The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-10-19
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brides father 70 company Of merry
friends with their harp.player and
!; sweet singers were present. s
Green woods and golden fields. en-
circled the house to keep and hold
!! which Essyllt's father would forfeit
his own life. The tribal elemen,
grips these peoples BY inheritance
i the house and Its farm lands came
from his father to him. by inheri
lance it should 60 down to his son.
L And for this son he sacrificed :
daughter! S5t
a mere glance at the pale face o.
the bride, seated at the head Of the
table, would tell you that instead o.
smiling in sympathy with the fesavi
ties. she felt the horror Of beholdine
q company feasting at the death Of
her soul. Her gorgeous robes Of red
and blue and green Knocked the sor
row in her dark. frightened eyes, II
her hollow cheeks. and pain-drawr
mouth.
The boisterous bridegroom at he1
side pretended not to note his new
!, made wife's distress. But sometimes
the flush in his, face gave way to sud
/, den paleness.
| A guest suggested:
"Essyllt will sing! She will give
US q merry song to-day"
The others applauded and laughed
at the happy hit. Essyllt looked to be
, on the verge of Weeping
Excuse her; excuse her!" quickly
| requested old Rhys. 'She is too muct
overcome today"
| Grafog, her husband, turned with /
tender look in which elation and feal
mingled. and said:
Are you too happy to sing
(, Essyllt?"
IL cannot! Il"
| Essyllt bowed her head and hit
i her face In her hands.
Grafog looked at her moment IL
silence. Then turning upon the other.
boisterously called for a song. Tht
citation In his look and manner, con
veyed the idea Of victory, the sense
Of achievement by the defeat of an
other. As he called loudly for 6
song, q cruel line came into his face
q CLEAN Of hatred into his deep-se,
gray eyes; they rested on the fact
OF q young man opposite. whose gaze
was riveted on Essyllt.
The pale. intense face and large
sorrow-laden. brown eyes of this youth
reflected the agony Of the bride. Thu
flash of triumph that lighted Grafog'.
face revealed the secret. Here the
victor met the vanquished.
In his fierce elation Grafog, lacking
perhaps. the chivalrous sense, coult
not resist the temptation to torture
this boy and girl between whom he
stood.
Come" said he, hoarsely, "Emlyr
Lloyd shall sing!"
Clapping haads. moving chairs
about, and settling In new places. the
company kept up hilarious calls in or
der to ensure Emlyn's compliance. A
running fire Of complimentary phrases
went round for the same purpose.
| And Emlyn? AS Grafog and the
others persisted. he at last yielded. A
change came over him. Sadness deep
ened in the lines of his white face
Into his eyes came look Of anger
A sense Of outrage crept into his ex
preston. He stood up. The fierce
chords with which the harpist pre-
luded the song heralded an indignant
outburst.
The singer moved forward till he
stood in the midst of the gathering.
In q voice Of liquid, golden beauty,
glorious as a mountain sunset, he
sang an old, old melody, 1.-THE Love
Token" Upon finger of his left
hand there cleaned ring of gold
which his right hand involuntarily
touched as he sang. With every
line the terror in Essyllt's eyes deep
ened, and the triumphant elation OF
her husband increased. Grafog looked
from the singer to his bride with 9
smile Of satisfaction.
The company first nodded approval
The pathos and the sweetness Of the
singer appealed to them more power.
fully than ever. But presently they
began to exchange looks Of wonder
at the intensity Of his manner.
The song told Of a ring which q
maiden gave to q youth as token OF
her true love; then told Of her for.
saking him at the bidding Of ambi.
ton; Of her union with one better.
born than he: Of the bitterness Of the
youth. who broke In twain the ring
and threw these fragments at her feet,
| The passion Of the singer as he
dwelt on the woman's falsity thrilled
! all who heard him. Essyllt covered,
weeping at her fathers side. Grafog
watched her and laughed.
l5 When the singer came to the line:
Now here 10 q token Of love that
twas broken he seemed to lose all
control over himself. Heart-broken
despair overpowered him. His voice
failed and sank into sobs, TO the
amusement of his friends be drew the
!. sold ring from his finger, crushed II
I 80 his hands tn It snapped 81 two,
! md threw the pieces IT Essyllt's feet.
ESsyllt, with . moan fell faintin9.