The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-07-09

whom ycu had seen 90 by" She did 20.
Among them was an old man who had
been collecting brushwood By the road.
He too was summoned and made to |
name those whom he had seen 60 by.
They were all. brought to the deputy, |
who went from one to the other, with
the girl and old man, remained stand.
ing for moment before each, and ask
ed: WAS this the other robberf" Karen
shook her head each time he questioned.
At length they stood before her own |
master, the rich Terkel Dam; he was
among those whom the brush gatherer |
had seen pass, and he had been sum-
moned with the rest. Terkel stood and |
ratified the cover Of his pipe. Look |
sharp now and see II you can recognize
me" he said with laugh. But again
Karen shook her head, and there was
nothing more that the deputy could do.
The two soldiers were afterward tried
and sentenced. They were to be taken
out to the hill behind the church and
there executed. The morning that they
were carried through the village Karen
stood among the others to watch the ex-
ecutioner's wagon pass. On the way one
Of the robbers reached down and picked
up a great white stone. This he cast in
the direction of Terkel Dam g farm gate.
calling out 80 loudly that all could hear:
'By this remember that when my
white stone becomes black he shall get
his due, who sits there grinning at us. "
Soon after, when they had come to the
hill and he lay with his bare neck upon
the block, he laughed and called to the
executioner: "Slash carefully with your
sword, you wretch, 80 that you get no
nick in it'll You'll certainly want to use
it again for the murder on Vissenbjerg
road. :" when will that be?" question
ed the judge. "When the little wench
there is no longer afraid to tell what she
knows" he answered. The sentence
was carried out and the people talked
about the affair for many day but no
one could imagine what the poor rascal
had had in mind when he cast the white
stone toward Terkel's farm.
At Michaelmas Karen was dismissed
from service There was so much talk
about her, and the people Of the parish
charged her with trying to deceive and
vex them by claiming that there were
three robbers, when in reality there
could only have been two. The after
noon that she should go away she stood
crying, out in front of the house, lit
tie bundle Of clothes under her arm.
Ebbe carried out to her roll of frieze.
"You shall have this for your faithful
service" he said. MAY kiss your
hand for thanks?" she begged. Where
do you think of going?' THAT don't
know, and don't care much if only I
may find another herd Of cattle to watch
and another forest to hide myself in. I"
"Why do you care SO much about stay
ing here?" Because here l can see
you," she answered, without lifting her
eyes. "You have brought it all upon
yourself" he said, "by speaking falsely
in regard to the robbers; you sale that
there were three, when there were only
two" Karen stood silent awhile, look
ing ut Ebbe, before she answered; then,
IT will tell you how it was; couldn't
name the third because it was-you1
own father" The farmers son turned
pale. "Let's go into the house, he said.
taking Karen by the hand.
| It was little while before supper
time; the men hadn't yet come in from
their work. Terkel sat alone in the
room. He stared at his son and asked
why they came together. 1--WE have
news for you," said Ebbe. Karen and
I are betrothed." I'm that case there
will be two to go away" said Terkel
you'll not live here with me; under.
stand9" Now wait, will you, and lei
me tell you how you owe it to her that
you are sitting here in this room at the
present moment. - ''What do you
mean?'' "She did see who the third
robber was, down in the Vissenbjere
road, but she wouldn't tell his name. y
Terkel shrunk back; he fell heavily
against the wall, but after q few min
utes he lifted himself up and said in 9
broken voice, LET everything be as you
wish, and now you will take the farm
and manage it and the household.
From that evening Terkel left every
thing to the young couple. He woult
feed and watch the fowls out in tht
barnyard, but this was about all he did
and he said little. Every day he wen
and looked at the white stone by tht
farm gate and he would never let it b.
removed. II think that it's becoming
black. oh, 80 black" said he, looking
round to see il any one was watching
Then he would wash the dust and muc
from the stone. making it white again
But every evening, just before bedtime
Karen would take down the hymnbool
and read from it to the old man.
The next summer when the committee
went around from farm to farm Begging
pieces of brass and copper for the new
church bell. they came in turn to Terkel
He stood and bethought himself. "Wh.
should you go around begging at ever!
house?" said he II will give it all.
He went into his bedroom and brough
ont great bag of money which shoult
be used in purchasing the new bell. Tn
men broke out into ordinations o
gratitude and praise for Terkel. but h