Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-11-11
CHAPTER 1.
Stephen Orry, Seaman of Stnppcn.


In the latter years of the last century. II.
Jorgen JOrgensen was encouragement OF
Iceland. He was a Dane, born in Cope,iha-
gen. apprenticcd to the sea on DO lrd an
English trader afterwards employed as
petty officer In tn" British navy. and some
time in command of Danish privareer in
an alliance of Denmark and France against
England A rover. schelner. a shrewd
man Of affairs. who was honest by way of
interest just by policy. generous BY strate-
sy. end who never suffered his conscience.
which was not good one, to get the better
of ililn
In ono of his adventures he had sailed
Welsh brig from Liverpool to Reykjavik.
This had Eeen his introduction to the Ice
lanlc capital then little hungry, creeping
settlement. with its face toward America
and its wooden feet iii the sea. 1t had also
been his introduction to the household of
the Welsh merchant. who had a wharf by
the old Canning basin at Liverpool. a count
ing house bch'rd his residence Wolsten-
holme Square. and a daughter of five and
twenty. Jorgen. by his own proposal. was
to barter English produce for Icelandic tai
low. On his first voyage he took out hun
,dred tons of salt, and brought back
heavy cargo Of lava for ballast. On the sec
ond voyage he took out the Welshnans
daughter as his wife, and did not again
trouble to send home an empty ship.
He had learned that mischief was once
more brewing between England and Dem
mark. had violated his letters Of marque
and run into Copenhagen. induced the au-
thorities there, en- the strength of his
knowledge of English affairs. to appoint
him to the governor-generalship of Iceland.
.(then vacant at salary of four hundred
pounds a year, and landed at Reykjavik
with the Icelandic flag. Of the white falcon
on the blue foreground-tte banner OF the
Vikinrc-ot th, masthead of his fHthpr-in-
laws Welsh brig.
Jorgen JOTgensen was then in his early
manhood. and the strong heart of the good
man did not decline with years. but rode it
out with him through life and death. He
had always intended to have a son and
build up family. 1t was the sole failure
Of his career that he rad only daughter
That had been disaster for which be Was
not accountable. but be prepared himself to
make & good erd Of a bad beginning. With
Gods assistance and his own ext EN-. labor
II meant to marry his daughter TO Coun:
TroiOp. the Danish minister for Iceland, 4
fInctionary with five hundred a year. Il
house at re! kjavik, and another at thu Dan
fish capital.
This person was five AID forty, tai,
wrinkled, powdered. ciled and developed TO
gallantry. Jorycn's daughter resenbled II. i
Welsh mother. was patient in suffering,
passionate in love and fierce in hatred Her
nam" was Rachel. At the advent of Cont
Trolcpe she was twenty. and he- mother
had then been some years dead
The count perceived JorgeL's drift smiled
AT it. silently acquiesced in it. took even a
laDguid interest in 1t, arising partly ont of
the governors position III 4 the wealth :hc
honest man was supposed to have a1nassed
in the rigorous exercise of place of power,
and parity ont of the daughters own co:na-
illness, which was not to be desp sed. AT
first sight the girl, on her part, neither as
sisted her fathers designs nor resisted
them, but showed complete Indifference to
the weighty Que;'icnS of %hOm she should
marry; and this mood of mind contented
her down to the anniversary Of her twenty.
first birthday.
That was the month of Althing, the ma
tional holiday of fourteen days, VIII IN the
peoples lawgiver,-the governor. the bish
OPP, the speaker and the sheriff--net the
peoples delegates and some portion of the
people themselves at the ancient Mount Of
Laws in the valley of Thingvellir, for tht
reading of the old statutes and the promul
CATION Of the new ones. for the trial of Eel
ons and the settlement Of claims, for thu
making Of love and the making Of quarrcls
for wrestling and ho:se-fghtins, for til,
practice of ans and the breaking of heads
Count Trollop was in Iceland at this cele
bration of the ancient festival. and he wa
induced by Iorgcn to give it tie light Of hi
courtcnancc. The governors company Sc
and his daughter rode between himself an
the count. During the ride of six or seve
long Danish miles Jorgen settled the term
of the intended trarsfer to his complet
-contcptn ent. The count acquiescAl, an
the daughter did not rebel.
The lonely valley was reached, the tent
were pitched, the bishop hallowed the AZ
6embly with solemn ceremonies, and til
business of Althing began. Three days tn
work went on, and Rachel wearied Of i
and on the fourth day the wrestling W.
started, and her father sent for her to $
with him OH the met MT. and to present
the end of the contest the slver-bucklc
belt to the champion of all Iceland 81
obcyed the summons with Indifference, ar
took seat beside the judge, with the coul
standing at her side. In the space bc!o
there was a crowd Of men and boys. womt
and children gathered about the ring. Or
wrestler Was throwing every one who can
before him. His name was Patrickscn, 4,
he was supposed to be descended from l.
Irish, who settled. years ago, on the Yves
mann islands. His success bec'rnlc =: