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

Glldmar, ignorant OF this, began TO
write slowly and with firmness. disre-
garding his rapidly sinking strength,
Scarcely had he begun the letter,
however, than he looked up mean
irgly at SvepSen. who stood waiting
! beside him
The time grows very short" he
said imperatively, Prepare every
thing Quickly-go! Fear not--l shall
live to see thee return-and bless thee
for thy faithful service"
AS he uttered these words he smiled;
and with one wistful, yearning look
a, him, Naldemar obediently and in
stantly departed. He left the house,
carrying with him huge pile OF dry
brushwood, and with the air OF man
strung up to prompt action, rapidly de-
scended the slopiug path, thick with
hardened snow, that led downwards to
the Fjord On reaching the shore, he
looked anNiously about him, There
was nothing in sight but the distant
twinkling lights of Bosekop the Fiord
itself was like a black pools" still
that even the taintest murmur OF its
ripping against the bonde's own pri-
vate pier could be heard,-the tide was
/ full up
Out OF the reach Of the encroachins
waters. high and dry on the beach,
was Guldmar's brig, the Valkyr'e,
transformed by the fingers of the frost
H. to a white ship, Enthusiastically draped
with threads of frozen snow and pen
dant icicles. She was placed on de-
scending plank, to which she was Mt"
tached by chain and rope pulley so
that at any time OF the weather or
tide she could be moved glidingly
downwards into deep water--and this
was what Valdemar occupied himself
| In doing. 1t was hard task The
chains were stiff with the frost, but,
after some patient and arduous striV-
ing they yielded to his efforts, and,
with slow clank and much creaking
complaint, she slid reluctantly down
and plunged forward, atioat at last
Holding her ropes, Valdemar sprang
to the extreme edge of the pier ana
fastened her there, and then getting on
| beard, he united and began to hoist
the sails. This was a matter of the
greatest difficulty, but 1t was gradually
and successfully accomplished; ana
n strange sight the Valkyrie then pre-
scented, resting nearly motlonless ON
the black Fjord,-h stretched and
frosted canvas looking like sheeted
pearl fringed with silver, her masts
white with encrusted snow, and topped
with pointed icicles, Leaving her for
a moment, Valdemar quickly returned,
carrying the pile OF dry hrushwood he
had brought, he descended with this
into the hold If the ship, and returned
without 1t. CHANGING once more ner-
vously about him, he jumped from the
deck to the pier-thence to the shore
and as he did so a long dark wave
rolled up and broke at his feet. The
capricious wind had suddenly arisen, -
and moaning whisper coming from
the adjacent hills gave warning of an
other storm
Valdemar hurriedly retraced his
steps back 10 the house, his work
with the Valkyrie had occupied him
more than an hour-the bonde his
friend and master might have died
during his absence There was cold
SICKNESS at his heart his feet seemed
heavy as lead, and scarcely able tn
carry him along quickly enough-to
his credulous and visionary mind, thu
overing shadow OF death seemed
verywhere. every cracking twiR
brushed against, in every sough
the Weakening gale that rustled
among the bare pines. To his intense
relief he found Guldmar lying calmly
back among his pillows, his eyes wei
pen and clear. and an expression of
perfect peace upon his features. He
smiled as he saw his servant enter.
"All is In readiness" he asked.
Valdemar bent his head in silent AZ
sent.
To be continued.