The Penn's Grove record., 1893-03-10

child haze been restored TO health. A
TO the Black Virgin--vell, abe is NOT
30 bad ne people say, and it is possi.
bic TO turn her from her purpose Il
you choose a favorable moment"
"Why should l not tell you soma.
thing which probably 20 one in the
village knowsi I was spared by the
Black NirgIEl | was as ill as your
brother, but my father, a bold and
vigorous seaman, went on the night OF
Christmas Eve to the Virgin herself,
in her chapel, and she heard his
prayer; for she can refuse nothing to
those who manage to reach her on that
night. From that moment my strength
returned, and [ got we'll, to the great
establishment of the whole village"
Frida's eyes sparkled; her look s
ally gentle and tender, became ener.
getic and determined.
THANK you, Christian" she said.
''your advice is good, and / will 20 to.
morrow to the black rock"
"AlasG" sighed Christian, sit is use.
ess to think about it. This year the
Baltic is not completely frozen, and
you would be obliged to cross an arm
Of the sea in which no boat could be
taken with safety, on of the
enormous blocks Of ice which are
floating about. A large boat would be
crushed by the icebergs within q few
minutes; how could YOU hope to sue
coed in a small one?"
81 will dare anything to save Axeli"
Christian and Robert then endeav-
ored to convince her of the madness OF
the undertaking. At first she would
not listen to their arguments; but after
a time, without entirely yielding she
she seemed to regard them as irrefuta-
BILE.
"Let us say goodbye till tenor
row." she said, rising from her seat
Robert was the last to leave. As he
went out he kissed her forehead tender
ly. "My Frida. 1 love you, 1 love
you'll" he cried. "Swear to nae, Frida,
DEAR" he added, "that, whatever hap
pens, you will never forget me-
neyerr"
'.Sever, never, KIbert, deart" she
replied, resting her head on his Shout
der. "Am / not wholly yours? How
could I forget your"
During the evening, when Frida was
alone she thought over what Robert
had said before he left her, and won
dered why he had spoken such sad
words. What did he intend to do?
Little by little she understood. Yes;
there was no doubt about it, Robert
bad resolved to go to the rock to leg
the Black Virgin to spare Axel.
Tho payt mnrninn - uyas Chr,at,,,
Eve-Frida went out to meet Robert.
"Robert." she snid, 'tauswer me
frankly. Tell me, do you think of
going to the rock tonight"
Robert lowered his head and said
nothing.
II will not have it," continued Frida.
ado you hear2 l will not allow it'll You
have no right to risk your life in that
way. Are you not the sole support of
your old futheri What would become
OF him without you? And do you think
that / conld live without your love,
without your presence, especially if
my silly superstition were the direct
cause o. your death? Hark how the
wind howlsi We seldom have such a
gale gs this, and the sea yonder is rag
lug. IOu CduhDb bdNo AAtl-IDE
Christians story is absurd-apd you
will perish befo 70 reaching the rock,
and | should be miserable for the rest
of my iite."
Robert promised her everything, but
he did it without really comprehending
what he was doing. He ouly knew one
thing; he must not make Frida un-
happy.
'Let us go and see Axel," he
said.
Axel was rather feverish that day.
There was a ring in his voice, and his
lips trembled. He motioned to Robert
and Frida to sit down by his side, and
he took Roberts hand and Frids's
hand.
"You will be together" he said,
''Aben the Black Virgin has taken me
away"
Frida could not restrain her tears,
and she sobbed bitterly. As for Rob-
ert, lie knelt by the bedside. kissed the
boys thin hands. and rushed out of the
cottage.
''During the winter, night falls about
two O'Clock in Finland. Without
thinking. without a glance backwards,
Robert hurried to the beach. A wide
stretch OF snow.covered ice lay before
him; in a very short time he had
crossed it. He knew that a boat was
moore1 to An islet some distance from