Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-05-05

more than ever distinctly visible. She
was seen from the shore of Bosekop,
| by a group of the Inhabitants, who,
| rubbing their dull eyes, could not de-
eide whether what they beheld was
fire, or new phase of the capricious,
ever-changing Northern Lights,-the
rapidly descending snow rendering
| their vision bewildered and uncertain.
I Any way, they thought very little
about it,-they had had excitement
of another kind in the arrival of VI
rika from Talvig, bringing accounts
of the godly Lovisa Islands death.
| Moreover, an English steam cargo
boat, bound for the North Cape had,
| just an hour previously, touched at
their harbor, to land passenger,-a
mysterious woman closely yelled, who
| Immediately on arrival had hired
sledge, and had hidden the driver to
take her to the house of Olaf Guldmar,
an eight miles journey through the
drifted snow. All this was intensely
interesting to the good. gossiping
fsher-folk of Bosekop,-so much so,
indeed, that they scarcely paid any
heed to the spectacle of the fiery ship
swaying suggestively on the heaving
water, and drifting rapidly away
away towards the frosted peaks of
Seiland
Further and further she receded,--
the flames around her waving like
banners in a battle-further and fur
Their still-till Valdemar Svensen, from
his station on the pier, began to lose
sight of her blazing timbers, and,
starting from his reverie, he ran rap
idly from the shore, up through the
garden paths to the farm house, In
order to gain the summit, and from
that point Of vantage, watch the last
glimmering spark of the Vikings bur-
ial AS he reached the house, he stop
ped short and uttered wild excla
nation. There,-under the porch
hung with sparkling icicles, stood
--Thelma. Thelma-her face pale
and weary, yet smiling faintly,-Thel-
ma with the CLINT of her wondrous
gold hair escaping from under her hat,
and glittering on the folds of her dark
fur mantle
Il have come home, Valdemar."
said the sweet rich, penetrating voice.
Where is my father?"
AS man distraught, or in some
dreadful dream, Valdemar approached
her-the strangeness of his look and
manner filled her with sudden fear
he caught her hand and pointed to the
dark Fjord-to the spot where cleaned
a lurid waving wreath of flames
'Froken Thelma-he is there!" he
gasped in choke, hoarse tones. There
where the gods have called him!"
With a faint shrek of terror, Thel-
mas blue eyes turned toward the
shadowy water,-as she looked, long
up-twisting snake of fire appeared to
leap from the perishing Valkyrie,-a
snake that twined it's glittering coils
rapidly round and round on the wind,
and as rapidly nk-down-down--
one glimmering spark which glowed
redly like floating lamp for brief
Space was quenched forever!
The ship had vanished. lhelma
needed no explanation, she knew her
fathers Creed-she understood all.
Breaking loose from Valdemar's
grasp, she rushed few steps forward
with arms outstretched on the bite,
snowy air.
Father. father!" she cried aloud
and sobbingly. Wait for melt is
-Thelma!-I am coming,-Father!"
The white world around her grew
black-and, shuddering like shot
bird, she fell senseless.
Instantly Valdemar raised her from
the ground, and holding her tenderly
and reverently in his strong arms,
carried her, as though she were a
child, into the house. =. The clouds
the mountain peaks, stern giants,
frowned through their sfeety wells at
the arctic desolation of the land below
them,-and over the eharred and sunk
ell corpse of the departed servant of
Odin. sounded the solemn De Profup-
dis Of the sea.
To be continued.