Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-05-12
CHAPTER XNNlIl.

VI Nature calm. Auu, SVAuSi' Va
the steep,
The Sun of Faith, quiescent, round.
and warm!"
Late on that same night, the pious
Ulrika was engaged in prayer Prayer
with her was a sort of fanatical wrest-
ling of the body as we'll as the SOUL
she was never contented unless by
means of grCans and contortions she
could manage to work up by degrees
into a condition of hysteria resembling
q mild epileptic attack, in which state
alone she considered herself worthy TO
approach the Deity. On this occasion
she had some difficulty to attain the
desired result-her soul, as she herself
expressed it, was "dry"-and her
thoughts andered,-though she
pinched her neck and arms with the
hard resoluteness of a sworn tlagell-
ant. and groaned, Lord, have mercy
on me a sinner!" with indefatigable
earnestness. She was considerably
startled in the midst of these ener-
getic devotions by sudden jangling
of sledge-bells, and loud knocking
"a knocking which threatened to
break down the door of the small and
humble house she inhabited. Hastily
donning the coarse gown and bodice
she had recently taken off in order to
administer chastisement to her own
flesh more thoroughly, she unfastened
her bolts and bars. and, lifting the
{OI Nv oil do, q
Svensen, who, nearly breathless with
swift driving through the snow-storm
cried out in quick gasps-
Come with income! She is
dying!"
God help the mani" exclaimed u
rika startled. who is dying?"
''She-the Froken Thelma-Lady
Errington-she is all alone up there, y
and he pointed dstractedly in the di-
rection from whence he had come. 81
can get no one in Bosekop,-the
women are towards all,-all afraid to
in passionate distress.
Ulrika pulled thick shawl from
the nail where it hung and wrapped ii
round her.
Il am ready" she said, and without
more delay, stepped into the waiting
sledge, while Valdemar, with an eX-
clamation of gratitude and relief, took
his place beside her. But how is it?"
she asked, as the reindeer started off
at full speed, "how is it that the
bonde's daughter is again at the Alien
tjord?"
Il know not" answered Svensen
despairingly. Il would have given my
life not to have told her of her fathers
death"
Death cried Ulrika "Olaf Guild
mar dead! Impossible! Only last
night saw him in the pride Of his
strength,-and thought l never had
beheld SO goodly man. Lord, Lord!
That he should be dead."
In a few words Svensen related all
that had happened, with the exception
Of the tire-burial in the Fjord.
But Ulrika Immediately asked, SIS
bis body still in the house,"
Svensen looked at her darby
Hast thou never heard Ulrika," he
said solemnly, that the bodies of men
who follow Olaf Guldmar's creed, dis
appear as soon as the Tfe departs
from them 1t is mystery-strange
and terrible! But this is true-my
masters sailing ship has gone, and
his body with it-and l know not
where!"
ulrika surveyed him steadily with
slow. incredulous smile. After a
pause, she said
Fidelity in a servant is good,
Valdemar Syensen! l know you well.
also know that a pagan shrinks from
Christian burial. Enough said
will ask no more-but II Olaf Guild
mars ship is gone, and he with It'll
warn you the village will wonder"
Il cannot help it." said Svensen
with cold brevity. II have spoken
truth-he has gone! saw him die
and then vanish. Believe II or not
as you will, l care mott"
And he drove on in silence. Ulrika
was silent too
She had known Valdemar Svensen
for many years-he was a man uni
versally liked and respected at all the
harbors and different fishing stations
OF Norway, and his life was an open
BOOK to everybody with the exception
OF one page, which was turned down
and sealed this was the question of
his religious belief. No one knew
what form Of faith he followed
was only when he went to live with
the bonde, after Thelma's marriage
that the nature OF his creed was dimly
suspected. But Ulrika had no dislike
for him on this account,-her opinions
had changed very much during the
past few months. AS devout a Luth-
eran as ever, she began to entertain
little more Of the true spirit OF
Christianity-that spirit OF gentle and
patient tolerance which. full of for
bearance towards all humanity. Is
willing To admit the possibility OF