Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-07-15

away to smoke! There's a ccme-dowi
for you! | never grieye-dont know
how to do 1t. What is grief?"
TO love!" answered Sigurd prompt
w. "To see a beautiful elf with COLDER
wings come futtering iluttering gent!
down from ...e sky,-you open you
arms to catch her--so! and JUS
as you think you have her. she leani
only little bit on one side and falls
not into your heart-no!-into the
heart of come one else! That Is grief
because, when she has gone, no more
efes come down from tne sky,-tt
YOU the heavens are EMPTY"
Lormer flushed hotly and thcr
speaker curiously.
How do you get all this nonsense
into your head, eh?" he inquired
kindly.
II do not know" replied Sigurd with
g. sigh. 1T comes But, tell me,"-ant
he smiled wistfully-"it Is true, dear
friend--good friend-it is all true, Is
1t not? For You the heavens are
empty! You know it,"
Lorimer flushed and then
grew strangely pale. After pause
he said in his usual indolent way
Look here, Sigurd; you're romantic!
I'm not. know nothing about elves
or empty heavens. I'm all right!
Don't you bother yourself about me-"
Tho dwarf studied his face atten-
tt, ely, and smile of almost fiendish
cunning suddenly illumined his
features. He laid his weak-looking
white hand on the young mans arm
and said in lower TONE
Il will tell you what to do XIII
hm!"
The last two words were uttered
With such intensity of meaning that
Lorimer positively recoilod from the
accents, and the terrible look which
accompanied them.
IL say Sigurd, this won't do" he
demonstrated gravely. you mustn't
talk about killing you know! It's
rot good for you. People don't kill
each other nowadays so easily as you
seen to think. 1t can't be done,
Sigurd! Nobody wants to do II"
1T cnn be done!' reiterated the
dwarf imperntively. 1T must be done
and either you or | will do It! He shall
not rob us,---he shall not steal the
treasure OF the golden midnight. He
shall; not gather the rose Of all
loser"
"Stop!" said Lofime" suddenly
"W he arc you talking ahout?"
"Who!" cried Sigurd excltedly.
Surely you know. OF hlm-that tail
pr oud, grey-eyed Englishman, your
foe, your rival the rich, cruel Err
rington.*
Lorimer's hand fell heavily on his
shoulder, and his voice wa very
stern.
what nonsense. Sigurd! You don't
know what you are about today Er-
rington my foe! Good heavens! way
he's my best friend! DO you hear?"
Sgurd stared up Mt him in vacant
surprise, but nodded feebly
WELL mind you remember 1t! The
spirits tell lies, my boy, II they say
that ne Is my enemy. | would give my
lfo to save hist"
lie spoke quietly, and rose from his
seat on the moss as he finished his
words, and his face had an expression
that was both noble and resolute.
Sigurd still gaAed upon him. And
you, you do not lovo Thelma?" he
murmured
Lormer started, but controlled him
self instantly. His frank English
eyes met the fevorishly brilliant ones
fixed SO arpeaingly upon him.
ertainly mott" he said calmly, with
n serene smile. What makes you
think OF such thing? Quite wrong
Sigurd, the spirits have made n
mistake again! Come along,-let us
join the others"
liut Sigurd would not accompany
him He sprang away like frightened
m'ncl, In haste, and abruptly plung-
bcrderod on Olaf Guldmar grounds
VAS soon lost to sight. l.orimer looked
sitter him in n little perplCXity.
II wonder If he ever gets danger
ous?" he thought, IA fellow with such
queer notions might do some serious
harm without meaning it. I'll keep NJ
eye on hint"
And once or twice during that same
evening he felt inclined to speak &c
Errington ont he subject, but no suit.
ahlo opportunity presented itself ant
after II while, with his hahitua indo
lonce. he partly forgot the circum
stance.
On tho following Sunday Afternoon
rholma sat alone under the wide bios
SOM covered porch, beading. He,
father and Sigurd, ---accompanied b,
lGrrington and his friends, had al
gone for a mountain ramble. promisins
to return for supper. substantial
meal which Rritta was already bus,
preparing. The afternoon was yer,
warm,-one OF those long. laY,
stretches of heat and brilliancy II
which Nature seems to have lair
down to rest like child tired of play
sleeping In the sunshine with droop
ing flowers in her hands. The yer,
ripple OF the stresm seemed hushed