Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-10-12

OF lying, terror TO MN on loot .
chariot sent straight from God.
And thus they meet, these men,
than whom all Norway could not
show two enemies more bitter. They
are dWellers in the little village Of
JOksdal, Finmark, themOstnorthern
division of IrOmsO, or northern Nor
way. There had their fathers lived
before them, and there had Svantsen,
rich, proud, and the autOcrat of his
birthplace, cruelty WrOnged Erie
Skein, a young herdsman and poor
one.
An old, stale story it was, of two
men loving the same woman. Young
Eric had been everything to her until
the other came creeping into her
heart, Ousting the old love and re-
placing it with one ten times as pow
erful. She dared not tell her be-
thrOthed, and upon the very eve OF
their marriage Svantsen had stolen
the girl away with her own con sent,
married her in a distant hamlet, and
then, returning, braved the black
storm Of rage that swept over him.
All believed this step to be one OfmOst
laWless abduction upon the mans
part, and he, only thinking for his
wife and her reputation. was content
that in such q belief JOksdal should
remain. Erie Skein, however, was
wiser. he had lOngnOted the change
in his sweetheart, and the blow there
fore did not fall so heavily upon him
as his friends supposed. He was a
gOOdhearted, easy going, IOutish fell
low, not Overquick OfcOmprehensiOn
but 81 popular man among his com
rades and one with q kind soul in
him. That he would nurse his re
venge until it grew into something
strong and terrible and could walk
alone was the general opinion in
JOksdal. But Skein breathed no
word of his future intentions to any
body, and went on living and working
tamely enough. though with most of
the laughter and rough frOliC blOtted
out Of his life. 1t is improbable that
he would ever have seriously set
about retaliation or gone far out of
his way to get it. DWellers in north
ern lands, all things being equal, are
not so fruitful of violence and the
knife as hOt-blOOded men Ofthe south.
Nor have they quite such keenness
and capability for either suffering or
10y. Their sensib ilities are somewhat
more blunt and there is more prose
and less poetry in their lives, less
sunshine and more hard work. /
speak, Of course, Of the lowest social
classes; Skein was a shepherd: Svant-
sen the keeper Of small inn.
And nova year after the catas-
trOphe-they meet, the one flushed
and hot and nearly spent with his
hard running, the other cold and
white, and with all his wits about
him Skien. thinking to see q friend,
looks up at the man in the sledge.
As he does so anxiety changes to in
credulOus aud savage Joy; the howl
of wolves falls unheeded upon his ear;
he clutches hard at something hidden
IN his belt and shows his teeth. The
other, with an iron hand upon the
reins, cheeks for an instant his flying
sledge and keeps with his old enemy.
One Of the struggling horses arrested
in his fight for life. neiGhS and plunges
to be free. The bells clash and jangle
for a moment the hungry 5hrOats
behind are silent; over all the moon
shines bright and cold bringing
out every detail Of the scene as
clearly as daylight could.
ROlO Svantsen speaks first.
''Ah, friend Skien, thou wilt have
to go at greater pace than thy pres
ent jog if JOksdalis to see thee again.
Graabeen# travels world faster, and
is now nearer to thee than thou art
to home. Wilt deign to accept a
seat? IfsO, it is at thy service
SAT last we meet, then, gasped the
other. Il had rather see thee than
the truest friend and strongest horse
in Norway. At last thou art in my
hand, ROlIO Svanstsen. Nay, stay
thine horses, or I viii do it for thee
Fool! Thou do it? COuldst thou
stop me q year ago? Then think
not to hold back those mad brutes
here by any act Of thine"
For answer Skein leveled a pistol
at the head Of the horse nearest him.
The barrel flashed in the moonlight
like a knife, and Svantsen, choking
in his throat the cry of horror that
rose into it, pulled at the reins,
and nearly overturned the vehicle he
drove.
''This is no time for TESTING, MANI
he cried. Leap by me and do it
quickly, or we shall both be IOst.''
"And why not? Thou has left me
nothing to live for. Everything
that was good to me in the world
has been taken by thee; now it is my
turn, and / could slay thee, but that
had rather leave it to those be
hind"
While the horses were nearly dislO-
eating his shOulderjOints, Svansten
made answer:
''Think not fear death any more
than thee. If thou widest that but
one of US shall reach his home care