Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-11-21
4 NOBLE IICTORy

On the shore lies stretched out the village
Of Husom. Every little house stands by it
self, often separated from its neighbor bv
wide space of perhaps fifty feet, which is
generally made into a garden, in which a
few feeble plants draw a scanty nourish-
ment from the ground With no less diff
Guilty do the inhabitants of Husom manage
TO get their living. They are all fishermen,
and the sea is their real home, on which
they 20 out for miles to cast their nets
When the sun shines on a smooth surface
1t is an exhilarating occupation but when
sudden storm springs up while the boats
are far from land and a fog settles down
upon the water like broad heavy mantle,
then one understands how hard are the
conditions and the perpetual danger attend
ing the labor by which these men earn
their bread
The sea runs high and most of the boats
have pulled in to land Two men are still
working to save their property in the same
way. They are both young, large vigor-
Gus men, with sunburned faces and toll
hardened hands.
At last their boats too rest on the shore
firmly secured. Lars said one of the
men, Strengthening up and buttoning his
short jacket, this will be a fierce blow to
night.
The other nodded ut is lucky that none
of us are out
Meanwhile they have started home ward
and stride along together in silence The
only street of the village is quiet 1t is
dark, here and there faint light cleaning
from little window.
They are passing a small house, aud, al
most as if by a secret agreement, they ap-
proach and glance through the lighted win
dow to the inside. An old man with white
hair and beard sits in large armchair
his head has fallen forward on his breast
picture Of the life fast sinking TO rest
At the table on the opposite side. sits, in
bright contrast, a Young girl sewing-a
fresh, lovely face, with round rosy cheeks
and luxuriant fair hair. Kate Mason is
the prettiest girl in the village, aud the
most Industrious on whom many a young
fellow looks with earnest glance. Early
and late she is busy, supporting herself and
her aged father by her own hands.
The loiterers at the window have turned
and gone on their way. At last Lars said
Good night Christoph," and crossed the
street to his home. He had heard the re
ply to his greeting, and now waited and
listened, standing by the fence that in
| closed his little tract of ground Chris
for what Lars felt misgiving. He,
too, hastened back The wind drives full
in his face, but he does not heed Now he
hears Christophs steps before him, but can
not see, for it is very dark There stands
the little house where Katie Mason lives.
Christoph stands blythe window. Lars sees
him plainly in the light of the lamp that
falls upon him. He hears a tap on the
window, and now Christoph has his hand
on the door, and it opens before him.
Thou, Christoph What brings thee so
late p asked Katie, holding on to the door,
which the storm was shaking.
81 was passing and saw thee sitting so
stopped to bid thee sleep well ''
Thou dear - she said, putting out her
hand
The wind seized the door thus set free
and flung it wide open against the wall
| But Christoph, using all his strength, drew
| the girl into the hall and closed the door
| Lars grew hot under his coarse Jacket hot
| in spite Of the clustering wind. He stepped
| close to the door and heard speaking with
| in, but could not distinguish anything. He
waited, his heart filled with the pangs of
/ jealousy How long he stood he knew not;
it seemed an eternity to him. At last the
door opened and Christoph stepped out.
Sleep well, dear girl he whispered
"Goodby, dear Christoph.' The key was
turned in the lock Chrstoph went home,
the JOY of love requited in his heart. The
other, too, returned homeward, but long
time passed before he reached the little
| house.
They had grown up together-Lars,
| Christoph and Katie The three had played
together continually as children, and Katie
] ha iaI lt. 4
the sled by none but Lars or Christoph.
When they grew larger they went to school
together and were confirmed together in
the little church of the neighboring village
No strife had ever come between them
never had the girl shown whether she had
preferred one of the lads to the other As
these developed into strong men, Katie
bloomed into still greater beauty, as was
apparent to other young men of the vii
age, and Rob Stetfel ventured to intimate
as much, in rough fashion, to the girl.
The following day his place in the boat was
empty he was sick, his father said-the
truth was, Rob would not show his discol-
ored face. From that time the Young fell
lows held themselves aloof from Katie Ma
son. But between Lars and Christoph the
old intimacy began gradually to dimin-
ish. They went with Katie to her first
dance Who should be her first partner
They disputed long over it out of the girls
hearing, and at last with heated faces ap-
peared to her to choose between them
Katie looked at them, and for the first time
felt a misgiving that if she chose one the
other would be deeply hurt. So she said
1T makes no difference to me which
dance with first but if it is of so much ac
count to you draw cuts ~ They did so, and
Christoph was the lucky one. While they
were settling the matter Katie looked on
with apparent indifference, but her heart
beat fast under her bodice, and when il
was decided she almost unconscously smiled
with evident pleasure. Lars saw it, and
from that day jealousy began to take root
deeper in his heart, and there was no lack
of occasion to develop it.
Each knew that the other loved the girl
and both felt secretly conscious to whom
Katie's heart inclined Christoph, the
calmer and more self possessed, felt 81
lent, blissful happiness taking possession OF
his heart when the girl looked at him with
her blue eyes so sweetly and kindly. Lars
more vehement believed at times that
Katie loved him, her manner was always SC
cordial. But, again, when he saw heI
with Chrstoph, a voice within told him
that he was not the favored one, and lac
suffered bitter torment. So it had gone on
till the evening when the young fishermen
returned together from the shore, Chris
toph's heart beat fast at the quiet, peaceful
scene in old Mason's cottage, and it drew
him back with irresistible power to leave q
greeting for the beloved one But after he
had entered the hall in his effort 70 clos,
the door, 50 violently flung open by tn,
storm, he suddenly became conscious Of
Katie in his arms And while It ragged and
stormed without he kissed her, aud in wild
happiness he whispered Katie, do you
love me Z" She did not answer, but hel
lips pressed his.
The next morning Lars stood on tn,
shore mending his boat, when Rob Steife
came by.
"You are early, though you came home
late, Were you with your sweetheart ~
Lars looked at him, red with anger II,
struck the wood with his axe and the chips
flew far around
"Hoho :" continued the other, ''you did
not have good luck it seems.
keep still !' cried Lars. "What is it t.
you whether have good luck or not -
Rob steifel stepped nearer. You are
unjust 10 me, he said. "A big fellow lik,
you should not take it so meekly. Chris
toph has plainly taken the fish away frou
you
Lars made no answer, but his hand clasp
ed the axe convusively, "You and hav,
no love for Christoph," b" continued Rob lei
us join together against him, aud he helC
out his hand