Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-27

peared to Gunnar the very incarnation of
success, and his jsunty bearing represented
an unattainable ideal of manners. Why
should not he, too, enter the race, and
though he might not reach such an
eminence as that of Lawson, why should he
not content himself with a smaller measure
of success? The parson said he would
imperil his SOULS salvation. Well, his
pure Lutheran could not be worth much if,
in order to keep it undiluted, he had to Sc
clude himself from all the rest of the world
and avoid contact with those who believed
otherwise than he. He had hitherto ac-
cepted the parsons reasoning, or rather be
had never thought of doubling its sound
ness. But now a question arose: was it not
his duty to start out in the world and find
his father, or at all events ascertain whether
he was alive or dead?
All these thoughts kept whirling con-
fusedly in Gunnar's brain, while be danced,
and when finally the music ceased, he con-
Quoted his fair partner out into the yard in
order that the breeze might cool her off
She noticed his seriousness, and thinking he
disapproved of the little fb by which she
had gotten rid of Lawson. she began to pom
der little speech, Intended to put her mis-
demeanor in the most favorable light
81 hope you are not angry with me-" she
said, looking up into his face with smile,
intent upon notification.
"Oh, no; why should II" he answered
half absently.
"Because-because-I wanted to get rid
Of that city fellow" begging forgiveness
with her large innocent eyes.
"0h, don't bother about that" he ejacu-
lated ungraciously.
II can't help bothering about it. that is.
unless you'll be nice and speak to me as
you used to."
Gunnar gave laugh and looked down
at Ingerid's dimpled face with amused ten
| derness.
"How did use to speak to you?" he
asked smiling
"oh, now you are making fun of me-"
she replied in sweet confusion; "It isn't
nice of you to make fun of me, Gunnar,"
There were others, evidently who were of
the same opinion, though they had no defin-
lite data to argue from. On the Woodpile
In the yard sat Thorsten Sletten and five or
six OF his chums, all incensed at the open
favor 1ngerid showed Gunnar Matson, and
determined on the first occasion to bring
down his conceit peg or two. Gunnar
was lnstiDctively aware of their sentiments
toward him, as he approached the woodpile,
and seized the first opportunity to turn
about when he could do SO with self-respect.
But no sooner had he turned his back to the
company than a shower of chips, pieces of
bark and other light missiles hit him about
the head and shoulders. He was inclined to
take no notice of this challenge; but Ingerid,
being less wise faced about again and said:
II wish you wouldn't do that, lads"
A derisive jeer greeted this mild request.
The girl stood for a moment irresolute.
blushing with vexation.
81 guess you'll be sorry for il some day."
she murmured, and rejoined her com mpanion,
Her implied championship of Gunnar did
not tend to mollify his antagonists. he had
scarcely walked two steps at her side, when
a large piece of wood knocked his hat off
and raised bump on the side of his head.
With the pain his anger fared up. He
darted back to the woodpile, grabbed Thors-
ten Sletten, whom he suspected of being his
assailant, by the leg and dragged him down.
One of the stakes which confined the logs
broke, and the whole pile tumbled down
pell nell with the young men on the top of
It Some of them got painful bumps and
scratches which did not improve their tenn
per. One by one, as soon as he got upon his
legs, rushed at Gunnar with clenched fists;
and the latter, finding himself at |
tackled on all sides, struck right |
and left. little needing whom or |
where he hit. 1t was q most unfair battle |
six against one. Ingerid's blood boiled as
she saw her companion surrounded, beaten |
and pommeled by those envious fellows, |
only because she had favored HIM. He |
fought for awhile manfully returning blow |
for blow, and neither asking nor receiving |
quarter. But be was gradually getting the |
worst of it; she saw his flushed face above |
the knot of combatants, every muscle |
strained, his teeth clenched in savage wrath |
and flash in his eve of desperate resolu- |
tion. Then suddenly down he went tripped |
up by some tricky foot and the others fell |
upon him like raging hounds. The light |
died out of Ingerid's face, leaving it pale
and terrified: for an instant she stood speech
less; then, borne along by mighty impulse,
she rushed into the midst of the fighters,
grabbed the first one she got hold OF by the
shoulders and flung him aside 1t was
Thorsten Sletten.
'Oh, shame on you" she cried.
Thorston sent her surly, sidelong glance
and walked of, trying to hide his resent
ment and modification under an air of |
bravado. In another moment she had got
ten hold of another offender, who likewise
skunk off with muttered curses; and the
others unwilling to fight girl, got up
hastily and took to their heels. Last of all
Gunnar rose, with slow and deliberate mo-
tions and turned toward her q red, swollen
face, with white blotches and streak of
blood on his left cheek. He looked at her
with half shy awkward glance; at which
all her sense of championship forsook her,
and she felt strange weakness in her knees.
The crimson flush fared out upon her
cheeks, and she found it impossible to utter
a word. Had she not been foolish in al
lowing her heart to run away with her? She
ho1 -ar1A ~
and thought she would have liked to beg
his pardon, she did not know how TO frame
the difficult words. And yet she had
meant well. 1t was horribly per-
picking. But why did he not
speak? He ought to have had the gen.
erosity to say something, if only to relieve
her awkwardness. She watched him with q
dim sense of guilt, through which slow re-
sentiment glowed, while he wiped his bloody
cheek with the sleeve of his coat, and pulled
himself together to recover his wonted atti-
tude. When he had as nearly as possible
efaced all traces of the combat, he looked
about to see if they were observed. Ingerid's
heart leaped into her throat. He was now
surely going to thank her.
suppose you meant all right" he said,
in resentful tone; ''but another time wish
you wouldn't do it,
'But they were killing you. Gunnar, ." she
cried in eager self-justifcation
swell, next time let them kill me-" he
answered doggedly.
"Oh, how can you?" she moaned, too
deeply wounded for tears. 81 wish-I wish
Il had never seen you"
She felt weak and sore Herheart seemed
heavy as lead. The sunlight had a hard
brightness which hurt her eyes. The world
had lost its glory.
v.