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

old and inhuman superstition prevalent
among the islanders that it brings bad
luck to rescue a drowning man, and 1t
was finally the idea that the rescued
persan YVES not really in the water but
ashore thar induced the villagers to as
sist Mordaunt in his humane work. The
rescued man, upon coming to himself,
said that he was Captain Cleveland of the
priva teer Revenge, lost in the storm. He
had a consort somewhere on the coast.
and he expected that, If she had survived
the tempest, she would soon arrive at
some neighboring port.
Through the efforts of Norma, who ap-
peared on the scene and whose commands
the fishermen old not dare to disobey, the
sea chest of the captain, which had been
washed ashore, was preserved from the
greedy clutches of the village people and
carried to the house of the head man of
| the village, whore, also, the captain
found temporary shelter. Mordaunt
when he returned to Jarlsohf, told his
father of what had occurred, and sug
gested that Captain Cleveland be invited
to the castle. But Mcitoun sternly replied
that he would not even see the man. If he
needed money he would supply him with
what funds no stood in temporary neces-
sity OF. But 1t proved that Cleveland had
enough money, Spanish doubloons and
noidors strapped around his waist in a
leathern pouch. He spoke with a frank
and free air to young Mertoun and asked
If there were not some way in which he
could recover the gocos which the fishing
people Rad plundered as soon as they
came ashore Mor6aunt told him of Mag
nus Troll. If any man could help him,
that was the man He was an uncrowned
king in the Zetland islands. Cleveland ex-
pressed in a frank, sailor-like manner his
obligations to Mo:daunt, and begged that
he would accept of Spanish fowling
piece which was IN the rescued chest.
Then he took his departure for Burg
Westra to interview the Udaller.
Cleveland went to Burgh Westra, and
did not return. Weeks passed and those
little messages which Mordaunt was in
| the habit of receiving from his friends at
| tilc ilOubc Ol tIc OQdlcT DcCduic iliTc-
quent and then ceased altogether. Bryce
Snailsfoot brought, from time to time,
news to Jarishof of the gray dongs at
Burgh Westra-how the captain was be-
| ing entertained by the Udaller in the most
| hospitabe manner, and was evidently a
| sutton for the hand of one of the daugh-
ters-the peddler inclined to think it was
Minna. Old Norma met Mordaunt one day
upon the top of the crag. where the youth
was walking in a meditative and angry
mood. and in her weird manner, ordered
him to repair at once to Burgh- Westra.
There was to be great gathering there
of all the persons of quality on the island
on the Eve of st. John. Mordaunt must
join the company. But, Mother Norma
said he, II go not to a house to which 1
have not been invited" Co." said Norma
and Mordaunt went. The Udaller,
dressed in the costume of by-gone age,
rich but antique even for zetland. stood in
the portico of his great house to receive
the guests as they arrived. When he saw
Mordaunt his brow clouded and his well
come was most frigid That boy, who a
few weeks before the Udaller had regard
ed as one of his own household, now
entered the portals of the ancient Jarlshof
as an unwelcome guest-and felt 1t.
The conduct of the sisters was likewise
formal and cold From time to time
Brenda, the merry one, cast her eyes
upon Mordaunt with a look which be-
trayed both pity and affection, though she
schooled herself to play that formal part
toward him which evidently had beer
agreed upon by the family. s-Cleveland
also treated the young man with a proud
sort OF condescension, which aggravated
him to the utmost. He felt dislike to.
ward the man whom he had rescued from
the waters-a dislike which was as un.
reasoning as it was turbulent and one
which called for battle.
While the company was at Burgh-Wes-
ira Mordaunt happened to fall into The
water and to have his life saved by Cleve-
land, who plunged In and pulled him out
Then the captain very plainly told hin
that he considered they were quite in tn,
matter Of life saving, that he owed Nor
daunt nothing and that he should regart
him as his enemy henceforth. Mordaun
felt that some sort of web was gathered
about him. He could not ask and h,
did not know the cause Of the change o.
demeanor which had now come over thos'
1.<-f. "a -