New-York tribune., 1896-01-12

went up to Lena and said without looking AT
her. Get your things on and come with me:
The tones of his voice started her anu ,n', Snv
said angry dropping the soap. Are you
drunk"
IF YOU do not come with me- will take you
you had better come" said Canute quietly.
She lifted sheet to strike him, but he caught
her arm roughly and wrenched the sheet from
her. He turned to the wall and took down
hood and shawl that hung there ana ana toHsnf oesah
like a wild thing. Ole stood in the door,
cursng and Mary howled and screeched at
the top Of her voice. AS for Canute' ne
lifted the girl in his arms and went out
OF the house. She kicked and struggled but the
helpless wailing Of Mary and Ole soon died away
i'm the distance. and her face was neld DOWN
tightly on Canute's shoul Ter, so that she couid
not sae whittier he was taking her She was
conscious only Of the north wind whistling In
her ears. and Of rapid, steady motion. and OF a
great breast that heaved beneath her in quick
irregular breaths. The harder she struggled the
tighter those iron arms that had held the heels
Of horses crushed about her. until she felt as II
they would crush the breath from her. ana lay
still with fear Canute was stridinS across the
level fields at pace at which man never went
before drawing the stinging north WIND into
his lungs in great gups. He walked with ms
eyes half closed and looking straight In 'front.' OF
him only lowering them when he bent his head
10 blow away the snowtiakes thai settled on her
hair. So it that Canute took her TO his
home even as his bearded barbarian ancestors
took the fair. frivolous women Of the South IN
their hairy arms and bore them down to their
warships For ever and anon the soul becomes
weary Of the conventions that are not OF II, ana
with a single stroke skaters the civilized lies
with which it Is unable to cope, and the strong
arm reaches out and takes by force What IL can
not win by cunning
When Canute reached his shanty he placed the
girl upon chair whore she sat sobbinS lie
sfaVed only a few minutes. He filed the stove
with wood and lit the lamp drank huge swal-
low of alcohol and put the bottle in his pocket
He paused a moment. staring heavily at the
81 hon mont
door and disappeared in the gathering gloom OF
the night.
Wrapped in 1annels and soaked with turpen-
tine th. li.tle Norwegian preacher sat reading
his Bible. when he heard a laundering knock at
lis door and Canute entered covered with snow
and with his beard frozen fast to his coat.
Come in Canute. you must be frozen said
the little man, showing n chair toward his Wis
itor.
Canu,e remained standing with his hat on,
and said quietly, II want YOU 10 come over 10
my house tonight to marry me to Lena Yen
sen
Have you got license, Canute?"
NO / don't want license. | want to be
married"
But | can't marry you without license,
man. II would not be- legal
dangerous light came In the big Norwegian
eye II want you 10 come over TO my mousse 10
marry me To Lena lensen
NO can't. ii would kill an OK 70 go out IN Il
storm like this. and my rheumatism is bad to-
night"
Then If you will not 80 / must take you,
said Canute with a sigh.
He took down the preachers bearskin coat
and bade him put IT on while he hitched UP his
buggy. He went out and closed the door sottly
after him. Presently he returned and found the
friphtoned minister crOuching before the nfe
with his coat lying beside him. Canute helped
him put it on and gently wrapped his head IN
his big muller. Then he picked him up ana car
riod him out and placed him In his buggy. As
he tucked the buffalo robe around him ne said.
Your horse Is old he might founder or lose his
way in this storm. | will lead him
The minister took the reins feebly In his hands
and sat shverng with the cold Sometimes
when there was a lull in ;he wind he could see
IN. horse struggling through the snow, with the
man ploddlng steadily beside him Again the
blowing snow would hide them from him alto
gcther. He had no idea where they were or Wha'
direction they were going. He felt as though ne
were being whired away In the heart OF inc
storm. ana he said all the prayers ne knew;
But at last the long four miles were over. ana
Canufe set him down I'm the snow whil" ne un-
lacked th. door He saw the bride sitting Dy tne
fire with her eyes red and swollen as though she
had been weeping. Canute placed huse Char
for him. and said roughly:
Warm yourself"
Lena began to cry and moan afresh. begging
tho minister to take her home. He looked heIp-
l,ssy at Canute. Canute said simply
IF YOU are warm now you can marry US
My daughter do YOU take this step OF your
own free will?" asked the minister in trem-
bling voice. ,,
y %. ".
force mo into T., | won't marry him
Then. Crnute. cannot marry you" said the
minister. starding as straight as MS rheuii''''
limbs would let him
AR. YOU ready 10 marry us now. sir said
Canute. laying one iron hand on his stopped
shoulder. The little preacher was s"od man
but Ike most men OF weak poay ne Mns -
coward and had a horror Of physical suffering,
although he had known much of IT, so win
many qualms Of conscience he began 10 repeat
the marriage service. Lena sat sullenly III hcr
CfI t.
her listening with his head bent rever"ntlY ana
his hands folded on his breast. When the niue
man had prayed and said amen, Canute began
bundlinc him up again.
,f ,,u take Won home now" he said as he car
riod him out and placed him in his buggy ana
started off with HIM through the fury oi .ne
storm. nounderins among the snowdrilrS ITS, sn"'
brought even the giant himself 10 MS Knees.
After she was left alone. Lena soon ceased
weeping. She was no, Of particularly sensitive
temperament. and had little pride beyond that
of vanity After the first bitter anger wore
I,s.lf out she felt nothing more than a healthy
sersc Of humiliation and defeat. She had no IN
cNnation 10 run away. for she was n'aI'leu nov,
and in her eyes that was hnal and all rebellion
vas useless She knew nothing about Il lcehse'
I'm, sh, knew that "A preacher married folks
She consoled herself by thinking that she had al
ways intended to marry Canute some day' an!
way. 49,, ,. -.
she grew lied of crying and looking into the
fire so she got up and began To look ABOUT her:
She had heard queer tales about the inside OF
Canutes shanty, and her curiosity soon so' lne
hotter of h.r rage One of the first things she
noticed was the new black suit of clothes hahs-
in, on the wall She was dun. but II ana NOT
take a vain woman long to interpret ahyth'nS
so decidedly flattering and she was pleased III
sulte of herself. As she looked through the
cupboard the general air OF neglect ana as
CO mfort made her pity the man VINO nVed there.
Poor fellow no wonder he wants 10 get mar
riod ,o get somebody to wash up his dishes
Ratchin's pretty hard on a man.
II Is easy to pity when once ones vanity mas
been tickled. She looked at the wndow-slli ana
oavo q little shudder. and wondered II the man
were. crazy Then she sat down again, ana SAT
- long time wondering what her Dick and Ole
would do ,.
..,,onr didn't wight ONcr Attcr