The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-02-06
A Norwegian Legend

the tailor Norna's heart had gone out to Rolf Augentoll. a fisherman. The woodcutter was wen to do: the fisher. man was poor. Therefore Petersen fa- yored the former.
 Swain scOifed at the good monks of St Francis who sang tho mass m Dronthelm's towers and cursed them all for a lazy pack of shaven fools.
 According to the folklore of the north. In every tree within the wood there dwelt n guardian splrlt' and the Gnl- pen. a shadowy giant, was the king of them all
 Not one Of the woOdmen. with thee ecption of Swain. dared to venture Into the wood to chop without having his ax duly sprinklcd with drops of holy water and the sign of the cross made on lt. so that the evil power of the wood spirits would be set at naught.
 The evil day that Norma had forcseen came at last. The old tailor came home one evening and informed her that he had settled her fate at last by solcmnly plcdging her in marriage with Swain, and in token of the thing he and Swain had set their thumbs together In the presence of witnesses.
 The girl was too full of grief for words. She could not speak, but only sat in the corner and mOaned, while old Petersen retired Co rest, congratu- lating himself that the affair was set tied SO easily.
 Norma waited until the old man dozed on in slumbcr. and then she hurried out into the air.
 The moon was shining bright. and the great trees were noddiug like so many huge plumcs.
 Norma hurried Into the forest. anxious to find some lonely spot where she might weep her sad bosom empty.
 Beneath huge tree. upon a little messy mound. she sank. and the tears, falling freely. glistened In the dim light like so many great diamonds.
 "Oh. spirits of the wOod,' she cried. come and save me from this terrible monster who. with his hateful love. wishes Co chop down my life as with his sharp aX he destroys your dwelling placcs.'
 And then, as if In answer to the girls prayer. an thc leaves began Co rustic. but an in time and tune, mak- Ing most strange but beautiful music.
 Norma listened la wonder.
 Her Invocation Co tue wood spirits had been but the agoniZing cry of a breaking heart. not spoken with thought of an answer.
 A thin. Shadowy vapOr was gather. ins under the huge branches of the oak.
 A vaporlike form advanced toward the girl. and as lt came nearer Norma saw that there was indeed a human form In the center and that what she had taken Co be yapor was but a sort of dcccy cloak failing from the shoulders of Che figure.
 "Do not fcaE" said the strange form. human shaped. but 90 giant la size and oddly clad iu a robe of oak leaves curl ouSly woven together "l anu the Gnl- pen. the king of an the woodland Splr- lts. Maiden. what is it that you wisht
 Briefly Norma related the terrible fate that was to be forced upon her.
 Then Guipcn unused for awhile.
 q know tue woolcuttcr we'll" he said at last. Many of my fine trees have fallen beneath his ax. and often have | lowered in the woodland near hoping that by some rash word power would bc given me Co punish this wretch. He fears neither the power Of the Masters sign nor the vengeance of the wood spirits, but his own rash ness may lead Co his uudoing Seek him in the morning, and dare him Co fell the old oak known as the Gnipcn tree. IT he attempts lt. pcrchancc you may be freed
 And then Che wonderful spirit faded away as rapidly as he had appeared.
 Ia the morning Norma used her wo- mans wits SO we'll that Swain set out to fell the Gulpcn tree.
 The first blow tuat the Noouhdh gave the ax rcboundcd out of his hand and fell a dozen paccs of.
 "I wish thc devil was here to take that ax.' Swain cried in anger, ad' vanclng to pick up the tool.
 Then through the wood came Fran clscan monk. an hooded and sandalcd. and Swain mOcked at the holy man.
 "Oh. lazy clf, lay aside thy frock and toil with me-
 "AIy arm Is not weak, though | wear frock." the monk replied, and | trow ! can fell that tree as well as thee"
 "If you fell that tree this day. may the gray Gnipen take thy soul to the flames below" Swain loudly cried.
 Up caught the monk the ax and. with a single blow. lcyclcd the oak; then. rising Co form gigantic. sank with the wicked Swain to the flames the woodman had spoken of. for the gray monk was the wood spirit In disguise.
 Norma married the fisherman and never fo,c0t g tho evening hour to say n Drlvcr for inc allvatiOn of the gray