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

Rrtef keep back from GuqmuqQe eyes
sparkle OF hope and joy. Thorolt's mouth
twitched. His shuddering breath broke
into great sob. that sent blood gush
from the wound.
"You have Thorlinda. hate you ~
he moaned, then turned upon his face,
Rasped once and never stirred again.
A black autumn afternoon gloomed
above the ford. The ocean shivered.
gray and white. beneath II cold, wet
wind that drove the spray far inland and
tore the yellow leaves from bush and
tree Folk had gathered on the hillside.
for from the headland the stormbound
fishermen had sighted u tall dragon ship
driving in before the gale, and there
were many in the neighborhood whose
kinsmen had sailed in such u ship with
the two brothers more than four years
ago.
Now the watchers could see her plain
ly. rolling and weltering in the angry
seaway. the spray breaking in sheets
above her. Storm battered she looked.
and her crew were few, yet they raised
shout al she lurched past the headland
and staggered up the ford. And now
they let tho sail go with run Now
with rush and surge Of water about
her PROV the ship took ground at the
beach, and the seamen leaped over her
bows, waist deep, to be kissed and
thronged about by old sweethearts aud
friends.
Gudmund stood still ut the tiller,
haggard and bearded, grit with rough
fur cloak. his hair and forehead gray
with the brine which had dried upon
them. He staggered M he walked for
ward and dropped heavily to the beach.
his eyes fixed upon Thorlinda. Far out
ut 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 Ind been before him. dimming
the memory of his brother.
Had he acted for tho best or had he
been false to both? He hardly knew, IL
Thorolf had been true to her, would he
still, ~ Of old, have fought down the pas
sionate love in his own heart? What did
II matter now II once he held her In his
arms2 He had rowed with the strength
of any two, and when his men were
spent with labor and ceaseless bailing
it was he who had held the tiller when
they slept II was he who had kept the
watch ut night, with steady eyes upon
the northern stars.
He went toward lior. slow and weak
asking silently for IL glance, u word
but she looked beyond him To the empty
ship and to the seamen. AT length she
turned to him and gave h0r hand, ask
ing quietly, though the words shook:
"Was it in battle no died, or did
Aegir. the wave god, take him2"
Then he began, looking downward,
and told her as best he could. but no 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 a 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 under 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 are 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 tho
waves, the hurry Of the autumn wind.
heavy with rain and mist. ali blended
with his dream. For moment the
storm wrack cleared to westward, and a
yellow glare came over the SKY as the
setting sun shone ON black ro1ks and
green water and restless ridges Jf foam,
Gudmund stood while the last glow lay
warm upon his eyes and matted hair.
Then ~ the clonds rolled up again he
sank down, unclasped The sword belt
and threw open his cl0ak Of fur, the
rain beating against his breast and fore
head. His head dropped lower, and with
tho point Of his scabbard he slowly trac-
cd II 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
I'd that way. they paused and marveled
greatly that so strong man should lie
there dead with never Il wound upon his
body. New York Times.