The Grit-advocate., 1905-01-06

tears for him while I an awaae. I
will remember only that I Am ny
fathers daughter and the Lady Of
Avalconb."
Proudly as became an Odal-woman.
she followed the page when he came
to call her to the royal presence. The
great stone hall in which the king
awaited the arrival of his Norman
bride was the same room in which he
had feasted the night before, but
tables and dishes now were gone.
gold-weighted tapestries hung once
more over the door by which Edric
of Norway had made his entrance,
and q rich-hued rug from an eastern
loom lay over the spot where she had
seen the axe rise and fall.
Forcing herself to tread the rug
with steady step. she came where the
king stood by an open window. He
was as changed as the room. though
in honor Of his bride he wore again
state robes of silk and cloth-of-gold.
gone out of his face. leaving it dull
and lusterless.
His ward courtesied deeply before
him. For your justice. King Canute,
give you thanks drawn from the
bottom Of my heart" she said.
Il welcome you to your own, Lady
Of Avalcomb," he answered as he re.
t,NH al 1,,to
against the window frame he stood q
long while looking at her in silence
SO long that she was startled when at
last he spoke "Yet for the good of
the realm, must lay on your odal one
burden, Frode's daughter"
What is that. King?"
"It is that before the year is ou.
to defend your land in time Of need. .
Her white cheeks went very red
before him and then grew very pale
again, while her breast rose and fell
convulsively. But she clasped her
hands over it as though to still its
protest and, suddenly, she flung up
her head in kind of trembling de.
b.
know what a Danish woman owes
her race. Choose you the man and
this shall, like other things, be as
you wish"
1t was evident that her answer took
him by surprise. for he bent from the
wall to observe her. IL choose!" he
repeated. Have you then no
choice?"
She tried to say NO" she tried
desperately to say it; but already her
courage was crumbling under her. All
at once she took her hands from her
breast to hold them out pleadingly,
and her voice was broken: Lord. let
me 60 back to Avalcomb-now-to-
day!"
Wherefore today" he asked. "I
had thought you would remain here
for awhile and get honor from
Queen Emma" A moment he looked
away from ner. out of the window at
the drifting clouds. Il can tell you.
Frode's daughter, that while she is
noble in her birth, she is still nobler
in her mind" he said gravely. Lit.
tie would there be in her service for
you to take i'll. l think it possible
that she might be highly helpful to
you. There is that about her which
makes the good in one come out and
bask like a snake in the sun, while
the evil sinks away shadow-like-"
She interrupted him with cry that
was half sob. Lord King. I cannot
bear it to see more people that are
strange to me! Since l left my faith
er's house I have felt the starkness Of
strangers, and now-now l can endure
it no longer. My heart within me is
as though it were bruised black and
blue. Let me go back where all
know me-where none will hold me
off at arms length to challenge NE
with his eyes, but all love me and
place faith in me because they know
me. Lord, give me leave to go home
pray it Of you! Beseech 1t of you!"
Entreating, she would have fallen a.
his feet If he had not caught her
hands and stayed her.
(To be continued.)