The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-04-10


and swung steadily with the beat ofth
rowcrs Thorolf stood thoughtful. gaz
inc above the simmer of the wake tC
where figure futtcred white upon the
hillside. and something Of triumph, all
most smile. was in his look, for he
kiss still lay hot between his lips.
Presently he turned and looked for
ward and saw where his brothers mail
coat cleaned among the blue jenkins OF
the saamen. Yet his face he did not
see, for GadmIud's 5 dark hair was blown
about his cheeks and forehead as he
swung to and fro. Thorolf watched
the sweep Of his brothers oar blade as
it dashed through the water.
"Ah, Gudman,' said he, 'you part
lightly, and your heart goes ont before
vou to new lands. For me, feel as
though my heart were left behind will
Thorlinda, vet my bosom is II, lighter
for its loss.
"Aye,' said the hclmsman, rs he
watched the white water swirl after,
she pulls Il stronger oar than many,
and it is but a little while that we
thought him STRIPPING. Youth and
light heart carry the ship against Il
head gale when age and SORROW drive
under torn canvas
Thorolf sighed and turned again to
look at the green hillside, the white fig
ure the dark fir trees beyond, but some
of the rowers heard through the rum
bic of their oars the sob that burst its
way between Gudmund's lips.
To those watching from the shore
the ship was lessening fast, and the oars
mems song faded into the tapping of
water along the beach. Now she Lad
passed the headland, and they saw her
rise and fall with the long Eelvc of the
open sea. Now the wet oars flashed
in the sun as the rowcrs tossed them
inboar,l. and running forward looSed
the great square sail that bollied from
the yard. Twice the canvas tapped,
then, sheeted home. it stood taunt and
full, while the good ship, heeling be
meath it, plowed steadily southward.
The haze had cleared before the fresh
sea wind. and the ocean lay blue and
sparkling in the sunlight. ThorliEda
stood alone, her grave eyes watching
the CLEAN of the sail until it sank from
sight, and the empty, peaceful ocean
gave no sign of the storm which was to
drive that keel far into unknown waters
Noon lay heavy over Il southern land
a land shady with groves of palm
and fruit trees. scented with thick
OdorS. washed about its shores by
cloudless "a. Upon a dazzling stretch
of sand GudmunI sat silent, looking
out across the Ocean-an ocean sucn as
he had never known in his northern
home. for its waters were of deep and
glowing purple, like the light upon
mountain peaks ut sunset, and in place
of the thunder crash of Il Norwegian
surf low ripples curled unanimously
along the shore. Gudmund was no
longer youth. His face was older
and thinner than on that day when they
had left the ford.
He sat down with his chin upon his
hand slowly tracing with the tip ofhis
scabhard a woman's face upon the sand
Throughout his boyhood he had look
ed up to his brother as Drawer and
stronger than himself, as always doing
the dee Is he merely longed to do. Yet
now. sunk in the lanquor of this new
land, Thorolf had still delayed sailing.
and the vikings ship lay on the beach
like Il stranded sea m Dnst T., her planks
gaping open in the fierce sun.
TO Gudmund, gazing seward with
empty eyes. there arose dream Of his
own northland. The ford ylimmnred
gray between black walls Of rock: the
snowy land lay white and silent in the
winter twilight, darkencd with long
violet sha lows upon the a vard li
skyward from $ ,m half buried grange.
Again Ii saw their fathers hall-the
hearth with gr at logs roaring in red
fam '. TIL long tables where hous. car
les laughed and clattcr,d, the mead
horns, and high up on the lais tie
ruddy FACE and beard of the old viking
crowning the feast, Thorlinda at his
sid.
While he unused his brother came
from among the shades of the thicket
seeking him and threw an arm in kline
ly way about his shoulders.
''Whv ,Gudmund were the dark girls
shy. or are You I'm ind to thpm!" he
asked.
Il dreamed ofhomn," sid the young
ger, DULY. How 'on do we sail:'
Thorolf pushed him roughly away.
That again? You are an ungratetul
fool who would wander from good
to 4 worse. Yet, take the men and 90.
| shall stay"
GLOW shall greet the home folk
from you, an honorlesS man. and your
troth to Thorlin,la!"
ThoroIf scowlcd. and his hand flew
to his swordless side. Nothing rouseS
the wild beast 50 quickly in the mind
of weak man as when another steps
in to help his better angel in the losing