The Portland daily press., 1878-05-04
not brighter than her eyes the murdered


Gerda, to confront her guilty husband.
Now, though it occurred to Thorek at once
that life might be restored through the magic
touch of Odin's hand, his murdered wife was
still terrible vision for nerves seasoned in
battle. The god looked lightnings of anger at
the husband, and caressing showers of admir-
alton at the beautiful Gerda, and exclaimed,
ga woman for Valhalla, truly.
ooh Father Odinp' cried Thorek. "Alfaoir
[all-fatherl Valfaoir god of warl, none can
know my provocation that have not like me
suffered. She herself in my place would have
been just as Violent"
'We shall see," said Odin, musingly, and
contriving plan to relieve Thorek of his
guilt, and perhaps carry out at the same
time little fancy of Odn's own, II will
not that my brave warrior miss the joys of
Valhalla. Go, my son." said the god beney-
olently and Thorek, shaken out Of his self.
possession by the mead he had drunk and
the deed he had done, retired into the strong
hold.
The sagas and legends of tie North are on.
riously paradoXical, cloudy, vet minnie. nice
in unimportant details, but careless of general
outline; so that while we learn the yery
words the people conceived their divinities
and heroes to have used, the very fashion of
thelr boards and temper OF their armor, it is
impossible to learn just how far these demi-
gods were considered subject to the weaknesses
OF humanity-in short, just what their nature
was supposed to be. Also, the geographical
statements in the old sagas it is impossible to
verify. A place called, for instance, the
"Shadow-land far North" we can only re.
ceive as an absurdity and fable; though per-
haps to those old peoples such an expression
had some religious or moral Specification, il
the place had not actual geographical exis.
tence. At any rate, this saga of Thorek is as
involved, obscure, extravagant, and absurd as
the run of such legends land it goes on to say
that after having sent Thorek back into the
castle, Odin and Gerda disappeared together.
What happened to them was duly recounted
by the god twelvemonth later, when he
paid one of his rare midnight visits to Skion,
all shrouded as usual in dread and mystery.
'Oh Odin where is Gerda ?" asked ThOrek.
Gin Valhalla," replied Odin, shortly.
"Dost thou see her eften?'
"Hum! yes-so, So"
81 think sometimes I'd like to see her
again. She was very beautiful"
"Nonsense! Thou art free from guilt; be
content"
.'Has she still that fault of fretfulness p'
"Just the same-worse, Perhaps
"And yet thou canst suffer her in Valhalla!
| All, was hasty! How beautiful she WASH
''My son, we are gods in Valhalla; even
| fretful woman shakes not our tranquility.
| Be content, thou art washed white as snow.
| 1, Odin. have saved my faithful warrior from
the stain of guilt" Here the god held out
his hand to be kissed.
| Thorek did not notice the hand, but prayed
| Odin to relate what device he had used.
Odin, after little thought, beneath the
| shadow OF his casque, spake thus: II
changed Gerda into warrior like untolthee-
sinews of steel, heart of fire, head none of
the calmest. placed her, thus transformed,
| in the Shadow.land far North. Thou know.
| est"
Perfectly" answered Thorek. "And
then ?''
"Why, mated her with a shadow wife, a
Gerda like her former self, a wife who was
| given to fretfulness and tears. In every re-
| spect put her in thy place.
eyes. And what did Gerda do?"
"After little time, she began to call on
the gods like warrior"
"And then?"
s.Then she grew morose and hard"
"And then?'
Gone night she seized the shadow wife and
| dragged her to a window"
| eyes," said Thorek, very much interested.
sand Gerda was about to throw her ont.
when the shadow melted in her arms, the
window sank away. the whole land was an
| Illusion"
| "Wel2"
swell, she left the country, and sought no
| and down the world for substantial window
and finally. coming to the tower here. at
Skjon, mounted one night to the topmost
| chamber.ts
'Stay," broke in Thorek, ssthat tower is al.
ways guarded and locked"
.But | was with her, and she passed the
| bolts and bars"
sob, thou vast with herp'-this with a
| suspicious glare. go on"
''She went directly to the window, and
| knowing that. for thy sake, the deed must
seem to have been done by other hands than
thine, offered to help her out myself"
| Thorek's face blazed.
'tShe put me back, however, with a deter
| mined air, and spake thus: No, Odin, next
| to the pleasure of throwing a fretful woman
| out o. the window is the relief of throwing
ones self out;' and with these words out she
went, showing that she had learned to appre-
ciate thy sufferings."
Thorek had grown pale and clinched his
| hands, but found breath to say, "Was she
| warrior or was she Gerda thenp"
'Oh," said Odin, stammering little, ssShe
was in partially evolved condition''-or
using an ancient idiom to that effect.
Sand when she struck the ground?'
s.She was Gerda-dead."
"And her body?"
s"Oh, I had it removed Immediately"
"And now?'''
Y
are both guiltless."
Sup draw-bridgep shouted Thorek, for.
getting that his guest was more than mortal,
and could vanish, as he did, through iron
and oak, over moat and all.
That was the last visit Odin ever paid to
Skjon, and Thorek shortly after Joined party
OF Delllgerent giants who made war against
the god. by this il may be surmised that
Thorek was ungrateful for the service rem
dQrad nd rJl IL. IL
very intricate but thoroughly NEUROLOGICAL
plan for taking away his guilt and his wife
together. In fact, the saga hints that Tho
rex. being only of finite mortal mind, per-
suaded himself that the strange effect of
Odin's raised visor was due to the uncommon
strength of the mead that night. He sus-
pected, moreover, that Odin's whole story
was fabrication, for, it having been time
OF peace, the fosse was drained, and Gerda
had probably fallen on the soft mud and been
little hurt, while Odin treacherously used the
circumstances, and secured a beautiful woman
| for his own Valhalla.
All this is of remote interest and small i'm
portance; but the point, the use, and the
legend lie in Gerda's memory-an ever-present
blessing to Scandinavian households. There
stands the ruined window-sermon and proof
IN itself; and some peasant or traveller sees
the spirit of Gerda rehearsing the fatal leap
shine just often enough to keep the story
alive, and secure for these honest, cheerful
Northern homes immunity from that small
vice, worry" that so often poisons even our
superior domestic luxury. If there happens a
long. scarcity of lightning, or moonshine, or
| reliable ghost-seers, then casual glance of
husbands eye towards the nearest easement
will always suffice to dispel little clouds and
bring cheer and comfort upon the house.
Hannv ScandinaviapcI