Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-04-14

Norway, when beyond the Arctic Circle,
the old gods yet have sway in
spite of their persistent, sometimes
fanatical, adherence to the strictest
forms of Christianity, the people al
most unconsciously revert to the
svperstitionS of their ancestors.
Gathering round the blazing pine-logs,
they recount to one another in low
voices the ancient legends of dead and
gone heroes,--an listening to the yell
of the storm wind round their huts.
they still fancy they hear the wild
war-cries of the Valkyries rushing past
at full gallop on their coal black steeds.
with their long hair floating behind
them.
On this particular afternoon the
appearance of the Death Arch, as
IL ey called that special form of the
aurora, had impressed the Talvig folk
greatly. Some of them were at their
doors, and, regardless of the piercing
cold, occupied themselves in staring
languidly at reindeer sledge which
stood outside one of the more distant
huts, evidently waiting for some person
within. The hoofs of the animals
made no impression on the hardened
snow-now and again they gently
shook the tinkling bells on the harness
but otherwise were very patient. The
s,edge was in charge of youthful
Laplander-a hideous, stunted speci-
men Of humanity, who appeared to be
literally sewed up from head to foot
in skins.
This cortege was evidently an object
of curiosity.-the onlookers eyed it as
kance, and with sort of fear. For
did it not belong to that terrible bonde,
Olaf Gulmar?-and would not the Lap
lander,-a useful boy, well known in
Talvig, -come to some fatal harm by
watching, even for few minutes, the
property of an acknowledged pagan
Who could tell? The very reindeer
might be possessed by evil spirits,
they were certainly much sleeker and
finer than the ordinary run OF such
animals. There was something un-
cal ny in the very look of them! Thus
the stuperfied, unreasoning Talvig folk
muttered, one to another, leaning
drowsily out of their half-open doors.
TITS strange thing" said one man
that woman as strong in the fear OF
the Lord as Lovisa Elsland should
call for one of the wicked to visit he1
on her death-bed'
Strange enough" answered his
neighbor, blinking over his pipe, and
knocking down some of the icicle'
pendant from his roof. But maybe
it is to curse him with the undyine
curse of the godly."
She's done that all her life" said
the first speaker.
That's true! She's been faithful
servant of the Gospel. All's right with
her in the next world-she'll die
easily"
WAS it for her the Death-Arc
shone?" asked an old woman, suddenly
thrusting her head, wrapped in a red
wooden hood, out Of a low door
through which the light Of a fir'
sparkled from the background, send
ing vivid flashes across the snow.
The man who had spoken last shook
his head solemnly.
"The Death-Arch never shone for a
Christian yet" he said gravely. No!
There's something else in the wind
We can't see it-but it will comet
must come! That sign never falls.
And presently, tired of watching the
waiting sleige and the passive Laplan-
der, he retreated within his house
shutting his door against the darkness
and the bitter wind. His neighbors fol-
lowed his example, and, save for two
or three red glimmers of light here and
there, the little village looked as though
it had been deserted long ago "A pic
ture of frost bound silence and soli-
tude.
Meanwhile, in Loyisa Elsland's close
and comfortless dwelling, stood Olaf
Guldmar His strong, stately figure
wrapped in furs, seemed almost to fill
the little piace-he had thrown aside
the thick scarf of wadmel in which he
had been wrapped TO the eyes while
driving in the teeth OF the wind, IT and
he now lifted his fur cap, thus display
ing his silvery hair, rudy features.
and open, massive brow. At that
moment a woman who was busying
herself in putting fresh pine-logs on
the smouldering fire, turned and re-
garded him intently.
Lord. Lord" she muttered-- r." It's
a man OF men,-he rejoiceth in his
strength, even as the lion, and Of what
avail shall the curse of the wicked
avail against the so1l that is firmly
established"
Guldmar heard her not--he was
looking towards low pallet bed, on
which lay, extended at full length, an
apparently insensibe form.
Has she been long thus" he asked
in a low voice.
Since last night, replied the woman
no other than Mr.. Dyceworthy
o.