The Portland daily press., 1878-05-04
went on in kind and reasoning tone after

went on in kind and reasoning tone alter
his fashion:
"See, my wife, it pains me that thou
shouldst be unhappy or overburdened. What
hundred slaves, besides hunters, pursuivants,
and court men-"
"And what clang they all make in the
mornngsp' interrupted Gerda pitifully.
"Tell me, shall double the number that
thou mayst have rest and peace of mind?"
"And double the care. No; tits bad
enough 500
''Shall lessen the number. then?"
Sand leave me to drudge unaided9 thank
thee, ThoIek."
'Lacks there aught of any luxury or COM
fort? Shall fill the castle with merry danes
and warriors, to make the time more light? -
"The merry danes could not make the
time light for me-" said Gerda with a sharp
little meaning in the emphasis.
"Nonsense p said Thorke, by way of an
swer, and then proposed more OF the gold
wrought hangings from the East for Gerda's
bed-chamber.
"Ahv' she responded, with sigh, "they
must be weekly cleansed with potent waters"
"Well, more fine bright cloths and cum
ningly dressed skins to deck thee withal?"
''Mothsp' calculated Gerda, with a world
of sad significance in her tone.
"Some fine British linens interviewer with
silk?" continued Thorek, coaxingy.
'Such care to keep them bleached!'
"Jewels, then? From his next voyage the
Viking shall bring Orient pearls and great ru.
bies."
sab, jewels indeed! Pearls and rubies are
well enough, but there's only one jewel I
really covet."
"Thou shalt have it, Speak"
"Ts Friga's mantle clasp. Oh, tits white
!, F,,1l of tl,oa
far more glorious than these paltry pearls.
and, on! how wish had itw exclaimed
Gerda, all her face lighting with eagerness.
Thorek was aghast. 'But, Gerda," he
said, ''thou askest the impossible. Friga is a
goddess, and Odn hath brought her this
wonder from the East.* Those who know
runes say twas the eye of great Vishnu, and
taken from shrine"
81 may not have such one, then?"
'sMay not Thou canst not. See, give
thee all that is possible, but this can not"
'Aford," supplied Gerda. $50 much for
marrying a mere mortal! A giant or a god
would give me such playthings."
But, Gerda, all can lay al thy feet"
81 know, know. Ills my fate''-with a
tragic gesture.
''And, dearest, we have jewels beyond
price-jewels that Vishu might envy US
only two as yet, but" Here Thorke smil-
iDgly and lovingly whispered few words in
her dainty ear-an ear as pink and round as a
sea-shell.
'What Thorek said it is hard to guess; but
only of the pride and comfort; we women
have the pain and anxiety. See what l suffer
for these two already-our Will aud Rod
mar"
.But the lads are stalwart. The pursui-
wants are teaching them manly exercises"
Sand what suffer when they make their
mock holm-gangs,t or ride to the hunt! Will
hath a rheum of the eye that may make him
binding"
"The rheum is but a little cold; twill
pass"
ut may pass. Isay not, but charge my
mind withal."
swell, well; our Rodmar is hearty
churl."
''Hearty-but consorting with the court
men makes him coarse and rude"
"Surely not. / saw him weep but lately
when the pet hound, Jockrel, had some little
hurt"
"Tis we'll, Thorek, if thou knowest more
of the lads than l, their mother. 1t seems to
me they are in way to rouse parents
anxiety" and Gerda, overweight with the
woes of her own copjuring, gently melted in-
to tears.
A trown gathered at last on Thorek's m ar
tial forehead, and without farther parley he
CURLY proposed going down to the feast in
the great hall. All the evening as the hearty
and merry company drank mead by the fire.
light, Gerda was the picture of womanly
sweetness. As the Inspiring drink went
round more and more freely, her lowered eye
lids and the tender tremor in her voice ap-
pealed the more strongly to the noble Viking
and the other warrior guests. They swore
hop hot 80 10
a partner for such lovely being, and every
man in his heart wished Gerda were once
more single woman. So did Thorek.
Now for years of prosperous war and gilded
peace did Gerda thus worry, fret, complain,
and thus sweetly and tearfully refuse to see
any thing in her life but its sorrows; and dai
ly were all her small troubles rehearsed to
Thorek's ear, that listened at last without
hearing. Had Thorek been made of modern
stuff, he would undoubtedly have sought his
home cheer and comfort outside-at the club !;
but these ancient fellows were of rude nature,
fiery, impetuous, often drunken, given to ac-
ton, not words; and, besides, there existed
no such haven Of rest and repair from home
usage as clubhouse. To Thorek's shame
be it said, his temper did not sweeten with
time, and Gerda used to be greatly shocked
and sob convulsively when she heard the
name of Loke and other disagreeable internal
uOltlCo SOupiCu Will nCL OWu, duQ ulSScu Out
between her husbands clinched teeth. From
oaths the cruel man grew to menace; and
once, while she was chanting her usual COM
plant, Thorek, as vent to his feeling, tore
out haudfuls of his own shock, tawny hair,
while Gerda looked on in wondering conster-
nation, and took no warning. It is with cir
cumlocution and evident reluctance that the
saga gives the final disaster-the blot on
Thorek's fair and noble name. Here, devoid
OF ornament, are the bare facts as rehearsed
in Norwegian and Icelandic family gatherings
in our time.
Thorek, after day of hard work, betook
himself, on his return home, to the chamber
in the top story of the tower at SBjon, and
thither Gerda had followed to relieve him of
his armor and to give him the unhappy rec
ord of the day. She went on, in the usual
way, from the slaves to the guests, from the
guests to the children, when Thorek, who
had been wildly glazing with a strange, fixed
expression of face, suddenly made deadly
spring upon his wife, and, Selling her in his
powerful arms, rushed to the window. Il
poor Gerda went crashing, with blood. curd-
ling cry of terror, and in an instant her lovely
body lay all white, still, and CHASTITY in the
fosse below.
Thorek drank deep that night, and stalked
among his retainers with so peculiar look
and manner that they involuntarily withdrew
from the banquet hal-that is, all those who
had not early retired beneath the tables.
Thorek was left alone on the dais, where the
lord of the castle always supped.
AT midnight precisely a warder announced
a stranger at the draw.
"Admit him." said Thorek, from Hospital
BILE habit, and the time being one of peace.
Soon warrior of giant frame, armed cap
apple, bis visor down, advanced without sa-
luting.
"Wecome to fire and food" said Thorek,
from habit again.
But the figure, stalking straight up in front
of him, waved him peremptorily from his seat
with gesture of command. At this pre-
sumption upon his kindness, Thorek sprang
up, all his fighting blood mounting to his
cheek, and in an angry tone exclaimed, SIN