Gilpin observer., 1904-07-14

rattle Of crossing spears, without, had
told her that her way was barred.
Then she whirled back with sharp
cry. ~ S3.F
Let mo go! 1 hate you! Let lae
got"
He did not bid his guards kill i1er.
aa7 she half expected. Instead, he
said patiently, II foresaw that you
would take 1t i'll; there is the great
est excuse for you. In your place I
should be equally unruly. will grant
you boon In time to come; so sure as
I live, will. And until then, since
all your stock has been cut off, will
be your guardian and you shall be
my ward, as though you were my own
brother. Come, sit here, and l will
tell you."
She repulsed him sharply. mo,
no, you shall do nothing for me! I
am going back l ask you to let me
CO."
Leaning at his ease In the great
chair. the young King regarded his
ward thoughtfully.
"It is not possible that the son of
Erode the Fearless should be a cow
ard" he said at last; but you are
over-peevish, boy. Listen now to the
truth of the matter. If you were a
maiden. 1t would be easy for me to
Are you listening?" He paused, for
the slim figure had suddenly become
SO statue-like that he suspected it Of
plotting another attack on the door.
The boy answered very low, "Yes,
ord King an, icfonipu
Canute went on again: 81 say that
if you were maiden-if you were
your sister, to tell it shortly-I could
easily dispose of you in marriage. I
would wed you TO my foster-brother.
Rothgar Lodbroksson, and thus bring
good to both of-Are you finding
fault with that also?"
But the lad stood before him like
stone. If faint cry had come from
him, it was not repeated; and there
was nothing offensive about hidden
face and shaking limbs.
The King continued more gently:
But since you were so simple as to
be born boy. such good luck is not
to be expected. 1t is the best that l
can do to offer you to become my
ward and follow me as my page, un-
til the swords game has decided be-
tween me and Edmund of England.
What say you, Fridtjof the Bold?"
For a time it looked as if "Fridt-
jof the Bold did not know what to
say. Silence filed the tent, while
from outside leaked in the noise of
the revel. Then, through that noise
or above 1t there became audible the
notes of far-away, horns. Edric Jarl
was fulfilling his pledge. An ex-
clamation broke from the Kings lips,
"Fridtjof the Bold fell at his feet
with clasped hands. and supplicating
eyes.
Let me go, Lord King" he be-
sought passiohately. Let me go, and
will ask nothing further of you.
will never trouble You again. Let me
go,-only let me go."
Canute of Denmark is not to be
blamed that he stamped with ex-
hausted patience.
BY the head of Odin, it would
serve you well did take you at your
word, 1t would serve you right did
1 turn you out to starve. Were it not
for your fathers sake, and for the
sake of my own honor. vow would
Now hearken to this" Bending, he
picked the boy up by his collar and
shook him. / shall not let you go, and
you shall be my ward. whether you
will or no. And If you answer me
now or anger me further-but | will
not say that, for it is your misfor-
tune that makes you unruly, and you
are weak-spirited from hunger. Take
this bread now for your meal. and
that bench yonder for your bed, and
trouble me no more tonight. l must
meet with the Jarl. Go! Do you
heed my orders?"
Only one answer was possible. AZ
ter a moment the page gave it in a
low voice.
Yes, Lord King" he, whispered,
and crept away to his corner.
Ito be continued.)