Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-12-25

~ skin coat and
emptied at a
<gulp the trimming cup of coffee
handed him by his sister Olga. Then
placing finger on his lip:
"var stilla, my Olga, have some
what to tell thee, but yonder little
pitcher has long ears. So" he con-
tinued, turning to a mite of girl
sitting sedately near the blazing fire.
place, intently engaged in thumbing
q well-worn primer book, thou art
tstudious, min lila flicka, as told
thee to be. Come hither, my little
maid, and show me thy book
He took the book quickly offered
him, and deity placing in it something
he secretly drew from his pocket.
thrust it out of sight behind him.
"Dost remember, sweetheart, that
{ told thee the rooster pictured on
the front page of thy book would
bring thee something If thou vert
Rood?"
"Ja, brother Karl, and so l have
been good; ask sister Olga" said the
child, smiling up into his face.
Indeed, yes,'" answered Olga, draw
ing the little sister close into her
arms, and giving her a hug and a
kiss. "Thilda is always sweet and
good"
-, "Well, then, let us see what the
rooster has brought thee, my Thilda."
Opening the book, Karl pretended
to be amazed at something he saw.
and showing it to Olga, she raised
her hands in well-assumed astonish-
ment. Thilda, unable to restrain her
curiosity, suddenly seized the book
carelessly held in Karl's huge hand
Just within her reach, and opening
1T, uttered a shout of delight as she
drew forth a beautiful white candy
dog, with pink ribbon round its
neck.
@tThank you, good Karl" she said,
simply, pouting up her lips for a
kiss.
"Nay, child, it's not me thou hast
to thank, but the rooster" he ex-
planned, adding: "Now, min lila
licka, thou knowest that the good Jo-
han is far away from home, wilt go
into thy chamber and pray for thy
sisters betrothed? have that to say
to her which thou mayst not hear.
Good child" he continued, patting her
head as she turned obediently to
obey.
Il have some news, my sister, about
thy sweetheart It is of some i'm,
portance, since it tells me that thy
Johan still lives"
MAY the good God so ordain," said
Olga fervently. land may He restore
him to my arms"
"Amen," murmured Karl, "but to
the news. IT'S now three days since
Johan went into the dark forest to
cut the frs for the Jul Tieden and
returned not as he should have done
that same night. - The next day we
found his ak buried deep in a tree,
as thou knowest, but all other trace
of him was lost. Well, today we pen
etrated as far as the gloomy Falun
mines and found his empty wallet.
Authorization didst follow his
steps in the snow?" stammered Olga.
'~Te11 me quickly, Karl. my brother"
That is what we did not do, Olga,
for the reason that there were no
footprints in the snow. The wallet
could not have been cast there by any
one, for we tracked circle of hun
dred yards and found the snow 'un.
broken. Moreover, piece of ore was
laid upon it as il to prevent its being
blown away. 1t was placed. there, but
not by Johan, Olga" ~ ~ -.
Thank God, he has found shelter
there, some miners. perhaps. He
may even now be on his way to me-"
said Olga, joyously. GO quickly, my
brother, to. meet him"
go not raise thy hopes too high,
my sister, neither let thy heart sink.
Thy Johan is alive, true, but the hand
that placed his wallet where it was
found was not that of a mortal. Nav
be not alarmed" he said, putting
an arm around her, for the girl was
seized with a fit of trembling. BE
brave, my sister, and all will be well
If thou wilt be guided by me-"
'1n anything and everything, my
brother" said Olga, clasping her
hands. "My soul for Johan's if need
be-"
mot that, kara soster, not that shall
be required of thee, but bravery thou
must show, little woman, such bray.
cry as few men dare show. Thy 10.
hans return depends upon thee"
Il am ready to face death himself"
said Olga, "only tell me what to do"
Listen. then. would do it for thee
myself. but thou alone canst face the
ordeal. believe the Skogfrau-"