St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-03-28
OLD BY THE NORTH WIND.


Tower of a Ruined Castle and
the Waters of a Haunted Lake.
Philadelphia Times.
Flames from tine burning logs shone
bright and CHEEKY in the open fire place.
Above the blaze the blue smoke as
cended and in the stone chimney could
be heard the roar of the mighty winds as
they gathered for council. For it was
the meeting night of the storm winds.
The east wind came fierce and biting
to greet his brethren. The south wind,
laden with spices and breath of balm
ler lands, seemed out of place among
his fiercer rivals, and the west wind
was at hand to greet them. But the
north wind ruled them all. A fierce old
fellow was this north wind, with his
stern blue eyes and icy beard, but at
heart he was not such bad fellow after
all.
Hail. Hail, brothers" he saIuted them
"Would'St hear my latest tale?''
tWillingly," replied the three. and
the north wind thus began:
Far away in the distant Northland,
whence | came, there lies under the
shadow of a rocky cliff a deep. dark
lake. The heather grows not near it.
and the sun pauSeS in his course, fear
ing to see his face reflected in the dark
ened waters. Around as far as man can
see the gray sky meets the gray rock
in the distance, and the birds as
they fly southwark never stop to rest in
the still waters of this quiet pool Even
the eagle flies heavenward as he espies
the lake in the distance--for man and
bird alike know the place is unhoIy and
fear its curse may light upon them
should they linger near its dark, cold
waters.
By the rocky cliff, just against the
lake, there stood in days long past
lofty tower; some of its stones may yet
be seen. In this tower lived Harold
the Earl and his seven sons, all fleet OF
foot and daring in the chase. Well did
the people know the young hunters,
how they bearded the black bear in his
den and met him face to face, the
cleaning knife against his mighty
strength.
Harold. too, was rich; he had cattle
and broad lands and gOodly store laid
up in his rock-b0und tower. and much
gold, too, so said the rumOr, buried in
the ground at places only known to
himself and his ancient Squire.
Above all. Harold possessed a secret
more valuable than all his other pos
sessions. He had discovered the art Of
tempering steel. He made swords and
hemlets, spears and battle axes, and
the fame of his work went far and wide.
The weapons of Harold were with the
victor in many battle.
The years went by, and his sons grew
i'll strength and VaiOr. But one night,
as the wind whistled and played in wild
sport round the corners of his tower,
and the earl sat In the great hall, COB
let in hand, listening to the song of the
minstrel, the Northmen, leaving their
long. dark ships, crept stealthily upon
the castle. They had heard of Harold'S
secret and swore to make it their own.
The gate was broken ere the defend
erS realized the attack. Armed men
filled hall and chamber, and stout blows
were struck on either side. But the
surprise was too sudden. The enemy
had the castle, and Harold and his sons
were led forth in chains to be judged by
their captorS.
Then the chief of the Mortimer
spoke:
1--WE have come, Oh. Master, for thy
secret, that we may make weapons like
to thine. Give it, and we spare thee and
thy castle and the seven tall sons by
thy side. Deny it, and thou and they
shall dep
The old man was silent minute
while he thought. Then, asking that
his sons be led away where they could
not hear his words, he spoke:
II am an old man, yet love life well
and honor well. If | tell you the Sc
cret, how could l ever dare look into
the eyes of my sons again; and how
could they honor the gray hairs of the
father who has given away their BIRTH
right to stranger. Therefore, do thou
kill my sons, that their eyes may not
nd IN +
will tell you ALL"
The NOrthman made a sign to his
men. One by one they led the seven to
the top of the tower and cast them head
long into the lake below; and when they
had thrown down the last, and he was
hidden forever in the black water. the
chief came to the old man, saying:
"All is done as thou desirest Thy
sons sleep forever. Now for thy Sc
cret."
.'Hast thou slain all2'' inquired Har-
old. They led him to the tower that he
might see.
"Then Stay me also, for | will tell thee
| feared, were | dead, my sons
might tell the secret, but now that thou
hast slain them, thou hast slain the Sc
reU."
And Harold the earl cast himself
from the tower on which he stood, and
the strangers stood around and were in
terror, and the moon shone out upon
the black lake below.
Years have gone since that night, and
the robbers, too, sleep beneath the
North seas waves. For | met their
galley in the whirlwind, and I shattered
It like reed in the tempest, and the
ship went down in the darkness, and
the robber chief chung to the mast till 1
caught the cold spray of the ocean and
froze his long, yellow curls as he bat
tied with the icy water. And he called
On Odin, who could not hear him
through the Storm-wind; and his armor,
the spoils OF Harold, weighed him down
and so-and so, he sank forever.
j. E. S.