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

| sternly. Norma devoted herself to direct
ing the principal persons who took part
in her little tragedy to repair to Kirk
/ wall Cleveland himself had, by her ur-
gent directions, gone there to see what
was doing with his consort. 1t was the
time of a great fair and the first thing he
saw in the market place were possessions
| of his own which he had supposed safe
| in the chest at Jarishof. Bryce Snailfoot
| was selling them. row took place in the
| market and Cleveland soundly cudgled
Bryce. Naturally, he was arrested and
taken before the selectmen of the town
There whom should he see sitting with the
magistrates but Magnus Troll and Mer-
toun. Mertoun looked at him supposedly
at first and then sorrowfully. The dis
prted goods Mertoun begged to have
placed in his keeping. Old Swertha, her
master being away, had sold them to
Snailfoot.
Among the goods Mertoun found what
he dreaded to find-letters and documents.
proving that Cleveland was his son-and
Norna's. He had supposed the boy dead
He had thought that Ulla Troll was dead
until she had revealed herself to him in
the ruined church. Now he knew that
he had son and wife strangely cast
upon him in these remote wids to which
he had returned from his piratical life
to "dree his weird" as the Scotch say.
He sought an interview with Norma and
told her that Cleveland was their son.
The old woman was astounded perplexed
She had thought that Mordaunt was the
result of that long-time-ago marriage.
She had conspired to make Mordaunt the
husband of Minna Troll. Now she found
that she had schemed for naught that
was of flesh and blood kin to her. Mer-
toun, or Vaughn, which was his real
name. had, thinking Ulla dead, married
Creole in the West Indies She had
proved unfaithful to him, and he had
killed her. Mordaunt was the son of that
unhappy union. When Norma learned
these things, when she found that she
had arranged the destruction of her own
son by sending word to the kings ship.
which was off the coast, she fell into the
extremes of horror and despair.
The Kings ship came, the pirate ship,
or which Cleveland had taken command,
was sunk, and he and his men taken pris-
oners. MinnaTroil came to see her lover
and took a last farewell of him. She had
learned too late that a modern pirate and
an ancient Viking were two different sort
of beings. Magnus now learned that the
general gossip of the islands regarding
the boast of Mordaunt that he could
marry either of his daughters was gos-
sip merely. He forgave the young man
and gave him his blessing, along with
the hand of Brenda. Mertoun, or Vaughn,
disappeared. A letter came from him
dated at remote village in England, say
ing that he would never see any of his
northern friends more, and that he had
settled upon Mordaunt sufficient sum
of money to make him equal to his bride
in wealth. And more of him they never
heard.
Cleveland was pardoned and died an
officer in the Kings service, falling gall
lantly in an attack upon Spanish fort.
AS for Norma, she assumed a different
character. Her dress was changed to
one of less striking appearance, and
in the house of her cousin Magnus she
lived to a ripe old age. Bible-reading
old woman who took delight in the chill
dren which grew up around her, the
Offspring of Mordaunt and Brenda Min
ma was the kind aunt of the household
sweet tempered and cheerful. Her
thoughts, however, were detached from
this world and only visited 1t with an
interest like that which guardian spirits
take for their charge. So passed her
life, and when her friends sorrowed for
her death, which arrived at late period
in her exstance, they were comforted
by the fond reflection that the humanity
which she laid down was the only Cir
cumstance which had placed her. in the
words of Scripture, "a little lower than.
the angels
Next weeks one-page Classic will be
1.-The Song of Roland" medieval ro1
| nance.