The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-15
The Stone Giant.
"a norwegian Folk Tale. In Two Parts.)
PART I.


wide for her beauty. Many, many princes
eouett 10 marry her, but none could find
favor in her eyes. The king, her father'
grew very angry.
"AsIog," he said to her one day, after
she had refused to marry charming ana
rich prince, why do you reject all your
suitors? Hitherto I have left you free
20 choose whom you would, but no man
seems good enough for you And SAID
the king, with rising wrath, Ito please
the whim of a girl, shall my name ole
out, and my crown and lands pass INTO
the hands of strangers.
Dear father, it grieves me sadIy 10
think that l have vexed you' bur 90
not love this prince who has just left your
court
Listen attentively to what I am about
to SAW interrupted the king, with an
angry gesture. Il give you from today
until the festival of the great Winter
Night to select a husband worthy of your
choice, and if by that time you have not
decided whom you will wed, you shall
marry the man whom 1 select.
Poor Aslog knew that neither prayers
nor entreaties would move the king. and,
weeping bitterly. she left his presence. All
day long she sat in her silent chamber,
wondering and puzzling how to avert the
storm that hung over her head.
When night came, silently she crept out
and stealthily made her way to a huge
old hollow tree, where her lover awaited
her.
"Orm. Orm," she cried. what are we
to do? My father says 1 must marry.
And if I am not wed by the great Winter
Night festival, he win make me marry
a man of his own choice"
Twill you truly face poverty and hard
ships for my sake, sweet love?"
Right willingly" answered Aslog.
Orn kissed her tenderly, and whispered
softly, though even the little birds were
asleep, and no one was there to hear.
MY brave princess, come with me, then,
to a lofty cavern in the mountains. which
only I in the whole wide world know.
There we will remain hidden until find
some means of quitting this country. VIII
you, sweetheart?
The princess shyly answered Eyes"
Nearer and nearer the great festival
approached, and at last the opportunity
came when the lovers could slip away I'M
perceived. One cold, clear night, when
all were asleep, Aslog again met Orm al
the old hollow tree. The moon and stars
were sparkling brightly in the cold winter
bling Aslog over the snow and ice fields
to the mountains. All he carried was his
trusty bow and arrow and some skins of
animals, strapped across his back. The
whole night long, with feet made light
by love, they climbed the mountains. At
day-dawn they reached a lonely spot. al
most hidden by lofty rocks. Orm, after
a little searching, CROPPED his way into
a low and narrow cave. which gradually
enwidened to a magnificent hall, most fam
tastically decorated with rocks exquisite
ly carved by the Ages.
AS soon as Orm had satisfied himself
that all was safe and secure, he returned
to the entrance of the cave and carefully
guided Aslog to her strange dwelling
place.
With loving care he made her a soft
pillow of moss and twigs and covered her
weary limbs with the lightest and soft
est Of the skins, and soon the weary girl
was asleep Orm skillfully kindled fire,
and then, throwing himself down on his
hard couch he, too, slept soundly.
All the winter through these young peo-
pie lived in the cave. Orm every day
went out hunting and Aslog stayed at
home in the cave, attended to the fire and
cooked the food; and they were as happy
and busy and merry as two young squir-
rels Spring-time came, and the trees
dressed themselves in the daintiest posi-
BILE shades of green. One day it CHANGED
that Orm, in search of wild flowers for
Aslog, went farther afield than usual, and
in the distance he saw, and was seen by,
one of the kings servants. When he re-
turned home, as they called their cave,
he told Aslog of his unfortunate adven-
ture
Together they discussed ways and
means. Then, as soon as it was dark,
they climbed down the other side of the
mountain. After six hours of dangerous
descent they reached the seashore, where
Orm fortunately had a boat Without los
ing a moments time they embarked and
set sail for unknown lands. For three
days and nights they saw nothing but the
sky above and the water beneath, with
the angry waves that rose and fell On
the evening of the third day. Orm sight
ed a fair-siZed island, surrounded by
group of tiny little islands. Immediately
he steered his boat inland; but as he near
ed the shore violent wind arose and the
waves rose mountains high.
1T is impossible to land here" he cried.
I'VE must try the other side of the coast"
He turned the boats head and tried to
approach the island from the other side.
The water here appeared to be calm and
smooth, but no sooner did the boat ap-
proach the coast than the wind began to
blow boisterously, and the waves rolled
higher and higher. Each time the vessel
neared the island it seemed to DE driven
back by invisible hands.
Lord God preserve us!' cried Orrn in
despairing accents.
The words had hardly passed his lips
when a great hush seemed TO fall on the
wind and waters and almost without any
guidance the vessel glided on TO the
shore.
Gladly the young couple got ashore and
stretched their Cramped and wearied
limbs. Hand in hand they YEARLY set out
to examine the Island. They had not
walked very far before they discovered
a house of most curious exterior Il was
built nearly all underground, its roof COM
ing UP in pointed peak just a few feet
above the surface.
Orm knocked at the door. but no answer
was vouchsafed. Then they listened at
tentively. but not sound could they hear.
We can't stand here all night" said
OrTn. And he opened the door and walked
in.
Not n single living creature was there:
but TO their wonder and delight a fire was
burning on the hearth in the middle OF
the room. and a great pot from which
arose q delicious odor was stsaminE over
IT. In the corner OF the room two coy
little beds stood as though waiting TO
be lain upon. They at once concluded 10
stay.
ni-S~ pnOiIs Rraucff 20 Raat-