The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-07-06

III "ILlSIENlNG IKE white desert
the frozen bay extended as
Il FAR as the eye reached. Win
ter had tied up everythin :
aud the sea for miles was
7 frozen solid. III
I Far out on the bay where the tracks
OF the sleds stopped one might see
dark objects moving about. These
were fishermen from the villages fish-
II Ing through holes cut In the ice. II
mad been freezing hard during the
night so II had been necessary 70 cut
! through again IN the morning.
From the most distant village
somebody came walking towards the
| bay. II was a young girl drawing a
sleigh piled high with empty baskets.
| when she had reached the top OF the
downs she stopped, brushed away the
naiT which the wind had blown across
! her face and looked across the bay.
| The snow-covered ice glistening In
the sunshine dazzled her and FOR
while she seemed unable TO see any,
thing. but at last her eyes caught
a Igure walking towards her looking
like winter itself tramping through
through the snow Long grey hair
| framed In a heavy white beard lie
was dressed in an old sheepskin coat
tied around the waist by a rope. In
his right hand he held q long stan
upon which ne leaned heavily. Now
he stopped and tried 10 catch his
| breath.
Good morning, old Wendelin," the
girl cried out in her strong youthful
voice from the top OF the downs.
What are you doing here as early
as this?"
Good morning, Katherine Oilers
! Oh, If ! could only get my breath, but
! this terrible asthma is troubling me
500 you intend 10 20 out there too
! Don't II. | tell you there Is storm
corning norlA.
west, TOO. | have warned the men out
! there but none OF them cares, none
| or them will listen 10 what / say
/ Poor old Wendeiin. you are always
telling OF bad things 10 come, that is
/ why IL Is not without reason that We
! call you the 'Stormbird. Where
should that storm come from
! Where should Il come from? You
are a little fool | tell you.
/ Maybe that Jan Meudelin is no
I good any more, that I would be better
( on dead, but one thing is sure, he
! knows something about the weather.
much more than anybody out there.
( Go home katherine. let those people
drown who are too stupid 10 take ad-
vice. those foolish boys who know
better than 10 laugh at an old man. y
Parting and grooming he had now
81 - - 81 30 a N
hold OF the rope OF the sleigh. Go
home Immediately. Ii would be
pity such a pretty young girl
"Oh, nonsense, Wendelin, the wealth
er is just fine this morning and | must
hurry. You know that We are tosetheT
with Karl Juertens and must send
out two men as he docs. I'm late al
ready"
so not even you, foolish girl.
wants TO believe what Old Jan Wen
delin says. Karl Juertens is the only
sensible one in the whole crowd, he
has turned back"
Yes, because IL isn't necessary for
him 10 20 as he has sent both his
men on the ice.
He would have been there anyway.
He was up here but turned back when
told him storm was coming.
"Oh, the coward
DO you call your sweetheart a
coward"
My sweetheart. He! You must be
dreaming Wendelin,'
Il dreaming No, but / have my
eyesight yet and he Is always running
after you like whale after school
or behring's. Look, there he is now.
Good bye, Wendelin.'
She took the rope out Of the old
mans hand. started the sleigh ahead
OF her far into the ice. Then she ran
after IL as fast as she could and was
almost out of breath when II stopped.
She stood still for a moment ana look
ed around Then Karl Juertens stood
suddenly next to her he had been
equally quick
Are you afraid of me that you hur-
ry 500"
Afraid Of you? l should like to
know why?"
Il don't know why YOU should be
afraid but now let me take your
sleigh for a while; I'm going out on
the hay. too
No, thank you. can pull my
sleigh alone and IL would be far bet
ter for you TO stay home next 10 the
stove for old Jan Wendeiin says a
storm IS coming"
why don't you stay home, them
Because all the others have gone
out, but you turned back while ago.
do you really care enough for me
to notice what | dor
"Oh, you needn't imagine such a
thing, 1t was old Wendelin who
told me-"
1t was. But IL you would like 10
know why | turned back | Will tell
you--it was for your sake
For my sake, What do you mean?
Yes. because you hadn't gone yet
Her eyes shot fire.
How do you dare TO make people
talk about me TO hide your own mis-
cradle cowardice?'
katherine, IL really old Jams pro-
phecy would have scared me do you
suppose that | would have gone out
again?"
"oh. suppose you FELT ashamed"
Shame on you, Katherine, that you
would talk TO me like that. Why do
you always treat me so badly?'
"Do | treat you badly? How can
you think that |. poor Katherine Oh
bers. should dare treat the rich Karl
Juertens badly?"
"Oh. keep quiet with such nonsense
and let me pull the sleigh"
Let go the rope or I'll hit you. Go
back home"
Well suppose you must have
your own way Good bye.