Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-02-14
THORLINDA.

the ford along the hillside, Tutoring
the red kirtles Of two chieftains who
stood there and rufiiing the white swans
wings that decked their helmets. As the
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 of their
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--Thorolf and
Gudmund-both tall men and good to
look upon, but Thorolf. the elder. was
ruddy and broad and fair, while Gud-
mund was Of slender build. His eyes,
too, were dark. His neck and forehead
were shaded beneath his helmet by
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 the shoreward 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 clambered in over the bow, and
seating themselves at the thwarts each
hung his leather covered shield outside
the gunwale. Then they tossed the long
ashen oars blade upward and dropped
them into the tholepins. the fiat blades
slapping the water as they fell. After
fastening the leather thongs that held
the oars in place against the wash of n
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 a vikings daughter, very
fair and taller by head than the wives
Of the fishermen and villagers. She was
Thorlinda, cousin to Thorolf and Gud-
mund, and she was the beloved of Tho
rolf. Wonderfully 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
fullness of her throat.
Thorolf stood near her, talking little,
but with his eyes upon her face, smiling
ever at the words she spoke, though the
smile was II sad one and passed as
quickly as it came. Gudmund spoke no
word nor smiled, but stood AZ one who
wishes to be gone, his dark eyes gazing
beyond the ford mouth 10 where a
glimpse Of the ocean glimmered grayly
through the fast clearing hnze. The
helmsman called that all was ready
Thorolf turned and took Thorlinda in
to-, 4 n ,rI
and none saw that just when the lovers
lips met his right hand tightened about
the AK hilt until his fingers grew white
aud bloodless while wildness CLEANED
from his helmet shaded eyes Yet when
Thorolf put aside the maiden = arms and
leaped with rattle Of wargear to the
beach Gudmund turned to her "a quiet
face, met her smile a moment, looked
down and silently followed his brother.
AS the chieftains strobe to the stern
the rowers backed water with u swirl Of
foam and a shout. Then the helmsman
threw his weight against the steering
oar, the bow swung round, the carved
dragon head at the bows seemed to
stretch its neck seaward, snuffing for the
broad sweep Of the ocean, and to the
measured roll and chant of an oar song
the ship glided down the ford.
Yet as she nodded lightly TO the har-
Dor chop Gudmund staggered where he
stood and pressed his hands to his face.
Then he went forward, ran ont an oar
and swung steadily with the beat of the
rowers. Thorolf stood thoughtful, gaz-
ing above the simmer of the wake to
where figure fiuttered white upon the
hillside, and something of triumph, al
moss smile, was in his look, for her
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 seamen. Yet his face he did not see,
for Gudmund's 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 il
dashed through the water.
"Ah, Gudmund," said he, you part
lightly, and your heart goes out before
| you to new lands. For me, l feel AZ
though my heart were left behind with
Thorlinda, yet my bosom is no lighter
| for its loss. F"
Aye" said the helmsman as he
watched the white water swirl after
che pulls stronger oar than many. anc
1t is but little while that we thought
him a STRIPPING. Youth and hgh
heart carry the ship against head gall
when age and sorrow drive under tori
canvas -
Thorolf sighed and turned again t.
look at the green hillside, the white fig
ure and the dark fir trees beyond. bu
some Of the rowers heard through tn
rumble Of their oars the sob that burs
its way between Gudmund's lips.
To those watching from shore the shi
was lessening fast, and the oarsmen