Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-02-17

Thelma told him briefly that she was
gong to see her father on business. and
that she was DESTROYS OF starting for
Norway tho next day as early as possj~
BILE.
Friedhof held up his hands in amaze
ment' All! most surely you forget"
he exclaimed, using the picturesque
expressions of his native speech, that
this is the sleeping time OF the sun.
Even at the Hardanger fjord it is dark
and silent, the falling streams freeze
with cold on their way; and II it is SO
at the hanianger, what will it be at the
Alten%And there Is no pas seuger ship
going to Christiania or Bergen for
fortnight"
Thelma clasped her hands IN dismay.
But | must go!' she cried impatient
ly; II must, indeed, good Eriedhof! |
cannot stay here! Surely, surely there
is some vessel that would take me-
some fishing boat,~-what does it mat
ter how | travel. SO long MS get
away"
wonderingly. May, If II is indeed so
urgent, noble Froken," no replied, do
not trouble, for there is means of
making the journey, But for you. and
in such bSter weather, 1t seems a
cruelty to speak of II. \ steam cargo
boat leaves here for Hammerfest and
the North Cape tomorrow it will pass
the Altenfjord. No doubt you could
SO with that, II you so choose, but
there will be no warmth or comfort,
and there are heavy storms on the
North Sea- l know the captain; and
It's true he takes his wife with him,
so there would be woman on board,
yet"
Thelma interrupted him She pressed
two soyereigns into his hand,
Say no more, Friedhof," she said
eagerly. You will take me to see this
captain you will tell him | must so
with him. My father will thank you
for this kindness to me, even better
than l cav"
ut does not seem to me a kindness
at ALL" returned Friedrich with frank
bluntness. 81 would be 10th to sail the
seas myself in such weather. And |
thought you were so grandly married,
Froken Guldmar,--though forget your
welded name,--how comes II that your
husband is not with your"
HE is very busy in London" an
swered Thelma- He knows whore
am going. DO not be at all anxious,
Friedhof,l shall make the journey
very well and am not afraid of storm
or wild seas"
Friedrich still looked dubious. but
finally yielded to her ontreaties and
agreed to arrange her passage for her
in the morning.
She stayed at his hotel that night,
and with the very early dawn accom-
panied him on board the ship he had
mentioned. 1t was a small. awkward
ly built craft, with an ugly crooked
black funnel out of which the steam
was kissing and splitting with quite an
unnecessary degree of violence the
decks were wet and dirty, and the
whole vessel was prevailed with sick
ening smell of whale oil. The captain,
a gruff d-faced fellow looked rather
surlily at his unexpected passenger
but was soon notified by her gentle
manner, and the readiness with which
she paid the money he demanded for
taking her.
you won't be very warm" he said,
eying her from head to foot--"but |
can lend you a rug to sleep in.
Thelma smiled and thanked him.
He called TO his wife, a thin, over
worked looking creature, who put up
her head from n window in the cabin.
at his summons.
Here's lady going with us" ho
announced. Look after her. will
your" The woman nodded. Then adj
dressing himself to Thelma, he said,
I'VE shall have nasty weather and
wicked seal"
Il do not mind" she answered quiet
". and turning to Friedhof who had
come to see her off she shook hands
with him warmly and thanked him for
the trouble he had taken in her behalf.
The good landlord babe her farewell
somewhat reluctantly. he had pre-
sentiment that there was something
wrong with the beautiful. golden
haired daughter Of the arl-and that
perhaps he ought TO have prevented
her making this uncomfortable and
possibly perilous voyage. But II was
too late now,-and at little before
seven o'clock, the vessel, which re-
joiced In the name Of the Black Polly,
left the harbor, and steamed fussily
down the Humber in the teeth OF
sudden storm of sleet and snow.
Her departure had no interest for
any one save Friedrich. who stood
watching her till she was no more than
a speck on the turbid water. He kept
his post. regardless OF the piercing cold
o. the gusty, early morning air, till she
had entirely disappeared. and then re-
turned to his own house and his daily
business in a rather depressed frame
Of mind He was haunted by the pale
a ~ hnl. ho