The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-04-27

of Hasheesh-eater's vision of "dancers
dancing in tune"
To Ola's untutored fancy, they, in their
spectral beauty, were but the impalpable
shapes Of Iotun and Viking, shut out from
some blissful Scandinavian Alfheim, and
doomed to wander perpetually the awful,
illimitable desert spaces of eternal night
And slowly, as she watched them, the vast
phantasmagoria of flashing lights and
blending colors lickered and faded out !
The crimson archway crumbled into ruin;
the luminous belt dulled into palest opal;
the "merry dancers" fared their dying
torches in farewell, and one by one stole
silently behind the impenetrable curtains
of the north. The dim east frightened
slowly, and Ola beheld the dominant peak
of Odin's Schloss kindle like an aerial bea-
con, lit by the rosy dawn
In breathless haste the damsel burst
upon the startled household, crying Joy
ously-
"Mother Alfgard Lisba The sun
is rising Hasten forth beloved mother,
and welcome the beautiful sun p
Shouting gleefulIy the children hurried
forth to greet the glorious vision; the pale
mother crept smiling to the threshold; the
baby coOed and stretched its tiny hands
to grasp the soft beams playing on the lin
tel. Ola flew to set the windows wide, to
garnish the house-place, and deck the little
ones in holiday attire. So long the night
had seemed, the sunrise burst upon them
like miracle wrought by the good God
in their behalf
A joyous hustle pervaded the humble
household; Father Jan would hasten to be
with them, and any hour might bring
brave Feodor The goats and fowls were
released from irksome durance, and all
things were ordered to welcome the wan
derers home.
Tomorrow was the Easter Festival, and
Ola's heart swelled with a pang of yearn-
ing regret as she thought Of one who
would return no more Her tears fell
softly as she bent to caress the neck of
Freyda-his gift upon an Easter morning
long ago. But pretty Freyda, rejoicing
in her freedom, ran merrily away in the
wake of grave Thora, with playful antics
inviting her little mistres to frolic in the
sunshine
But suddenly shrill halloo came family
down the wind, ringing cry of triumph
and of warning And far away upon the
glittering slope of great snow-feld Ola
beheld through her tears a slender line of
black and moving figures, and family still,
but nearer and clearer, the deep-throated
baying of mighty stag-hound foated to
her straining ear Ola's pulses thrilled
with exultation as she heard that rude, IA
miliar greeting; yes, it was Balder, the
great house-dog, leaping and gambolingin
the van of the swift-footed pack
"Mother Children, Father Jan is COM
ing Hark That is Balders welcome;
see how they fly down the steep fell, and
now they cross the frozen torrent !''
"Yes, children give thanks to the good
God! Your father is almost here. And
Feodor, my brave lad, that is he dragging
his burden so gaily. But Ola, daughter
Ola, who is yon-the sturdy fellow lead
ing the train with long, 1.-THE strides? He,
whose snow-shoes skim the glacier like
the wings of wildfowl; child, do not stand
there white and dumb, speak, and tell me
the strangers name I"
And shivering with sudden alright. the
mother flung herself on Ola's shoulder,
and wept aloud. But Ola, stricken into
breathless silence, stood motionless and
pale, her face hushed as are the faces of
the dead, her wide, wild eyes straining
forward in gaze of mingled rapture and
doubt Then great cry broke from her
white lips, "Oh Holy Mother 1t Is
Nicklas l''-and shod as with the wind
she fed along the waste SHOWS like a Wis.
ion, to fall painting and breathless in the
outstretched arms Of her lover
For truly it twas Nicklas, and none other;
handsome, vigorous and merry as of old;
Nicklas Sword, come ba X to her from the
mysterious fastnesses of the solitudes and
the night
"See, little one r. he said gaily, kissing
passlOnately the still, smiling lips, and
rapturous uplifted eyes of his wondering
love, "See what Nicklas hath brought
thee; tomorrow is Easter-tide, and behold,
here is thy garland of white clifF-roses,
freshly gathered from their nook beneath
old 0din S Buckler. They are not paler
than thy cheeks, dear little one Was it
the waiting for thy truant that stole the
roses from thy pretty face, my love?"
Balder, the great stag hound, leapt up
and and caressed her with rude welcome;
Father Jan came forward and kissed her
with a muttered benison; and Feodor
clashed his queer snow-shoes, and shouted
till the ice peaks rang again. But Ola
answered only with heavenly smile of
blissful content, and nestled closer in her
lovers arms, And lifting her merrily in
his mighty grasp, the gallant young seal
hunter with thrilling cheer strobe on in
triumph to greet the joyous household
group waiting upon the sunlit threshold to
welcome the dear ones home