Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1894-01-03

rapider tempo, and vague visions OF
glory. gorgeous and unsubstantial like
clouds at sunset, inf1amed his imagina-
ton.
But, on tho other hand, there was his
fathers fate to deter him. He might
have lived quietly and contentedly, as
God had meant him to do, if he had not
allowed himself to be lured by the
temptation to gather riches and make
himself great in the eyes OF the world.
That was what his mother had said
when she told him of the troubles his
fathers restless ambition had caused
her. and his scornful rejection of her
prudent counsels. She strove now with
all her might to draw the boy toward
her, and the more, perhaps, because she
OWNED in him the same spirit as that
which had led her husband astray. She
was not soft woman who could speak
glibly of her sentiments. But the dread,
like an icy hand clutching at her heart,
which took possession Of her at the
thought of losing him revealed to her how
deeply she loved him. She would have
given much to have the language of
affection readily on her tongue, butsome-
how it was denied her. And If, at this
late day, she adopted caressing ways
and endearing terms Of address, she
feared the resulting awkwardness both
on his part and on hers. The tone of in
tercourse between them had been estab-
lished by long habit, and strive as she
might she could not now alter 1t.
Outwardly things were going along
smoothly enough. The widow, by dint
of tireless energy and skill, had worked
up the farm until it fed them comfort
ably, and she had paid off the mortgage.
Her chief concern now was to get Gun
mar safely married, or at least engaged.
He was, to be sure, very young, but not
too young to feel vague perturbation
of his blood at the sight Of pretty girl.
The great thing was to get him securely
anchored, and as an anchor for restless
disposition she knew nothing that
availed except a wife and children.
Gunnar, though he had no suspicion
of his mothers plans, was insensibly
drawn in the direction of her wishes.
About q mile from his home lived
Norwegian farmer named Paul Gretna,
who had daughter named Ingerid. She
was about Gunnar's age, or perhaps
year younger, and had q reputation for
beauty. She was soft, dimpled little
creature, with affectionate blue eyes, a
fresh infantine face and rosy complex
ion. It was difficult to tell from that
- what manner of woman she might
she wo,he; but it was fair to infer that
= sso"s .ssat,, IKE a comfortable wife and
attractive ,, nerson She was a blonde and
that is. after p all What of her sex; and
their wives to be A too distinct indi-
viduahty Is often an element of disturb
ance.
Gunnar was, indeed, not the o., M.
who had discovered Ingerid's attracti,
ness. His old friend and antagonist,
Thorsten Sletten, with whom he had
fought at the prayer meeting, was a
frequent visitor at the Gretna farm, as
were also half dozen other lads, who
made no attempt to disguise their ad-
miration for the daughter of the house.
They came every Sunday afternoon
after service, hung about the fences and
the walls of the outhouses, pushed and
punched each other, laughed uproari-
ously when somebody stumbled or fell,
and behaved with sort of coltisf
sprightliness which was calculated tt
exhibit them in favorable light in the
eyes of Ingerid Gretna Gunnar, though
he felt himself above indulging in this
horse play, did not dare to forfeit his
popularity by holding aloof. 1t fattered
him to observe that he was regarded by
all as having the best chance; and he
had to keep a steady watch on himself
lest he should offend by betraying the
confidence he felt. For Paul Gretns
had made more than one visit to his
mother of late, and Gunnar had sus
picion tina. the matter had already beer
talked over and virtually settled be
tween them. At all events, he imagined
he detected something vaguely paterna
in Paul's attitude toward him, as il hi
thought it unnecessary to feign igno
rance of his intentions. But on such oc
to commit himself. For in the back
ground of his mind he liked to keep 1
little loophole in case he should, aftel
all, conclude to start out in the WORLD
in quest Of glory.
This was the condition of things a,
the time when the farmer Lars Rand
kleven invited his neighbors to celebrate
his wedding with Karen Holtsrud II
was large wedding, and both Gunnal
and his mother and Ingerid and her
parents received invitations. The pastor
married the couple in the church al
noon, and about forty vehicles of all
sorts accompanied them to the bridal
house. All the picturesque customs
which in Norway makes such an occa-
sion memorable had been dropped; but
q master of ceremonies there was, who
welcomed the bride and groom and pro
posed their health at the feast that fol
lowed. Beer flowed abundantly at the
table, and whisky was poured from
pocket TASKS which were passed about
from hand to hand with a mock pre-