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

slfEfT 4STUHSs i udNo buhpit' ~ N''''
absence, sufferings OF the bod.
that, being yet strong In spite OF age
In RELUCTANT TO take leave OF life. Bu
III ts past am as one numbed VIII
everlasting frost,--and now teel NJ
u9ln. And my mind Is like Dlf'
that poises for while over past ah'
preGent, ere soaring into the falr III
tpre There are things / must yet say
90 tbee. Valdemar, me thy c'os'
uynb}e attitude Of one who waits
hearing, for my voice Is weak.
fsvensen drew closer, and stood IL
command from some supreme CHIEF.
>ev'hjs letter" went on the old man
living him a folded paper, "is TO the
child of my heart, my Thema seho
A. I'm her--when--I am gone. IL VIII
not grieve her. hope~-for, MS far az
4 could find words, have Expressed
' therein nothing but joy--the Joy OF
, prisoner set free, Tell her, that WIN
ii the strength Of my perishing BODY
mad escaping soul, ] blessed her! 49,
goer and the husband In whose arms
,sbt, rests in safety" He raised his
trembling hands solemnly-"The ZOOS
Of my fathers and their attendant
spirits have her young life IN their
glorious keeping! Joy OF love ana
, purity and peace be on her innocent
mead for eyer!"
He paused, the wind walled mourn
ulIy round the house and shook the
lattice with sort OF stealthy clat'er'
,tIte n forlorn wandercr striving to
lreep in TO warmth and shelter.
"1ere Valdemar" continued the
blonde presently, In fainter accents, AT
the same time handing him another
papor. Here are some scrawled lines
they are plainly SGT forth and signed
which make thee master of this poor
place and all that It contains"
a low, choked sob broke from Valid
nemar's broad breast covered his
acc with his hands,
'tOr what avail?" he murmured
yDroRcnly when my lord departs.
.nrn alone and frlendless"
The bonde regarded him with kindly
u,ity,
"Tears from the stout heart" he In
aqluirod with a sort of grave wonder.
weep for life, Valdemar-not for
dseathi Alone and friendless? Not
while the gods arc In heavenl Cheer
shee--thou art strong and In vigorous
pride OF manhood-why should not
bright days come for thee" He
broke off with gasp--a sudden excess
pain convulsed him and rendered
his breath difficult. by sheer force of
will no mastered the cruel agony,
enough great drops Of sweat stood on
.is brow when he ut last found voice
20 continue
II thought all suffering was past"
ne said with n heroic smile. This
foolish flesh and blood OF mine dies
hardl But, as was saying to thee,
Vaidemar-the farm Ia thine. and NIL
Il holds-save some few trles have
net down to be given to my child,
There Ia little worth In what leave
thee-the soil IL hard and ungrateful-
the harvest uncertain, and tho cattle
few. Evtn tho relndoer--didst thou
say they were injured by their fall
asst nightY--I--forget, ..."
mo harm has come to them" said
vensen hastily, seeing that the very
effort of thinking was becoming too
much for the old man. "rhey are safe
nd unhurt. Trouble not about these
things"
A strange, unearthly radiance trans
Figured Guldmar's visage.
Trouble Ia departing swiftly from
ae," he murmured. "Troube and
shall know each other no moro!" His
voice dlod away inarticulatoly, and he
was silent little space. Suddenly
and with u rush Of vigor that seemed
uporhuman he raised himself nearly
erect and pointed outwards with
Smmandlng gesture.
Bear me hencol" he cried I'm ring
ing tones Hence to tho mountains
MI the seal"
With sort of mechanical, swift
Oendlence. Valdemar threw open the
oor- the wind rushed coldly into the
ouse, bringing with II large feathcry
AXES OF snow, A hand sledgc stood
utside the porch, it was always
mere during the winter, being much
sed for visiting the outlying grounds
of the farm, and to this Valdemar
prepared to carry the boude in his her
culean arms, But. on being lifted from
Is couch, the old man, filed with
strange almost delirious force, declar-
cd himself able to stand, and, though
uHerlng deadly anguish at every step
did In truth manage to reach and enter
The sledge, strongly supported by Valid
mar. There, however, he tainted
and his faithful servant covering his
nsensihle form with furs, thought he
ias dead. But there was now no time
Eor hesitation, dead or living, Olaf
fndmar's will was law to his vassal -
" oath had been made and must he
ep' To propel the sledge down to
no Fiord ws an easy matter how the
rest OF his duty was accomplished he