Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-04-14

IN @ OOy, was the ldcOulc It.
Spouse.
"A boy. and living under an elf
mound, she reiterated scornfully.
I'll don't live under on elf-mOund,"
persisted the boy, Il live yonder.' He
pointed TO the old Viking castle and
reiapsed into silence.
Dagmar stood like one turned to
stone. She couldn't have spoken 70
save her life Her breath was all
gone. The shock almost stunned her
She gazed reproachfully upon the elf
who had turned cut to be a boy, and
then her ewes fell on her torn boot
The long walk had not bettered it,
The rent was far wider than before.
The poor little girl could not bear the
sight. her lips began TO culver and big
tears gathered on her lashes and roll
ed slowly, miserably down her cheeks.
Don't cry dear. don't" said Alex
andra compassionately; "he can't help
being q boy. It isn't his fault
The boy an this time looked from
one 90 another In undisguised amaze
menJ. Plainly me was lad who had
no sisters of his own. He didn't know
what TO do or say or how TO act, so he
did nothing most successfully. Dag
mar was sObbing bitterly now. Her
little body was COuyuls5j with grief
and her tears fell like rain. The
strange lad eviuced not the slightest
emotion His face expressed wonder,
nothing more II Dagmar's grief
moved him hehad an odd way of show
iug it. Poor little girl IL was a real
SORROW toher; she could have borne hen
disappointment if she had not found
the troll at all. But to have discover
od him under the mound, just where
she had had expected he would be, and
then to have him turn out just an ev-
ery-day boy, was too much. No child
could De expected 10 bear such an af-
terclap. Alexandra felt the mishap
keenly. IL was a veritable catastrophe
TO her mind, but she did think Of her
self now: her one thought was to con-
sole her sister. Thyra, somewhat awed
by the strange turn matters had taken,
slipped q loving little hand into Dag
mars, whispering tenderiy: Don't ky,
deah; don't Ky.
Then. moved by a sudden impulse,
she turned to the troll. who wasn't u
troll. but who ought to have been, and
asked. Have YOU a nan chief boy?
The boy started, blushed a rosy red,
and. after considerable tTepidation,
plunged his hand into his pocket and
brought forth something which looked
like o. very dirty ball of cotton. 1t was
not however. Ii was q handkerchief,
and it had once been clean. He offer
ed it shyly.
Thank YOU, boy" said Thyra grave
ly. you is very polite indeed She
thrust the bali into Dagmar's hand and
tried TO reach far enough up TO clasp
her arms around her neck.
The boy Turned away and looked in
the opposite direction. He had a
striking face for a boy OF his age. The
features We're evenly cut and capable
of expressing many and varied emo
tious. The complexion was Drowned
by the sun to an olive tint; the hair
was rich red brown; the eyes were
large. dark and passionate. He was q
handsome little fellow and one glance
at his brow indicated that he was in
telligent. But his beauty was married
by bis expression. which was habitual-
. ly sulleu. even defiant. He rarely, If
. ever, smiled. and when he spoke at all
/ his manner was so abrupt as to be al
most rude These little peCUlimities
did not affect Thyra. however. She
returned the handkerchief silently al
ter Dagmar had ayailed herself Of its
use. and asked if he couldn't get her a
drink.
I'm very firstly she said.
hue hNr- ~ q
| and led the way down a narrow path
which ran along the coast and then
/ turned abruptly up among the rocks
/ Alexandra took Dagmar's arm and
hurried her after Thyra and her COM
/ pauiOn.
You'll feel better. Dagmar," she
/ whispered, If YOU get a drink, won
/ you2'
Dagmar nodded her head and pro-
/ ceeded to ascend the hill. The path
| was steep and rough, but the boy was
| equal TO the emergency. He put his
| arm round his little charge and half
/ lifted. half carried her over the stones.
| A few moments walk brought them TO
! a gateway sunk in low stone wall,
which led TO q pretty lodge half hidden
I by Overhangiug rocks and vines. IL
had a high pitched roof. matched with
rye straw. q rustic porch covered with
/ honeysuckle and two windows shaded
I by clean muslin curtains and Gglow
with scarlet geraniums.
A knock at the door brought out a
pleasant woman. who exclaimed:
Law me. Master Frederick, is that
vou2 And who have you brought with
y0u?'
Frederick explained his errand. in g
few words. The peasant opened the
door and invited the children to enter.
She gave them chairs in a clean,
wholesome room with a smooth, bare
floor scrubbed TO shining whiteness.
The tired little girls sat down thank
fully and looked at the shining pots
ana kettles. the spinning-wheel the
queer old pictures on the walls, ana
above an, the pail of fresh milk when
stood on one of the deal tables.
You want a drink do YOU, my
cbicks9" the hostess asked, well. you
shall have it. and welcome; and bit
of bread. too. eh? What say YOU?
we will be ever so much obliged,
good mother" replied Alexandra. i
think Thyra is hungry
yes. I is" declared Thyra frankly
ct is as hungry rs a beah.
"Oh goodness exclaimed the Wo-
man. IL must hurry or you
will be for eating me up myself she
suited the action to the word and soon
the children each had a mug Of milk
and generous piece of fresh rye
bread They did justice to il, too, eat
ing with a relish common 10 all hum
grv children. Thyra, who was half
famished. held out her mug for more
milk. and Alexandra apoligiZed for