The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-04-16
FOR DEAR LIFE.


the old man0r-house OF St0r Aswan, th
home. of my childhood, as it had bee
that OF my loretathers for many gener
ations.
The pleasantest spot in all the world
I thought, and still think, that quain
Norwegian homestead, with its buff wall
and birch.bark roof, which succeedin,
summers had rendered verdant with al
evergreen thatch OF moss and lichens
just now, however, this was not visible
for show lay thickly upon it as it hat
lain for weeks past; not only there, bu
upon all the country roupd.
we were in the midst Of a white sea
whose pillows were the partially sub
merged hedges that daily grew less no
ticeable as the snow drifted in and pilet
above.them.
The fir trees alone stood forth bravely
as il defying this insidious foe, yet ever
their, stately branches trailed earth
ward, and their strong arms creaked
and strained under the ever-incrcasini
load.
1t was the hardest winter there hat
been for fifty years-so the old lolks said
and they foretold its continuance fol
some weeks longer. Other signs were
not wanting which, more plainly thai
aught else, denoted the unusual severity
| OF the season.
The flocks of wild fowl, usually SO shy
and difficult of approach, came down
from the upper meres, their accustomed cd
haunts, and stroye with the tame deni.
zens of our own farmyard for share in
their midday meal. Hares and rabbits,
impelled by hunger, forgot their nature,
and stole up to our very doors, begging
with their large dark eyes, in pite0us,
dumb fashion, Tor relief. Herds OF rein.
deer, also, came south from Lapland,
seeking more genial pastures; and ii
| was rumored that less pleasant visitors
had recently been seen and heard.
The black pine-forests of Salten had
again sent forth the grim, bloodthisty
pack of legionaries who for ages had
dwelt unmolested in its dark Businesses,
and. the ory of "WoliW was no longer,
as heretofore, an empty sound.
All this, however, did not affect any
of our party, who were all Morse men
and maidens born, used to the cold, full
of health and spirits. l, Ella Bieorn,
daughter of the house, was the widest
of that mad circle who had assembled ut
Stor Aswan at Christmas-tide to do
honor to my betrothal to Eric Jarl, the
lover OF my youth, ere long to be my hus-
band.
AS soon as the birch trees put forth
their first green tassels in the early
spring-time, l was to leave my old nome
for O new one, SO now, surrounded by
klnsfolk and neighbors, we were keeping
this last anniversary Of my spinsterh00d
in goodly fashion.
We revived many by-gone pastime,
and the vast hall at Stor Aswan re-
echoed 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 morris-dancers and
mumIners.
80, in dancing, feasting and merry
making, the week sped, until few
hours more would see us all scattered in
various directions, to meet again we
knew not when or where,
For the last day, therefore, we had re-
served the chief pleasure, the browning
point of all our enjoyment-a sleiyhing
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 greet
ing to the New Year-our welcome to the
incoming guest.
Brightly dawned the eventful morn
ing, clear and fair rs heart could desire.
Blue was the sky as sapphire. whilst
shone as though strewn with living
gems.
All nature seemed rejoicing like our
selves at the advent of another year, and
one already 30 full of promise. Without,
the sleigh-bells tinkleu and chimed mer-
rilv, making the frosty air ring again as
the gayly caparisoned horses paved and
shook their heads, impatient as their
owners 10 be off.
At length we started, Eric and l as
hosts being the last OF the party; for Of
course he was my charioteer.
l well remember my father standing at
the door to see lis 90, and, as he tucked
the bearskin rug more closely around
me, bidding us "return early, and be-
ware of the Salten hounds"
We laughed at the warning then, bu
had awful cause to remember it alter
ward.
OF that day / shall not speak; we were
all young and In wild spirits, ana some
of us in love. Need say more?
Amidst the many lair faces and 1.-the
forms that glided SO gracefully over the
frozen mere, tireless through these long
hours, was the fairest.
l, blue-eyed, golden-haired Ella Bieorn,
was the acknowledged belle and queen
OF the party, and Eric, my lover, the
most stalwart youth of the countryside.
But all things, even the pleasahtest,
must come to an end. So when the
shades of evening began to fall heavily ,
merging earth, SKY, aud water into one
gray leaden crowd, we began our jour-
ney homeward.
Tired out with my exertions, as soon
as we started nestled down amongst
the soft furs in the sleigh, and, rocked by
| its easy motion, soon fell fast asleep.
How long l Blept l know not, but
when l awoke it was showing fast, and
the darkness so intense that we could
not see a hands breadth before us. !
called TO Eric, who was driving, and
asked if all was well. TO which the an.
swer came back, "All well, but for Gods
sake try to keep awake"
So aroused myself and sat up, know.
ing that sleep In that bitter night air
might mean death. OF any other fear
had no. thought, for my driver was skill
full, whilst Thor and Odin, our two
sturdy little mountain ponies, knew
their way home almost unguIded.
Suddenly, as 1 listened vainly for the
echo of our companions bells, l heard
another sound come up with the wind
| long-drawn, hollow moan. Twice or
thrice 1t came at intervals, this weird
| noise. each time nearer and more dis.
tinct. The third time the ponies also
heard it, for they sprang forward with
an ilnpetus that almost shook me out Ol