The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-12-22
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By Joseph Heating

HA~J
sweet singers were present.
Green woods and golden fields, en-
circled the house to keep and hold
which Essyllt's father would forfeit
his own life. The. tribal element
grips these people. By inheritance
the house and it's farm lands came
from his father to him, by inheri-
lance it should go down to his son.
And for this son he sacrificed a
daughter!
A mere glance at the pale face OF
the bride, seated at the head of the
table, would tell you that instead OF
smiling in sympathy with the festivi-
ties, she felt the horror of beholding
a 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, in
her hollow cheeks, and pain-drawn
mouth.
The boisterous bridegroom at her
side pretended not to note his new
made wifes distress. But sometimes
the flush in his face gave way to sud
den paleness.
A guest suggested:
''Essyllt will sing! She will give
us 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 much
overcome today"
Grafog, her husband, turned with a
tender look in which citation and fear
mingled, and said:
Are you. too happy to sing,
Essyllt?"
II cannot! T.
Essyllt bowed her head and hid
her face in her hands.
Grafog looked at her a moment in
silence: Then turning upon the others
boisterously called for song. The
veyed the idea of victory, the sense
of achievement by the defeat of an.
other. AS he called loudly for a
song, a cruel line came into his face,
CLEAN of hatred into his deep-set
gray eyes; they rested on the face
of a 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. The
flash of triumph that lighted Grafog' S
face revealed the secret Here the
victor met the vanuuished
In his fierce citation Grafog, lacking
not resist the temptation to torture
this boy and girl between whom he
stood.
Come" said he, hoarsely, "Emlyn
Lloyd shall sing!'
Clapping hands, 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 omplimentary 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
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 voice of liquid, golden beauty,
glorious as mountain sunset, he
sang an old, old melody, "The Love
Token" Upon finger of his left
hand there cleaned a 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 a
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 ring which 8
maiden gave to 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 rine
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.
When the singer came to the line:
Nov here is token of love thai
was broken''-he seemed to lose al
control over himself. Heart-broker
despair overpowered him. His voice
failed and sank into sobs. To the
amazement Of his friends he drew thu
gold ring from his finger, crushed il
in his hands till it snapped in two
and threw the pieces at Essyllt's feet
Essyllt, with a moan fell faintinp,