The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-24

Tn eeborg exchange; no token did they
give that they knew each other. He
was the stranger and she was the
queen One day the old King took
Frithjof out hunting, and it happened
that they were aipne In a forest glade
and the King said:
II am weary for I am old. I would
fain rest me and sleep awhile. You
shall stand guard over me-"
SO Ring lay down with his head upon
FIRTH of's knee and slept Frithjof look
down upon his white hairs. One blow.
and Ingeborg was his. No one would
know. His ship was near. AT last he
felt he could stand the temptation no
longer and, drawing his sword, he flung
1t far from him into the wood. Old
Ring awakened and protested himself
much refresh ed.
"Where is they sword?" said he
"I lost IT In the wood" said Fithjof,
sullenly. Dark spirits Turk in steel
the whole pack Of hell. Sleep Is not
safe from them and gray hairs attract
them
Hear, then, o youth" said Ring. II
did not sleep. never trust to another's
blade until l have tested him. I did but
try thee I knew thee when thou first
did enter my hall. Nay, look not so
ashamed I, too, have known the arder
of youth. 1 tried thee--and forgaye.
Look on me. / am ripe for the grave.
When / have gone take thou my realm.
take thou my queen-she Is thine by
right. Till then bide with me and be
my son. The feud is over between u.s."
But Frithjof said: TOO late, Kingi
am an outcast, for Balder of the shin
ing locks hates me who burned his tcm-
pie. Ingeborg is lost to me9 Darkness
wraps me round Then no, to sea. Thy
black breast, my dragon, battle once
more in the salt waves. SO far as winds
will blow and waves will bear will
roam. Let me once more hear the tur-
moil of the storm, once more feel the
fury of battle and in the midst of chaos
calm may come to me again."
SO In his own person and name did
Frithjof go next day to the hall of Ring
to take formal leave of the King and
Ingeborg.
But old Ring, rising in his place.
said: The death song is heard all over
the world. l, too, have heard it, What
of that? Must not all things go the
way of death? Frithjof. what said to
thee l say again give thee my wife.
I give thee my realm; take care of it
for my infant son." Then the old man,
taking his sword, cut the death runes
upon his breast and arms, and as he
watched the life blood flow called for
last horn of mead, crying as he raised
1T to his lips: Hail. we gods-sons Of
Valhalla. The earth goes from me.
Welcome, we Asas, the willing guest"
Once more he pressed Ingeborg's hand,
and with a sigh his spirit was waited
| to the All-Father's throne.
At a great meeting of the Thing tho
infant son of Ring was chosen king
and Frithjof was chosen to rule the
nation until the boy should be of suita-
BILE age to rule himself. Earl Frithjof,
hall" they cried, land take the mother
for thy BRIDE" But Frithjof would first
expiate his crime against Balder by
building to that god a temple more
stately than the one he had burned in
his wrath and so richly embellished 1t
| that there was not its like in the North.
He built 1t on beetling crag in the
land of his birth. King Hedge was
| killed by a statue falling on him when
he attempted TO pull down an ancient
| temple in Finland--for Hedge was at
war with the Firms when FrithJof was
building his temple. Haitian now sat
on Bele's throne, and, going to the
temple where Frithjof was being puri-
fed by the priests, the young king UNI
gloved his hand and placed IT In that of
the viking. At that very moment Inge-
borg entered the temple with her
train. With happy tears she fell upon
her brothers breast. who gently placed
her in Frithjofs arms.
Next weeks one page classic will be
Carmen, by Prosper Merimee.