The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-04-10
Sel'rt Mi5rrIInnQ.
THORLINDA

The morniny wind blew freshly up
the ford along the hillside, huttering
the red kirtles of two chiettains who
stood there and ruftiing the white swans
wings that decked their helmets. As
tn" clOaks of the warriors streamed back
ward the April sunlight sparkled gayly
among the rings Of their mail coats and
flashed upon the silver pommels oftheir
swords, while whenever they turned or
moved, the broad blade of the war AK
each carried on his shoulder shot back
the arrows of the sun.
The two were brothers. -Thorolfand
Gudmund-bot tall men and good to
look upon, but Thorolf the elder. was
ruddy an broad and fair. while Gud-
mund was of slender build. His eyes.
too. were dark. His neck and forehead
were shaded beneath his helmet bv
waves of blue black hair.
On the beach before them the brown
armed seamen had pushed their ship
out into deep water Her prov only
still muzzled in the sand and held her
steady against tac shOrewar,l wind and
the lap Of the harbor waves Her crew
had slowed the last barrels of beef and
casks of mead for the VOYAGE. and now
one by one they clambertd in oyer the
bow, and seating themselves at the
thwarts each hung his leather covered
shield outside the gunwalc. Then they
tossed the long, ashen oars blade up
ward and dropped them into the thole-
pins, the fiat blades slapping the water
as they fell. After fastening the leath-
cr thongs that held the oars in place
against the wash Of Il head sea the men
sat silent, lingering their oar butts.
waiting for the chiefs to come aboard.
Folk had gathered on the hill to
watch the vessel sail In front of the
little group stood vikings daughter.
very fair and taller l,y head than the
wives of the fishermen and villagers.
She was Thorlinda, cousin to Thorot
and Gudmund, and she was the beloved
OF Thorolf ondertuIly beautiful she
looked as the wind blew back the linen
drapery across her breast and limbs
and rippled the wreathS of red gold
hair about the fiullness of her throat.
Thorolf stood near her, talking little,
but with his eyes upon her face, smiI-
ing ever ut the words she spok :, tn ,uyh
the smile was Il sad one and passed as
quickly as it came. Gudmund spoke
no word nor smiled. but stood as one
who wishes to he gone, his dark eyes
gazing beyond the ford mouth t. here
Il glimpse nt the ocean ylimmrrcd gray
~ through the fast clearing haze The
hrlmsman called that all was ready.
ihlc Oh tuIHi't :tlhl lopk nOflllltet
in his arms. Gudmund still yazed 5, Il
ward, and none saw that Just when the
lovers lips met his right hand tight
ened about the aX hilt until his fingers
grew white and bloodless, while wild
hess CLEANED from his helmet shaded
eyes. Yet when Thorolf put aside the
maiden's arms and leared with rattl,
of waryear to the beach Gudmund
turned to her n quiet face. met hel
smile Il moment, looked down and 81
lrntlv followed his brother
As the chiritainS Strodr to the stern
the rowerS backed water with Swr
OF foam and shout. Then the helms
man threw his weight against the steer
ing oar. the bow swung round, tn,
carved dragon head at the bows seem
ed to stretch its neck Seaward, snuffline
for the broad sweep Of the ocean, anC
to the measured roll and chant of al
oar song the ship glided down the ford
let As she nodded lightly to the har