to the shouts
that greeted the incoming of a mighty yule-
log, and rang with joyous laughter at the
tricks and antics of morrs-dancers and mum
mers. 20
So, in dancing, feasting, and merry max
ing, the week sped, until a few hours more
tons, to meet again We knew not when or
where. For the last day, therefore, we had
reserved the chief pleasure, the crowning
point OF all our epioyment-a sleighing and
skating party to Stor Aswan, a mountain
encircled lake some ten miles further north,
the same from which our homestead derived
Its quaint Runic name. This was to be our
vail or greeting to the New Year-our well
come to the incoming guest.
Brightly dawnq1 tha ovonff,f v,,,r,;rr
clear and fair as heart could desire. Blue
was The sky as sapph ire, whilst the fresh
ly-fallen snow sparkled and shone as though
strewn with living gems. All nature seemed
rejoicing like ourselves at the advent of
another year, and one already so full Of
pro Mise. Without, the snow-bells tinkled
and chimed merrily, making the frosty air
rlng again as the ,gay-caparisoned horses
paved and shook their heads, impatient as
their owners TO be off AT length we start
ed, Eric and as hosts being the last of the
party, for OF cOlrse he was my charioteer. I
well remember my father standing at the
door to see US go, and as he tucked the bear
skin rug more closely around me, bidding us
return early, aud beware Of the Salten
hounds" We laughed at the warning then,
but had awfnl cause to. remember it AFTER
wards. '''
Of that day L shall not speak; we were all
young and in wild spirits, and some of us in
love. Need l say more? Amidst the mary
fair faces and 1.-the forms that glided so
gracefully over the frozen mere, tireless
through these long hours, was the fairest.
!, blde-eyed, golden haired Ella Bieorn, was
the acknowledged belle and queen of the.
party, and Eric, my lover, the most ssalwart
youth o. the countryside. But all things,
even the pleasantest, must come TO- an end
30 when the shades of evening began to fall
heavily; merging earth, sky. and water into
one gray leaden cloud we began our Journey
homewards. Tired out, with my exertions,
q soop as we. started l nestled down amongst
Iee soft fUrs in the sleigh. anL rocked by its
easy motion, soon fell fast asleep. How long
Islept, knew not; but when I awoke it
was showing fast, and the darkness so in
tense that we could not see hands breadth
before us. Icalled to Eric, who was driv;po
and asked If all was we'll To which the an
swer came back, half deadened by the thick
atmosphere, CAN well, but for Gods sake try
to keep awake" .tt
So aroused myself and sat up, knowing
that sleep. 10, that bitter night air nigh,
mean death. Of any other fear I had no
thought, for my driver was skillful whilst
Thor and Odin, our two sturdy little 1noun-
tain ponies, knew their way home alr1ost un-
guided. Suddenly, as l listened vainly for
the echo OF our companions bells, I heard
smother sound come up with the wind-a
long-draWn nOilOW moan. Twice or thrice
II came at intervals, this weird noise. each
t.iie nearer and more distinct. The third
time the ponies also heard it, for they spranp
forward with an impetus that almost sbooH
me out the carriage. Frightened. T said 70
Eric, 'sWhat, o, what is thatP', Ana ai1 ~ 10
answer came back, short and stern scr M
Salten houndsP' n'
Then began that terrible chase sfo1 dear
life" Which. though we should both live for
twice our allotted span, we never could for
get, Swiftly we sped along, cur steeds i'm
PEELED by terror as great as our own, until
they appeared almost to fly. Breathlesslv
we hardened, hoping even yet to leave the
enemy behind. But no; they travelled with
Us, gained upon us, nearer and vet nearer
their rysgrowing perceptibly from an uncer-
tain vague voice of the darkness into the nm.
mistakably wClflike note. We knew from
the direction from whence it came that thew
were tracking us by scent; so now our last
poor chance lay in the darkness of tbe n;oht
and our nealness to Stor Aswan. Eric Sill
held the reins, and covered down at The
bottom OF the sleigh and prayed more earnest
iiy than had ever yet done in my life ssfor an
increase of the snOw-drift, or aught. even a
miracle. If it might only save us.