Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-02

last night Only see to it that no one hears
you. / warn you that l shall kill the first
who laughs-and who could help laughing?"
She was too wise to answer that. Instead
she motioned over her shoulder toward the
group of late-risen jewellers who were
lounging under the trees, breaking their
fast with an early meal. Tyrker bids you
come and serve the food"
IF it please me?'
MY dear lord, l pray you give over all
bitterness. l pray you be prudent toward
thrall for nearly year without learning
something"
Poor little dove in a hawks nest! Ger
tainly think you have learned to weep!"
You need not pity me thus, Lord Alvin.
1t is likely that my mistress even loves
me in her own way. She has given me more
ornaments than she keeps for herself. She
would STAY anyone who spoke harshly TO
me. What is it If now and then she her.
self strikes me? L have had many a blow
from your mothers nurse. l do not find
that l am much worse than before. No. no;
my trouble is all for you. My dearest lord,
l implore you not to waken their anger.
They have tempers so auckland hands
even quicker
Remembering his encounter with Egil the
evening before AlwinS eyes f1ared up hot
ly. But he would make no promises, as he
arose to answer the summons. The little
maid carried an anxious heart to her task
of mending Helga's torn kirtle.
No one seemed to notice the young thral
when he came among them and began to re-
| fill the empty cups. The older men, spra wiling
on the sun-fecked grass and over the rude
| benches, were still dTowsy from too deer
! soundings in too many mead horns. The
! four young people were talking together
They sat little apart in the shade of some
,. birch trees which served as rests for theil
backS-Helga enthroned bit of rock
\ Rolf and Sigurd lounging on either side OF
| her, the black-maned Egil stretched at hei
| feet. Between them a pair of lean wolf
| hounds wandered in and out, begging with
t,-%o md fnr aat
mouthful that was eaten-except when mo-
| ton of Helgas hand toward a convenient
| riding switch made them forget hunger
| for the moment
| feast last night" Sigurd was saying, as
he slipped his ale in the leisurely fashion
| which some Of the old sea-rovers In the dis
| lance condemned as French and foolish.
Swallowing enough of the smoked meat
! in her mouth to make speaking practicable
Helga answered: He will be away two
/ days yet; did l not tell you? He has gone
south with a band of guardsmen to convert
| a chief to Christianity"
| .Then Left himself has turned Christian?
| Sigurd exclaimed in establishment. THE
| son Of the pagan Eric Christian. Now
! understand how 1t is that he has such favor
with King Olaf, for all that he comes OF
outlawed blood In Wisely. men though,
/ 1t a great wonder, and spoke OF him as
| Left the Lucky, because he had managed
| to get rid of the curse of his race.
Rolf the Wrestler shook his head behind
his uplifted goblet. He was an odd-lookine
youth, with chest and shoulders like the
| forepart Of an OK, and face as mild and
gently serious as lambs. As he put down
| the curious gided vessel, he said in the
soft voice that matched his face so well and
| his body so I'll: "If you have boon to ask
of your foster-father, comrade. 1t Is my adj
vice that you forget all such pagan errors
| as that story of the curse. Egil. here. came
near being spitted on Leif's sword for mere
| ly mentioning Skroppa's name.
L -a1 n q q
Egil scowled in answer,to Sigurd's curious
/ glance.
"Odin's ravens are not more fond of tell
| ing news. than you, the Black One growled
"At meal time have other uses for MY
Jaws than babbling. Thrall, bring me more
| fish,"
! Alvin waited long enough to possess him
| self of sharp bronze knife that lay among
| the dishes; then he advanced, alertly on his
guard, and shovelled more behring's upon
| the fiat piece of hard bread tina; served as