Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-09-10

the cabin anu disappeared.
The Norwegian did not change his at
titude for many minutes, but at last
he strobe forward to where Craddock
waited at the bow.
"The daughter of q king" he said to
him. "Craddock, never cared till now
to know who l nm. She asked the
question, and could not answer. Will
you help me to find out who am
The daughter Of a king, Craddock, but
only woman, after all"
The storm that had promised to in
vest that part of the world for three or
four days began to lull as the day ad-
vanced, SO that when the sun was at
meridian the fury of it was spent, and
only the unquiet waves told what It
had been through the preceding night.
A strange unrest abode with Thor,
the Norwegian. Many times he drew
near to Craddock and paused as if
about to speak, then silently withdrew.
As many times he strobe to the hatch
way and seemed to mediate upon en-
tering the cabin, only to turn away
and stand gazing across the water to-
ward the coast of Denmark. His
strong and noble face wore an express
sion Of introspection which could not
be COMPOUNDED with anxiety, and fire.
quently he ran his fingers through the
wavy masses Of his hair, as If by doing
so some nhstncle to cn1lacted ref1cetinn-
might be dispelled. Craddock also
seemed distraught. He kept his place
ut the bow and gazed, not at the sea,
Us did his friend, but upward toward
the summit of the Devils Nose, and
there were anger in his eyes and
menace in the expression of his face.
At last Thor drew near to him again.
IT cannot help 1t, Craddock," he said,
Us If in continuation of discussion
between them. II cannot help it, my
friend. love her. Yes, and she loves
me. 1t was her soul that cried aloud
to me from the sea when 1 stood up
/ there on the rock and heard and an
swered and obeyed. What matter If
she is the daughter of a king? Do you
know, Craddock, that since she came
to us believe that l, too, am of royal
blood? You are angry because you
know love this princess"
mo, Ralph" Craddock. turned and
faced his friend. ~ am not angry
that is not the word-but have grave
misgivings. l wish that you had not
taken me to the summit of the rock"
The broad shoulders of the Norwe-
gian gave expression to shrng. he
raised his head proudly and smiled at
the clouds, the sky and the world
around him.
II did not take you there, old chap"
he said. "She called to me, and l
went, although did not know that she
called. Blame destiny, not me. am
going to her now"
He strobe away without another
word, paused at the hatchway and
said:
May enter, princess?"
| Again they faced each other in the
shallow cabin scarce higher than his
| stature.
Princess" he said, and without be-
Ing conscious of the act he possessed
both her hands in his, 81 am Nor
wegian waif, and yet you love me.
You are princess of royal blood, yet
i love you. 1t is something that our
souls have done without our knowl-
edge, perhaps in the aforementioned
past before these shells in which we
live were made. They knew each other
then and doubtless loved. Today, may
hap after cycles of time which cannot
count have come and gone, they meet
again and remember. Have spoken
truth, princess:"
Eyes, Gods TRUTH" she murmured.
| He bent over her white hands and
touched first one and then the other
with his lips.
"That destiny which shapes our ends,
In whose control our entities are as
mere feathers in a gale, brought us
! through the tempest face to face, and
you, Carlotta-you see know your
name-you and will remember and
| will live up to this hour henceforth.
Some day when you are safe in the
palace Of your father l will go to you
there-I know not how or when, but
will go. Until then, princess, may
not say more than have said"
She raised her eyes to his and looked
and looked and looked. She did not
speak. There was no need. And while
their souls communed together in 81
lence Craddock leaped into the hatch
way and called aloud:
"Sail, hop
Once more the Norwegian touched
the forehead of the princess with his
lips. and then he left her and FASTENED
to the deck.
Not three miles away to the east
ward Danish cruiser was stcaming
toward them. Craddock was at the
stern Of the sloop, wildly gesticulating !
to attract the attention of those upon
the ship of war, and from the star
board bow there presently issued a
puff of smoke, followed by distant
report, and the cruiser glided into the
less tumultuous waves beneath theI
y