The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-01-05
CHAPTER |.

On thc platform Mt Elsinorc.
This opening scene OF Shahcspearc's
grandeat tragedy ia chosen by its namc
only az principal locality OF an American
story.
Sweetest are the syllahlcs Of affection
when memory haunts the heart, when
the brain il pooplcd with living thoughts
Of the dead past. So names, like hlstori-
cal episodes, often repeat themselves.
Fond recollection holds dominion over
men everywhere.
At the head of that narrow, rock
cia5Pcd marine passage between Den
marx and Sweden, by which the turbu-
lent waters OF western Russia are carried
into the North sea, sits time battered Lisi-
more, inmotalized in poesy and romance,
Far beyond the snow crested pillows Of
Atlantic's mighty sweep, half way across
the continent which separates that ocean
from tho broader unfathomcd cXpansc
dividing Orient and OCcidcnt, nesting
amid hill3 whose SUBMITS almost touch
heavens cloud wrapped finger tips, close
by woodland bordcrcd lakes, placid III
purity, il "A modern ElsinOre, called so
by Danish immigrants in honor Of their
birth home, never forgotten. mover 10 be
slightOd in hcarthStone communion.
You VIII scarcely find the place upon
dcnsely crowded maps Of the period. 1t
is yet village, beautiful in its freshness
the germ OF busting, noisy, cumulative
town, destined to be noted and much
talked abOut as one of the landmarks in
new civilization.
To this village near the sky rejecting
l., L., la. ,fnt,{h Rant 4,
Hendrikscp. In the little colony bis
uncle Osric was II beloved leader, wise
polite and charitable. Having no chill
drcn, he sent for Bcr,cl TO Join His house
hold and help 90 gather It fortune from
the harvcats of bouutiful, sun kissed
prairie5 BcrtCl was an orphan. Crate
full for the home and arms opened TO hin
In America, the boy worked hard to III
crease Oslic iiendril,sen's worldly store
Prosperous in their husbandry, comfort
smiled where the labor hymn was Chcerily
sung.
SO the peaceful years glided by. OsriC
HcndriLscu, old and worn, folded hi.
hands one radiant summer evening anC
passed the boundary Of life. 1t was not
BerteiB first sorrow, but it came wheI
grief makes deep impression. Stand
ing by the grave where kind and rover
ent neighJur8 had laid his dead bcnc
factor, the rogm% heir fer that none q
these friends had ever known the rca
wealth of O1ric licndrihsen's heart. Yes
one theremi htbe! As Eortol passed from
the quiet Churchyard II maiden'5 souliu
eyes met his. Love and sympathy wer,
mingled in the glance. Christine Wal
den, gentle as beautiful, gave him he
wOman's tears; for she, likewise an or
phan, had learned to bless the nobl
virtue of him who was gone forever
Bertel llendriksen was not alone.
The second Christmas after Fathe
Osric's death how merrily the bells peale,
In Elsinore. There was n wedding cele
brated, and new housekeeping begun
In the quaint and roomy dwelling b,
Mirror Lake Sweeter bride or proude
husband, the villagers all said, had neve
been seen. Surely, good Osric Hendrich
sens riches would, in the hands Of thos
to whom he had been more than q pan
ent, be fruitful Of great blessings.
Twenty years later. Elsimore wa
much the same In outward appearance.
Thrift and contentment were picture
everywhere. Bertel had long held hi
uncle's place in the council. The oil
house had new piazza and double ba
window graced its southern exposur,
There were two Christines, now. Berte
loyal lover. called them twin sisters.
beyeled mantel glass and gran