The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-22

reach. This latter action caught the visi-
tors eye.
"What dost thou do with thy axe. my
| iad?" ne asked curiously.
| 81 keep IL to kill Danes with" replied
the hardy little Swede. with unexpected
| energy.
"Then thou wilt have work enough 10
| do ere long" said the visitor laughing
and he fell to eating his bowl Of porridge
| with all the zest of n hungry man.
Hardly had they finished their humble
| meal when they were disturbed by the
clatter Of horses hoofs outside. The next
| instant there was n heavy knock on the
door.
LET us in" cried half q dozen voices.
| Carl grasped his axe and stood behind
the table in a posture Of defense. The
visitor sprung to his feet, gave quick
glance around and then, as IL realizing
how futile would be any attempt at de-
tense, seized the remainder Of the por-
ridge, and bending forward over the
hearth renewed his eating.
But Sigrid's action was the most SIN
| gular of all; she grasped the strangers
heavy fur coat and ran up the stairway
with II, returning just in time to unbar
the door as a threatening voice cried:
"Open the door, say, or we will break
| It down"
! A dozen armed men struggled into the
doorway and the leader sternly asked:
| Hast seen wanderer pass by your
| hut girl?"
| mo one has passed by our door these
seven days" answered Sigrid. with an I'M
| faltering tongue, though her cheeks
slightly paled.
'But who is he. yonder?" questioned
the officer, with a suspicious glance at
! the figure by the hearth.
That" said the girl in a contemptu-
Gus tone. 'is a varlet who does not know
when he has eaten enough"
And then, as by a sudden Inspiration,
she struck her guest rude blow IL the
! face.
ITO the barn, thou churl. where thou
belongest. / will inform thy mistress on
her return what glutton and lazybones
she pays her hard-earned silver to.
Awayi"
The man arose with n lazy yawn, wiped
his hand with his mouth and muttered:
"The fire was warm and the soup was
good; I didn't know IL was any HARM
Then he made for the door, his exit
being considerably hurried by the help
OF the soldiers. who pushed and jostled
him with rude jokes, all of which he
took good-naturedly.
"Beshrew me. but thou hast a sharp
tongue, my lass. although thou lookest
meek enough, declared the officer. with
q laugh. Pardon us for our intrusion"
And he ordered his men to remount
and ride on in pursuit of the illustrlous
fugitive, who. thanks to a young girls
ready wit they had just had the pleas
ure of assisting to escape out Of their
very hands.
After they were all gone Sigrid sunk
down, white as a sheet, and Carl won
dering asked:
"Were they all Danes, sister,"
And he would not believe that the
burly stranger. who had left his big fur
coat IN their loft, was the famous Gus
tavus Vasa, till one day in the follow
ing summer, when q gay cavalcade rode
up to the door. and the leader. the same
tall man with the stern eyes and grim
lips. asked for Sigrid.
Thou art brave girl and thoughtful
one" said the king--he was now Gus
tavus land I owe my life to thy
prompt action. If thou wilt now return
my fur coat 1 will pay thee for its keep
ing"
And. to the surprise Of Slgrid and her
mother, while Carts eyes fairly seemed
TO roll out Of their sockets, he then
threw n chain Of gold around the white
neck Of the Girl.
hat is the gift Of thy king" he con-
tinued; 'the nation gives thee better
guerdCn."
He thrust into her hands a folded parch-
ment. to which were attached cords and
seals. Then bowling sIandly. az If she
had been a princess, the Swedish hero
and his knights rode away.
The parchment proved TO be the title
deeds of a large estate. which was grant
ed to Sigrid Johannsson and her heirs
forever, and which is still in the
hands OF the descendants of the brave
Swedish girl whose shrewd wit and pres
ence of mind saved the life of the
gIcatest Of SWedon's soYereIgna