The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-11-19

many days he caught sight of the steep
cliffs of the south end of Gottland, and
with many mishaps he at last managed
to land his many followers in small
boats on the longed for shore. Wisby
lies on the northeastern end of the is
land, with splendid harbor Ito which,
two-score years ago was added an outer
harbor, for monitors, cruisers and 9TH
er deep sailing CRAFTY which was pro-
tected by fort; palisades reaching
height of eight hundred feet and abun-
dainty furnished and situated to de-
fend the only vulnerable entrance to
the city. Waldemar knew this, there
fore his choice of a difficult landing
place.
The news flew fast, even in those
days, and by sunrise the following day
the city had warIike appearance. Ev-
cry fifty feet on the wall which encloses
Wisby from shore to shore, from the
palisades on the north to the fort on
the south, are towers reaching up a
hun dred and sixty feet, and each had
their full quota of defenders and arms,
ammunition, stones, pitch, caldrons, and
the wide, deep ditch which surrounded
the wall was full of water and was
steadily replenished from springs and
pumps by the younger lads, servants
and country folk who had entered dur
ing the night for refuge.
For year and a day Waldemar and
his army lay outside the walls besieg-
ing the city to no avail; provisions be-
gun to run low; his soldiers becoming
dissatisfied at the impossible task of
entering, gibed and sneered at by
the successful defenders on the wall,
until he was about to give up in des-
pair and give the order for home and
five squares per day. In order to real
ize his unwillingness to this effect it is
only to be remembered he could see
those eighteen church-spires glittering
night and day, for in them were fxed
carbuncles and jewels of great value.
The spires could be seen by passing
ships and did duty as beacons for the
unwary mariner, helping to spread the
fame of this wonderful city of the
north. Those same carbuncles and
Jewels came from Northern India and
Tibet and were worth millions in gold,
and so secure did the Wisbyans feel
they displayed them on their churches
He could hear the shouts of triumph
from within, the songs and festivities.
the abandon of hilarity too, in their
long since forsaken worship to the old
gods of the Norsemen, Thor, his ham.
mer and Odin his wisdom and justice
The nut seemed too hard for him to
crack!
Then 10 and behold! Cupid came tc
his aid in the form of a young officer
with small honor and a beautiful peas
ant girl with large heart. Think OF
, it, Cupid turning traitor! To be sure
the young captain was only amusing
himself with a maiden of humble
| station (methinks not the first or las
one to play with sacred fire. but by fail
means or foul he had gained the maid
ems heart, and by promise of happ!
1 years to come in foreign land, by tax
. ing oath as to his honorable love, b.
: proving to her that since she lovet
3 him she was his, of his country ant
l thus alien to her own, she was to gail
} entrance to the city, open gate during
. the night and let him in disguised t.
look and feast on the beautiful church
| es, the jewels and to take some notes
S That was all. She resisted. He pleaded
: argued, coaxed-wOn.
/ When the king heard this great plal
s he could hardly restrain himself TO
t joy. He swore mighty oath he woul'
: make the captain a general and rails
t him to knighthood- other day
0 He Immediately sent for the maide
(much against the young officers wishes
: and let her kiss his hand to show hi
i favor and assured her of prominen
2 place 'mongst his court ladies-som
s other day! You see his name was Wa
d demar Atterdag! And the maiden
J. she cried! Whether they were tears 9
joy and happiness, or yelling up 9
d her conscience against unnatural era,
: ings of heart too far gone to be n
t, called, is not for me to say. She erie
+ and buried her face in the arms of he
d lover-perhaps she had prenonitio
Q Of her fate to come, perhaps q fleetin