Gilpin observer., 1904-08-18

when he put HIS hand back to fsea
Of strap, she bent and touched the
brown fingers gratefully with her lips.
The answer seemed to renew his kind
/ ly impulse.
AFTER all, you should not feel so
strange among u.s." he said lightly.
do you know that 1t w. one of your
own countrymen who built the Tower?
Ivar Wide-Fathomer he was named,
whence 1t is still called Ivarsdals. He
was Of t.ie stock of Lodbrok. they
say; and it is said, too, that one of
his race is even now with Canute.
You must make believe that you are
coming home" So he spun on, care
lessly good-humored, as they climbed
the winding hill-path.
IF We make haste, 1t may be that
we can take Hildelitha and Father
Ingulph by surprise" he laughed, leap
ing down on the crumblng doorstep
and pulling his captive with him.
In the tunnel-like arch of the great
entrance they met another throng, but
impatience and hurried through the
great guard-room to the winding
stairs, that were cut out of the core OF
the massive stones. Up and across
another mighty hall, and then up
again, and into a great women's-room.
full Of looms and spinning-wheels.
whore buxom English housewife and
halfa-dozen red-cheeked maids were
gaping over their distaffs at the tale
a jolly monk was telling between
swallows Of wine.
He choked in his cup when he saw
who stood laughing in the doorway.
and there was great screaming and
scrambling among his audience.
Knocking over her spinning-wheel to
get to him, the woman Hildelitha
threw her arms around her young
lords neck and gave him a hearty
smack on either cheek; while the fat
monk sputtered blessings between his
paroxysms of coughing, and the six
blooming girls made a screaming cir
Gle around him.
Though he endured it amiably
enough, the Etheling appeared in some
haste to offer a diversion. He evaded
second embrace by turning and
beckoning to his shrinking captive.
'Save little Of your greeting for
my guest, good nurse. Behold the fire.
eating Dane that have catured with
my own right arm!" AS the red
cloaked figure still hung back, he
pulled it gently forward until the light
of the notched candles fell brightly on
the face. pitifully white for all its
blood-stains, in the frame of tumbled
black tresses.
"a Dane?" the women cried shrilly:
then, with equal unanimity, burst ou.
laughing.
Randalin drew a little nearer the
Etheling's sheltering side. He said
half reprovingly, half freakishly, "It
would not be well for you to anger
him. BE is the page of Canute him
self, a real Wandering Wolf, and
recks not whom he attacks. He came
near to splitting Oslac at the battle,
and even threatened me-"
"Oslac!" screamed one of the serv-
ing-maids, turning very red. THE
murderous little fiend!"
And Father Ingufph cleared his
throat loudly. "Well-fitting is your
charity both toward my teachings and
your heart, my son; and yet-Discre-
tion is the mother of other virtues. To
bring one of those rowing children Of
Satan into a Christian household will
lay upon me responsibility which
which" He paused to take mouth
full of wine and eye the stranger over
the goblet rim with much disfavor.
While the maids whispered excited
ly in one another's ears, Hildelitha
began to sniff behind her apron.
Il do not see why you wanted to
bring him home. Lord Sebert. You
know that Danes are odious to me
since my husband, of holy memory.
fell under their axes-most detestable
yet would not anger you, my hon.
ey-sweet lord" she broke of abruptly.
For the Lord of Ivarsdale had sud-
denly grown very stiff and grave;
there was something curiousfy haugh-
ty In the quiet distinctness Of his
words.
Ito be continued.)