Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-04-01

NNNNAdAtN, ludl TSuE NiNuGH NuV ab
with the clearpess OF golden bell The
sweet LIQUID notes were those Of an old
Norwegian mountain melody, one of
those wildly pathetic folk-sougs that
seem TO hold all the sorrow, wonder,
wisttulncss, and indescrihahle yearniug
of a heart to full for other speech than
music He started to his seet and looked
abound him for the singer, There was
no one visible. The amber streaks In
the sky were leaping into crimson flame;
the Fiord glowed like the burning lake
of Dantes vision; ono solitary sea-gull
winged its graceful, noiseless flight far
above, its white pnions shimmering like
Jewels rs 1t crossed the radiance OF the
NhcaNens other sign Of animal life
there was none. Still the hidden voice
rippled on in n stream OF melody and
the listener stood amazed and enchanted
at the roundness and distiuctncSs OF
every note that fell from the lips Of the
unseen vocalist
"A woman's voice" he thought; "but
whore is the woman"
Puzzled. he looked to the right and
left, then out to the shining Fiord, half
expecting to see some fisher maiden
rowing along and singing as she rowed,
/ but there was no sign OF any living
creature While he waited. the voice
/ suddenly ceased and the song was re-
I placed by the sharp grating OF keel
on the beach. Turning IN the direction
! of this sound, he perceived boat be-
/ ing pushed out by invisible hands to-
wards the waters edge from a rocky
! cave, that jutted upon the Fjord, and
! full Of curiosity, he stepped towards the
archrd entrance, when suddenly
and unexpectedly. 4 girl sprang out
from the dark interior. and standing
erect in her boat faced the Intruder
A girl of about nineteen she seemed
! taller than mos, women. with Il mag
/ nticent uncovered mass of hair, the
color of the midnight sunshine tumhled
, oyer her shoulders, and flashing against
1 bet flushed checks and dazzlingly fair
I skin Her deep blue eyes had an as.
! tonished and certainly indignant express
sion In them while, he utterly unprc-
j pared for such vision of lovelness at
such time and in such place, was
! for moment taken aback and at n
loss for words. Recovering his habit
| nal self-hosSesson quickly however, he
raised his hat, and, pointing to the
boat, wh&fDvwas, more than half way
out Of thf CAVERN said simply
! l"MoL haslct Va ~
She wf$ SILENT cycling him with a
keen glance which had something In 1t
of disfavor and suspicion.
II suppose she doesn't understand
English, he thought ,"and;I can't speak
va word OF Norwegian. | must talk by
signs"
And forthwith he went through a
labored pantomime Of gesture, sufficient
ly ludicrous in itself. yet at the same
! time expressive Of his meaning. The
girl broke into "A laugh-a laugh Of
sweet amusement which brought q
thousand new sparkles Of light into her
lovely eyes
THAT Is very well done" she OBJ
served gracously, speaking English
with something Of foreign accent.
Even the Lapps would understand you
and they are very stupid, p6or things"'
Half vexed by her laughter, and feel
ing that he Yves somehow an object Of
ridioule to this tall, bright~haired maid
en- he ceased his pantomlmlc gestures
abruptly and stood looking at her with
slight flush ~ embarrassment on his
features.
Il know your language" she resumed
quietly, after brief pause, In which she
/ had apparently considered the strangers
appearance and general bearing 1T
was rude Of me not to have answered
you at once. YOU can help me II you
will. The keel has caught among the
pebbles, but we can easily move ii be-
tween us" And. jumping lightly ont
Of her boat. she grasped Its edge firmly
with her strong white hands, exclaimng
Gaily as she did so, PUSH
Thus adjured, he lost no time In com
plying with her request, and, using his
great strength and muscular force to
good purpose, the light little craft was
soon well in the water, swaying to and
fro as though with impatience to be
gone The girl sprang to her seat, dis
carding his eagerly proffered assistance.
and, taking both oars, lair them In
their respective rowlocks, and seen ed
about to start VIII she paused and
asked abruptly
Are you sailor"
He smiled Not r. Do | remind
y0u Of one?"
You are strong, and you manage
boat as though you were accustomed
10 the work. Also you look as II you
had been at sea.
Rightly guessed" he replied. still
smiling; II certainly have been at sea;
! have been coasting all about your
lovely land Ny yacht went across TO
Seiland this afternoon
She regarded him more Intently, and
observed, with the critical eye Of a
woman. the refined taste displayed in his
dress, from the very cut Of his loose
travelling coat, to the luxurious rug OF
fine fox-sksns, that lay 20 carelesgly cast