Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-04-28
Continud.

r1otouS uproar, the clfciihS IehPoS''
before uncertain and yacillating in
It's wrath,-pounced, eagle-like, down
ward and grasped the mountains in its
talons,-the strong pines rocked back
wards and forwards as though bent by
HeTculean hands. crashing their frosted
branches madly together: the massive
clouds in the sky opened and let fall
their burden of snow. Down came the
large f1eecy flakes, twisting dizZily
round and round in a white waltz to
the whirl of the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
heavier and thicker, till there seemed
no clear space in the air. Guldmar
urged on the reindeer, more anxious
for their safety than his own-the poor
beasts were fatigued, and the binding
snow confused them, but they struggled
On patiently, encouraged by thel'
MASTERS voice and the consciousness
that they were nearing home. The
storm increased in fury-and fierce
pust of frozen sleet struck the sledge
Nike a strong hammer-stroke as 1t ad-
yerced through the rapidly deepening
snow -drifts-its guiding lantern was
extinguished. Guldmar did not stop
to relight it-he knew he was ap-
preaching his farm, and he trusted 10
the instinct and sagacity of his steeds.
There was indeed but a short dis
lance to go,--the narrow wooded det1le
opened out on two roads, one leading
direct to Bosekop-the other, steep and
tertuous, winding down to the shore
of the Fjord-this latter passed the
ponde's gate. Once out of the shadow
of the pines, the way would be more
distinctly seen,-the very reindeer
seemed to be conscious of this, for they
trotted more steadily, shaking their
bells in even and rythmical measure
AS thew neared the end of the long
dark vista, sudden bright-blue glare
quivered and sprang wave like across
the snow-a fantastic storm aurora
that flashed and played among the
feathery falling flakes of white till they
looked like knots and clusters OF spark
ling Jewels. The extreme point OF the
close defle was reached at last, and
here the landscape opened up wide
rocky and desolate-a weird picture,
with the heavy clouds above repeatedly
stabbed through and through by the
needle pointed beams of the aurora
borealils,- and the blank wilderness OF
the ground below. Just as the heads
Of the reindeer were turned into the
bomeward road, half of the aurora
suddenly faced leaving the other hall
still beating out its azure brilliance
asainst the horizon. At the same IN
slant. with abrupt swiftness, dark
shadow,--so dark as to seem almost
palpable, and fell directly
in front of the advancing sledge-a
sort of mist that appeared to block the
way.
Guldmar leaned forward and gaZed
with eager, straining eyes into that
droooping gloom-a shadow!-a mere
yapor. with the Northern Lights gllm-
mering through its murky folds? All
no. no For him it was something
yery different,-a heavenly phantasm,
beautiful and grand with solemn
meaning: He saw a maiden, majest-
ically tall, of earnest visage and I'M
perial mien,-her long black hair
streamed loose upon the wind-in one
hand she held a shining shield-in the
other lifted spear. On her white brow
rested a glittering helmet,-her bosom
neayed beneath corselet OF pale gold
she fixed her divine, dark eyes full
upon his face and smiled! With cry
OF wonder and ecstacy the old man
feh back in his sledge,-the reins
dropped from his hands,-"The Walk
yrie!" he exclaimed.
A mere breathing space, and the
shadow vanished,-the aurora came
cut again in unbroken splendor-and
the reindeer, feeling no restraint upon
item. and terrified by something in
the air. or the ceaseless glitter OF the
lights in the sky, started on preclp-
itately at full gallop. The long reins
trailed loosely over their backs, lashlhg
t.,eir sides as they ran-Guldmar, re-
covering from his momentary awe ana
bewilderment, strove to seize them Dut
in vain. He called, he shouted, tine
frightened animals were utterly beyond
control, and dashed madly down the
steep road, swinging the sledge from
side to side and entangling them
selves more and more with the loose
reins, till. irritated beyond endurance.
confused and blinded by the flash of
the aurora and the dizzy whirl Of the
swiftly falling snow, they made
straight for a steep bank,-and before
the bonde had time TO realize the
situation and jump from the sledge-
c, ash, down they went with discor
dant iangle of bells, their hoofs split
ting a thin. sharp shelf OF ice as they
lesped forward .-dragging the light
vehicle after them. and twisting it over
and over till it was mere wreck
and throwing out its occupant head
foremost against a jagged stone.
Then more scared than ever, they
strove to Chamber out Of the gully into
which they had recklesslv sprung. but