Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-09-30
(Continued.)

"aving her all the time, and knowing
.,,ch love to be absolutely hopeless!
'-iLy, 1t was enough to make him
-~azler than ever!
orimer moved re3tlefsly. "Yes, 1t
must have been hard on him!" he an
gwered. Life Is infinitely perplox-
ing to many CT us, BY this time he's
40 doubt wiser than you or |, PHIL -
ne could tell us the reason why love is
.uch blessing to some men, and such
v. curse to others!"
Errington made no answer, and they
.clapsed into silence silence which
~as almost uLLroken save by an occa'
sional deep sigh from Olaf Guldmar
md smothered exclamation such as,
Poor lad, poor lad! Who would have
thought IT."
With tho carly dawn they were all
up and ready for the hGmeward jour
ney,--tllough with very different feel
started on their expedition. The morn
ing was dazzlingly bright and clear, -
anc the cataract of Njedcgorze rolled
down in glittering folds OF creamy
white and green, utterlng It's ceaaeles3
psalm of Ilaise to the Creator In a
juDilant roar of musical thunder.
They paused and looked at 1t for the
last time before leaving,lt had as
sumed for them new and solemn
aspect-it was Sigurd's grave. The
bonde raised mis- cap from his rough
white hair the others
followed his example.
May the gods grant him good rest
said the old man reyerentially. I'm
the widest waters they say there Ia a
calm underlow,- maybe the lad has
found 1t and ID glad to sleep" He
paused and stretched his hands forth
with an eloquent and touching gesture,
"Peace be with him!"
Then, without moro words. and as
though dlsdaining his own emotion. he
turned abruptly away, and began to
descend the stony and precipitous hill
up which Sigurd had 80 skillfully
guided them the day before. Maclar-
lane and Duprez followed him CLOSE
Macfarlane casting more than once a
keen look over the rapids.
IT'S pity we couldna find his
body" he said In low tone.
Duprez shrugged his shoulders. Sig
urd's death had shocked him consider
ably by its suddenness, but he was too
much OF volatile Frenchman to be
morbdly anxious about securing the
corpse.
IL think not 30 at all" he said "Of
what use would 1t be? To grleye
mndemolselle? TO make her cry?
That would be cruel would not as-
sist In 1t! A dead body Ia not sight
fol ladies, believe me. things are
best as they arc"
They went on, while Errington and
Lorimer fingered yet u moment longer.
"A magnificent sepulchre!' said
Lorimer, dreamily cycling for the last
time the sweeping flow of the glitter
ng torrent. Better than all the
monuments ever erected Upon my
life, would not mind having such "A
grave myself! Say what you like,
Phil, there was something grand In
Sigurds choice of death We all OF
us have to get out of life somehow one
day-thats certain-but few of us
have the chance of making such tri-
umphant exit"
Errington looked Mt him with a
grave smile. How you talk, Goorge!"
he said Independently lone
would think you envied the end of that
unfortunate, half-witted fellow!
You've no reason to be tired of yom
life, I'm sure, all your bright days are
before YOU"
Are they?" And Lorimer's blue
eyes looked slightly melancholy.
"Well, | dare say they are! Let's hope
so at all events, There need be some
thing before me,-there isn't much be-
hind except wasted opportunities
Come on, Phil"
They resumed their walk, and soon
rejoined the others. The journey back
to the Altenfjord was continued all
day with but one or two Interruptions
for rest and refreshment. 1t was de-
cided that on reaching home, old Guild
mar should proceed u little in advance
In order to see his daughter alone first,
and break to her the news of the tragic
event that had occurred.-so that
when, after long ard toilsome jour
ney, they caught sight, at about eight
IN the evening, of the familiar farm
house through the branches Of the
trees that surrounded and sheltered il,
they all come to halt.
The young men seated themselves ON
n pleasant krcll under some tail pinos,
there to wait a quarter of an hour or
80, while the bonde went forward to
prepare Thelma. On second thoughts,
the old man asked Errington to accom-
pLny him, Il request to which he very
readily aecedcd. and these two, leaving
the others to follow at their leisure,
went on their way rapidly. They ar
rived at, and entered the garden,
their footsteps made crunching noise
or the pebhlN, path, but no welcoming
face looked fohth from any Of the win
A.. nj.