The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-04

THE UNEASY CHAIR

a HISTORICAL, NOVEL, WITH
cHARLEMAGNE FOR A. CHARACTER.
Robert Ames Bennett chose period and
scenes OF striking general interest for his
story For the White Christ, asthistorical
novel of The time and empire Of the great
Kari, and he has made tale that grips
hard the attention of him who loves dar-
Ing and chivalry $500
The central figure is Olvir, Of viking
and saracen blood who saved Rothada,
the daughter Of the great Karl. from
Hroar,. a Danish pirate, and afterward be-
came trusted friend Of the king. Ma
turally Olvir and Rothada loved each
other, but the course Of true love ran no
more smoothly In the eighth century
than it does now, and there were obsta-
cles in the way of the union Of the two,
chief OF which was Fastrada, the queens
maid and daughter Of a witch .
In. that, of course, there is no new situa
ton, but the movement of the story is
swift, tho natural. and develops thru a
series OF thrilling Incidents quite in keep
ing with the bloody. and stirring history
OF. the time. The characters also are we'll
drawn. Added to this is a flowing and
easy style free from mannerisms AS q
result the story deserves a high place
In historical romance. Here is a part
of the sword fight in which Olvir worsts
Hroar:S 'LlTl%ff 80 t.,..
Thor aid!'' roered Hroar land the sword
whirled down with terrific force. But the North
| man only smiled the more tscorhfully and caught
! the blow on his tilted shield, with such con-
| summate skill that the blade glanced harmlessly
aside from the steel surface.
deafening uproar greeted the feat, the
Danes on the one side crying out their wonder,
while the Mortimer across answered with shouts
| OF triumph. The noise, ceased abruptly as it
burst out. Olvir had. raised his curved sword
l no hanh cf no No. in r,,i,,
Had he wished 1t, he could have slain his enemy
then: for Hroar was SO astonished by the turn
ing Of the blow that he. stood with lowered
Ward yourself: Dane!.'s CRIED the Northnan
and as Hroar started back, the Damascus sword
began to dart forward like the beak Of a strik:
ing heron. Up whirled ,Ironbiter for second
stroke: but Olvir did not wait its fall. With
| a wild cry he hurled himself upon the Dane
| like maddened wolf. Above, below. on ali
sides; his sword flashed around Hroar's shield
| In thrusts SO swift that no eve could follow
| In vain Hroar sought to cut down with sweep
ing strokes the bright figure that leaped in upo1
him till the two shields FLASHED; in vain he
sought to avoid the lightning sword thrusts tina
dazzled his eyes. -
Bleeding from a dozen stabs, his shield-arn
pierced and cheek laid open. the ferocious Dan,
drew back appalled, Ifs glaring eyes no longe
/ saw human foe before him; that shimmering
I leaping figure was Thor. the Danish Thor, ter
rible In his youth and beauty.
Step by, step the Dane ,retreated, until hi
back struck the bulwark. : The touch spurre
him to- desperate fury. But he sprang forward
only to reel back again before the stabs of tn
pitiless sword. The end was now come. Hal
dazed, he dropped his shield to meet lei
feint, and the blade lunged thru his unguarde
., neck so that the point stood out a span behind
II = Illustrated in colors.
A. G. McClurg & Co., Chicago, $3.50.
THE SURRENDER III.
~ And art thou COME! to live with me,
II 80 To live with me till Time be done?
II .,%:z To lead from subtle shadows. n
So Out to the candid sum-? A.
Is it to teach me, thou are come,
| o. How thus to read Lies gentle book
i ts< To turn its patient pages - .: ",~s7
~ sNorI0nce beyond them look?
| -tttf.-l Ia. = H. So
| 80 To love me- and TO make ma love