Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-02-05

tore the yellow leaves from bush ana
tree. Folk had gathered on the hillside.
for from the headland the stormbound
fishermen had sighted a tall dragon ship
driving in before the gale, and there
were many in the neighborhood whose
kinsmen had sailed in such ship with
the two brothers more than four years
ago.
Now the watchers could see her plain
II, rolling and weltering in the angry
seaway, the spray breaking in sheets
above her. Storm battered she looKeo,
and her crew were few, yet they raised
a shout as she lnrched past the headland
and staggered up the ford. And no"
they let the sail go with run. NOW
with rush and surge Of water ABOUT
5 her prov the ship took ground at the
beach, and tho seamen leaped over her
bows, waist deep, to be kissed ana
thronged about by old sweethearts ana
friends.
Gudmund stood still at the tiller,
haggard and bearded, girt with rough
fur cloak, his hair and forehead gray
with the brine which had dried upon
them. He staggered as he walked for
ward and dropped heavily to the beach,
his eyes fixed upon Thorlinda. Far out
at the ford mouth he had seen her tall
white figure, and his gaze had never left
it. Through all the voyage the thought
of her had been before him, dimming
the memory of his brother.
Had he acted for the best or had he
been false to both? He hardly knew. II
Thorolf had been true to her, would he
still, as of old, have fought down the pas
sionate love in his own heart? What did
it matter now if once he held her in his
arms? He had rowed with the strength
of any two, and when his men were
spent with labor and ceaseless balllng
it was he who had held the tiller when
they slept. 1t was he who had kept the
watch at night, with steady eyes upon
the northern stars.
He went toward her, slow and weak,
asking silently for glance, word,
but she looked hey ond him to the empty
ship and to the seamen. At length she
turned to him and gave her hand, ask
ing quietly, though the words shook:
"Was it in battle he died, or did
Aegir, the wave god, take him?"
Then he began, looking downward,
and told her as best he could, but he did
not know what words he said, for he
could not hear the sound of his own
voice, and he swayed slightly where he
stood. Yet, still speaking, he noticed
as in dream how scar and yellow the
grass had grown and how closely the
sheep had cropped it. A short cry broke
from his dream. He looked up and
stood rigid, for uundS Sr her red gold hair
her blue eyes blazed, and in their angry
look he saw again his brothers. dying
face. Then she spoke. From her full
breast and throat the words came deep
and low:
"Cousin,'' she said, mot without
fame you have come home, and you
shall indeed live long in the memory OF
men, for you arc the first of the house
of Egil to have earned the name of cow
ard and traitor. -
Dreaming still, he turned and walked
toward the sea. The long sigh of the
waves, the hurry Of the autumn wind,
heavy with rain and mist, all blended
with his dream. For a moment the
storm wrack cleared to westward, and a
yellow glare came over the sky as the
setting sun shone on black rocks and
green water and restless ridges of foam.
Gudmund stood while the last glow lay
warm upon his eyes and matted hair.
Then as the clouds rolled up again he
sank down, unclasped the sword belt
and threw open his cloak Of fur, the
rain beating against his breast and fore
head. His head dropped lower, and with
the point of his scabbard he slowly trac-
ed womans face upon the sands,
while still the raindrops blurred the
lines. Darkness came over the ford; the
early evening gloomed and deepened into
night.
Next morning when some fishers pass
ed that way, they paused and marveled
greatly that so strong man should lie
there dead with never wound upon his
body.-New York Times.