Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-09-02


raising his head brightly. THAT is
true not for long, Mistress, will YOU
come tomorrow with me and gather
hcwerSS You used to love to wander
with me through the fields, VIII YOU?
dear, beautiful mistress! will you
Gomez"
she smiled. pleased to see him a
little more cheerful. Yes, Sigurd, |
will come. We will so together early
morrow morning and gather all the
flowers We can find. Win that make
you happy"
"leS!" he said, softly kissing the
hem of her dress. lit will make me
happy for the last time"
Then he rose in an attitude OF at
tention, as though he had been called
by some one ut distance-and with
u grave, preorcupied air he moved
away, walking on tip-toe as though
he feared to interrupt the sound OF
some soft invisible music. Guldmar
sighed rs he watched him disappear.
May the gods make us thankful for
a clear brain when we have it," he
said devoutly, then turning to his
daughter, he hade her good night, and
laid his hands on her golden head in
silent but fervent blessing Child"
he sand TREMENDOUSLY, lin the new joys
that await thee, never forget how thy
old father loves thee!"
Then not trusting himself to say
more, he strobe into the house and
botook himself to slumber. Thelma
followed his example, and the old
farmhouse was soon wrapped III the
peace and stiffness of the strange
night a night of glittering sunshine.
Slgurd alono was wakoful- he lay at
the foot of one of the tallest pine
trees, and stared persistently at the
radiant SKY through the network of
dark branches. Now aud then he
smiled us though he saw some beatiiic
vision sometimes he plucked Rtfully
at the soft long moss on which he
had made his couch. and sometimes
he broke into low. grooming song.
God alone knew the broken ideas, the
dim lanCies, the half-boru desires. that
glmmcred like pale ghosts in the dCs-
ert of his brain-God alone, in the
great Hereafter, could solve the prob
lem of his SORROWS and throw light on
his souls darkness.
1t was past six in the morning when
he arose, and smoothing back his
hair, Went to ThCma's window and sat
down beneath it., in mute expectancy,
He had not long TO wait ut the eX
p.ratiun of ten or fifteen minutes, the
little lattice WAS thrown wide open,
and the girls face, fresh as n rose
framed in shower of amber locks,
smiled down upon him,
i am coming. Sigurd!" she cried
softly and joyously. How lovely the
morning isl Stay for me there! |
shall not be long"
And she disappeared, leaving her
window open. Sigurd heard her sing
ing little scraps Of song to herself
but presently the rich notes ceased
and there was a sudden silence Sig
urd knew or guessed the reason Of that
|
stinctively the poor forlorn lad folded
his wasted hands most piteously and
most imploringly he raised his be
wildered eyes to the blue and solden
glory of the sky. His conception of
God was indehnabIc; his dreams of
heaven, chaotic mingings Of fairy-land
with Valhalla, but he somehow felt
that wherever Thelmas holy aspra
tions turned, there the angels must
be listening.
Presently she came out of the house,
looking radiant as the morning itself
her luxuriant hair was thrown back
over her shoulders and fell loosely
about her In thick curls, simply con
fined by a Knot Of blue ribbon She
carried large osier basket capacious,
and gracefully shaped.
Now" she called sweetly Il am
ready! Where shall we go, sigurd? ?"
He FASTENED to her side. happy and
smiling
across there" he said, pointing
towards the direction of BOsekop
They left the farm and It's bounda-
ries. A few men were at work on one
of Guldmar's fields, and these looked
(, up-half in awe, half In fear--as
Thelma and her fantastic servitor
passed along.
" IT'S fine wench!" said one man,
resting on his spade, and following
with his eyes the erect graceful figure
OF his employers daughter
Maybe, maybe!" said another gruff-
lv; but a fine wench is snare OF
the devil! Do ye mind what Lovisa
Elsland told us?"
"Ay. ay," answered the first speaker
I "Loyisa krows-Lovisa rs the wisest
woman ~ have In these parts-that's
true! The girls a witch, for sure!"
And they resumed their work In
gloomy silence. Not one of them
would have willingly labored on Olaf
Guldmar's land. had not the wages he
offered been above the usual rate Of
hire-and times were bad In Norway.
But otherwise the superstltious fear
~ ht,,, ,.,aa an grant that his HQlda