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

of their fathers grave. Proudly did
Frithjof stand before them, yet showed
them the Difference due their rank.
Without prelude he said what was in
his heart. He loved Ingeborg and de-
manded her for his wife. His father, it
was true, was neither king nor earl, but
his fame would live in song and story
for many year to come. IF it is king
you DESIRE" said ne, for your sisters
husband, I could easily win me a king
dom with my sword; but 1 had rather
stay at home and guard your kingdom.
Surely King Belle intended that Inge
borg and I should wed, for he had us
brought up together. Here on Bele's
mound 1 sue to you He hears me and
hear We, Kings, his voice speaking to
you from the grave"
Angrily did King Hedge start from his
seat, and say: Never shalt the blood of
Odin mingle with that of the bonder.
Though you should by force compel men
to hail you greatest of Norseland's sons,
| yet is your blood not royal, and
daughter of the gods must wed with
| royalty As for my realm, I can guard
it myself. There is a place to which
you are welcome among my men-at-
| arms
| Holly did Frithjof reply: II will be
my own man, as my father was before
me, and never a man of thine, thou
black-hearted king! Were not this spot
hallowed, my sword should teach thee
a lesson! Stand by me, Angurwadel!'
| So saying, he drew his sword, and the
runes carved upon it flushed, frey red,
while the blade sprang from the silver
| scabbard like a flash of blue lightning
| King Hedges shield hung on an oak
near by. and with one stroke of Angur-
wadel Frithjof cut 1t in two. After this
| defiance Frithjof returned to his farm
| stead, while Ingeborg was placed by Hell
ge in the sanctuary of the temple of
Balder. This temple and its Enclosure
were regarded by all the Morse people as
the most sacred in the whole world. A
| woman or maid who had taken refuge
there was safe from the approach OF
man. He who violated the sanctuary
incurred the penalty of death. There
| immured, the fair Tngeborg sat sadly
day after day over her embroidery frame,
letting many a tear fall upon the silk
| and golden threads as she thought of
Frithjof and the fate which had sun
| dered her from him forever
Now came to the court of King Helgc
an embassy from old King Ring, a north
ern monarch of great power, asking the
hand of Ingeborg in marriage. His queen
had long Joined the company in Freya's
happy bowers and in his age he longed
| for new hepmate. King Hedge was not
loath to give his sister in marriage to, the
aged sutton, but first, as was the CUSTOM
he proclaimed a solemn feast and had the
| high priests with all due ceremonies in
ouire into the will of the gods in the mat
| ter. But the omens were unpropitious
and the priests declared that the will of
the gods was against the marriage There
fore the ambassadors of Ring were sent
back and Halfdan, always light and JOY
Gus. but unthinking. could not refrain
from adding an insult to their dismissal.
Furious was King Ring when he heard
his suit had been rejected and how his
| amba ssadors had been dismissed He
struck the iron shield above his throne
with the sharp point of his spear and
| the clang summoned MS pcopie " aiins.
The dragon ships came crowding in with
blood-red crests; the plumes upon the
helmets nodded in the breeze and war
heralds were hurrying over the land sum-
moninS the forces of the nation to bat
tie. The news of the raising of the
people of Ring caused the greatest anx-
ety to Hedge, for though arrogant he
was not brave, and he knew that Ring
was very powerful. Hastily did he set
about putting his country in state of
defense, and then it was that he felt
the need of the valor and the power
of Frthjof, who still lived on, moody
and moping in his freehold OF Framnas
| To him he sent messengers imploring
him t. forget past differences ana come