The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-17


child, had been an especial favorite of
Norma's, and she had watcher over him
with loving, though eccentric, care. SO as
he refused to leave the place the
prophecies changed her mind and declared
that, for his sake, she would still the
tempest.
She went to a window which looked out
in the direction from which the storm
came, and after a few minutes medita-
ton sprang with a great bound into the
middle of the room and throwing back
her head and raising her runic staff, be-
gan to chant wild, weird Invocation in
Morse to the spirit of the storm. Even as
she sang the winds began to lull and the
thunder ceased to reverberate. When she
at length had finished her chant the storm
could be heard dying away in the dis
lance. She then ordered Mordaunt to re-
pair Immediately to Jarishof, the peddler
to be on his way, and, taking a sip of the
bland and bite of the bread, threw
down an ancient coin in payment and left
the house with fierce warning to Mis-
hiCSS 0dDy " NC lilOic lOSplldDlc III LIS
future
Miss Yellowey's change of manner
toward Mordaunt was accounted for by
the fact that Tronda had recognized him
and told her mistress of his rank and sta
ton, as we'll as of the gossip which said
he was to marry one Of the daughters of
Udaller as soon as he could make up his
his mind which he liked best. Thrifty as
Mistress Baby was, she thought it worth
while to sacrifice her cherished smoked
goose upon the alter, not of hospitality
exactly. but of such wealth and local
power as was represented by the young
man. Noras feat of quelling the storm
had been to Bryce Snailsfoot, Tronda
and Triptolemus a proof of her powers
over the elements, and had even changed
the pessimism of Baby regarding the
powers of the sybil into the belief that
she was a veritable witch-and as such
ought to be burned forthwith. When
Mordaunt reached Jarlshorf he was greet
ed by his father In the usual manner
that is as if his absence had not been
| noticed. But that night at supper the
older man suddenly said to his son:
You have been at Burgh- Westra- You
are often there. Is your heart engaged
with either of the daughters of Mag
nus Troil?" The astonished Mordaunt
replied that he liked them both as sis
tiers but had never had any other thought
regarding either of them. (which of
them do you PREFER" asked Mertoun,
watching the youth narrowly. why"
| 1t would be difficult to say and he de-
scribed the characters and charms of
the two girls In such coolly analyti-
cal manner, that his father, watching
him, said to himself; He is, at present
at least, fancy free"
| The next morning the father and son
went out on the cliff to view the tumult
Of the waves, which had not subsidized
from the flashing of the furious storm
which had descended on them the day
before. AS they watched the seething,
bounding, tumbling waves, the Floods
clapping their hands together" they saw
a dismasted vessel, evidently of consid-
cradle size and having the appearance
from her gun ports of being the wreck
of a small man-of-war or a privatier,
driving on toward the foot of the cliff
through the still raging waters Of the
Roost of Sumburgh.
AS the wreck drove nearer they could
see that the boats were gone. AS II
| afterward proved the crew had taken
to the boats when the vessel first became
dismasted and had all been lost. Cling
ing to a floating spar which went whirl-
ing about amid the tumult of the waters
Mordaunt and his father could see 8
human form. The spar was being driver
rapidly to the beach below. and Nor
daunt, in spite of the prohibitions OF
his father, descended the sharp face OF
the cliff and met the wave which threw
the body and the spar upon the beach
At the imminent risk of his life Nor
daunt rushed into the water and drag
ged the shipwrecked mariner ashore
before the receding wave could grasp hin
again in its embrace.
The man whom Mordaunt had rescued
was dressed in manner which showed
that he was a person of quality. He was
unconscious, and though many people
from the neighboring fishing village soor
gathered upon the beach it was only b.
threats that the young man could induce
them to help him in restoring animation
70 the half-drowned man.. There is ar