Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-03-31
CHAPTER xxx.

II1AI nh ANA,
Honor is an old-world thing, but 1t
smells sweet to those in whose hand
1t is strong "-Ouida.
Disappointment upon disappoint-
ment awaited Errington at Hull. I'm
fortunately, neither he nor Britta knew
of the existence of the good Norwegian
innkeeper, Friedhof, who had assisted
Thelma in her Highland all their per-
sistent and anxious inquiries elected
TO news of her. Moreover, there was
no boat Of any kind leaving mmed-
lately for Norway-not even a whaler
or fishing-smack, In weeks time
possibly later,--there would be a
steamer starting for Christiansund, and
for this. Errlngton though almost
mad with impatience was forced to
wait. And In the meantime he
roamed about the streets of Hull. look
ing eagerly at every fair haired woman
who passed him, and always hoping
that Thelma herself would suddenly
meet him face to face, and put her
hands in his. He wrote to Neville
and told him to send on any letters
that might arrive FOR him, and by
every post he waited anxiously for one
from Thelma, but none came. To re-
lleve his mind little, he scrubbed n
long letter to her, explaining every
thing, telling her how ardently he
loved and worshipped her-how he
vas on his way to Join her at the
Altenfjord, and ending by the most
passionate vows of unchanging love
and fidelity. He was somewhat
soothed when he had done this
though he did not realize the fact that
in all probability he himself might ar
rive before the letter The slow, mis-
cradle days went on--the week was
completed-the steamer for Christian
sund started at last,--and, after terri
bly, stormy passage. he and the faithful
orltta were landed there.
On arrival, he learned that a vessel
bound for the North Cape had left on
the previous day--thare would not be
ill-luck, he resolved to reach the Alien
ford by land, and began to make ar
engagements accordingly. Those who
knew the country we'll endeavored to
dissuade him from this desperate pro-
Ject-the further north, the greater
danger, they told him, moreover, the
weather was, even for Norway, excep-
tionally trying. Snow lay heavily over
all the country he would have to ira
verse-the only means of conveyance
was by carriole or pulkha-the latter
sort Of sledge used by the Lapland-
ers. made in the form Of boat, and
generally drawn by reindeer The
capabilities Of the carriole would be
regions were reached-and to manage
pulkha successfully required special
skill OF no ordinary kind. But the
courageous little Britta made short
work OF all these dlfficulties-she could
drive a pulkha, she knew how to
manage reindeer, she entertained
not the slightest doubt Of being able
to overcome all the obstacles on the
way. At the same time, she frankly
told Sir Philip that the journey would
be long one, perhaps occupying sew
eral days--that they would have to
rest at different farms or stations on
the road, and put up with hard fare
trait the cold would be intense, that
often they would find IL difficult to get
relays of the required reindeer and
Il at it might perhaps be wiser TO wait
for the next boat going to the North
Cape.
But Errington would hear Of no more
delays-each hour that passed filled
him with fresh anxieties-and once
in Norway he could not rest. The
ioea that Thelma might be ill-dying
or dead-g gained on him with re-
doubled force,--and his fears easily
communicating themselves to Britta.
who was TO the full as impatient as he.
the two made up their minds, and pro-
viding every necessary for the journey
they could think OF, they started for
the far sunless North. through white.
frozen land. which grew whittier and
more silent the further they went
even as the brooding sky above them