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

lOu ulubI " await 49, SSN'N 49,
ana Diielly. You anc your 1athel
and this creature" and she polnto'
contemptuously to the staring Sigurd
40 you understand? You must leaV
the Alttnfjoid. The people are tire'
of you--tired OF bad harvesta, ill-luch
sickness and continued poverty. You
are the cause Of all our miserles,-
and we have resolved you shall no
stay among us. Go quickly, take tn
blight and pestilence OF your presence
elteN here! 60. or II you Will not
1--WE shull burn, burn, bum. and ut
tcrly Destroy" Interrupted LoViSa
with sort of eldritch shrek. The
strong pine ratter5 OF Olaf Goldman
'weling shall be kiEdled into flame to
dght the nils with crimson, lar ant
near! Not plank shall be spared! -
not vestige OF his pride be lett,
Stop" said Thelma quietly. What
do you mean? You must both be very
mad or very wicked! You want us to
70 away--you threaten TO set llre 10
our home why? We have done yoll
no harm. Tell me, poor soul'' ans
she turned with qucebly forbt arance to
Lovlsa, lis IT. for Britta's sake that you
would burn the house she lives In?
That is not wise' You cursed me the
other day,-and why? What have |
done that you should hate :ne?"
The old woman regarded her with
oteadlast, cruel eyes
you are your mothers child She
said II hated herl hate you! Io'
are witch the village knows 1t
Mr. DS ceworthy know It! Mr.. "
worthy says we shall be justified in
the Lords sight for wreaking cyl
upon you! EVIL, evil be on those .
evil deeds!H'
"Then shall tho evil fall on Mr..
Dyceworthy," said the girl calmly.
"llo IL wicked In himself, and doubly
wicked to encourage You IN wicked
ness. He Is ignorant and talsc-~why
do You believe In such man."
mo Is II saint-a saint" cried
LCvlsa wildly. And shall tho dauga-
ter OF Satan withstand his power
And she clapped her hands In sort
of fierce ecstasy
Thelma glanced at her pityingly
md smiled "A saint! Poor thing
how nttle you know mimi" she said
And It IL pity you should hate ne,
for have done you no wrong. |
would do good to MI II knew how.
tell me can ! comfort you. or make
your life more cheerful? 1t must b,
hard to be SO old aud all alone.
"lour death would comfort met" re
turned Lovlsa grimly why do you
keep rlitta from me?'
81 do not keep her" Tholma an
swered. "She stays with me because
she Ia happy. Why do you grudgo her
her napplnosa2 Ana MS tor Dnrnlnc
my fathers house, surely you would
not do 80 wicked and foolish thing! -
hut still, you must do as you choose,
for II Ia not possible that we shall
leave the Altenf1ord to please you"
Here Ulrika started forward angrly
you defy us!" she cried, You will
rot go?" And In her excitement she
seized Thelma's arm roughly.
This action was too much for Sig
urd; he considered II an attack on
the person of his beloved mistress,
fashion Throwing himself on ulrika
with sudden ferocity, he pushed and
beat her back as though no were Il
wnlf-hound struggling with refractory
pIey; and though the ancient Lovisa
rushed to the rescue, and Thelma Inn
ploringly called upon her Jealous
champions to desist-all Inconsistencies
were unavalling, TIL Sgmd had re.
duccd his enemy to the most ablect
and whimpering terror.
"A demon-a demon!" she sobbea
and moaned, as the valiant dwarf at
last released her from his clutches
and, tossing his long, fair locks oyei
his misshapen shoulders, laughed
loudly and triumphantly with delight
ut his victory. "Lovisa! Lovisa ELS
land! this Is your doing; you brouSh
this upon me! | may die now. and you
VIII not care! . Lord, Lord, have
mercy"
Suddenly she stopped; her eyes al
lated, her face grew grey with the
hckening pallor Of fear Slowly she
Eaised her hand and poinod to Sigurd -
his fantastic dress had become disor-
dered In the ARRAY, and his Jacket was
tern open, and on his bare chest n
long red scar in the shape OF cross
was distinctly visible. "That scarf"
she muttered, How did he get that
SCARF"
Lorisa stared ut her IN impatient
dcfiaion. Thclma was too surprised to
answer Immediately, and Sigurd took
It upon himself TO furnish what he con-
sldered crushing "eply
"Odins mark" he said, patting the
scar with much citation. mo wonder
you are afraid Of Il, Everybody
KNOWS birds, flowers, trees. and
stars! Even you-lon ale afraid"
And he laughed again, and snapped
his fingers In her face. The woman
thudderod violently. Step by step she
crew near To the wondering Thelma
and spoke In low and trembling ac
cents, without trace OF her former