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

| IOSe dIu dLulS NhaN AAfhiSN
flom the waving ribbons of the aurora,
and close to them, his slowly trick
ling life-blood staining the white
groLnd,-his hair and beard glitterins
in the light like frosted silver.-his
eyes fast closed as though he slept
lay Olaf Guldmar unconscious-dying.
The spear of the Valkyrie had fallen!
CHAPTER MKT.
Bury me not when am dead
Lay me not down in a dusty bed;
could not bear the life down there,
With the wet worms crawling about
my hair!"-Eric Mackay.
Long hours passed, and the next day
dawned, if the dim twilight that glim
mered family across the Altenfjord
could be called a dawn. The snow
fall had ceased,-the wind had sunk
there was frost bound, monotonous
calm. The picturesque dwelling OF
the bonde was white in every part, and
| fringed with long icicles,-icicles
dropped from it's sheltering porch and
/ gabled windows-the deserted dove
cote on the roof was a miniature ice
palace curiously festooned with thin
threads and crested pinnacles of frozen
! snow. Within the house there was
silence,-the silence Of approaching
desolation. In the room where Thelma
us ed to sit and spin, blazing fire Of
pine sparkled on the walls, casting
rudy outward flashes through the
frost-covered lattice-windows, and
here, towards the obscure noon, Olaf
Guldmar awoke from his long trance
of insensibility. He found himself at
home, stretched on his own bed, and
| looked about him vacantly. In the
earnest and watchful countenance that
bent above his pillow, he slowly rec
ognized his friend, companion, and
servant, Valdemar Svensen, and
though returning consciousness
brought with it throbs of agonizing
pain, he strove to smile, and feebly
stretched out his hand. Valdemar
grasped it-kissed it-and in spite OF
his efforts to restrain his emotion, a
sigh, that was almost groan, escaped
him The bonde smiled again then
lay quiet for few moments as
though endeavoring to collect his
thoughts. Presently he spoke-his
voice was faint yet distinct.
What has happened, Valdemar?" he
asked How is it that the strength
has departed from me?"
Svenson dropped on his knees by the
bedside AN accident, my Lord Olaf,
he began falteringly.
Guldmar's eyes suddenly lightened.
"Ah | remember" he said. THE rush
down the valley remember all,'
He paused, then added gently And
so the end has come, Valdemar!'
Svensen uttered a passionate en-
clamation of distress.
Let not my lord say SOL" he muir
INJURED appealingly, with the air OF a
subject entreating favor from king.
COR, if it must be, let me also travel
with thee wherever thou goest!"
Olaf Guldmar's gaze rested on hin,
with a musng tenderness.
"'Tis a far journey, he said simply.
And thou art not summoned" He
raised his arm to test its force-tOr
one second it was uplifted,-th it
fell powerless at his side. 81 am con-
uuered!" he went on with a cheerful
air. THE fight Is over, Valdemar!'
Surely have had a long battle, and
the time for rest and reward is well
&C me-" He was silent for a little, then
continued, Tell mellow where
didst thou find me? 1t seems | had a
dream, strange, and glorious-then
came rushing sound OF wheels and
changing bells,-and after that, a long
deep silence"
Speking in low tones, Valdemar
| briefly related the events OF the past
night. How he had heard the rein
deers gallop down the road, and the
quick jangling OF the bells on their
harness, and had concluded that the
bonde was returning home at extraor-
binary speed,-how these sounds had
suddenly and unaccountably ceased
how, after waiting for some time and
hearing nothing more, he had become
greatly alarmed, and, taking a pine
torch, had gone out TO see what had DC
curred,-how he had found the rein
deer standing by the broken sledge in
the gully, and how, after some search,
he had finally discovered his master.
/ lying half covered by the snow, and
grievously injured. How he had lifted
rim and carried him into the honse.
! by my soul" interrupted the bonde
cheerfully. thou must have found me
no light weight, Valdemar. See what
good thing it is to be man--with
iron muscles, and strong limbs. and
hardy nerve! BY the Hammer OF
Thor! the glorious gift Of strong man
hood is never half appreciated! As
for mel am a man no longer'"
He sighed little, and, passing his
sinewy hand across his brow, lay back
exhausted. He was racked by bodily
torture, but,-unfiinchirg old hero as
he was.-gaye no sign OF the agonizing
pain he suffered Valdemar Syenson