Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-11-21
NO. A..

"i want nothing to do with you, " replied
Lars, and turned away, resuming his work.
Rob Steitel laughed scornfully, and went
away, tut the sting that his words contain.
ed remained IN Larss breast When the
other was out Of sight he flung down his
axe, and went back TO the village Slowly.
with dow ncast head, he walked. Before
the house Of old Mason he paused. then
with sudden resolution he entered But
as if bound, he stood in the doorwav-in
the room stood Katie tenderly embraced
10y Chrstoph. painful silence prevailed
for moment, then Chrstoph stepped TO-
ward Lars, put out his hand, and said
Katie is my betrothed since last evening
intended to come directly to YOU aud tell
you"
Lars did not answer only a bitter smile
quivered on his lips. 1t was excessively
painful to the girl She felt what a blow
she had given him, though blameless her
self. She longed to say something to him,
but could not find the right word So she
only looked at him, aud without speaking
held out her hand TO him, but he turned
away and left the house
Toward noon the shore was alive with
men. The sea cleaned in the sunshine
again, the waves played gently, and soft
wind was blowing The day was favorable
for a large haul All the fishermen of the
village were gathered together the nets
and oars were put into the boats the sails
spread wide, aud the little fleet sailed far
out into the broad beautiful sea Katie
stood on tue shore, sending greetings to her
sweetheart as long as the boat was in sight
Then she went home, smiling happily to
herself. She had much 10 do After she
had seen to her old father, who sat quietly
IN his chair and smoked a short pipe, she
went about her work How it flew under
her hands today, though frequently she
stopped, gazing down lost in sweet dreams.
Then she worked so much the faster again.
So hour after hour flew by unheeded. At
last the days task was ended and Katie
went to the door. But the weather had
changed, the sun had disappeared behind
thick clouds and the sky hung in gray folds
over the sea
The fishermen also had finished their
work. The rich booty lay in the boats,
promising a rich reward for their hard
labor But in the east it was black and
threatening. They must reach home before
the storm came on. The little sails spread
out, the ships flew over the water, causing
the foam to break over the deep, dripping
sides. Then came the first blow strong
against the sails the loaded boats threat
ened to upset. The men were forced to
take IN sails and trust wholly TO the oars.
IL grew dark and the sea lifted itself rest
lessly into huge, far-rolling waves. Then
the storm broke loose with wild force it
howled and lashed the sea till it reared in
short, foam-capped waves. The men row
ell with all their might the shore could
not be far away, though it was not visible
in the darkness Ahead of all the others
shot Chrstoph's boat close behind him
was Lars. 1t seemed as if the two were
running a race for the safety of the shore
wave seized Christoph's boat, lifted it
high and flung it with its broad side against
the end Of Lars vessel, breaking it in
Lars saw it sinking before him. A thought
shot his heart, frightful and vivid, Let the
waves bury Christoph and Katie is yours"
But the thought was gone in a moment in
the next he had leaned far out, grasped the
constant friend of his youth. now strug-
CLING with death But he lost his own bal
ance, sitting on the extreme edge. He
flung out his hand to catch hold of some
thing, but found nothing, and plunged
headlong A huge wave seized the boat,
threw it far from the place, and in the
roaring of the waves a last, despairiug cry
was lost.
At last the fishermen had painfully reach
ed the shore. Women and old men full of
anguish stood waiting the returning ones.
Katie, cried a voice from the darkness,
and the girl felt herself embraced by two
arms.
"Christoph thank heaven that you are
here
She led him to her house He was silent
all the way, only holding her fast She,
too, hardly spoke. When they reached the
house, she noticed for the first time that
his clothes were drenched, and asked the
reason. Then his mouth quivered with
repressed pain, while he answered -
Katie, the storm destroyed my boat
Lars snatched me from the waves, but he
himself fell into the sea andn-
"What - she asked, breathlessly
81 could not save him, he said almost
inaudibly
After few days the sea washed the
body of Lars ashore. 1t was the only sac
rifice it had demanded that day Lars had
no parents living, but even parents could
not have shed more burning tears than
Katie and Christoph when he was buried
in the little churchyard. The thought of
him, the consciousness that his sacrifice
had secured their happiness never left them.
Long after Katie went to the altar with
Christoph and when they came from the
church their first steps were directed to
the grave Of Lars. TrdHSidtcd from the
(ggystynu